The Portland daily press., 1888-05-19
A BLIZZARD BATTLE.
A Scrimmage Without Parallel In
Indian Warfare.
Minneapolis Tribune.l


panions in the West, and while Marquis De
Mores made his headquarters at Medora, Vic
had standing engagement to act as guide
for the marquise and her hunting party ev-
cry summer. Vic stood close by the mar
quise when she shot her first grizzly bear,
when the monster was getting into close
quarters. The marquise felt little alarmed
when she knew dead shot stood at her ell
bow, but it required no little courage for her
to stand within 40 or 30 feet of an angry bear
and kill it at the first fire. Many old hunters
have not done so well. The last time the
writer met Vic was at Bismarck three years
ago this coming summer, on his return from
a visit East. the first in many years. He had
received a present of new silk hat. He
managed to reach Medora all right, but be-
fore Vic removed the peace disturbing ele-
ment from his head, six bullets had passed
through it.
The celebrated and somewhat singular
fight Vic and his men had with the Indians
on the south fork Of the Cannon Ball has no
parallel in Indian warfare. Vic and his 10
were on their way to the Black
Hills, having left fhe Northern Pacific rail-
road at some point near Dickinson. A due
south course was taken, and everything
promised pleasant but rather cold trip, as
the unerring mark Of time had passed the
middle of December, 1873. No time was
lost on the road. The north fork Of the Can
non Ball had been passed all night, but there
was every indication of storm. Late In the
afternoon of the second day a furious biz
zard set in. Landmarks and slight trail
were soon lost in the grand whirling cloud
of snow that surrounded them. To turn
back was folly or worse. Nothing but to 60
ahead and trust to fate. Vic knew where he
was and when the storm struck them he
I'D ha1t narla ha ua
ons which they hauled were drawn up in
order
Vic seldom asks for advice, but on this oc-
swarm. what point had we better strike
forp''
'Well," said Warn. with one of his never
failing laughs, ''let's make for the burning
coal bank. When we get there we can defy
all the billiards. from the North Pole to Ne
braska."
Vic and every man Of the crowd knew Of
the burning coal banks and remarked, ITS
our only chance of warm camp tonight"
"Vic and myself" said my informant,
"took the lead, knowing that we could not
be over six or seven miles sfrom the south
fork which ran almost east and west, while
tedious and difficult travelling we came to the
banks of the south fork, which we had TO
cross in order to avoid the deep snow that
would soon drift in.
The question now arose, were we east or
west of the coal fire, as some called it. 1t
was decided that two ride east and TWO
west for two miles or Whereabouts and try TO
determine by landmarks its location. Vic
and one man went east and myself and an
other man rode west. After travelling about
two miles, turned convinced that the coal
bank was east. In less than five minutes
after my return to thelwagons, Vic returned
and reported that the coal bank was some
six miles east, from familiar landmarks he
had discovered. 1t was almost dark and the
wind was bowling up over the edge Of the
bluff with howl of defiant fury, known only
to a first-class blizzard. Progress was diff
cult, but forward we had to go, as the burn
ing coal bank seemed our only salvation on
that wild night. We did not expect to find
the fire until we were abreast of 1t, owing to
the terrible storm. After travelling about
seven miles, as near as we could judge.
smelled a smell that made me yell out
We halted and examined the bluff for
some distance to find safer passage down
to the creek bottom. We had to retrace our
steps about quarter OF mile, where we
found new passage down the bluffs. Once
sheltered, but the snow was getting deep.
delay was dangerous. Vic and myself
pushed ahead. with instructions for the teams
to follow as rapidly as possible. Vic was in
advance and close behind. We couldn't
see 20 feet in any direction, yet we were
of anything more dangerous than the howl
ing blizzard. We had travelled about quar-
ter Of mile or perhaps more when the in
fernal bark Of an Indian dog told us only too
well what was in front Of us. Our horses
halted In their steps. The first yelp of the
Then came the sharp report of a rifle,
"Indiansp' Scarcely had the words es-
capped his lips when another shot and a bull
let's whiz was heard. They can't see us,
yet they are liable to hit at trandom. Let's
fall back and wait for the boys to come up"
I'VE fell back to the sharp bend in the bluffs
where we were safe from any shots fired
from the first position. Warn" said Vic,
"we've run onto small war party from
Standing Rock who have been out towards
the Little Missouri, and they were on their
way back when the blizzard drove them to
the very place we must go to ourselves" No
Vic there is more than war party there.
When the bucks 90 out on stealing or hair
lifting trip, they never take dogs along.
"You are right. The war party found others
camped there when they arrived. That's it,
In few minutes more we heard the teams
coming and we rode back and halted them
and told the boys what we had discovered.
One enthusiastic fellow instantly remarked
Lets dribe 'em OUT" Vic remarked, ives,
but we have first to find them" Warn
said Vic, take five of the boys and 90 up
over the bluff and see what you can see.
Keep the edge close and yov can't miss the
direction. Don't take any chances" / went
and we followed the bare edge of the bluff
until could tell | was abreast of the coal
fire. | advanced as close as l dare. The
ground was actually warm. l could see
nothing below, above or around us but snow
We returned, not without some difficulty,
and reported. "Well," said Vic, tight it is,
ard fight soon and to the death. Those muir
derous brutes could have shared the heat and
suffered nothing for their hospitality We've
,ot 20 hot fro and ha ha hiatt
If it wasn't for those internal dogs we could
surprise them easily"
''Get ready boys. One man must stay with
each team. | will lead and we will move In
single file until the blasted dogs discover us
or we run on top of the Indians. My i'm
preston is that their stock is on the other
side of the fire bluff and that we'll run into
the red devils before they know it. 1t was
only by accident that the dogs happened to
be outside, As soon as | find sure signs |
will communicate with the next man behind
and he to the next and so on to the end.
the signol you swing gradually out until we
face the direction of the bluff. / will fire
first then all fire at once. Fire low. After
the first fire all drop on your knees in the
snow with rifles level and wait the result.
We must be close enough 10 touch each other
as separation would be almost certain death
from one side or the other. Remember this
is a life or death struggle. It's the blizzard
or the Indian. Come, follow me" said Vic,
and we started.
Darkness had added its terrible terrors to
the bowling blizzard that Rugged our bodies
with its Turing chill that leads to eternity.
There were no tenderfeet lin our crowd or
towards either, but the situation of affairs,
and the expected fight in bowling blizzard
was something never dreamed of by any In
the party. Night fights are common, but
such thing as a fight in blizzard was never
heard of. | can laugh under almost any cir
cumstances, but on this occasion my desire
in that line was frozen. have put in many
a hard, rough and savage night in my fort on
nv coal mine west of Mandan, in Morton
county. against all corners and surrounded by
Indians, but the fight in the blizzard dis
counted anything ever read or dreamed Of.
Vic advanced slowly, both on account Of
the deep snow and caution. He was scarcely
80 feet distant, yet only got an occasional
glimpse of his head, as the snow opened up to
close in with firmer grip. Our eyelashes
were nearly frozen together, our hands and
feet were cold, but it was life or death in any
event. The storm seemed to mock our mis-
cry as It bowled over our head with weird,
unearthly sounds. A hand reaches back.
Halt an The time had come. My leader
gradually moved outward, | followed close.
The smell of the burning Ignite was now
distinct and our salvation by friendly bull
let or a FIRE was near, We came to halt and
had GOT our position. Every command was
Inv signs, All trying to look through the
imne5etrahle darkness and its veil of snow
W. stood ready. After Vic fired, our IL guns