The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-12
YELLOW-HAND'S SCALP.
How 1t Came to bangle at Buffalo BiIrs
Belt.

Perhaps the greatest experience of
Buffalo BilPs life was the killing of
Yellow-Hand, a famous Cheyenne
Chief. and the consequent naming of
| War Bonnet Greek in Wyoming from
that circumstance. When Gen. Crook
was serenadIng the Sioux tribe with
bullets in the summer of 1876 Buffalo
Bill was his wagon master and chief
of scouts. A courier had come into
Crooks camp with the intelligence
that. young Sitting-Bull had broken
away from Red Cloud Agency with 800
fighting bucks and was then on the
way to join old Sitting-Bull up
here in Montana Territory, while
Yellow-Hand, the big Chief of the
Cheyennes, had also left his agency
without permission, with 800 warriors,
bound north on a similar erraud.
Troops were out securing the country
in every direction, Crooks particular
business being to reach Running
Water, follow ON to Rawhide Greek,
cross plateau to Indian Greek, and
there meet and crush Yellow-Hand or
drive him back to the agency
Arriving on the plateau mentioned
clouds of Indians could be seen far
away in the dim distance, and one of the
officers predicted that everybody in the
civilized command would be killed.
There were five companies of infantry
and one troop of cavalry, the latter
making detour and coming around
ahead of the wagon-train in line of
battle, while the mule whackers were
ordered to dismount and fight by their
mules. All this took time At last
the red men drew quite near, when
from their hosts rode out in front of
the lines, halting midway, a magnif-
Gently equipped and gaudily decorated
Indian, his handsome war bonnet filled
with eagles feathers trailing behind,
and shining Winchester rifle resting
on the angle of his arm. He proudly
sat his on steed and surveyed the pale
faces with insolence and scorn. Then.
uttering war whoop of defiance, the
chieftain raised his rife fired one shot
at his enemies. The challenger was
Yellow-Hand. His riding forth alone.
delivering but single shot, and that
in the face of his enemies, the uttering
of defiant war whOop-all this meant
nothing more OF less than a challange
to duel. Was there no one among
all those white soldiers to take up the
gauntlet so defiantly thrust at themP
For moment everything was still;
not a sound was heard; the Indian
meanwhile striding majestically be-
fore them and awaiting the result of
his shot. Then all at once from the
white mems lines dashed a single
horseman with his rifle carried at a
ready, who rode obliquely along the
front of the line, then turning sudden
ly toward the champion standing alone
and ready to receive him. Troops and
Indians watched with interest the out
come of the fight, for it meant a duel
to the death. Yellow-Hand started
his pony galloping in circle. lying
far on the opposite side, according to
aboriginal style of fighting from horse
back, and fired shot after shot quickly
and rapidly at his pale-faced adversary.
Buffalo Bill sat on his steed like
Centaur and only pulled the trigger
when there was some reason for it,
preferring not to waste a shot unless
there was some chance of hitting.
the circle became smaller,
and the faster Yellow-Hand fired his
always loading his
and manipulating his piece
while lying longside his flying animal.
When the distance had been lesssned
W dbOul 1OO ydiuSB anu HuCH DuuH10
Bill had been grazed more than once
by his enemy's lead, the latter sudden
ly halted his horse, took a quick and
accurate aim at the circling pair, and
pulled the trigger. Down went the
rider and steed, rolling over in the
dust, both of them shot to the death.
Rusing forward, the white scout leaped
from his horse, and, whipping out a
long keen hunting knife, scalped the
great warrior in full sight of both
armies.
With the loss of their leader the
spirit of the Indians was broken. They
could not fight after that calamity, the
scalping of their favorite chief utterly
and teetotally breaking their savage
hearts. They gave up the scheme Of
joining the other hostiles in Montana
and hurried back to their own agency,
scattering provisions and plunder by
the way. That night the troops
camped in Indian Greek, and in honor
of Buffalo Bills great achievement
and handsome trophy taken from
Yellow-Hand's head, the name was
changed from Indian Greek to War
Bonnet Greek, which latter title it still
bears. Cleveland Leader.