Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-08-20
INDIAN WAR HISTORY.
"OId Dakota" and their Contemporaries
in the EARLY Part OF the Present Gen.

BY CREEP EASY, oF CALAMITY FARM,
[Continuad f ON last week
IL relating the account OF Crazy
Bulls disastrous adventure, on the
banks of Dogsteeth creek, Old Dakota
narrated in substance, the following IN
fereetipg stcry.
While this wer party were encamped
in a secluded place on a high divide be
tween the north fork OF the Cannon Ball
river and Dogsteeth creek, which over
looked the great trail that lead from
Lodge Pole hills to the Missouri, look
ing for an opportunity to surprise any
small party of the enemy that might be
travelling over that thoroughfsre, they
ran out OF provisions and sent out young
Crazy Bull to hunt for game. Striking
down through q narrow defle in the
hills toward the north he passed into an
open valley. Wishing to avoid being
seen by any enemy that might possibly
be travelling on the great trail he turned
to the left into a forest Of young timber
and about noon reached the banks OF the
creek. Going along q mile or two he
discovered fresh signs OF buffalo. Being
q good hunter and understanding the
nature of the animals he was after, he
cautiously worked his way through the
underbrush and canebrake that grew
along the margin of the stream. Turn-
ing a bend of the creek he espied q fine
looking buffalo bull lying down Under
the leeward side of q hill basklng in the
sun. He crept up on the windward side
OF the animal to within thirty or forty
yards of him and drawing his bow shot
an arrow into what he considered his
most vital spot. The shot Was an ,ndif-
ferent one and only wounded the animal
in the side, but it only reused him, and
crossing the creek the bull took to the
woods. Crazy Bull was an experienced
hunter and had killed q great many
buffaloes and knew their temper in
every sort OF situation. He knew that
those ANIMALS when in large herds we're
easily mastered, but was we'll aware that
when wounded and alone they were
logged and dangerous.
he therefore followed his prey eau
tiously, for about q mile when the ami.
NAL laid down again. But the bull,
being suspicious, rose before the hunter
came neal enough to shoot, and after
going q short distance stopped; and the
Indian got within forty or fifty yards
of him, watching an opportunity to
strike him mortally. The beast seeing
his enemy so near wheeled around, facing
him, and dropping his huge shaggy
head down close to the ground, as is the
custom when attacking one another
sullenly stood his ground. With
his massive head lowered and his black
horns which curved out of q mass oil
shaggy hair presented to his assailant.
his mouth open and tongue ont, HE eyes
glowing v%enomously and bis tufted tai
flashing his sIdes-sll made him look 6
terrible picture of mingled q g and
despair. The Indian, seeing the tenn
per the animal was in, and knowing
what q serious antagonist he was when
aroused, shot another arrow into the
enraged animal as he was advancing
upon HIM, and Immediately turned and
fed.
In running down q short incline he
caught his foot In some grape vines and
fell headlong to the ground. The on.
ragged animal Hanged ct him as he came
laundering past, struck him On the
heshy part of the hip with one OF his
horns, elightly woundipg him. Before
the beast could wheel round upon him
again, he rose and made q push for o
large tree that stood nea him. A few
feet from the tree grew q sspling four or
five inches in diameter, which fortunate
circumstance materially contributed
towards saving his life. The buffalo
now followed up his purpose Of destroy
ing his adversary and 9 system Of at
tack and defense commenced that is
perhaps without parallel. The wound.
ed bull pursued him round and round
the tree, jumping at him in the pecn-
liar manner of that animal when he
reasons there is a chance OF hitting
the object of his fury, whilst the Indian,
grasplng the tree with his arms, swung
himself roano it with greater rapidity
than the animal could follow.
In this manner the buffalo continued
to hsrass him more than an hour, anti
his hands became 30 sore with rubbing
against the rough bark Of the tree, and
his limbs 30 fatigued that he became
disheartened. In going around the tree
the buffalo would sometimes pass be-
tween it and the sapling; but the dis
tance between them Was 80 narrow that
it Inconvenience the pursuer, espec
tally when he wanted to make his jumps
at his adversary. He therefore FREE
quently went round the sspling instead
OF passing between it and the larger
tree, consuming more time and thus
enabling the young hunter to breathe
aad consider how he should defend
himself.
After more than sn hour OF fruitlesl
labor The bull seemed to have lost hi
pristine vIgor, q became allow In hi!
motions; he would make hie short STOP
preparatory to his Jump at his foe ant
doubtipgly, as il he saw that his efforts