Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-08
IN THE Wild west.

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Directly following the close OF
the Indian campaign in which the
gallant Custer lost his life, there
vas q year of dangerous peace on
the frontiers. | mean by that that
while the redskins were supposed
TO have been thrashed into sub
mission, and while they were ap'
parently at peace, they lost no op'
portunity to murder helpless peo-
nile. The whites were bound by
honor to observe the peace and to
trust them to a certain limit, and,
knowing this, the more dissatisfied
bucks took every advantage.
| was still in the employ of the
government as a scout and rider,
and it was my luck to bring about
the capture of four bucks who were
guilty of numbering an old man.
They we're awaiting trial. When a
Young warrior named Black Ser
pent, who was the son of one OF
the arrested meD, sent me word
that he would have my life in re-
yenge. was Stationed at Fort
HAYS. and he sent word IN by a
trader. Black Serpent was an
Apache, and was described to me
as being about tyenty-three years
of age, strong, fltet and as cunning
as a fox. did not know him by
sight, while he doubtless had the
advantage ofkrowlng me. In two
or three instances when such mes
sages had been brought in they
were accompanied by the further
information that the sender would
be at a certain place at certain
hour. The recipient has his choice
to show up and kill or be killed in
fair exchange of shots, or return
the message IN contempt'and take
his chances Of being assasslnated.
Black Serpent gave me no alterna-
tive. He meant to catch me of
my guard aud kill me.
{ While it wasn't very pleasant to
have such a threat hanging over a
man, did not worry much about
it. Indeed, 1t was the habit of
every scout to take all possible
precautions anyhow. l simply
felt that I had the right, he having
sent me the message, to shoot the
Young buck on sight, and as for
what he was going to do, left
that all to him.
About a week later l was called
upon to make ride of about sey-
enty miles to camp on the Smoky
Hill stage route, and as l was
ready to set ont several of my
friends came to me and cautioned
me to lookout for Black Serpent,
who had been seen the day before
about ten miles from the fort and
directly on the route | should
travel. According to the terms of
surrender he should have been
under supervision at the agency,
dishorsed and dlsarmed, but here
he was, galloping about on a pony,
armed with a Winchester and a
navy revolver, and lying in wait to
do murder. was as ready as 1
could be TO encounter him. had
the same firearms and splendid
horse, and unless he ambushed me
he would have no odds in his favor.
So far as animal cunning goes
the American Indian has no su-
perior on earth. He is quick of
ear and vision, keen to take in a
situation, and he reasons pretty
well up to a certain point. Novel
lists have, however, elevated him
too high. A white man who has
been trained in the Indian cOun.
try can see, hear or smell just as
keenly, run just as fast, shoot bet
ter, go without food or water just
as long, and when it comes to
"fguring" he can beat the sharpesi
redskin by a length. I don't say
this because / had to fgure agains
Black Serpent, but because hav'
seen it proved. in fifty instances
When an Indian plots against
W hite man he plots something Il
be executed under cover of dark
ness. While my route lay over
I louely and broken country, smal
/, detachmenls OF soldiers we're shift
ing about, and l reasoned tha
Black Serpent would hardly tax
D the chances of ambush. The re
. port Of his gun might be heard, o
he might miss me in shooting, 0
be might be seen in the locality
the deed and suspected of it,
B While he would have an OpportS
= nifty at every mile of the journe
, to shoot at me frem behind rock Q
! ambush or ridge, / rode alOn
, without special vigilance, arguin
for reasons rbOve given, that b
wonId not dare do il.