The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-09-06
BRAVE BUCKSKIN JOE.
A Few Incidents in the Life OF 6
Noted Pioneer.
lie Cowed Five Hundred Indians Who
Were Spelling Tor a Fight by Single
Blow-CooIness Under Try
ing Circumstances.

The probable opening of the great
Sioux reservation for settlement this
year has set the tongues of the hardy
old pioneers living hereabcut to
wagging, and, as consequence. some
interesting and hitherto unwrittcn
gossip of the early history of this
section is coming to light.
There arc many noted char
acters living in Pierre. Celebrated
Indian chiefs occasionally come to this
point. Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, John
Grass, Little Grow, Bull Ghost and
many other equally noted Indians are
we'll known here.
Colonel Reed is one OF the most
celebrated characters now living in
Dakota He had led q most exciting
life. For upwards of thirty years he
was by turns scout, ireighter. guide
and "bull-whacker. For several years
he was employed by Paxton, the mill
ionaire On aha man, who held the Gov
ernmcnt contract for furnishing cattle
to the Indians. Reed was Paxton's
trusted lieutenant on the border
Whenever there was trouble among
the Indians at any agency. making it a
hazardous undertaking to even drive
the cattle to them, though it was for
the redskins own subsistence, Colonel
Reed was the man picked out to COM
mand the expedition. He never made
an unsuccessful trip. though he and his
men had several hair breadth escapes
from being massacred.
Colonel Reed once gained signal
victory over Bull Ghost and his entire
tribe. Bull Ghost had upwards OF five
hundred fighting braves under his
command, and Colonel Reed was
backed by one white man and a negro.
1t all came about in this way. John
Dillon, q giant Hibernian, was en-
ployeq by the Government as the boss
farmer for the Indians established
along Grand river twenty years ago
The ''boss farmer" is the representa-
tive of the Indians as well as of the
Government in the matter of receiving
and furnishing rations to the reds at
the different agencies. Dillon was a
notorious drunken bully. He made
life a dreary waste for PaXton's men
every time the cattle were brought to
the Grand river section for slaughter
He always made it a point to brow
beat the chief "bull-whackcr" if he
had to knock him out Sullivan fashion
in order to get the upper hand. He
had the Indians at his back, so that in
time he had every thing pretty much
his own way in that section. He
cheated his contractors in weights,
and in some instances stole their cattle
outright. and the receipts went into
his own pocket. He was even more
successful ip defrauding tho ignorant
red men. Things finally came to such
q pass that Paxton could not get any
man to assume command of his cattle
for the Grand river territory. Colonel
Reed had been In command OF other
expeditions, but was finally asked to
take charge of the Grand river train.
II don't want to change my terri
tory he said to Paxton, "unless it is
absolutely necessary"
well, it is necessary" returned
Paxton. THAT man Dillon has got to
be cleaned out, and you are the only
( man I've got that is capable OF doing
it,"
Colonel Reed reached the principal
point in the G rand river district about
three weeks later
Dillon was drunk that duy, and at
once opened up on Reed.
T The latter. with two or three of his
men, had stepped into the Government
store at the agency. and they were
closely followed by Dillon.
"Say, will yez have drink?' was
the first greeting received from the
Irish giant.
4 s.No, thanks, was Reeds quiet re-
ply. :,
well, be jabbers, you'll drink wid
me Or fight" shouted the whisky
crazed brute.
Reed made no reply. Dillon glow
cred at him an instant and then reached
out his immense arms to grasp Reed
by the neck. His reach was short. A
moment lator he raised his head from
the hard floor in a semi-dazed condi'
/. tion. Reeds immense fist had put
him TO sleep" The blow landed
squarely between the big bully's eyes.
Dillon sprang to his feet and attempt
ed to pull lis revolver. Reeds sledge'
hammer ti,t shot out again and the
lrishman took a long nap when he