Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-03-20
A SCOUTS ADVENTURE
In the Days WheH the CHEYENNE
Indians We're ON the
Nar-path.
ProVidential Escapes and Bloody Bat,
ties Between the Red Men and
Government Employees.

Government Employees.
The position Of Government scout and
! post rider at Fort Wallace in 1867 may be
| Judged from the fact that no less than
tour attacks in force were made bv the
Gheyennes on that fort during the summer.
! The place was a small collection of nuts.
| with nothing whatever in the shape of a
fort, and for a distance Of 200 miles the
stage stations were wiped out. one after
another, and the post thus isolated. In
May, 1877, when the campaign opened.
there were seven of MS. When the first
snow came in the fall was the only one
! left. The other six had been wired out
in the line of duty. We were not only re-
! qulred to scout the country about Fort
| Wallace, but sometimes to make ride of
/ 2OO miles to other forts or posts, and 10
! keep open the line of communication be-
tween the temporary camps. The Indians
were making their last fight, and they
were never so vigilant, cruel and cunning.
When the first attempt was made TO re-
establish the stage route a small body Of
| soldiers was left at each station. Each
| station was provided with a dug-out.
| which was an excavation or pit rooted
over and provided with water and
| PORTFOLIOS We're left for firing. and four
men, ensconced in one Of these pits. often
! proved too manv for lgG b,oodthirsty red
! skins. | bad a route covering three of
! these stations for some weeks, and there
was not an hour in the twenty-four nor a
mile Of the route, which did not have its
own peril,
One afternoon about the lst of June.
/ about POO Indians appeared within mile
of the fort. INDUCED in extravagaut dem
strations of defiance and contempt for the
! few soldiers guarding the post. and drew
off just before dark. This was before the
stage stations had been abandoned, and at
dark ! was posted off TO warn the first two
/ that the enemy was out in force 1t was "a
calm, starlight night, with a crisp air and
! a horse and rider could be seen pistol
shot away. believed the whole body of
! Indians to be between the fort and the
/ first station, but the only precautions |
could take was to bear away and make a
quarter-clrcle. hoping to flank them that
way. Six miles from the fort as brought
my horse down to "a walk ON reaching a
stretch Of broken ground. rode
RIGHT IN AMONG THE INDIANS.
who had strung out across the stage route
| for half a mile on either side. came up
on the line rs it was debouching from a
/ dry gulch and 50 suddenly that ! saw the
| horses close ahead Of me before | caught
| the slightest sound of their near presence.
Owing to the nature Of the ground the line
was very irregular, and all the ponies
! We're on a walk. For a long ten minutes
! ! rode within fifteen feet of three Indians
who were on the right of the line, and who
| had only to turn their heads to discover
| that | did not belong to the party. They
were smoking and talking and gave memo
attention. When we came to the foot of
a rise ! checked my horse and let them
pass on ont of sight, and then. bearing off
to the right, ! made a detour and gained
the trail ahead of them and pushed on.
\ month later, when passing between
/ stations, had an escape which seemed to
show the hand of Providence The stages
! had then ceased running but the dugOuts
were being held by the employees, and |
was carrying orders and extra ammmi-
| ton We had seen no Indians during the
afternoon, and the night came on dark and
rainy. ! got away d. soon rs darkness
| had come, and keeping TO the left Of the
! trail did uot attempt TO 90 beyond a walk.
! | had covered about half the distance when
| / heard the movement of horses in front of
| me. and at once came to a halt In about
| two minutes ! was surrounded by Indian
ponies, which had been turned out to
craze on the scantv feed and some of
which were hobbled. Had it been a clear
night they would have moved away from
me. but the dampness and darkness seem
/ ed to take the spirit out OF them. at
once dismounted, and had scarcely done SO
when the herd wedged me closer, and !
| heard the voice of an Indian on my left call
out in the Cheyenne dialect
Are you trying TO drive them over
me while catch a little sleep?
They move because they are hungry,
replied a voice right in front Of me.
! They we're the sentnels of the herd.
The war party were no doubt in the basin
ahead of me and between me and the sta
| ton. stood there holding my horse for
| fully ten minutes. and by that time ! was
quite alone for the ponies had no sooner
! cot my scent than they began to draw
away. passed 10 the right step BY step.
and almost foot by foot and when ! had
gone half mile ! got into gully and fol-
/ lowed If up until felt that | must be be-
vond the party TO whom the ponies belong
ed Such proved to be the case. as |
reached the station without further Incl
dent. found am abode house and barn
and dugout. and there We're five employees
of the stage company. Each had a spen
Ger carbine and two reyolyers, and fixed
ammunition had brought up the men in
rood spirits. They hoped the Indians
would make an attack, as everything was
now ready for them and 1t was hardly
sunrise for them when the hope was graft
fed. The red men conld approach ms
within half mile under cover Of the gull
lies and washouts. and after that they
showed themselves.
| THEY FIRST TRIED TR1cKERY
as an Indian always does when he fails to
surprise. A warrior advanced with q
white handkerchief tied in stick and his
right arm held up. He came boldly for
ward within pistol shot and went out
to meet him He proved to be a sub-chief
named Little Feather. and as we met he
I ,,-4.,. dad lis hand and said ia = very good