New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
THE LEGEND or CROW BUTTE.
HOW KAKU.CHA, THE OLD CHIEF, SAVED
HIS PEOPLE.
THE SIOUX WERE OUTW1TTED, AND THEiR

THE sIoUX WE'RE OUTwITTED, AND THEIR
ENEMIES SILENTLY STOLE AWAY AT NIGHT
Crawford. Neb., May Ito the visitor fresh from
tho East the most striking features in the landscape
of this pnrt Of the country the buttes. They
often hear fantastic resemblance TO gray old battle
ments and and the likeness Is heightened by
the general steepncss OF their sides. on close eN-
animation they prove to be only great masses OF n
soft slate colorcd clay worn by wind and weather.
There is a loig line OF these curious formations
stretching away for miles east OF this town They
are plcturesquely pcrched the SUBMITS OF The
same range OF wooded hills which reaches into son'h
Dakota and gives its to the Pine Ridge Agency
A similar commanding situation was chosen Tor 'hcr
strongholds by the barons OF medieval Germany
who were little better than robbers. II the local
legends speak truly.
A few miles from this town and not far from INC
large army post of Fort Robinson is one of the largest
and most imposing of the group Of butes referred TO-
landmark for miles around. II is called Crow bn'pc,
and thereby hangs tale, for Crow Butte has us Heeha
Of fierce marauders and harbreadth escapes u "ei'
as the castles on the Rhine which bear more poc,'o
Names II is an Indian story OF course, ana u'c
circumstance which it records did not happen SO iohs
ago hut that many Of the actors in il are stu lVhs'
Judge E. s. Nesbit one Of the pioneers In tihs part
of tho country and A. 7. Bodine, the former eh"r-
prising young editor Of Tho CrawioN ii"eS'
believe that this account, which Is based on VIVA.
the Indians told Judge Nesbitt, is true III al o'''
particulars.
A number " years ago. when this region was
sparscv settled a band Of Crow warriors lett thcir
reservation in Montana and Northern Wyoming ana
invaded the great sioux Reservation. ~ that uhle
the sioux were scattered all over TINS region AZ iar
met with little opposition at first, ana InI" "95,o
cnemy's territory until. at Court House IN ,heSctc
Comfy Nebraska thcy surprised Dy "hHnc
party Of siouX returning from buffalo NUM- %' u t
Republican River The Crows were no match lOI
a., at boat II rel
reservation holly pursued 10y the sionA. Mhen ",
lad reached Pine Ridge near the present site OF l0ft
Robinson the band divided into small arte. mos %,
messed took refuge in hig cliG about three miles
and half from the place where tis ,o",i nov S ,
nmtis rr,e south and west sides. and these they
barrlcadcd by Telling trees across them me iapI'
Iad made grave mistake. however. for the Sioux ~
once saw that they had caught their enemy In trap.
and laid siege with the intention 81 Starving '''c''
out ,, -. .r 8, which \
venerable chief named Ka-Ku.Cha made tins short
but telling speech - am toe on 10 hen can h.s
lie then explained his plan Of escape for tie Others
which WAS adopted ,,H., -. .,o s<,,,o-r
side of the butte where there Is depression IN inc
ground through which they could he plainly sen ,n
from the sioux camp below ihe1 eornInr Mean.
hiIc the rest OF tho party let themselves down over
thc PERCEPTIONS northern face Of the ch whlch had
feen left unguarded by rope made oi silp3 OF ,he
iionlnts me dogs which were al left behind kent
m continual bowling. which still further deceived
the enemy When the Crows Lad safely reached the
marie nj The foot Of the butte they stole the sioux
VoIt aavhreok the besicgcrs discovered how they
nod len cheated and swaimcd mp the cliN II is
eaid that they fond the aged chcfin alone ON tne
highest pinnacle chanting his dcahsone Ike inc oil
whcb they had been outwiitcd that they cut him
down al once without putting him through the n'na'
so the Story runs and ever since the place has been
| known as Crow Butte