The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-28
rasr was soon nnlsnen.

see few deer running Tor cover 10 the Will
lows by the stream. Now and then a
grouse rose before me and few rapidly
away. Resisting all temptation to shoot
at anything / walked steadily on.
Climbing hill l sat on a rock and mus
| ingly gazed at the vast plains to the north
east, at the foothills Of the range and at
the rugged. rocky range beyond l love
the Rocky mountains, and never tire of
their face wasted hours in looking and
in thinking of the many tales had heard
of the range.
When the sun was high above me L
started for the willows. There / neatly
shot the heads off of six grouse. Then
Jointing a light trout pole l whipped the
clear pools of the south fork of the Teton.
and was soon rewarded by string of fine
half pound trout. Then came the pleasant
walk back through the cool dry air and
over the crispy grass of the north. What
q luxury life was in the valley of the Teton
| turned my spoils over to the smiling In
dian woman who acted as cook for Burr.
The rest of the day spent on horseback
running antelope with lot of half blood
Indians. At 8 O'Clock supper was eaten.
The sherry was brought out, and l scat
tered on the table hAndful, my last, OF
Rosa Conchas that had never paid duty,
and as we sat smoking Burr told me this
story;
''In the fall of 1868 I thought It might be
profitable to start trading post in the
Yellowstone valley. Learning from the
Blackfeet that the Sioux were camped on
the south side of the river, determined to
ride over and see what arrangements I
could make with them.
81 crossed the Belt mountains, and rid
ing down the valley was soon at their
camp, on the north side of the river. they
on tie south. / sat on my horse and hailed
the camp. No answer. / could see plenty
of Indians walking about, and again I
hailed. No answer. / shouted myself
hoarse, and the only notice taken of me
was by an old buck, who walked to the
river bank, looked at me, made an insult
ing gesture and slowly walked off. went
there to trade, and, having got angry at
the treatment, though well knew that /
ought to leave the valley at once, l, like a
fool, resolved to cross the stream and brave
the danger.
$50 l forded and rode into camp. spoke
to no one, no one spoke to me. The sullen
braves turned their backs on me as rode
up the street. The young girls looked curl
ously at me. Riding slowly along cooled
rapidly. / saw that was not wanted, and
at last fully realized that was in dan
ger. did not dare to ride to the south, out
of the camp, nor did have courage enough
to attempt tie recross the river.
before me stood q great tent made Of
buffalo skins. 1t was the largest had
ever seen. halted, dismonnted and stood
silently at my horses head. No one noticed
me. Indians went past mo apparently not
seeing me. At last young woman came
and stood before me. go
Looking right into my eyes she said:
What do you want2'
81 looked her coldly in the face, and
made no reply.
Smiling she asked;
what brings you herei'
Steadily gazed into her eyes and was
voiceless.
''She left me and disappeared into the
great lodge.
soon an Indian warrior in full paint,
with bow and strung arrow in his hands,
came to me. Speaking Blackfoot he said:
"'Why are you in this camp?'
"To him / replied 1 wish to trade with
you More men came. They took my
horse, and Selling hold of my arm they led
me into the great lodge. Here | was seated
and a council was held. 1 sat and listened
to them talk of what it was best to do with
so presumptuous a white man.
"Some were in favor of trading The large
majority of Indians were in favor of tor
turing me. lt was soon decided that |
should be tortured, and they sat and dis
cussed the many methods. After two
days talk it was decided to burn me. |
was in strange condition mentally. |
would listen to a plan of torture as though
it was some other man they were talking
about, and | would comment to myself on
that plan as giving the chap but little
chance for his life. But when the dusky
brave who talked Blackfoot told me that
was to die by fire the next day / under
stood perfectly that | was the man they
had been talking about. and replied, L
know it,
clustering around me they asked IL /
had understood all the talk. Yes, had
The why not answer the maiden when
she spoke to you" 4 came, not to talk to
sauaws. but to trade with men, No use.
| could do nothing By soft talk, and hav-
ing played my hand finally resigned my
self to my fate.
81 noticed that the girl who had first
spoken to me in front Of the lodge was
watching me. She would quickly glance
at me, and then drop her eyes on the buck
skin shirt she was embroidering with Crow
hair. Several times | noticed this, and
once | replied with smile.
"The lodge emptiel. All were gone ex-
cept the girl. She quickly came to my
side, apparently TO refold some buffalo
robes. and in a whisper said: You are to
die to morrow. Tonight / will have the
pest horse in the camp saddled and stand
ing on the outside OF the lodge. | will have
the tent cut from the outside. You jump
through, mount and ride for your life
You may escape. You will burn if you
stay Then, with smile: The mare is
mine She is the fastest animal in the val
ley of the Yellowstone. give her TO you
she left me, and quickly resumed her
work As she wove the hair of many Crow
scalp locks into the shirt | sat looking
thankfully at her She never looked at
me again. As saw a chance for nay life
my heart beat so loudly that thought it
would be heard / Gained my face and
waited. / ate fairly of supper. | smoked
pipe. All were very kind and attentive
to ne. Night was passing away, and still
the Indians fingered. looking at the man
they were 10 burn on the morrow.
Il leaned back AGAINST the tent TO rest
myself, when felt hand gently pushing
me forward Sitting whistling l felt I ne
point OF a knife come through and strike
my neck. ! aid not finch. | could feel
the blood trickie down my back. / coull
feel the knife carefully drawn down until
il hit the ground. Still whistling / waited,
ny heart humping, my blood on fire