Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1890-12-25
BUSHELS OF BONES.
Retreat Street Graders Uncover An
other Ancient Indian Grave
yard.
Death Of Old Fred, q Horse With a
Long and Remarkable His
tory.
News From Bennett Indicates Big
F0Ot's Crowd Has Come in
Other News.
FRoM ruEspAY,s DAILY.

FHON lUE.SDA1 .
This morning. about 1880 O'Clock, q
FREE PRESS representative strollcd out
on west Retreat street and fell into q
whole hornets nest Of items. In the first
place, just as he got on the grounds, an
old chestnut sorrcl horse in one of the
teams, suddenly dropped in his tracks
stone dead!
The horse has history, and the scribe
was directed to Frank Windlc and Ex-
press Agent Nelson to learn whatit was.
The horse was bought twelve years ago
by Windle, in Red river valley, and was
then and since known US old Erred"
Frank Windle was then stage driver
between Bismarck and Dcadwood, and he
says the horse, when he bought him. was
one of the finest animals he ever held
ribbons over.
When lie bought him he was about
twelve years old and he was afterwards
brought down to Pierre-abcut ten years
ago, and placed on the stage line from
Pierre to DcadwOod. He was lead
timers remember the stage horses of that
line were the best travellers that could be
procured. Old Fred possessed q remark
able combination of speed, strength and
duration-but in time the stage limo was
, discontinued, and the horse was sold to
Mr.. Nelson's predecessor in the express
business. When Mr.. Nelson took charge
Of the express Office he bought old Fred
and used him several years until he be-
came TOO stiff for his purpose.
The old fellow hung on to life until
some thought he had become too old and
tough todie-but today the old fellow got
TO thinking Of the palmy days when he
was yankcd on his haunctes every once
in awhile while some road agent held up
the stage, and now old and stiffened he
was brutaliy required to do tho ntenial
service of hauling dirt on Hyde's stspet
railway-and lie just dropped dead with
disgust. Frank Windle says tho old fell
low was easily q quarter Of q century old
and in his time had done enough service
TO kill dozen horses: A.
ANOTHER INDIAN CEMETERY.
After viewing the body of this famous
old horse, Mr.. Travis, who has charge Of
q number Of teams at work OH the grade,
piloted the reporter over to the top Of the
grade between Oneiia and Yankton
streets. Here q pile OF yellow bones
greeted the eye. These had been taken
out while cutting into the grade yestcr-
day.
For long time this spot and vicinity
was known to have been an old Indian
burying ground. Nothing is known OF its
history, even by cid Indians of this local
ity. Itis possibly an old burying ground
OF the Mandans, who were the first to oc-
cupy this country after the mound build
ers. The graves were some three feet
under the surface, and the bones were
fairly well preserved.
Only Two or three graves have been I'M
earthed-but the side of the hill is full OF
them-for when the cellar to Henry
Karchers residence was dug, about !.
block further up the hill, some human
bones were uncarthed.
There arc some fifty or sixty teams 1T
work in this part of the city at grading:
q portion being engaged OH Retreat street
and the balance on Yankton street. /,
block east of the Lincoln school house.