The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-05
INDIAN GRATITUDE.


In the fall of 1866. while | was carry
ing dispatch between two temporary
posts on the Arkansas river, and when
midway between the posts and twenty
miles from either, at the hour Of noon,
came upon an Indian lying on the ground
between two of the monot0Rous ridges
on the plains. / saw him while yet forty
rods away, and / knew that he was
dead or unconscious. Before | got to
him discovered pony tracks, and knew
that he had come there on horseback
reached the body to find it that Of a
young buck about % years old, and for
some time | believed him dead. He had
been shot through the head, as I sup
posed, as one side of it was covered with
blood, aud while sat on my horse and
looked down on him dozen or more
buzzards were sailing in the air about US,
waiting for The feast. / was rather re-
joiced that the force of hostiles was re-
duced by even one, for every Indian was
hostile in those days, and l was about
to ride on when the supposed dead man
uttered groan.
was down beside him in moment.
had bottle of brandy and canteen
of water, and when | had poured some
Of the former down his throat, and used
the latter to wash off some of the blood,
he opened his eyes and looked at me in
way to prove that he had his senses.
| could speak the Sioux dialect Ike one
born in the tribe, and presently asked !:
"Who are you, and how came you to
be in this condition."
"Why don't you kill me-" he asked in
reply
Il have no wish to harm you"
."But the white man and Indian are
enemies. We kill whenever We can"
"If / found you seeking my life l
should try to take yours. As it is, you
are almost dead, and am willing to aid
You in any way can
He looked incredulous, and composed
himself for the death blow; but as l
mixed some water and brandy and hand
Ell it to him, and again investigated the
nature Of his wound, he finally explain
ed that he was a member of Little Crows
band. The Sioux tribe, as a tribe, was
then split up into half dozen bands,
each under the leadership of a sub-chief.
He would not fully explain what had
occurred, but told me sufficient 70 enable
me to supply the rest He had attempt
ed to run off with one Of the sub-ehiefs
three wives, and had been pE-5ue,i, over
taken and left for dead The bullet had
not entered his skull, but had ploved
through the scalp clear over his head
rendering him unconscious for several
hours and making terrible wound to
look at.
took needle and thread from my
pack and brought the scalp together
and stitched it in half dozen places.
1t must have hurt him terribly. for
worked away as if mending slit in an
army blanket, but during the whole
operation he never uttered a groan.
When had his head in shape l divided
my luncheon With him and was amazed
to see what an appetite he had. As we
finished ! said:
"You are not able to travel, and if you
were YOU are defenseless. What do you
propose to do?"
Il cannot return to Little Crows band
for time, if ever he replied after
moments thought; -as my white brother
says. l am weak and without even
knife. Let him tell me bis plan
II should advise you to lie quiet near
the water hole for day or two. shall
return this way inside of two days, and
then you will be stronger. Here is one
of my revolvers TO protect yourself with.
You can also take this blanket and the
rest Of my meat and crackers. | shall
make for this spot as return, and hope
to find you
No Indian will give his feelings away
in his face if he can possibly prevent it,
but this young fellow made no effort
lie looked his amazement and incredu-
lity, and even ss he held the revolver in
his hand he stared at me as if be could
not comprehend my motive. We were
enemies had not only succored him,
but had placed in his hands weapon to
enable him to take my life. He could
not help but suspect some duplicity on
my part, until turned and rode away.
1t was O'Clock in the afternoon ofthe
third day when returned 10 the water
hole, and failed to find my young war
rior there. l waited for full hour. but
he did not show up. was going away
feeling very bitter toward him, when
discovered trail showing thst a large
war party had passed there the day be-
fore, and knew then that he had either
joined it or been driven away. The scene
of war was shifting every day, and by the
next spring had almost forgotten the
incident. The facts leaked out in one
way and another, and for time was
the butt of ridiculs of all the officers and
scouts My greenness in supposing an
Indian had any gratitude was bad enough
they said, but the idea of my giving him
food and g weapon brought down the
house
During the early part Of summer of
the next year I was detailed as one of
the guards to accompany the stages
over certain distance on the Smoky
Hill route. There were from three 70
six of US with each stage, according to
the demeanor of the Indians, who, at
times, seemed determined to prevent all
travel A skirnish of some sort was an
every day occurrence, but one after
noon, as three of as were riding ahead
of a stsse in which -ere three civilians,