Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-06
4 PIONEER SKETCH.

In the Indian territory that ! met Two
Bellies He had only lately returned
from an enforced visit to Florida, where
he had been sent a few years before Tor
robbing soldier on pay day.
On his return the agent suggested that
be 90 10 work on the agency farm aicng
with half dozen other braves, who
were trying TO follow the white mans
methods. But Two Bellies. in acquiring
knowledge. had been equally careful to
forget nothing. One thing he remem-
bered with remarkable clearness- was
that manual labor, under any and all cir
cumsrances, was something beneath q
warrior.
After hanging around the post awhile,
he drifted out into the range and found
temporary home in the Crazy Mule
village. near which was stationed as q
lime rider"
Though had never met him, had a
fair idea of Two Bellies appearance
from the description the squaws and pap
pooses had given the. and, as sat srnok-
ing in front of my ''te-pe" one evening
and saw a buck approaching. the moment
nv ewes rested upon him felt certain
tina, it was the celebrated exile.
His costume was striking one. even
in this land Of striking costumes. On
his head was a straw hat. with alternate
bands running from the crown to the
edge of the brim; a calico shirt OF gaudy
color, cut might shirt style, split from
the collar down, and pinned at the lower
extremities with small flag: a pair Of
army pants worn entire) hid his lower
limbs; on his feet, calf skin moccasIns
with the hair on. and to cap it all, a
black corset that did not meet by half q
dozen inches. completed an outfit that
would have attracted attention any
where.
After shaking hands he stepped back
and drew his hands across his stomach,
accom- panying the movement with q
whining sound, and by this pantoinime
known to all cowboys announced that
he was hungry Having on hand some
stale bread and pot of beans OF which
had grown suspicious, | told him TO help
himself Watching him clean up every
thing in sight, ! came 10 the conclusion
that no matter how much his parents
had erred in other matters, they had
certainly hit the nail on the head in
naming one of their offspring. He
finally arose, let out his belt hole or
two. borrowed cigarette, shook hands
again, and in a few minutes l saw the
flag fluttering down the trail that led to
the village was not much sur
prised to see Two Bellies next morn
ing, accompanied by three congenial
friends, with their usual following
of dogs, approaching the ''teepe." With
a wave of the hand, that included bucks
and dogs, as well as a mule | had sad
died. he said; Me sisters Ned Chuck
away, want some.
Throwing as much sarcasm as possible
into my voice. told him was sorry to
disappoint the ladies, but, owing to an
unexpected run on the larder last night,
this boarding house was closed.
then rode off, leaving them tighten
ing their belts and preparing to move on
plum thicket. On my return in the
afternoon found Two Bellies on guard.
A small pile OF firewood and fresh
bucket of water indicated that he was
trying to regain the favor he had lost by
HIS needless action in the morning. ]
then explained to him my orders from
headquarters in regard to feeding his
people. and he, in return, said that Crazy
Mule was dieting his followers on dog
meat. preparing for feast and dance
soon to be held. and. while he had no OBJ
lection to the festivities, during his con-
tinement he had lost his appetite for that
dish. q thought this pity. for with his
capacity he could very materially have
reduced the canine census.)
| promised, however, to fill him up
once day, and in return he was to keep
me supplied with wood and water, and
bring up my mount of horses for me
every afternoon. This little arrangement
was destined to be broken up, and from
an unexpected quarter.
Crazy Mule. who in addition to his du-
ties as chieftain of this particular vii
lage. was also head medicine man" for
the surrounding villages, soon heard Of
it. and his jealousy was aroused. Indian
though he was. his heart yearned for the
flesh pots of the pale face" and if any
eating was to be done he proposed to
have hand in it himself. This, in con-
nection with the remark that Crazy
Mule had the largest practice and the
largest graveyard of any medicine man
in the tribe (said witticism being at
tributed to Two Bellies), aroused the
passions of the old man, and, in the lam
guage of the cowboys, he fired Two Bel
lies, and fired him bodily.
On the morning of his departure from
the village, Two Bellies stopped and told
me of his troubles, winding up by say
ing: May be SO, pretty soon, long time
come, things even up"
From this judged that sooner or later
he intended to square accounts.
Not long after this event, went south
on COW hunt, to he gone a couple of
months. From time to time rumors
reached us of an effort being made by a
syndicate composed of various cattle
companies to lease the Cheyenne reser-
walton. On our return to headquarters,
we found the whole tribe in an uproar,
and discussing the proposition. which
was soon to be submitted to vote. In
the thickest of the fight, in fact the rec
ognized leader of the anti leasers was
Crazy Mule. With knowledge born Of
bitter experience, he knew that any
scheme having for one Of its chief OBJ
jects the advancement" Of the Indian,
should be examined into, especially il
the chief promoters of that scheme were
their ancient enemy, the cattlemen. In
the proposed lease he saw the entering
wedge that was to divide their reserva-
ton and turn over to the white man
their last foothold on earth.
The agents Of the syndicate, early in
the skirmish, recognized that it would
be impossible to win him over. His
hatred of the pale face and his determi-
nation, when once his mind was made up,
had long since passed into a proverb
They feared his influence, for his ability
Is an orator had been proven in many
councils in the past, and on the lease
question he was fighting with courage
born of despair" ue worked upon the
Unborn hatred of his followers toward the
whites. and conjured them, as they loved
their homes, to resist, even to bloodshed,
the proposition.
As the vote would be close, those who
had the matter in charge determined to
make inroads on Crazy Mules personal
followers by the liberal use Of the al
mighty dollar. The only difficulty was
to find some one bold enough to carry
out this plan and distribute the needful.
In looking about them their eyes rested
on Two Bellies. and in him they found
one not only willing but anxious "to