Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-07-11
The LEGEND OF CROW BUTTE.
The Sioux Were outwItted, and Their Rn
emies Silently Stale ,y., -. 80,

emies silently Stole AWAY .t N,gb,
40 the victor fresh from the east the
most striking features In the landscane
OF THIS part OF the country are the buttes
ihey often bear fantastic resemblance
70 gray old battlements and tovars
ana the likeness is heightened by the
general steepness of their sides On
close examination they prove to be
only great masses OF soft, slate colored
clay, worn by wind and weather
There is a long line of these curions
formations stretching for miles east of
TINS town. They are pictlresquely
perched on the SUBMITS of the same
range of wooded hills which reaches
INTO South Dakota and gives its name
to the Pine Ridge Agency. A similar
commanding situation was chosen for
their strongholds by the barons Of me
dlHval Germany, who were little better
than robbers. if the local legends speak
truly.
few miles from this town and not
far from the large army post Of Fort
Robinson is one Of the largest and most
imposing of the group of buttes referred
to, landmark for miles around. 1t is
called Grow Butte, and thereby hangs
tale, for Grow Butte has its legend OF
fierce marauders and hairbreadth es
capes as well as the castles on the Rhine
which bear more poetic names. 1t is
an Indian story, Of course, and the cir
cumstance which it records did not
happen SO long ago but that many OF
the actors in it are still living.
A number of years ago, when this
region was sparsely settled, band Of
Crow warrors left their reservation in
Montana and northern Wyoming and
invaded the great Sioux reservation.
At that time the Sioux were scattered
all over this region as far south as the
Solomon river in Kansas. The Crows
met with little opposition at first, and
laid waste their enemy's territory until,
at Court House, in Cheyenne county.
Neb., they were surprised by warlike
party Of Sioux returning from buffalo
hunt on the Republican river. The
Crows were no match for them, and at
once beat a retreat toward their own
reservation, hotly pursued by the Sioux.
When they had reached Pine Ridge,
near the present site of Fort Robinson,
the band divided into small parties,
most of which got off safely, but one
party, finding itself hard pressed, took
refuge in high cliff about three miles
and half from the place where this
town now stands. Their position could
only be approached by precipitous paths
on the south and west sides, and these
they barricaded by telling trees across
them The fugitives had made great
mistake, however, for the Sioux at once
saw that they had caught their enemy
in trap, and laid siege with the in
tention of starving them out.
The garrison held a council of war,
at which a venerable chief named Ka-
Ku-Cha made this short but telling
speech. Il am too old to fight can
live only few moons more. shall
die for my people" He then explained
his plan of escape for the others, which
was adopted.
That night watchfires were lighted or
the southern side of the butte, where
there is a depression in the GROUND
through which they could be plainly
seen from the Sioux camp below. These
fires the old warrior kept brightly burn
ing until morning. Meanwhile the res
of the party let themselves down owe
the precipitous northern face Of thu
cliff, which had been left unguarded
by a rope made of strips of their blank
cts. The dogs, which were all left be
hind, kept up q continual bowling
which still further deceived the enemy
When the Crows had safely reached tn
prairie at the foot of the butte the.
stole the Sioux ponies and escaped.
At daybreak tbs besiegers discOvere,
how they had been cheated, an,
swarmed up the cliff 1t is said tina
they found the aged chieftain, alone OF
the highest pinnacle, chanting his dealt
song, ike the old hero he was. The
were so furious at the way in whic
they had been outwitted that they Gu
him down at once, without putting hil
through the usual preliminary torture:
So the story runs, and ever since th
place has been known as Crow Butte
Crawford (Neb.) Cor, New York TT
bune.