Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-11-21
OUTLAWED By The INDIANS
Narrative of the Government Scout
Who Fell Into DiSrepute Among
the Indians.
A Story OF Indian Warfare in Which
the GINNING of the Savage is
Displayed.
Thrilling Tale of a Chase and Ulti-
mate Escape-Lo's Desire for
Revenge.

In the fall of 1866, while was attached
to Fort Hayes as a government scout and
dispatch rider, the Sioux and Cheyennes
were consolidating for the war which
opened In the spring. Bands of strag
gers were riding about the country, steal
ing and numbering whenever opportunity
offered, and one day in October, while re-
turning to the fort from d long ride to the
north after some missing horses, | en-
countered one of these predatory bands.
it numbered twelve men, and son of the
Cheyenne chief known as Pawnee Killer,
was In command While war had not
been declared, and while the Indians did
not hesitate to appear at the forts and
trading posts, some one was beng butch
cred every day | had been ON the watch
for providers, and was as well prepared as
lone man could be- | had a Winchester
and two revotvers, and the only drawback
was that | had found two of the horses
and had them with me. As they would
not drive, | had roped them together and
then made them fast to my saddle.
was skirting long, narrow ridge,
badly broken by outcroppings Of rocks,
and the time was o clock IN the afternoon.
All of a sudden | caught sight of Indians
about half a mile away coming up the same
side of the ridge Indeed, ] heard them
yelling before | saw them, and turned
sharp to the left and forced the horses up
the ridge among mass of bOulders and
outcrOpping. The redskins caught sight
of me as | went up, but did not immedi-
ately approach. | could see tnat they were
confused, and dozen or more shots were
tired, and | was puzzllng oven the matter
when | heard some one Gathering over the
stony ground, and next moment white
man jumped down beside me and ex-
claimed:
Stranger, for Ged's sake stand EN- off
until can get my wind They are Chey-
ennes, and have killed my brother!'
Three young bucks ON foot, had been in
chase of the fugitive, and they were with
in 200 feet of me as rose up. The leveed
rifle brought them to sudden halt, and
after gazing at me for moment they turn
ed and descended the ridge to join the rest
of the band. My visitor lay down, and 1t
was five minutes before he could get breath
to explain.
Stampeded from our emlgrant camp on the
Saline Fork. This was yesterday, and
about a mile below here they had gone into
| made break. Give me your revolver,
for they'l be sure to charge us.
gave him one of the weapons, and soon
after an Indian appeared on the foot of the
ridge, made signs of peace, and asked for
| a talk. Those on the level below me drew
| away about forty rods to convince me that
they meant fair, and left my shelter and
advanced few PAGES to ask the errand of
the Young warrior. While | was thus en-
gagged the man behind me was rolling
the loose rocks together to strengthen the
position.
The redskin said he came to demand a
prisoner. They had no quarrel with me,
but the prisoner had shot one of their num-
Der In cold blood and must die. They only
asked for justice. | had their word that
| might ride away in safety, but the pris-
Oner they would have at any sacrifice. 1
did not wait an instant before replying
that the man would not be given up and
that | was ready for any move on their
part to take HIM The buck had left his
rifle behind him and was also apparently
unarmed. As matter of fact each of us
had revolver. We were about half PTS
toll shot apart and as | gave him my ulti-
matum he half turned whipped out a re-
volver, and fred a bullet which passed
within half an inch of my head. Then he
uttered yell aud started to run, but he
was too late My bullet struck him under
the right arm and went clear through
him, and he fell and curled up By a boulder
to die.
The situation was understood by the In
dams below me almost instantly, and the
entire crowd dlsmounted and charged up
the ridge. 1t was a very foolish move on
their part, and proved the excitabIlity of
young bucks We had them dead upon
our fire, and we killed three of them with
Us many bullets got d bead on Pawnee
Killers son with my revolver as he
urged his hesitating band to push up
the ridge, and when he went down
thought had killed him. With his fall
the fighting ceased. The survivors made
a rush for their horses and then disappear
ed to the east, leaving the four dead ones
where they fell. | was puzzled at their
conduct, and at first regarded it as ruse,
but when | came to stand up and look
around saw IA party Of thirteen white
| men-hunters, trappers, stockmen and ad-
Notwithstanding uP from the north on
their way to the fort.
The name of the young man who so clev-
erly escaped was Austin Brice, and for the
next year he was in government employ
at the fort He had not shot an Indian as
stated by the Hag-oftruce bearer; but the
murder of his brother was entirely unpro
voked and cOd-booded, and the Indians
meant to torture him to death.
The bullet which struck the young chief
did not kill him, as at first supposed. It
struck him alongside the nose, ran down
to the corner of his mouth, followed the
limo Of h.. ID,.y,, IN, tba of Il nd
corner, and passed over the chin. The re-
suit was to give him most horrible-lOok-
ing mouth. making him an object of ridi
Guile and contempt; and he not only swore
to have my life, but Pawnee Killer pro-
claimed the fact that he would give five
ponies ard a revolver to any one who
would bring him my seal p Therefore.
while actual hOStilities had not yet begun,
there was price set upon my head, and
was IN more personal danger than If the
redskins were on the warpath.
The first attempt was made about two
weeks after the fight on the ridge. A
Sioux Indian, who claimed to have been
outlawed from his tribe because he favor
ed peace with the whites, came to Fort
Hays, ostensibly for protection. He had
no weapons, seemed to be honest and
straig htforward, and all the men had
good word for him. On the third day he
care to me and asked my assistance to re-
cover his rife. blanket, lot of powder
and lead, and various other articles which
he said he had cached at a spot about
twelve miles down the Smoky Hill Fork in
a grove. When he described the spot 1
remembered very well, and next morning,
having permission of the commandant. We
set out. | was on horseback, and the
Indian afoot. had my usual weapons,
while be had an army musket. He gave
his name as Little Smoke, and WAS
typical warrior in build and demeanor.
Before we left the fort an old hunter call
ed me aside and said:
do you believe thar's is c1che?"
why not ?"
''Becase an Injun says thar Is. AlluS
take EN- contrary to what they say. Is
your scalp nailed on?"
DO YOU mistrust this man:
Never saw one VT that | didn't. I'm
going TO bet my rife agin key OF powder
that you don't com. back.
As soon as were out of sight of the fort
| motioned for the Indian to take the lead.
He seemed to take it as d matter of course,
and he led off with a lope and led it fer
six or seven miles without hault. | had
not only to keep an eye on him, but scan
the country as well. He appeared to be on
the lookout, as well he might be if his
story was trua and at IL O'Clock We an.