Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27

ncss eadoer, moro palmetto scene than that
which sank last Monday amid the hills and
valleys OF the Rosebud river. Mont 1t was a
tale OF Indian atrocity aud frontier martyrdom
that ought to have had its date fifty years
ago-one that sounds hike a page from Cooper
strangely out OF keeping with the peaceful
How Of life in a republic where civilization
reaches over iron track into remotest corners
and where security and good order arc the
proudest boast OF most pnrts OF even it's wcst-
ern territory. OF most parts, / say. but there
are still regions of wilderness where ali the
romance aud horror OF the o,d-.ime struggle
between civilization and barbarism--betwcen
the pioneer and the savage-goes on ;Sy IN
seen OF the eyes OF any save the small band of
those who dare and suffer in the contest
VI such regions parts Of Montana and
Arizona are the most conspicuous examples.
In The former territory-we of the army don't
know II yet by its new name OF state-Rnd
among its most isolated regions is the vast
stretch OF country between the British line
and wyoming the north and south and
the Yellowstone Park aud the turgid waters Of
me Powder on the west and east. In this huge
area, extending hundreds o. miles each way
roamed the last aud largest herds Of buffalo
known on the continent Over its limitless
pralries and among the breaks Of bad lands
ana IN Its mountain valleys grazed the ante
lope, elk and deer by the many thousands
here grand and rugged nature and an album
dant game supply offered n tempting range to
the Indian, and here was and is the last strong
hold OF some of his most warlike tribes. Here
crook, Mckenzie, Custer aud Miles fought
some or their stubbornest battles with Sioux,
Neg Perces and Cheyennes. Nearly every
stream that intersects this area is marked with
its crossed sabers on the military maps-indi-
eating point of some deadly strife between
the blue coat and his Indian foe. Kentucky
never deserved so we'll the sobriouet OF the
dark and bloody ground" as does this region.
AFTER THE MASSACRE OF CUSTER
and his troopers in IS the post Of Fort Custer
was built upon the Big Horn, near the scene OF
his disaster. A little later Fort Keogh was
erected at the mouth Of Tongue river. about
100 miles eastward. OF the one railroad which
penetrates the surrounding area the country il
stu wild and vest enough to furnish refuge
for Indian outiawry, and in consequence these
posts have had each season for the past decade
ample work cut out for them by Indian ma
RAIDERS and indictments The Cheyennes.
whose agency is so miles from Custer, have
been by their annual turbulence the most
fruitful cause Of trouble. Last April a bat
talon OF three troops Of my regiment-the
first cavalry-was ordered here and has been
under canvas and on the alert here ever since
1t will be remembered that the murder of q
settler on the Rosebud in Nav and the feeling
lision between the Cheyennes aud whites.
which was only prevented by the surrender of
the five Indians supposed TO have done the kill
ing and by the ceaseless efforts OF the troops
and some of the Cheyenne chiefs. When the
excitement attending this deed passed away il
was supposed that trouble between the Chey-
ennes and whites was ended for years. The old
agent was removed. the Indian ration was in
creased and everything was perfect quiet and
content until five days ago, when O settler
named Gaffney reported that his nephew,
Boyle, young man Of twenty,
HAD NOT COME HOME THR MONT BEfoRr;
that his horse had returned with blood stains on
his saddle and he was afraid he had been MUIR
dered by the Indians. There are only three
families living on the Lame Deer and old Gaff-
ney's place is among the Indian villages several
miles up the creek from the camp. Gaffney is
an honest, hardworking man, who settled in
this vicinity before it was declared an Indian
reserve. HIS wife and several sturdy, hand
| some daughters occupy homely log cabin on
the creek and form perfect type of pioneer 6
family and home. The girls have been bred
in all the self-reliant virtues that have made so
many heroines of western women, and during
the search for young Boyle no trooper rode
far her or more boldly in the quest than they
Two days ago one of the girls dashed bare
headed into camp and reported that an Indian
i'll war paint and fully armed had just visited
the house and ordered them out, that there being
no man at home her sister had shut the door
and shown q rifle to the Indian, who thereupon
rode away. 1t was my lot to saddle up q de-
tachment and accompany the girl back home.
On reaching the house we found it deserted
and locked. / rode toward the brush on the
creek and calling out who was induced the
mother and two daughters to come from their
hiding place.
NOBLE PICTURE
The elder daughter emerged, rife In hand
and shall not soon forget the noble picture
she made as, with her handsome face pale with
| an excitement to which her flashing eyes de.
MED the name of fear, she walked forward to
meet me. Icould not help rejecting as, after
leaving guard, rode away, what an exotic
the royal spirit woman really possesses is and
how little 1t Is suspected until stress of danger
forces it into life and flower. Upon Gaffney'f
| report OF his nephew's absence a troop of cav
airy was sent from camp to search for him.
The officers OF the camp, after the lesson OF
last spring. were reluctant to believe that it was
| a case of murder by Indians and supposed
merely an accident to the missing man. Fail
ing to discover any signs Of him that day the
whole camp was turned out on the second
morning. All day, but vaiply, the men rode
in skirmish line across the hills and valleys
taking in ali the country as far Tongue river,
20 miles away. The third day the search wss
continued, and about a. m. the young mans
HAT sMEARED WITH EARTH AND BLOOD
was found in dense thicket three miles south
Of camp. No tracks or other marks were
found in the vicinity, though with us were q
number Of good Cheyenne trailcrs. The coun.
try around US was one of steep, rugged hills
strewn with rock and cut with deep rsvines.
forming most ingenious hiding places for =
body. About seventy-fve cavalrymen and
twenty-f Cheyennes were assembled and
carefully disposed SO as to sweep the country
within a radius Of mile from where the hat
was found. The valley and hillsides were
searched for hours with tine utmost minutoness,
the troopers and Indians riding five yards
apart This continued until late in the after
noon without result. 1t was understood by
all that the search would continue until the
tragedy was thoroughly sifted, and we had
made up our minds to another outing on the
morrow when q group OF Indians was seen
galloping at full speed down the road beneath
ua
THE GRAVE pIscovKRKp.
The dead mans grave had been discovered
by one of their number and they were taking
the news to camp and the agency. Diminishing
our troops Lieut.. Pitcher and myself and sew
eral citizens found ourselves soon sfterward
following the lead OF the dscoverer to the spot
We had been searching for during three long
days. After o ffteep-minute gallop, during
which we were Joined by the agent and our
commanding otrcer, Maj. Carroll, we reached
the foot of steep ridge, which We had TO
climb on foot About fifty yards from the top
Of this. in u deep ravine scanning its nearly
perpendicular side, our Cheyenne guide SOL
emily pointed out the grave. Small wonder
that it had not been found beforel The spot
had been chosen with rare cunning. IL WAS ut
height OF some five hundred feet above the
valley ON . sequestered hill, whose sides were