The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-24
AFTER KILLING 4 MIN.
The Horrible Sensation OF Having Taken
Another's Life.

Another's Life.
1T Is dreadful thing that human life must
be sacrificed" said Major G. O. Bates in the
rotunda Of the Lincoln Hotel last evening.
There was an ominous look between him and
Colonel Bob. McReynolds as the latter spoke.
! Somehow IL had lust leaked out and reached
the ears Of the journal that there was some
unwritten history as TO the Nebraska militia
upon the frontier word or two of kindly
coincidence elected the following from Colonel
| McReynolds, who, as correspondent of the
! Call. has kept very silent heretofore. But in
! the secusiOn OF a comfortable corridor of the
Lincoln Hotel. where Major Bates. Colonel
| Bratt and Colonel Bills. of the Second regi-
ment. sat listening. told the tale Of an incident
of Indian warfare that. let it be hoped. be-
longs to the last of American atrocities TO the
original inhabitants of the land we possess.
Said Colonel McReynolds
1T was very nearly three o'clock when
Major Bates and myself left Pine Ridge
agency. All day Indians had been swarmng
about the agency like so many bees around a
hive. Each one was armed with Wlnches-
ter and had on his person no less than one
hundred rounds of ammunition. The widest
excitement had prevailed all day. so that when
we lett the agency at that late hour en- route
10 Rushville you can believe we were on the
alert
From Pine Ridge the road led over plain
for nearly five miles: then began the range OF
mountains known as Pine Ridge. The Major
and myself had spurred our horses for
couple of miles out Ofithe agency then drew
up into a walk. We were following cir
cuitous road that led over these Pine Ridge
mountains. when suddenly from behind the
rocks ahead there confronted rs two Brule
Sioux, with Winchesters ready for action.
Major Bates instantly uttered an alarm. This
caused one of the enemy TO skulk behind the
other. both with Wincbesters levelled upon
us. / was fairly panic-stncken myself, and
scarcely knew what / was doing but Major
Bates. with his coOl-headedness, drew his
Winchester TO his shoulder and fired. The
report echoed up and down the valley, and
when the smoke cleared away there were two
forms motionless upon the brow of the little
hill ahead. My horse, frightened at the re-
port of the gun. was struggling in a frghtful
manner, and it was all ! could do to restrain
him. Finally, when l got him quoted | rode
TO Major Bates side He was pale as a sheet
of paper. yet firm and composed, as a soldier
should be: His first remark was oh, God
this is awful
The single shot from his Winchester had
killed them both. They fell upon their faces,
their hands tightly clenched about the
weapons they bore We looked for Others
but none were in sight. Then ! rode to with
in a few feet of the bodies and picked mp a
war club Their blankets and ghost shirts
were swarming with vermin. or | would have
taken them along. but the Major, less fearful
himself Invested one of his war bonnet,
placed the scalping knife in his belt and re-
mounted
LAS if by some strange fascination, lin
gered on the spot for few moments. Those
bronze forms, motiOnless. lay with faces TO
the earth. Human life had persisted there.
The cold, snow-covered hills, respendent
with their wintry beauty, brought naught but
chill to the soul. Two forms, clad in their
red blankets lay silent in death They meant
harm to us. who would not have harmed
them. The winters sun was fading beyond !
the chill blue hills A silence as belongs TO
mountain regions reigned still as the grave |
Il rode from the spot and joined the Major !
on the crest of hill. His voice was husky |
in tone when he said Let us get away from
here The road led over a mountainous |
country for the next seven miles then We !
came 10 the outposts Of the Nebraska militia |
at JarchOw's ranch, where, after admission !
within the picket lines we met General L.W |
Colby, Colonel j. r. Brat of the First regi- !
ment. and Colonel G.. j. Bills. of the Second |
Major Bates here. true to his solderly quail
ties, told Of the fate of the two Brues. Gen
eral Colby face wore veXed look when the |
affair was recOunted. He seemed to think |
We should have waited until we were fired |
upon. Observing this, the Major answered |
Il have done so and this is my explanations |
II wish the affair was efIaced from men,
Dry" continued Colonel McReynolds. The
picture of those Indians lying there, so still,
the snOw-cOvered hills and silence Of the
hour. will long dwell in my memory, and |
know that with all the iustifable action of
Major Bates. it must forever remain 70 him
nightmare which can never be forgotten"-
Nebraska State Journal.