Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-17
LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.
An Indian Scare in the Early Days Of
the Settlement of Nebraska.

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h Settlement of Nebraska.
AL hands were glad when the big double
cabin of the Battles family came in sight
about midnight, conspicuous on a rise Of
the rolling prairie, and black against the
sky. Lights were burning brightly in one
end of the cabin; in the other end a part Of
the company had gone tx sleep, camping
on the floor. Hot coffee and corn bread.
were ready for the newcomers. and Yonn-
kins, with a tender regard for the lads, who
were unaccustomed to milk when at home,
brought out a big pan of delicious cool
milk for their refreshments. Altogether, as
Sandy confessed to himself, an Indian scare
was not without its fun.
He listened with great interest to the tales
that the settlers had to tell of the exploits
of "Gray Wolf" the leader and chief ofthe
Cheyennes. He was a famous man in his
time, and some of the older settlers of
Kansas will even now remember his name
with awe. The boys were not at all DESTROYS
of meeting the Indian foe, but they secretly
hoped that if they met any of the redskins
they would see the far famed Gray Wolf.
While the party, refreshed by their late
supper, found Il lodging anywhere on the
floor of the cabin, a watch was set outside,
for the Indians might pounce upon them
at any hour of the night or day. Those
who had mounted guard during the earlier
part of the evening went to their rest.
Charlie, as he dropped off to sleep, heard
the footsteps of the sentry outside and said
to himself. half in jest, ''The Wolf is at the
door" S
But no wolf came to disturb their slum-
bers. The bright and cheerful day, and
the song of birds dispelled the gloom Of
fha NIGHT or6 foo~ y,oc 1sf%1l f,o-. H.
minds of the anxious settlers, some of
whom, separated from wives and children,
were troubled with thoughts of homes de-
spoiled and crops destroyed. Just as they
had finished breakfast and were preparing
for the march to the fort, now only two or
three miles away, a mounted man in the
uniform of a United States dragon dashed
up to the cabin, and with a flourish of SOL
dierly manner, informed the company that
the commanding officer at the post had in
formation that the Cheyennes, instead Of
crossing over to the Republican as had
been expected, or attacking the fort, had
turned n gone back the way they came.
All was safe, and the settlers might go
home assured that there was no danger to
themselves or their families.
Having delivered this welcome message
in a grand and semi-oficial manner, the
corporal dismounted from his steed in
answer to a pressing invitation from Bat
ties, and unbent himself like an ordinary
mortal to partake of a very hearty break
fast of v~enison, corn bread and coffee. The
company unslung their guns and rifles, sat
down again, and RECALLED themselves with
pipes, occasional cups of strong coffee, and
yet more exhilarating tales of the exploits
and adventures of Indian slayers of the
earlier time on the Kansas frontier. The
great Indian scare was over. Before night
fell again every settler had gone his "
way to his claim, glad that things were no
worse, but %grumbling at Uncle Sam for the
niggardliness which had left the region so
defenseless when an emergency had come.
Noah Brooks in St. Nicholas.