The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-18

when it is known that hundreds Of scouts
are on. day and night watching the In
dams every movement, it is seen at once
that escape is not easy. They 1.-THE Indians)
will fight il crowded, but as yet have made
no fight themselves save that at Wounded
Knee, and they will be met by q most
determined soldiery, whose complaining in
mid-winteris exasperating them to the high
est pitch. a majority of the soldiers with
whom your correspondent has talked favor
quick move and fight if necessary.
This weather, fair days but bitter nights,
whilst thus far not fatal, is undermining
the health of the troops inch by inch, and
would not be surprised to know that many
become sufferers from rheumatic troubles.
A militia outfit hove in sight late on the
afternoon of the 18th, and shortly there
after quite firing was heard Immediately
to the northeast of US. Assembly was
blown and loaded rifles in good hads were
ready for any emergency. From an exam
lnation into the cause of the firing it was
found out that it was a concocted scheme
on the part Of
a BAND or NEvER-Do-wELLs
among the cowboys of this section. LEARN
the circumstances of the firing as follows
When the firing began 1t was supposed the
troops would deploy, leave their camp
without guard and enable two sus-
plclous looking strangers (whom Captain
Morrison promptly corraled and held
until the matter was sifted)
to make a haul of clothing from the tents.
This is the accepted theory of the firing but
none knows for sure the real cause. This
kind of firing should be prohibited in a
country like this, when no man knows
when his sleep may be disturbed by some
Indian.
From ROBBIE. the man who is securing
mounts for the First United States in
fantry and who is just in from the agency,
/ learn that there was quite a frolic at
Pine Ridge among the boys of the First
and their horses. These ponies are not
used to bareback riding, yet under the sad
die they are spry enough, though gentle and
withal harder than the stock used by the
other outfits in this region. 1t seems that
when swater call' was sounded the boys,
imagining that all was right, jumped astride
of their ponies to ride them to water. No
sooner than on, were the boys off, and as
Mr.. ROBBIE put it, 1.-The boys were ten deep
on the ground" Mr.. ROBBIE proved the
horses tame and broken to the saddle by
riding all those the boys could not, and at
last accounts the First was in high glee
over their luck in not having to tramp it
over the hard frozen ground.
By the way, referring again to the firing
northeast of US, / must mention
AMBIGUOUS INCIDENT.
The militia already mentioned were NOV
ing little to the right of US and when
they heard the rifle shots sing out clearly,
they made an ''about facet and double
timed'' on their back track If this Is q
sample of the bravery of the Nebraska mi
litia, these boys would be an encumbrance
to the regulars who will fight when neces-
sary. l give this incident for what it is
worth, but got it intact from one Of our
company who went out to determine who
they WERE
On the afternoon of the 18th instant two
large wagons with an escort came into our
camp with boxes of heavy canvas lined
overcoats for the boys. They were received
with Joy as the poor boy on guard or picket
has more than once felt the pinching c)id.
J. WARREN