The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-09
.s|BLfY's CLOSE CALL.
IN Amusing Story Which is Told
of Ex- congressman John
Finerty.
General Crooks Old Scout
Charms a Circle of Admiring
congressman.
How Finerty Found Some Items for His
Paper-Fun in the House
Restaurant. N

(special Correspondence OF THE INDEPENDENT.
WASHINGTON, March 3, 1sa1.-There was a
ousint party in the House restaurant the
other afternoon. IT included Major j. NJ.
burke, better known as Arizona John, Con-
gresham Geary of California, Congress
man McAdoo of New Jersey and Baptiste
Purier, better known to army officers as
BIG Bat, oil old scout of Generals Crook'
Miles and Terry. He is here with the Sioux
Indian delegation. Stories of e~x-Congress-
man John Finsrty of Chicago we're In order.
While Finerty was a m OF the mouse
of representatives he paid great attention
to Irish matters. He never missed an OPP
portunity of twisting the tail OF the British
lion or of expectorating tobacco juice into
his ewes. He had an ardent sympathizer in
Richelieu Robinson, who then represented
a Brooklyn district. McAdoo saws Robin
son was coming into the house IL day
when he met Finerty h was going out.
Whats being done in the house?' Rob
inson inquired.
"Oh, nothing but some damned American
legislation" was Finnerty's response.
OF course there was a roar of laughter.
To the astonishment of everybody, Big Bat
began to tell a story about Finerty. 1t was
told in the dialect peculiar to the Cansdian
French trappers and excited great merrl-
ment. The story is known in the north
west as "Lleutenant's Sibley's close CALL
It was about the time of the Custer massa-
ere. The command was near Tongue river.
Lieutenant Sibley was detailed to go to
the Grow nation and bring back some
~. Giblovts party harpI
thirty picked men. Among them were Big
Bat. Frank G1uard, cnief of scouts. and Mr..
Finerty. Finerty WAS accompanying tue
column as Il newspaper correspondents. UP
to that time he had been looking for items
for his paper. As Big Bat expresses 1T,
would come to me and say. what you
know forlny papalr: 1 want TO put some
thing in my papalr!
dis occurred half a dozen times a day.
l tell him, You see on de e1pedishon. You
get something den for your papalr!
1--WE 60 from camp at night SO de Sioux
not see us. We play dem one great trick.
We camp in de open prairie by de riber,
whioh was damphoolish. cause dey look for
YOU on de river. Dat night we all sleep;
loosen de saddle girths, and each man hold
the bride in his hand. We cross de river
do next morning. l tell de lieutenant. Sib
lev, we must be careful. De Sioux find dis
crossing. Dey get our trail. Dat DO bad
for us!
Frank Graard. he say. We got to look
sharp He say to me, You go up dat bluff
to de left; | 90 up dis bluff to de right. If
/ sign you dat means, come quick, l see
something
Little while l see Frank make a motion.
l go to Frank. He was looking troo his
glass. lie say, by gar. Bat, look troo de
glass. What's dat? Indians, chi?
II lock. l say, you bet.'
Prank say what, kind? You know de
Crows, and you know the Sioux. What you
make dem to be, eh%
81 say, hold on till dey move. If dey are
Crows, dey all follow each other. If dey
are Sierx dey all pass each other
'We watch, hold our breath. Dey move.
BY gar dey are Sioux; dey pass each other.
Now we got to skin out. cause dey sure to