The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-05-20
FIGHTING THE SIOUX.

spent couple OF months in the mining
camps OF the Black Hills, in one Of
which / had bsrtered away most Of nv
worldly possessions for a we'll "salted" {"
claim, l CHANGED, one day, unfortunately,
as circumstances afterward proved, to
learn that party Of miners were to
start to the Big Horn mountains, where
1t was reported an unusually rich dis.
covery lad been made.
At that time the fotsam contingent to
the population Of Deadwood amounted
to several thousand, aud the air was
charged with rumors Of gold discov.
cries and encounters with Indians.
The story that gave rise to the Big
Horn stampede" MAS very seductive
one. Charles Lions, frontiersman Of
some notoriety, had just made his ap.
pearance i'll Deadwood with the report
that he with three other prospectors
had discovered exceedingly rich dig
Gings on small stream tributary to
Powder River in the Big Horn noun.
tains. But on the very day they 10.
Gated the mine they were attacked by In.
dians, and lie thought his three compan.
ions were killed on the spot, while he es.
capped by the merest chance.
He proposed to guide company to the
mine, provided they would furnish him
with saddle horse, pack pony, and
a months provision. He commenced to
recite his story to one man on the street
he was soon surrounded by a crowd; and
before he had told it twice there were
dozens OF men ready to subscribe money
enough to purchase all he required and
join his expedition at once.
1t was thought best to restrict the com.
pany to fifty men, as a small body could
travel faster than large one, and there
would be better chance for each to get
good claim.
The Sioux Mt that time maraudins
about the Black Hills were small bands
that would steal away from the agencies,
and after doing some depreciation, slip
back again. Old Sitting Bull aud tho
main force OF his warriors were across
The border. enjoying tho protection aud
hospitality Of the Canadians.
The men who had furnished the money
to buy Lions an outfit were anxious to
be of at ono ce. knew nothing Of the
expedition till they were all gone, but as
soon as learned the direction they had
taken started on their trail.
There is nothing which 80 fixes the
confidence OF gold hunters with regard
to rumors Of new mines as to learn that
men who have been there have come in
quietly for supplies aud are trying to slip
away again.
had yoke Of Cherokee cattle and a
light wagon. There were three men
with me, two Of whom had ponies; the
other ono travelled on foot. They
eagerly agreed to give me ten cents q
pound for hauling their blankets, pro.
visions and utensils, and were to pay in
dust when they took it ou. OF the
ground.
We camped at Spear Fish for the night.
During the evening three teams passed
us with two men to each team and sew.
eral horsemen. They were the sheriff
and his deputies in search Of horse
thief.
The next morning we were on the
move as soon as it was light enough to
follow their wagon tracks. Our way Law
across rolling tableland covered with
sage brush. We had pursued our course
but short distance when we saw q
horse approaching at a full run, with
bride and saddle but no rider; he ran
straight to US, and was apparently greatly
frightened. He was assigned to the foot
man, and we resumed our journey.
a mil f,,r
trunk which lay burst open by the side
Of the trail. In it, and scattered about
on the ground. were a number Of letters.
One young fellow, Harry Brown by
name, became so much interested in
these that he continued to read them
while the rest Of us rode on, thus falling
mile in the rear.
passed the body Of man who had been
recently killed, and lay scalped by the
trail. We knew at once that Indians
wore near, and felt no surprise when we
discovered a small band OF them on some
rising ground about half mile ahead.
They had noted this man in our rear,
and headed their ponies down a ravine
with view to cutting him of.
Anticipating their designs, we stopped
and signalled our companion to speed on !;
but our signals were unnecessary, for al
though Harry could not see the savages
he had reached the dead man, and was
already putting his pony to its best
speed.
The Indians bore down on him until
they were almost within range OF our
Sharp's "old reliables." which were lev.
elled at them from the opposite side Of
our wagons, when they drove of and al
lowed him to join us.
"By George! that was a narrow es-
cspe!" he exclaimed, when safo in our
IY;dst.
II hope it'll teach you to be more car.
fm in future said nna Of the nthars n