Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-04-08

ssSs'fN 1G ing and KILN,
of Henry Genease, half-brcc1, during
1.-THE last beef issue at Rosebud Agency.
Just how the half-brecd was killed viii
arouse the curiosity of persons unfamil-
lar with the exciting and dangerous
phases of life at an Indian Agency. Tho
killing occasionally of an Indian or two
during the beef issues at Pine Ridge and
Rosebud occasioned no surprise or com
ment among those who are familiar with
the dangers attendant upon the regular
beef issues, and the only curiosity cx-
pressed is that it is indeed n miracle that
more persons are not killed as result of
the present barbarous method of issuing
beef at these agencies.
The writer recently witnessed rcgu-
lar beef issue at Pine Ridge Agency, and
will endeavor to make plain tho. reason
why such accidental deaths as the above
mentioned instance are OF frequent oc-
currence. At the beef killing referred
to there were some eighty head of fine
steers to be distributed among the vari
GUS bands entitled to draw rations at the
agency. Some distance east of the agen-
cy is located the beef corral, n huge en-
closure capable of holding several hun
dred head of cattle. The day before the
beef issue the cattle intended for issue
are separated from the main herd and
driven in from the adjacent ranges and
placed in the corral. The following
day, several hours before the time set for
the issue, the Indians, mounted on their
wiry little ponies, began to gather i'll
the immediate vicinity of the beef corral
In anticipation of the days sport. All
are welr armed and we'll mounted and
thoroughly prepared for the exciting
event before them.
When the time arrives for the issue to
begin the issra clerk a white man, mounts
little platform beside the gate to the
corral, and prepares to call out in their
order the names Of the bands who are
entitled to their sharc OF beef. While
these preparations are being completed
the mounted warriors or the outside
.ange Themselves in two long rows facing
each other and about ten feet apart, with
the inner ends of each row near the cor
raj and touching point on each side of
the large gates. Most of them are armed
with siX-shooters, but in few instances
Winchester rifles arc retained. After
careful inspection of their arms to see
that they are in perfect condition for the
coming sport, the Indians stolidly sit
on their ponies and await the signal for
the gates to be thrown open. At a word
from the issue clerk, who has completed
all arrangements, the gates of the corral
IRE thrown open, and in an instant n
steer dashcs out into the lane formed by
the two rows of mounted Sioux. The
issue clerk loudly calls out the name of
the band for whom the steer is intended,
and upon the calling of the name the
representatives of the band designated
drop promptly from the ranks when the
steer has passed them, closely follow it
and slowly urge it along between the
lines of cxpectant Indians and out at the
farther end.
Upon emerging from between the rows
of mounted Indians the warriors urge
their ponies and the steer to faster gait
and head toward the center of the vast
plateau, on the edge of which the corral
Is situated. At short intervals fresh
steers are turned loose from the corral,
names are called off and Indians start in
pursuit, until the corral is cmptied and
deserted, except for the issue clerk and
his assistants, who are preparing to re-
turn to the agency. But out on the
plain an exciting scene is enacted. Tho
Indians like the sport of chasing the
steers several miles before killing them,
and in all directions on the far reaching
plain Indians can be seen running their
ponies ut break neck speed and closely
following the steer, now thoroughly
aroused and dashing along with blood
shot eyes, madly tossing its head from
side to side in its wild cndeavor to escape
from its pursuing foe. The vast plain
resembles a huge kaleidoscope, with
scores of Indians dashing here and Their
in pursuit of their weeks supply of beef
and raising great clouds of dust that 70
a brief second obscure the vision of tn
looker-on.
After chasing the cattle to their heart
content the Indians decide to end tn
chase, and the shooting commences. Ii
the distance one Indian in particular i
seen who has finally decided to bring
down his steer, SO urging his pony t
still greater speed he gains on the stce
and while going at mad gallop throw
his six-shooter forward, takes aim, an
puff of smoke bursts forth. followed a
instant later by dull report. Shootin,