Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-07-29

WlItNNYlg" yet maxim g
ready for the
bloody spring campaign which cost so
many lives, Black Bird,a son of Roman
Nose, the famous Cheyenne chief, paid a
visit to Fort Lqrned. He was a young
man about twenty years ofage, tall, active
and brave as a lion. Although he made the
excuse OF trade, and although he did
purchase a few supplies, it was believed
by everybody at the post that he came as
spy. There had been a war council of
all the tribes, and it had been agreed to
open war in the spring which should
not cease until the white man was driven
east of the forks Of the Kansas River.
One of the hunters and scouts at
tached to the fort at that time was a
man named Joe Hall, who had served as
a scout under General Sheridan. He was
thirty-ive years old, strong and rugged,
and it was said of him that he didn't
know what fear was He firmly believed
that young Black Bird came to ascertain
and report on the strength of the fort,
and he picked a quarrel with him to OBJ
tain satisfaction. Black Bird, although
alone and realizing that he had no friends
there, did not show the white feather.
1t Was fight with knives, beginning so
suddenly that the officers could not in
terfere. Thc Indian was wounded and
dsarmed, and in order to humble him
still more Hall spat upon hun and re.
tanned his knife as a trophy. 1t was an
act criticised and lamented by the Off
GERS, and a disgrace they knew would
have to he washed out in b,ood, and
Hall himself realized that from that
hour every man OF the Cheyenne tribe
would thirst for his life. Two weeks
later old Roman Nose seEt in the follow
log message:
"Give up the man who insulted my
son and will be satisfied. If you do
not it shall he war between US and the
whites as long as have warrior able
to raise tomahawk."
The demand was CT course refused ,apd
to give Hall better chance to protect
himself he was transferred to Fort Lyon,
Col. The Indians soon learned Of the
change, and Black Bird received the
command Of ten warriors and ordered not
to return to his father until he brou yht
Halls scalp. During the greater part of
the winter this band hung about Fort
Lyon for an opportunity to kill the scout.
He knew of their presence, but made no
change in his programme. He had
mule almost as feet of foot as an ante
lope, and always carried a Winchester
and two revolvers.
Spring came, and with it the opening
of savage warfare The Indians took
the field determined to sweep everything
before them. 10 June Joe Hall was sent
from Fort Lyon to Fort Wallace with dis
patches. The intervening country was
literally swarming with hosti,os, but he
was within three miles Of Wallace be
fore he found his position perilous.
Roman Nose and his band, numbering
about $50 b.cks, made sudden dash on
the overland stage station mile from
the fort, and gobbled up about fifty
horses and mules. They expected to get
the scalps of FIVE or six employees as well,
but the men ran to their dugouts and
poured in such hot fire as to drive the
Indians of. Roman Muse then ordered
an attack on the fort, which was only a
collection of tents aud shanties, and
slimly garrisoned. He was beaten od
after sharp fight, and while retreating
his force came upon Hall trying to make
the fort.
The scout was cut of, and he turned
10 make run for it, His mule would
have distanced any pony in the band,
but the race had scarcely begun when a
bullet from the rifle Of pursuer struck
Hall in the back of the head. 1t was
spent ball aud didn't draw blood. but il
gave him such shock that he tumbled
ont of his saddle and was prisoner when
he recovered consciousness. There were
thirty CifTerent warriors who knew Hall
by sight, and when it became known
who the prisoner was the rejoicing was
something terrible. He was thoroughly
nm IN the Cherenne dialect, and of course
caught everything said. When Roman
Nose was told that Hall was the prisoner
so fortunately picked up, he rode up and
said:
az have lost nine warriors to-day, but
shall no longer grieve. / am more
pleased than if had captured the fort"
Hall knew he must die, aad he hoped