, 1892-01-14
AN OLD STORY REVISED.
Col. chivinpton's Big Claim Against
the Government.
II Brings to Mind the History of
Mrs. Eubanks,
Because of Whom the Chiefs Were
Hanged at Fort Laramie.

Col. ]. NJ. ChiviDgtou of Denver.
whose fight with the Indians at Sand
creek in the summer OF 1864 in which
$40 redskins were slaughtered. Is again
brought to public attention by Chiving-
toms claim against the government for
$50. 900 on account of indian depreda-
tons.
This same battle of Sand creek brought
about an event that is still well remem-
bered by many Wyoming people. Dur
ing the summer of 1864 the Indians we're
almost continuously on the war path and
d~epredating parties prosecuted their muir
derous work wherever they could do 1t
with comparative safety. In one of these
trays on the Blue river, some 400 miles
east Of the mountains eleven
members of the Euhsnks family were
ruthlessly slaughtered, Mrs. Eubanks and
an infant son alone escaping. Mrs.
Eubanks. who is now a resident of
Chicago, was then quite o handsome
woman, 80 years old, and was taken for a
squaw, Two Face. who saved her from
the vengeance of a murderous brave. Her
subsequent history is related in the
Denver Ne,os 10 connection with this
matter. Two Face escaped from the
Sand creek fight with Mrs. Eubanks and
reached the Tongue river country in
safety.
In company with her captors she passed
almost a year beyond the aid OF friends.
Her child lived and learned to speak the
Arapahoe language. At length Two Face
grew tired of his captive and proposed
that if arrangements could be effected, he
would exchange her for a ransom of
81, 500. Negotiations we're opened with
Lieut.. Col. Banner. then in charge of
Fort Laramie. A meeting was held three
miles from the fort on the bank OF the
river the only persons present being the
colonel and an orderly sergeant, the cap
tive and her son aud Two Face and his
brother chiefs. The moment negotiations
were opened, Mrs. Eubanks recognized
Col. Banner as a German. and as she
spoke the language 1uently, it required
but a few minutes for HIM to learn her
story. The colonel with rare presence OF
mind, directed his orderly in the same
language to walk away l~eisurely toward
the river, throwing sticks and stones into
the water, and as soon as he could get
under cover OF the river bank to start for
the fort as il for life. And see to 1t that
not one of these devils get away" added
the officer.
The orderly reached the fort and be-
fore the chiefs suspected that danger was
near $50 guns we're pointed at their breasts
and they were taken prisoners. With
their arms tied behind them. the three
chiefs were taken to the ppst, and Gen.
Couuor, who had Just been placed i'd
charge of the oeparanent OF the Platte,
was notified by telegraph of the capture.
1t may be stated that a single line OF
telegraph was in operation at the time
from St Joe to Salt Lake and on to San
Francisco along the overland stage route.
To the dispatch sent to Gen. Conuor il
was stated that the prisoners were in
chains. Here was the reply.
"lf YOU have got the chiefs in chains
hang them IN chains"
The ready-witted colonel PROCEEDED
without a moments delay in carrying out
instructions. He rightly feared that il
the instructions were not Immediately
obeyed they would be countermanded.
Placing a soldier at the door of the tele.
graph station with instruction to allow nc
person to pass in or out. Col Banner led
a company of soldiers to the prison house,
in a government wagon and driven be-
meath the spreading branches of a great
cottonwood tree which grew in the river
bottom. Five minutes later three dead
aborlgiues daugled in the air and were
made the target for rifles. On retui ming
to the telegraph Office the following dis.
patch was found waiting for the com
mander of the tort:
"Im too fast. Bring the chiefs ia
Julesburg and we will give them a drum.
head court martial"
The dispatch bore the signature of Gen.
Conner.
The answer was as follows:
DEAR GENERAL-I obeyed your first
order before | received your second.
BANNER.
After remaining in the kindly shelter OF
Scout Virgins home for three weeks,
Mrs. Eubanks was given transportation
by the government to Chicago.
An Alleged Cold Wave.