Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-10-27

peculiar Clltl ILL Liz plcdoillb
social life, the martial music and
the sentry's cry Of "AlPs Well,'
the stirring reveille, the sharp tattoo and
rafting surgeons call that made n get
M, whether they wanted to or no, and
above all the glorious old flag that came
down so grandly with the setting sun each
night, all had for me a fascination that
time has never Iessencd. Being at this
time young and somewhat romantic, it
seemed on first reaching the fort that the
little spice of danger but added to the in
terest of this new life in the west, but time
speedily rectitied the illusion.
II was a sad thing to have to dread
death at the hands of the Indians, but it
was more dreadful still to fear that incase
they succeeded in capturing the fort, that
one might not be killed but led away cap
tivcs by those demons in human form, who
not satisfied with wrestling life from their
helpless victims, most cruelty dcface Gods
fair image, ere their savage vengeance is
appeased. l had ample opportunity to
contemplate closely such a fate.
Returning M day from a ride outside the
fort, with a visiting officer from Fort Sully,
We struck an old Indian war trail, that
ran along the river bank a little north OF
the fort. Between the trail and the river
was a dense growth of willows, which in
the cool morning and with the placid river
formed a pretty picture. Along this pleas.
ant path we were gaily cantering home
,nr 1r,Io,, c,1lJn,,1xy NH hnrcnc TAQrQN
and recoiled, and at the same instant, some
yards in advance, and a little to our left,
the head and shoulders of a tall Indian
brave rose slowly from the bushes. This
dreadful apparition stood motionless, gun
III hand, and glared at us with an intensity
of gaze that chilled the blood in my veins.
A rustling in the bushes close by showed
that invisible foes were near-my first i'm
pulse, when | regained control of my horse
vas to turn his head, and fly back along
the path we had come. But my compan-
ion, without the loss of ali instant, changed
his position from my right side, to the
place of danger on my left. Then Selling
my horse by the bride, he thrust his right
arm through the reins, and striking my
horse on the flank with his revolver, while
he spurred his own, they dashed forward
side by side down the path toward the
fort. AS we flew by he fired his revolver
at the Indian. who instantly sunk out of
sight, but whether he had been struck by
The bullet or had merely dropped to avoid
being struck by it, we could not then de-
termine.
The sentry in the northeast tower had
seen the occurrence, and given the alarm
by firing his gun, and when a few mo-
ments later, we galloped madly through
the p gates, we found the whole gar.
rison aroused. 1t was thought from the
Indian not having shot at us, that the
Sioux were concealed in force among the
willows, and their plan was to draw into
ambuscade, the soldiers, that they thought
would be sent out to look for the single
warrior who had appeared to US, so none
were sent, but extra vigilance was taken
to guard against surprise.
The explanation that came later was a
terrible one to me. There was at the post
acolored man named "Isiah," who was
married to a Sioux squaw. lsiah was in
the employ of the government as
5 scout and employed by the
commanding officer of the fort
20 keep him informed as to the move
Ments of the hostile Sioux. This inf0rma
ton, obtained through his wife was usually
carried, but l always suspected that she
Delihah like, Kept her relatives informed
as to all affairs at the fort, and movements
of the troops of which she could Learn
from her husband.
One day soon after this, Isiah came into
the fort with the information that
young Sioux chief had fallen in love, no
with me, but with my luxuriant hair
which l wore loosely curled about my
neck. During the mystic ceremonies o.
the scalp dance, he had taken the warriors
vow to one day wear the scalpO of the "medi'
cine sqnaw," as an ornament to his dress
and since then was in the habit of lying
in wait in the vicinity of the fort, watch
ing an opportunity to seize me when GU
riding. 1t was he who had appeared to Vi
in the willow bushes, and he had not fret
upon me, because he wished to take mi
prisoner, a savage scheme that was de
feated by the courage and intrepidity O.
the gallant gentleman who was my esc0r
on that never to be forgotten day.
The most serious attack made upon TIN
fort that season was during one dark wind!
night. A strong gale was blowing from
the south. The corded wood for the win
ter's Use of the fort was neatly piled out
side in long rows. one end Of which wa
placed against the south wall OF the fort
the rows extending several hundred yard
away. The Sioux crept up stealthily ant
placed fire in the wood. AS it blazed ur
the fierce wind carried 1t against the soutl
wall of the fort. At midnight the long rol
was heard, and the dreadful cries Of "fire
and "Indians," resoundcd throughout tn
fort. The men sprung to their arms to re
pulse the Indians. and the non-combatants
my husband included rushed away t
tight the fire. Our quarters were at tn
north end of the row, and our bedrooms OF
the second floor we're the most exposed q
any to bullets fired from the On sue