The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-15
A CHIEF WITHOUT A.TRIeE.
HowwiId Hogs Band of Cheyennes Was
Ex.erminated In 1879.

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HowwId Hogs Band of Cheyennes Was
Ex.erminated In 1879.
Wild Hog is the name of Cheyenne
chief, albeit he is chief withouta tribe.
About IA years ago his name was known
throughout the United States, and for
weeks millions of people looked in the
morning papers daily to see what he was
doing. For a time he filled western
Kansas and Nebraska with terror. Now
he resides at Pine Ridge agency and is
one of the poorest and most dilapidated
Indians on the reservation.
In January, 1879, Wild Hog and the
tribe of Cheyenne Indians of which he
was chief were removed to the Indian
Territory. Becoming dissatisfied with
their new homes, they broke out, and I'M
der the leadership of Wild Hog struck
out northward through Kansas and Ne
braska. Many depredations were com
mitted on the way. The Indians killed
about 40 citizens, outraged 10 women
and destroyed nearly $4,000 worth Of
property. Wild Hog always claimed
that this deviltry was the work of few
young bucks who were beyond his con-
troll and that they escaped to the reser-
walton. During the flight northward the
United States army was always about
one day behind the Indians.
Finally Wild Hog and about 200 war
riors, together with their women and
children, went into Fort Robinson and
surrendered. Inducements were offered
the Indians to return to the Indian Ter.
ritory, but they refused to do 30. FL
nally they were disarmed, but il the
effort to do so several soldiers and n ore
Indians were killed. Wild Hog was put
in irons and confined in the guardhouse.
The other Indians, including their wives
and children, were confined in q long,
low log building which had previously
been used as barracks. Upon their con-
tinued refusal to go back peaceably to
, the Indian Territory an effort was made
to subdue them by starvation. They
were deprived Of food, water and fuel
and closely guarded. But they were
tough, and even after several days, which
must have been ones of suffering, were
still obdurate. 1t was supposed that
they were completely Gisarmed, but in
some manner they had been able to re.
tain few revolvers.
After a few days of seemingly quiet
subsection the vigilance Of the soldiers
was in measure relaxed and the guard
reduced to six in number. Suddenly in
the night these were shot down, every
one of them being killed outright or dis
abled. The Indians then rushed out and
fled up Soldier Creek canyon. The
breaks and hills of Pine Ridge were
about half dozen miles away, and il
was the hope Of the Indians to reach
them before the sleeping soldiers could
overtake them. Itwas wild race across
the ice and snow. Many of the Indians
were barefooted and lefta trail of blood
Encountered with their women and
children, they made slow progress.
The garrison, aroused by the shots thai
destroyed the guards, were soon in pur.
suit. Captain Vessel of the Third cav.
airy was in command. They came upor
the Indians in little ravine, or coolie
about two miles north of the fort. They
made stand and fought bravely, but
were without arms, and the rifles of the
cavalry made short work of them. After
the soldiers had exhausted all their am
munition there were but a few live In
dams, and these were charged upon and
cut down with the sword. Wild Hog'l
tribe was entirely wiped out. Not man
woman or child was left of the entire
band. But Wild Hog was safely locked
up in the guardhouse at Fort Robinson
and that is how he comes to survives
I chief without a tribe.-St. Louis Repub
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