Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-12-27
A LONE CHIEF.
An Indian Who Is the Sole Sur
vivor of His Tribe.
How Wild Hogs Band of Cheyennes Was
Wiped Out of Existence by Govern
ment Troops Nearly Four
teen Years Ago.

Wild Hog is the name of Cheyenne
chief, albeit he is chief without
tribe, says the St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat. About fourteen years ago his
name was known all over the United
States, and for weeks millions Of peo-
pie looked in the morning papers daily
to see what he was doing. For time
he filed western Kansas and Nebraska
with terror. Now he resides at Pine
Ridge agency and is one Of IT, = poorest
and most delapidated Indians on the
reservation. In January, 1879, Wild
Hog and the tribe of Cheyenne Indians
of which he was chief were removed to
Indian territory. Becoming dissatis-
fed with their new homes they broke
out and under the leadership of Wild
Hog struck out northward through
Kansas and Nebraska. Many depreda-
lions were committed on the way. The
Indians killed about forty citizens, and
destroyed nearly forty thousand dol
ars' worth of property. Wild Hog al
ways claimed that this deviltry was the
work of few young bucks who were
beyond his CONTROL and tina they es-
capped to the reservation. During the
fight northward the United States
army was always about one day behind
the Indians.
Finally Wild Hog and about two
hundred warriors, together with their
women and children, went into Fort
Robinson and surrendered. Induce
ments were offered the Indians to re-
turn to Indian territory, but they re-
fused to do so. Finally they were dis
armed, but in their effort to do so sew
eral soldiers and more Indians were
killed. Wild Hog was put in irons and
confined in the guard house. The
other Indians, including their wives
and children. were confined in long,
low, log building which had previous
ly been used as barracks. Upon the
continued refusal to go back peaceably
to Indian territory an effort was made
to subdue them by starvation. They
were deprived of food, water and fuel
and We're 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
disarmed, butin some manner they ha6
been able to retain a few revolvers.
After a few days of seemingly quiet
subsection the vigilance Of the soldiers
was in a measure relaxed, and the
guard reduced to six in number. Sud
| denly, in the night, these were sho
down, every one of them being either
killed outright or disabled. The In
dams then rushed out and fled W
Soldier creek canyon. The breaks ant
hills of Pine Ridge were about half {
dozen miles away, and it was the hop,
of the Indians to reach them before
| the sleeping soldiers could overtak,
them. 1t was wild race across thu
ice and snow. Many of the indians
were barefooted and left a trail O
| blood. Encountered with their womel
and children they made slow progress
The garrison, aroused by the shot
that destroyed the guards, were sool
in pursuit. Capt. Vessel, of the ThirC
cavalry, was in command. They cam
upon the Indians in a little ravine, O
coulee, about two miles north of tn,
fort. They made stand and tough
bravely, but were without arms, ant
the rifles Of the cavalry made shor
work of them. After the soldiers ha'
exhausted all their ammunition Their
were yet few live Indians, and thes
were charged upon and cut down wit
the sword. Wild Hogs tribe was en-
tirely wiped out. Not man, woman
or child was left of the entire band
But Wild Hog was safely locked up il
the guard house at Fort Robinson, ant
that is how he comes to survive
!; chief without tribe.