The Delta independent., 1893-11-08
A LONE CHIEF.
An Indian Who Is tho Sole Sur
vivOr OF HIS Tribe.
How Wild Hogs hand OF Chcyenncs Was
Wiped Out OF ExIs:snr. ny Govern
Elene Troops Nearly Four
teen Years Ago.

Wild Hog is the name of Cheyenne
chief. albei. he is chief without
tribe. SAYS the St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crnt. About fourteen years ago his
maine was known all over the United
States and for weeks millions of pco-
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 the 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 dcpreda-
tons were committed on the way. The
Indians killed about forty citizens, and
destroyed nearly forty Thousand dol
lars 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
flight 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
mcnts 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 a barracks. Upon the
continued refusal to go back peaceably
to Indian territory an effort was made
to subduc them by starvation. They
were deprived of food, water and fuel
and We're closely guarded. But they
were tough, and even after several
dTsrs, which must have been ones of
suffering, were still obdurate. 1t was
supposed that they were completely
disarrned. but in some manner they had
been able to retain 4 few revolvers.
After a few days of seemingly quiet
subjection the vigilance of the soldiers
was in measure relaxed. and the
guard reduced to six in number. Sud
denly. in the night, these were shot
down. every one OF them being either
killed outright or disabled. The In
dians then rushed out and filed 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. 1t was wild race across the
ice and snow. Many of the Indians
were barcfooted md left trail of
blood. Encumbered with their women
and children they made slow progress
The garrison. aroused by the shots
that destroyed the guards, were soon
in pursuit. Capt. Vessel. of the Third
cavalry, was in command. They came
upon the Indians in a little ravine. or
coulce, about two miles north of the
fort They made n stand and fought
bravcly. but were without arms and
the rifles of the cavalry made short
work of them. After the soldiers had
exhausted all their ammunition there
Were yet few live Indians, and these
were charged upon and cut down with
the sword. Wild Hogs tribe was en-
tircly wiped out. Not n man, woman
or child was left of the entire band.
Eut Wild Hog was safely locked up in
the guard house at Fort Robinson, and
that is how he comes to survive--a
chief without tribe.