Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-04-14
FL0T0W, THE HAMMOCK.
BY ED. TowsE.

Flotow, Bannock outcast who led
desperate band of renegade Arapa-
hoes. was easily the worst Indian in
all the mountain country in 1869. The
marauders made annual trips from
Wind River in Wyoming to White
River in Colorado, and always left
frightful trail. They murdered, plum
dered and burned, carrying ON the
work Of devastation with appalling
thoroughness. Emboldened by the
success of a series Of raids, the band
essayed to sack the town of Rawlins.
They were driven off, and left two
dead braves as bodily evidence of the
craftsmanship of courageous citizens
who had quickly responded to the
alarm.
Flotow and his gang had become a
standing and awful menace to the set
Elements of central Wyoming. 1t was
quite generally agreed that the exter-
mination of the cruel old fox and his
followers was the only recourse of the
whites. The existence of the latter
was one of alarming uncertainty. The
mob of savages travelled rapidly and
under cover. They would kill a fam
lily, not sparing women or children,
burn ranch buildings and leave with
the horses at daylight. In "a hours
they would swoop down upon another
pioneer home a hundred miles away
and repeat the work of murder, incen-
diarism and theft.
A cheerful bit Of barbarism little
known TO the world was practised
when Flowtow and his men happened
upon a flock of sheep. Tho tenders
were shot down as they ran, and the
dogs knocked in the head and laid aside
for a feast. Then the braves, each
carrying big knife with sharp point
and keene blades, ran among the
trembling. bleating sheep. They
would grasp all animal by one hind
leg and run the knife through the
member just below the joint. The
other hoof would be inserted
in the slit. Here they had tho
humorous paradox of a three
legged sheep with all four feet in
sight. The poor brutes would dio in
great agony in about fonr days. Il
was simply impossible TO extricatc tho
uncut hind leg. This ingenious cruelty
was sometimes varied by cutting
holo in one car and thrusting u fore
leg in:o it. Thus was destroyed the
ability to travel, unless the ear was
torn, which happened too often to
suit tho redskins. In ha!f-a-Lay these
Indians would DESTROY q band of
5000 sheep. They considered tho work
q great lark.
This Flotow, whose name has never
been interpreted, was tho biggest,
checklist, slirewLcs. and mos, rcpul-
sive-looking Indian ] ever set eyes
upon. He was more than six feet
tall, straight, broad-shouldered, thick
necked and well.muscled, with decp
chest. In battle with Indians he was
reputcd the cqua! OF fivc combatants.
No white man ever lived who could
handle him. Added TO his un.ur 2asscd
strength was incredible agility and
perfect knowledge of all s,y!cs OF
warfare. His craftinoss kept his own
men OH their guard. lIo understood
English well, bat would converse only
in his own tongue. Flo;ow did not
sport any of the remarkable toygcry
issued to his peoplo b. the Eovcrn-
ment, excepting no. even tho blankets,
for these hc exacted from the Nava-
joes. Tho wretch would como boldly
into settlements to trade, with blood
still on his hands, aud was the clover
est OF swappcrs.
As soon as possible after Flowsow's
descent on Rawlins, party of mon,
sworn to kill him, started on the trail
Of the band. They were followed by