The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-10-07
A LONE CHIEF.
An Indian Who 10 tho Sole 9ax-
vivor OF HE Tribe.
Hew wild Hogs Baad of Cheysaoss Wee
Wlped Out ol Existence By 0evsrn-
nent Troops Nearly Four
teen Years Ago.

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 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 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-
tions 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 t 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-
turu 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 q barracks. Upon the
continued refusal to go back peaceably
to Indian territory an effort was made
to subdue them by starvation. They
we're deprived of food, water and fuel
md were closely guarded. But they
were tough, and even after several
lays, which must have been ones of
suffering, were still obdurate. 1t was
supposed that they were completely
lisarmed, but in some manner they had
been able to retain few revolvers.
After few days of seemingly quiet
subsection the vigilance OF the soldiers
vas in measure relaxed, and the
guard reduced to six in number. Sud-
.lenly, in the night, these were shot
.lown, every one of them being either
killed outright or disabled. The In
lians then rushed out and filed up
Soldier creek canyon. The breaks and
nils of Pine Ridge were about half =
dozen miles away, and it was the hope
OF the Indians to reach them before
the sleeping soldiers could overtake
hem. 1t was . wild race across the
zee and snow. Many OF the Indians
we're barcfooted and left a trail of
blood. Encumbered with their women
md children they made slow progress.
The garrison, aroused by the shots
that destroyed the guards, were soon
IN pursuit. Capt. Vessel, OF the Third
:avalry, was in command. They came
,pon the Indians in little ravine, or
:Oulee, about two miles north of the
iort They made stand and fought
Dravely, but were without arms, and
.hc 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
we're charged upon and cut down with
The sword Wild Hogs tribe was en-
irely wiped out. Not man, woman
u child was left of the entire band.
But Wild Hog was safely locked up in
the guard house at Fort Robinson, and
hat is how he comes to survive-a
chief without tribe.