The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-24
A CHEF WITHOUT A TRIBE.
Wild Hog the Only Survivor of a Treach-
crous Cheyenne Band.

Wild Hog is the name of Cheyenne
chief, albeit he is chief without q
tribe. About fourteen years ago his
name was known all over the United
States, and for weeks millions of people
looked in the morning papers daily to
see what he was doing. For time she
filled western Kansas and Nebraska with
terror. Now he resides at Pine Ridge
Agency, and is one of the poorest 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 ,
under 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 forty citizens, outraged ten wom-
en- and destroyed nearly $4,000 worth
of property Wild Hog always claimed
that this deviltry was the work of few
troll, and that they escaped to the reser-
walton During the flight north ward
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 terri
tory, but they refusd to do SO. Finally
they were disarmed, but in the effort to
do so several 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 a long
low building which had been previously
used as barracks. Upon their contin-
ued 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 disarmed, but in some
manner they had been able to retainssa
few revolvers.
After 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
disabled. The Indians then rushed out
and fled up Soldier Creek canon. The
breaks .and hills of Pine Ridges were
about half a dozen miles away, and it
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 barefooted and left trail of blood
Incum bered with their women and child
rem they made slow progress. The gar
rison, aroused by the shots that destroyed
the guards, were soon in pursuit. Capt
yIr. i, ~; 81 o1urr
mand. They came upon the Indians in
a 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 ammunition
there were few live Indians and these
were cut down with the sword.
Wild Hogs tribe was wiped out. Not
a man, woman or child was left of the
entire band. But Wild Hog was safely
locked up in the guard house at Fort
and that is how he comes to
surive-a chief without a tribe. st.
Louis Globe-Democrat.