Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-17

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their winter fastness in the Black Hills or
eating government rations in the shelter
OF the smoky water agencies. Deer and
small game were numerous in the timber
and scarce a hunting party returned to
the fort, that did not bring some antlered
trophy of their skill. DR.. Slaughter had
brought with him from the south a fine
hunting dog, a trained pointer named
"Bille," who was a great favorite with the
sportsmen and invaluable in indicating
the location Of the smaller game, prairie
chickens, %jackrabbits, whose gray fur in !
winter turns white as snow. Antelope. deer
and occasionally elk were found, and this |
fine game formed an agreeable variety
from the government beef, that was
killed semi.weekly.
In the dead of winter the terrible gaunt
wolves Of the prairie became desperate from
hunger. The bowling of these starving
beasts around the fort at night time was a
fearful sound to hear. Even in the day
time they would come close to the fort
bowling and dancing on their hind legs,
with torepaws far upstretched against the
heavy planks of the stockade, in futile
efforts to scale the ten foot wall, to reach
the human prey within. Many times at
night the scouts in tile Arrickaree quarters
would have to rise and fire their guns to
brighten them away. The same winter at
Fl. Stevenson they dragged the body of the
newly-buried child of the post interpre-
ter from its grave and devoured it, and
they would have torn to pieces the strong
est man, who might have met them un-
armed on the open prairie.
On New Years day, 1872, our baby died,
but so intense was the cold that it could
not be buried. There was no chaplain at
any of the western forts, but funeral SER
vices were held in our quarters, by the
ladies and gentlemen of the fort. Mrs.
Gen. Crlttenden read the burial service
and the little coffin was placed in the
powder magazine to await the coming of
spring, as the ground was too deeply frozen
to admit of a grave being dug. AS this
weighed upon my spirits, Gen. Crittenden
decided that a grave should be dug. A
fire was made in the cemetery, and relays
of men took turns in digging, as the graves
had to be dug very deep to prevent the
famlshed wolves from desecrating them.
When the grave was ready the little
wooden coffin was encased in a strong tin
box, and all the officers with my husband
went up to bury it. l was not permitted
to 60. Col. Donoven and Lieut.. Chance
carried the little coffin by turns. The
weather was freezing cold. Lieut.. Hum
berts eyelids were frozen on the way, and
the fingers of the men who were detailed to
assist were frost-bitten. A wagon con-
tanning several barrels of water had been
taken along, and when the little grave was
closely filled up, the water was slowly
poured upon it, and this freezing as it fell,
formed an impervious coating of ice, which
eftectually protected the grave from the
claims of the famished wolves. At night
as in sympathy with the motive, the wind
arose and tossed the snow about and
heaped it above and around the little grave
in heavy drifts that lay there undisturbed
through all the long cold winter.
In the following March, a beautiful sill
yer cup engraved with my baby's name,
and presented by officers of the 18th In
fantry," was brought to me by Mrs. Gen.
Crittenden and Mrs. Lieut.. Humbert. The
order had been given in December. but
owing to delays in the mail it had just
been received.
The following letter accompanied it:
FORT RICE, D. r. March 3rd 1872.
DIR. and Mrs. b. F. Slaughter:
The officers of the post, upon learning
that kind Heaven had blessed you with a
son, orderd as a tOkeny of their respect and
presented to the little stranger as a Christ
mas offering.
The painful news OF the removal of your
dear child did not reach us until after the
order had left the post.
Knowing full we'll, that the Good Shep.
herd who careth for his foled, has taken
the gentle lamb into His own flock, we
send You the cup which was intended for
your little babe who is nov in q
brighter and happier cline.
The offering Is not a valuable one.it is true
but friendly feelings and the earnest good
wishes OF the donors accompany it.
Very truly yours,
JAMES NJ. BURNS, U S. A.
For II N OR
tt this we made the following reply:
FORT RICE. d. T, March 8, 1872.
Lieut.. j. NJ. Burns, us. A.:
Kermit us through you to express to our
kind friends, the Officers of the 18th In
fantry," our grateful appreciation of the
beautiful present intended for the little
baby boy whose hands will never more
clasp anything earthly. We nave no fit
ting words in which to thank them for a
gift which valuable in itself as a token of
good will and kind regard possesses for US
now, a priceless value and peculiar mean
ing.
May God bless you, dear friends. Bless
you for the kindly hands that prepared for
us this sweet, sad pleasure, and the kinder
hearts that prompted it. Until our w
pulses are Stilled in deaths mystery, we
shall treasure among OUT most cherished
possessions, this little bright momentO of
our home at Fort Rice, with the officers of
the 18th Infantry. Sincerely yours,
Is. FRANK SLAUGHTER, U. s. A.
LINDA SLAUGHTER.
[NOTE.-By All error in paging the latter
part OF this chapter was wrongly printed
as part of Chapter 4. Ed ..4sssasee aaua
1t is no easy thing to dress harsh,
coarse hair 80 as to make it look grace
full or becoming. By the use of Ayers
Hair Vigor, this difficulty is removed,
and the hair made to assume any style