Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-19
TURNED ASIDE

We were going down the peninsula
formed by the junction OF the Yellow
stone and Lntle Missouri rivers, hoping
to intercept the Indians and turn them
back. 1t had been hard, swift march,
a ride OF over 400 miles, with no hal'
above four hours, and at 10 o'clock In
the forenoon half the troops were
sleeping in their saddles, as their lean
and lame horses picked their way over
the rough ground.
We had planned to reach the spot
where the fleeing Indians would cross
the Little Missouri day or two ahead
of them. We believed we had accom-
plished il. At 10 o'clock we were within
two miles of the spot. Then the head
of the column halted for the men to
close up. Our line had strung out for q
mile or more. Between us and the
crossing, as the halt was made, nature
had made highway. 1t was grassy
road, about twenty feet wide, twisting
and turning like q creek. Either
side wBs lined with dense thick
cts. Half mile down the
highway 1t was crossed by a
creek with steep hanks. Half mile
further on was second creek. 1t was
hardly more tnan rivuet at this
season, but the width from bank was
forty feet and the banks were ten feet
high. Our guide had never passed over
the route.
No man In the column Of 200 mel
knew what lay beyond the first turn.
The halt TO close up was a precautionary
measure, but no one dreamed OF danger.
II the hostile Indians had not turned
back or changed their route they should
still be forty or fifty miles to
the south. The stragglers had come
up, the sleepy troopers had braced up
under the eyes OF their officers,
aud the burglar was about to sound the
forward when the half-breed guide and
scout held up his hacd in warning. A
deer came running up the grassy lane
at full speed and was within two feet
of the colonel's horse when 1t wheeled
to the right and vanished into the
thicket. Next came a fox, who ran un-
der the foot Of dozen horses before he
found shelter. Then second deer
then three or four rabbits.
What is it?" asks the colonel OF the
guide.
AMBUSH" was the brief reply.
"Where?"
The guide waved his hand TO signify
that 1t was down the lane somewhere.
How do you know"
"See that!"
A big grey wolf rounded the turn a
hundred feet away, coming at full
speed. The hair on bis back stood up,
his tail almost dragged, and 1t was easy
to see that be had been disturbed and
was put out about 1t.
"Injuns down there" said the guide
We are too latel They have got here
first and we are in ambush!
But what makes you think sop
persisted the Colonel, who was impa-
tient to 60 ahead, and yet too prudent
to needlessly expose his command.
"Deer- -rabbit-wolf!" replied
the guide. "All were frightened. Ali
running away from something. lnJuns
down there waiting for Us. We go some
other way" d..
We turned to the left and fan ked
the positian. We had made a distance
Of seven miles when Indians were seen
and skirmishing began, but they soon
retreated southwards, and as We fol-
lowed them up they crossed the Little
Missouri. II was the band we had
hoped to intercept, but why did they
turn back without fight? Everybody
was asking the question when few OF
us rode of TO inspect the ambush. The
death trap had been set for US between
the creeks. The lower end OF the avenue
had been blocked with felled trees and
bushes, and trees partly cut down
would have blockaded the upper end as
soon as the last horseman had passed.
The road here narrowed TO fifteen feet
Wherever there was an opening In the
bushes which lined the sides IL had
been closed with thorns.
From sunrise that morning the In
diaus had been waiting for us. Almost
200 warriors were In hiding behind the
bushes, reaay to thrust out their rifles
and fire at the signal. Perched in the
trees along the way were half hum
dred bows armed with bows and az
rows. Hidden away under the banks
OF the sreeks were hundred or more
souaws, armed with hstchets.
knives or clubs. 1t not 70 be a battle,
but a massacre. No mercy was to be
shoWn-not a prisoner taken. Scouts
had observed our approach and report
ed. When the head OF our column had
fairly entered the lane the eager squaWs
and impulsive boys could hardly be con-
trolled. In their moving about they
frightened the wild animals out OF their
retreats and sent rs the warning. They
did not know why we halted, hesitated
and then took another way. For half
an hour they waited with the scowl
of hate on their bronZed faces-with the
sayageness Of devils in their hearts
with eyes which glared and glinted as
they roamed aooVt 10 search OF the ex-
pected prey. Then they whispered TO
each other:
They have taken another way. The
great Spirit sent them a warning TO
turn asldel We cannot fight these men.
let US recross the river and return TO
the agoncyI"
"When are you going to the fair2"
SDon't iust know, We've written I'VE