The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-01-23
TELLTALE SMOKE.
THE RED MANS TELEGRAPH And
NOW 1T Is USED.
Indian Fire Signals, with the Methods OF
Making Different Kinds of Smdkes-Why
Soldiers Are So Often Disappointed.

Meelxer had been rassacreed and the
White River agency was in possession OF
the most warlike tribe of Indians in all the
mountains. Thornburg was hurrylng Tor
ward with his command to render what
assistance he could to those who still lived
and avenge those who were dead. The
regiment was in the heart of the Indian
country and signal smokes could be seen IN
all directions. Leaving the command en-
camped the gallant major pushed forward
with scouting party to explore bad Dit
of country. Lieutenant John G.. Bourke,
now captain, asked me 10 take climb With
him TO a neishboring peak to examine the
locality. l got my sketching and writing
materials together and were soon on
the summit of a knob that overlooked a
vast stretch of mountains. Thornburg ana
his troop were just entering a defile some
distance TO the northwest o. us when my
attention was attracted to something rap
idly climbing n steep mountain about Two
miles away.
Bringing my glasses to bear on it. found
the climber to be a strangely accoutered
Indian, for on his back he carried a bun
ole of wood and bark. Calling Bourke's at
tention TO the Indian, we watched him as he
assembled from crag to crag until he reached
the top and then the mystery of his bundle
was explained Throwing down the package
he knelt and arranged the sticks i'll q pecu-
liar manner. With two bits of flint he soon
had a fire started and a dense black col
umn OF smoke arose straight into the air.
Letting it rise in this manner for fully five
minutes, he took of his leggings and used
them as a fan, waving the smoke in diff
ferent directions, and when the variations
had satisfied him, he covered the smoke
entirely until no sign of it could be seem
Again the column assembled for a few sec
onds and then with the leggngs he beat
the fire almost out and covered it with
f~gayf1 IL
most bare mountain top. This sent up a
dense white smoke, but it had scarcely be
come distinct until he beat the fire entirely
out and hurried down the mountain toward
the place where the Indians We're supposed
60 he eucamped.
That looks bad for Major Thornburg
end his command" remarked the leuten-
ant That Indian has told his people all
about the movements of the troops and the
number Of men that have gone ahead 1t
viii he we'll if the major does not fail into
en- ambush before night"
The gloomy foTcbodngs were only too
wei verified for the major and all but two
Of the troop that accompanied him on that
fateiui expedition fell victims TO an am
bush that afternoon.
Primitive man undoubtedly found early
necessity for the use of signals that could
he seen great distanCHs Is. nor was he long in
discovering that fire and smoke were not
only the most convenient, but best served
INe purpose. y STUDY OF lnildu Signaling
reveals the fact that there but few
fixed signals used.
There are certain signals always in use in
times Of peace regarding proposed change
Of camp or an established camp, that re-
0uire no changing. but in time of war there
would be darEer Of the enemy learning the
meaning of fixed signals and taking adj
vantage of them, consequently it is usual
Tor the chief to prearrange them just
the war party starts on its expedition.
signals regarding events that repeat them
selves, such as the finding of water or
game, the approach of strangers or the
BucceSsful return from an expedition. These
are known TO all the members of the tribe
St0 Intelligence Is thus conveyed i'll
manner that is remark bic. in addition to
these family signals it is customary to
have fixed signal stations in all Indian
countries. located on high points in the
mountains or knobs on the prairie. SO that
fuforua ton can be sent for hundreds of
miles. by repetition of the signals, in =
very short time. Smoke signals have been
seen fifty miles and il is no uncommon
TuIEg to see them twenty miles away in
the clear atmosphere OF the mountains.
The meaning OF the signals is conveyed by
the number Of columns of smoke, the
shape Of the column and the character of
the smoke itself. The expert smoke maker
knows exactly what kind of a smoke each
species of wood or grass will make. and
can send up a column either dark. light or
Of varying hEes. In addition 10 the wood
aud grass the Indian makes great use of
lis blanket for controlling and changing
The smoke rs TO form and density Ac-
Couterec with his blanket and with the
flint and the grass wood around him.
the Indian can send Information over the
country IS rapidly as an expert telegrapher
l WAS hunting with 4 Ute Indian IN south
western Colorado one winter. at a time
when not even predatory bands of cattle
thieves disturbed the peace Of the country
Ne we're resting on a mountain spur when
the Indian suddenly stood erect and ga2ed
into The distance. Finally he settled back
20 d recumbent attitude and said that three
companies of soldiers were coming and
NJ uld reach where We were in three days.
When / asked him how he knew this he
pointed - thin column of smoke on a dis
tant peak. and then 10 another that was
just rising to the westward Of us. The first
smoke told the story to all Indians in sight
and gave the signal to the next point of
communication. It had been passed from
peak TO peak from the fort having been
started as soon as the troops left the camp.
There was no war and the soldiers We're
simply being moved from one post to an
other. yet the evcr-watchful Indians COM
1nuuicated the fact all over the mountains
wsca-n two hours of the time Of the begin
ming of the march. The smoke not only told
ui the moving Of d body of soldiers but told
how many there We're and what direction
they were travelling. as well as how rapidly
they were moving, so that every Indian was
able TO calculate exactly when the soldiers
would reach q given point. If such close
watch is kept in times of peace, it can read
fly be seen that still closer one would be
made during times of war. and no move
1nent of any body Of whites could he made
fl any direction without it being known TO
the Indians were the Indians expecting
ouch movement. This one incident Will il
IU~trate the difficulty met with in the In
dian warfare on the border.
officers have laid their plans with the
greatest secrecy and then made long and ar
duous trips with forced marches in order to
surprise IN encampment, only TO find that
the Indians hid long He'd, leaving nothing
but the cold ashes of their campfires to
show that the trip was made in the proper
direction. ~ all times, whether during
peace or war when travelling through
Ne - 81 "a ~