The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
4 BLACK HERO NOW 4 soUAWsAx.
Fiv. Notese- on The Riae Stock or Henry
Fear, Lately Of the Ninth CaNalrY.

F,v. Notese. on The Riae Stock or Hopr,
Fears, Lately or the Ninth Cavalry.
o. Sill. o. T., Nov. 1e.-Henry Fearn, q
colored man living near here on the ranch Of
White Wolf, the Kiowa Chief, is known wher.
ever there is an Indian band in the far West,
and lie welcomed wherever there is a company
Of the Ninth or Seventh regiments Of cavalry.
He is 80 years old and six feet tall. with huge
hands and feet, and a stoop In his broad shout
ders that betokens enormous reserve strength.
On the stock of his rifle are five notches. Each
one records the death of q human being other
than an Indian. No one, not even Fearn him
self, knows how many Indians he has killed.
Fourteen years ago Fesrn enlisted in the
Ninth Cavalry, q regiment made up wholly Of
colored men. He was assigned to the troop
commanded by Capt. Moore. The Ninth Cav
airy was then in the Southwest. Times were
hot, and the Indians gave the regiment plenty
TO do. Fearn speedily got a reputation as q reck-
less, fearless soldier. He was the best shot
among the men. One day. at the close Of q
lively campaign, word reached the Ninth Cav
airy that the paymaster was on his way TO Join
them. and was waiting eighty miles away for an
escort. A non-oommissioned officer and three
privates were detailed to go to the paymaster and
guard him on his ride to the regiment. Fearn
was one OF the four men selected. A sergeant
VINO nHu long ulbllkeu reHTn WAS DlACeu III
charge Of the detachment. The other privatcs
were close friends of the sergeant. As the four
men rode out of the post Fearn dropped to the
rear.
Ride up" commanded the sergeant This
will be aAard ride for us all, and a last one for
you, perhaps" he muttered In an undertone.
Last how 2" asked Fearn.
"Wait and see," was tho reply.
So the men rode along. Fearn hung back or
rode out on the side. where he could watch the
three men. His carbine lay across his saddle
bow. The butts Of his big cavalry pistols rubbed
his hands as he held the reins. Fearn under
stood that . relaxation Of vigilance meant
death. When the watering creek was reached
the men dismounted in silence.
Ride on, Fearn; we will catch YOU" said one
OF the men.
Fearn said nothing. and finally the men rode
en- together. As they neared the station where
the paymaster awaited them, one of the men
turned suddenly on Fearn and raised his pistol.
He was too slow. Fearn's two hands went up.
each g~rasping . pistol. and when he ceased firing
three riderless horses followed him into the sta
tion. where he met the paymaster alone.
1T was q close game" Fearn says as he tells
Of 1t now. " but my pair beat three odd hands"
When the Pine Ridge trouble broke out four
years ago four troops of the Seventh Cavalry
went up into the Territory to bring the Indians
into submission. The Ninth Cavalry also went
out Fearn's troop, with another under Col.
Guy V. Henry, then Major, met the Indians
near q big basin known as DEVILS Bowl.
1t was the hottest fight l was ever in" said
Fearn. I'VE were sitting about on the rocks
drinking our coffee, when suddenly from be-
hind rocks and trees and bushes burst a storm
of bullets. We Jumped to the charge, but there
Of smoke would float out from behind a rock or
tree and that was all we could see. They fought
US as on SaN an 1929 opsn on m ,USs H ike q i ios c ehla an'i NJ tn sGos sos
had We rallied along :. this than there was a ter;
on US. The Indians had captured an old cannon
and had loaded 1t with anything they could lay
denly everyth dni grew 'u quiet. w W. e waited. s but
all was still. In about ten minutes the old gun
SSoads s snd. sisn ssns on, s fiiisd th %G man Sa t Sse
One "M .aSsd hh sia yhs s, srdsad, n sx Int Tx iiH. s % a
was In the other squad. We crept single file up
the hill about 100 yards. Then We turned sharp
Then we faced about and marched toward our
own men. But the Indians were between US.
II was right. beside Major Henry. He was
cool as a cucumber. We crept along for about
Major Henry stopped and nodded his head for.
ward. We halted and looked ahead. There was
2 big boulder, and lying flat behind It. in a hol-
knew nothing of our presence. Quickly we
brought up our pistols, ever, man with one in
line OF hre lit the woods The Sioux yelled and
sprang forward. But they ran right into our
Have you ever met an Indian face to face
U whe rsa hi was sh wsr = as5 f So5 Then you . can,
man. There was no chance for the Sioux to
behind trees: We closed right in. Our
Iaaisa sS Ers1D tsG' a I%Sss ssSus tSEsrd ss usi f SsS Ss And And
Don't tell me that the colored man wont fight.
lust you get him started, and he will 20 right
tss dead We held our ground and drove the
Two days later Fearn accomplished the feat
that made him famous. The Sioux lay thick
trail out of the Bad Lands. The Ninth came
along trusting TO its administers, who had
ALLIED to warn them OF the Indians In time. The
alrymen were dumfounded. Suddenly Fearn
spnrred his horse forward and sprang up the
bill right into the midst OF the Indians.
.n ~SE0me on HdO Come Or! !" h he yelled You'll die
over Capt. Moore sent for Fearn anu asked
him what he meant by such recklessness.
!. You've wa to int to T sss the Gsg negro Sspf Tannine Rs bs ss,H;
he'll fight. and 1t Is best 10 run him ahead II you
Fsarn bears 1--WE scars 20 remind him of the
battle of the Wounded Knee.
AZ the eItPiratILomn OF his enlistment he re-
His fame had preceded him., especially among
The Indians. He declined TO live IN the post. and
instead, TO the ranch of White Wolf, a
powerful kiowa chief. soon after his arrival he
one OF White VOLTS daughters and be-
anne q full-fsdged squsw-mRn, appropriaIing
the rights OF his Indian wife 70 raise an un-
United number Of cattle on the Indian lands
o day he counts his cattle by the hundred. He
8 present 1T all high councils of both the Kiowa
md ComAnche tribes. The Cache Greek medi-
line dances always know him As a prominent
lgure. The beef issue twice . month would be
without him. He Is the only known
legro