The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-11-22
Saved by a White Glove.

at is difficult to believe any thrilling
story of wild Western life after reading
the lurid accounts of bravery and cool
ness in face of danger, especially when
/ dealing with Indians, that are served to
the sensational-loving public in cheap
novels" said an army officer yesterday.
lone is led to look upon Western adv IL
ture ~ mere fiction, and the dangers
/ that beset the early settler as myths,
/ the faLcies of powerful imaginations at
! tuned to the public's taste. Yet, | can
I say that ! have seen deeds of hei oism
quite as astonishing as anything of
4 which have ever read, even if the hero
did not slay from ten to twenty savages
single handed
"There Is one incident which occurred
in the post at which | was stationed
nearly twenty years ago for which |
have never seen credit given to most
courageous fellow, who single-handed,
bv his aeutcness, saved whole garrison
from massacre, and his only weapon, or,
rather, instrument, was white glove.
1t happened in this way: We We're To-
Gated in Camp Sheridan, right IN the
midst of hostile Cheyennes, who had
been giving the government no end of
trouble by their fearless depredations.
Crazy Horse was their most obstreper.
Gus chief, and after many vain attempts
to persuade him to surrender by force of
arms, we had about given up hope,
when we learned that the chief was
willing to receive officers to arrange the
terms of surrender. As it was, we
would have long before fallen prey to
the merciess devils who we've about us
on all sides had it not been that ut that
time the Sioux were in hostile relations
to the Cheyennes. and in working out
their spite they guarded us as if we were
of their own tribe.
"A detail WAS sent to confer with
Crazy Horse, and resulted in bringing
him TO the agency, willing to surrender
1t was necessary to take him to the
main post-F. Robinson-to arrange
more fully the conditions, so, while
awaiting a convenient time to conduct
him to the commander, old Crazy Horse
was placed in the guard house, accord
ing to custom. Although his friends
had practically free access to him there,
they could not understand he meaning
of his imprisonment, and were constant
ly suspicious of treachery' After a
while they began to bring little files and
saws for the chief to use to gain his
freedom. One day a fellow named Bolt
was assigned the duty of guarding the
prisoner, and as he walked to and fro he
was surprised 10 find that Crazy Horse
had sawed through the bars and was in
a fair way to join his comrades on the
outside. Quick action was necessary,
for there were several Chevennes in the
guardhouse, but luckily were not look
ing in the direction of the cell at the
time. Bolt was equal to the emergency.
Like flash his gun was thrust through
the bars and his bayonet was run clean
through Crazy Horses body. He fell
back with groan in such natural
position that person would not have no.
lced him particularly. Bolt was quick
to apprehend the danger 10 which his
act had placed him. If it were known
that he had slain the favorite chief of
the Cheyennes, it would not only mean
sure death to him, but it would provoke
a general massacre in the garrison. So,
without a moments delay he pulled off
his white glove. and, with rapid mo-
ton, wiped every trace of blood from
the bayonet. Then. quickly digging
hole in the earth floor, he buried the
blood-stained glove, and in a moment he
had taken another glove from his pock-
ct, had 1t on his hand and was doing his
guard duty as If nothing had happened.
How he happened to have that extra
glove in his pocket cannot tell. 1t
was most unusual, as any army man
knows. This was done so quickly that
the Cheyennes who were in the guard
house at the time never noticed what
had happened. Crazy Horse lay for
some little while, his life blood ebbing
away, before his friends discovered any
thing had happened But finally they
knew something was wrong and they
rushed in to their chief. His life was
too far gone to allow him to tell how
he came by his death. lie died without
giving the slightest clew. At first his
braves thought he had committed sui
eide, but then their naturally suspicious
natures began to suspect treachery, and
as Bolt was the only man near him they
fastened the crime upon the guardsman.
Imagine Bolts feelings when they ac-
cused him. Discovery meant sure death,
but Bolt braved the storm aud stood
unmoved by their angry accusations and
blood-thirsty threats. Finally, the cap
tain had to accede to their demands and
permit the braves to search Bolt for
blood-stains. | remember they stripped
the poor fellow and examined him from
head to foot. Then all his garments
were scrutinized as well as his weapons,
but not the stain of drop of blood
could be found The white glove had
done its work well. Having no other
explanation, the Indians decided their
chief had killed himself. Crazy Horse
was buried by his warriors with great
honors, and the grave on the bluff, in
closed by three fences over which were
placed the navy blue blankets which the
post commander had thought advisable
to give toward the proper burial of the
dead chief, was the pride of all the
Cheyennes IA long time. Thus ended
Crazy Horse, and this is how a simple
white glove in the hands of the hero
saved a whole garrison. When maa is
around with courage and GOODNESS his
weapons need not be sharp. Pttsburq
Dispatch.
Not an Even Thing.
In one of my parishes (writes friend