New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
BTFFiLO BTLL'S DCFL WITH Az INDIAN
JOHN MICHIGAN TELLS HOW THE SCOUT
KILLED CHIEF YELLOW HAND.


KILLED CHIEF YELLOW HAND.
Wrlil-n Langan. the supply agent and head Of the
commlssary department at Buffalo BlHs "hd
West, has cook in his employ who has great
many Interesting stories 70 tell II you know him
His name is John McGilllgan. and he is a typical
freshman honest garruous and straightforward
John Is a brave man and United States solder
who has seen much service In the West, In many
an milan campaign. One incident In his life, II
SENS H. viii never forget, for he saw Co.onel Cody
k. .he famous chief Yellow Hand in a hand-to-
hand duel with knives. or rather tomahawk against
knife.
The fight occurred on July H. 1876. Honest O.d
rohn - as he is called. was then in Colonel now
GsneraJ Carr's command. and as the duel was the
only one that ever occurred this continent while
c,nterdia- armies stood still and watched II, his
version Of what he az that time Is certainly
interesting, particularly at this time.
You see sir" said John (as he watched for signs
Of appreciation when a steaming hot fried chicken,
which he rad just cooked for Mr. Langan and the
writer was sat before them in the dining tenO. THE
way of Il al this: was In Colonel cars COM
mind N That tlme-for I've been solder for more
than one term Of enlistment ;et me tel you-and
we came one morning 10 the banks OF War Bonnet
Creek We had just learned that the gallant Custer
God rest hts sou.-had been murdered by the saw
ayes and we were not in the best OF minds toward
them II the truth must be tod. General Merritt,
think II was who had command OF the FORCES that
morning sent Buffalo Bill who was chief OF scouts
out 10 see II the Indians had crossed the creek
They hadn't come across yet sir. SO BIZ went on
.it,ia further and soon discovered the camp OF the
Indians toward the south He and General Merritt
-ink il wes wen; up TO the top OF nil TO recon
noifre Bill saw some soldiers riding hurriedly tow
a~l the camp OF the main body, and they were
pursued by the Indians or part Of them at LEASE;
Taking dozen scouts with him, BIZ hid In the
bushes and when the soldiers went by. waited Tor
the Indians come. They passed the ambush With WIN,
ont seeing Bil or any OF ne BOYS aa me r M ,S
scouts killed 50 many Of them and 50 quickly tn1t
tn others had 10 sense left at all. They gave up
trying 70 catch the soldiers (who were c0uriersl'
ma ran away 10 the main force of ;he Indians
over p the Other side Of the hill.
1T was only little whlte until the two iarse
bodies OF mon came together and We had bit Of
"A ruc.on there that was pretty iive.y while lasted,
which was on'y as long as the Indians thought they
had only a corporars guard or two to handle. Then
they drew of and sat just out of range on their
'Thrrs was big chief in the Indian army named
Ye;;ow Hand. and he must have been looking for
trouble for he rode out in front Of his people and ana
9,rod orr Bill to come hair way and fight. That
was ali right. and BIZ took him at his word
don't remember just al that happenei for minute
utes--but | heard both their guns crack ard saw
the Indians horse flop Over-deader n rock, ne
struck A. Bl.l with his tomahawk and thought for
the lie Of me he had hit him on the head and done
fer himnd was nat ma1 woI he n nGia run had
taken bigger contract i6an ne eyer nad rebbe
for Just b Is R f irF srke a him owa and his big
bowie knife split Mr. Indians heart SO quick he
seemed to know he was hurt At az o at az
the body reached the ground; Then the who.e ca
booiie Of the Indians charged on Bill ana now ne
got out Is more than l tell you. sir FOR IN the
tile that commenced then and lasted In the shape
of a running fight for more than thirty mics nag
just about much as could do to take care OF