Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-12-07
BETWEEN SIOUX AND PAWNEE
Tie Life of Terror That the Ponca
Indian Led.
Not BEING a Good Fighter His Fc-
rocious Neighbors Made Him
the Prey of Constant
Raids.


Chamberlain, s. D., Nov. 29.-Ihe pres
ent visit of Standing Bear, the chief OF the
Ponca Indians, and white swan, a Ponca
chief from indian Territory, TO the Santee
reservation, on the opposite side OF the
Missouri river from Springfield, this state,
recalls to an old timer here, now a federal
official, the early days when every effort
was made by raiding bands OF lawnee
and Sioux to eXtorminate the Poncas. The
Ponca Indians, and White Swan, a Ponca
reservat ton, on the opposite side of the
below Fort Randall, and being midway
between the Pawnecs and Sioux, We're the
natural prey of both these tribes.
II was customary for raiding bands OF
from twenty 10 forty Pawnees TO leave
their reservation IN eastern Nebraska and
raid the Poncas, stealing ponies, cattle or
anything that they considered worth car
rying away, and now and then killing a
herder who was SO innocent as to attempt
to Illustrate their plans, or who was not
sufficiently agile TO make his escape from
the invaders. Bands of Sioux would also
leave their reservation farther up the
Missouri and sally against the Poncas,
who numbered about 500 or 1000, and were
fair fghters-if compelled 10 fight. Occa-
sionally the Poncas would muster up suf'
flcient courage to sally forth and give bat
tie to their prosecutors when the raiders
became so bold as to enter the agency
itself, and loss of life would result.
The Pawnees on their raiding eXpcdi-
tons against the Poncas were extremely
careful not to enter Sioux territory, as
the wars which had been carried ON for
generations between these hereditary en-
emies had taught the Pawnees that the
Sioux were fighters and not to be triiied
with. The Pawnees were very brave
when they ~outnumbered their foe. 1t was
considered q brave act by them If they
could creep up on a Ponca herder and Kill
him before he had an opportunity to re-
sist or escape. The federal official men
toned above was a government herder ar
Santee agency in the early los, and states
that one day he rode suddenly over a riso
of ground into a raVine, about fifteen
miles from the agency, and was aston
ished to see close at hand a band of Paw
nee warriors. 1t was one of the raidin6
parties and the Indians were dressed in
fun war array. They had apparently just
dismounted and were standing beside
their ponies. They appeared as aston.
ished as the herdcr at the unexpected
meeting, and stood in their tracks mo-
tionlcss for the time being. In the mean
lllle lDC ltfutI ; morse was very uneasy
at the sight of the Pawnee warriors, who
are, when dressed for war, the most hid.
eous Of Indians, and kept siding from
them. All this time the herder was keep
ing close watch Of the Indians, momen.
tarlly expecting a hostile demonstration
and at the same time gently touching up
his horse with the spur on the foot Earth.
est away from the redskins. Finally,
when q safe distance was reached, the
herder Unexpectedly ride over a hill, and
struck both spurs sharply into it's TANKS
and started rapidly away. The Pawnees
made no attempt TO give chase and were
soon left far behlnd 1t was a narrow es.
cape. for had they cared to kill him they
could easily have done so.
The constant raiding by the Sioux ana
Pawnees also created alarm among tho
Santee Indians, who lived in proximity to
the Poncas. ON another occasion. one
summer afternoon in 1870, the same herd
er was hunting stray cattle in the bluffs
near the Missouri river. Some Santee In
dams also CHANGED TO be in that vicinity.
They were greatly alarmed TO see the
herdcr unexpectedly ride over a hill. and
not recognizing him, as il was a windy
day and he had his hat under his arm,
they felt certain that he was the advance
guard Of a Pawnee raiding expedition n
started on a wild run for their agency.
Seeing at a glance their mistake and cor
rectly Interpreting the cause of alarm,
the hcrder decided TO have a little fun
with them. So he galloped toward them,
and whenever a depression IN the trail
was reached and he was out of sight OF
the frightened Indians, but still within
hearing, he would give utterance TO a
series Of blood curdling yips and yells
tHat 1alpliln tal tn misc the hair nj
a mummy. The speed of the Indians was
accelerated by these yells, and so desper-
ate did they deem the situation that they
dropped their blankets and other articles
that might impede their flight. When
the had been scared into a state Of utter
panic the herder turned his horse aside
and resumed the nun for the stray cattle.
The next day he had occasion to visit
Santee agency, and learned that 1t was
the general belief there until appearance
that he had been killed the previous day
by Pawnees. The frightened Indians had
made the most of the situation, and told
{ having been chased by vast numbers OF
awnees their narrow escape, and added
other embellishments characteristic o!
the average Indians narrative. The raids
of the Sioux and Pawnees kept tho
Poncas in such a state OF terror that the
govf rnment finally moved them into In
dian territory. A few stragglers have
from time to time returned overland &c
their old home on the Missouri river, com
planning that II was too hot and un,
healthy in indian Territory. When 1t wa.
demonstrated that IT was impossible tC
keep these dissatisfied ones in Indian Ter
ritory, the government gave them permits
sion TO remain in the vicinity Of their ole
stamping round and receive their ration:
at Santee agency. They still reside there
and the new order of things permits then
TO enjoy life without the constant fear O
hearing the war whoop Of their old tim,
enemies, the Sioux and Pawnee.