The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-07-01

THE BLOODY TRAIL.
the coveted buffalo lands, Law the Rockies.
every available pass of which was guarded
by the army. Beyond the mountain. block
ing the valleys, the stream crossings and
the gaps in the lower hills. were forts and
armed posts, all of these connected BY tele-
graph, and the surrounding country was
alive with citizens Injured to frontier bat.
tie, armed for it and ready to volunteer
| against the red men.
The direct trail from the Clearwater to
the Missouri, over Bitter Root mountains,
through Lo Lo pass, has been known since
the earliest explorations us the worst ever
trod by man or beast By that route Joseph
struck out, taking his wounded braves, his
Squaws and children and 1900 ponies He
| pushed on an advance guard to clear the
road and left rear guard to barricnde the
trail by Telling trees across ii and rolling
| stones Into the narrow dedles. Howard was
baflled and gave up the pursuit.
safe in the mountains, the Indians need
| not fear mOleStation, but their food SUNNY
was barely enough to last out n rapid march.
and 1t was plain that they must outwit or
Outright the soldiers to get through the
chain Of forts and posts lying eastward
| The telegraph had alarmed a Company OF
| the Seventh infantry stationed at Mssnula,
and its commander, Captain Rawn, prompt
ly moved with a Reinforcement Of volnn-
teers into defile at the eastern mouth OF
the pass and intrenched the place to await
the advance Of Chief Joseph But the willy
Nez Perces did not attack the Thermopylr
and after few days spent in parley with
the soldiers and in gathering supplies he
moved southwark into Bitter Root valley.
1t was then the 2sth Of July. More than
six weeks had passed since Captain Perry's
defeat on the Salmon and two weeks since
Towards drawn battle on the Clearwater.
The army had not only been aroused, but
had had time to concentrate General Glib
bon, commanding the Seventh infantry,
left Missoula on Aug. with I49 regulars
and 4citizens TO follow the Nez Perces tran.
On the 9Th they struck the village in Big
Hole basin, with the Indians for once nap
ping.
The soldiers crawled up in the night close
to the huddle Of "tepees" and at daybreak
opened fire without warning. The Indians
en- masse, squaws and children, mingled
with the braves rushed out and ran for the
neighbOring timber. But the stampede of
the warriors was only temporary. They
turned in their hiding among rocks and
trees and cut down with unerring aim the
soldiers who were burning the camp. Glib
bon was finally driven to the timber hills
with loss Of 80 killed and wounded. The
soldiers buried 50 dead Indians.
Chief Joseph marched on from Big
Hole on Aug. 10, leaving Gibbons bruised
army unable to pursue. But next day Gen
eral Howard reached Gibbon with fresh
body of soldiers from Idaho. The Indians
marched southwark, recrossed the noun
tains near Fort Lebmi, then turned east
ward toward the Yellowstone. Howard
gave sharp stern chase, and on the 10Th
was within IS miles Of the yllageat Camas |
Meadows. Joseph turned on Howard aud |
ran oil his mule train, then made haste I
eastward into the country OF the Mountain |
Crows, beyond the Yellowstone.
Among the little armies called out BY the