The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-02

followers from one camp 10 anotnef,
and all went along as smoothly and
lively as a well ordered wedding party.
We had over a weeks time in which
TO talk Of the beauties Of camp life;
to enjoy its novelties, shorn OF its
hardships; to laugh at the fears of our
good mothers, who had warned us
against the stealthy approach OF saw
ages. and to build higher and stronger.
castles with the golden sands OF the
Pacific, when we reached the crossing
of the Loup Fork, a tributary OF the
Platte, about 100 miles west of Omaha
We were 10 days making the distance
which the Union Pacific now makes
in three or four hours.
1t was thought best not to attempt
to ford the stream before the next
day. so camp was made; the cattle
turned out to feed and the usual num-
Der of guards detailed to watch and
herd them. The writer did sentry
duty that night and he will never for
get the locality and its surroundings
as he saw them under the light OF the
May moon. The exciting events or
the next day doubtless did much to
impress them upon his memory. The
old ford or crossing of the stream Is
not far from where the city OF Column
bus, in Nebraska, now STANDS. The
little creek coming down and running
nearly parallel with the Loup, empty
ing in it near our camp; the beautiful
level piece of ground where the wag-
ons formed a corral and shelter for the
oxen; the little knoll at the north
the broad. shallow stream in front
and the wide expanse of valley lands
or plains at the west, extending as
far as the eye can reach, are as plain
ly and distinctly photographed upon
his memory as though seen but an
hour ago.
/ AS the Loup Fork was the first con-
siderable stream which the outfit had
] faced since leaving the Missouri, a
7 council of the officers was called and
a plan Of proceedings formulated. 1t
was decided that Immediately after
breakfast. and while the cattle were
being driven in and yoked, three or
or four of the older men, mounted on
horses, and provided with willow cut
tings should stake OUT ford over
the shifting sands of the stream, for
care had to be taken to avoid deep
places and the turning over of wag-
ons. While this was being done
couple of young men had taken their
rifles and gone up the creek in. search
of game. At this juncture band of
moving objects was seen on the west
4 ern horizon.
The cry of "Buffaloes, buffaloes,"
was heard upon all sides and a gen.
eral rush was made for the wagons.
and old shotguns and pistols and
butcher knives were brought out.
II tell you them amt buffaloe" said
have such high humps or the picture
books lie." And in a moment he added.
by gosh, they are men on horseback
and they are Indians too
That settled it. Criers were sent up
for the path finders and the guards to
come in and every man and boy seized
his favorite weapon and took his place
inside the corral beside or near his
wagon. Each had a look upon his
face that would have frightened the
life out of the others if they had sen it,
and all were murmuring the little
prayers they had learned at their moth
ers' knees. 1t was serious moment
and no mistake.
In the meantime one hundred and
fifty of the flower of the Sioux braves,
in war paint and bedecked with feath-
ers and trappings, and mounted on
fine horses, came laundering down
upon the apparently doomed camp. Not
a shot had been fired; not a war-whoop
had been heard. The young Argonauts
stood pale and breathless with surprise.
establishment and fear. All the guards
but one or two had come in, the ford
finders had thrown their willows to the
wind. and painting and dripping with
water stood speeches. within the cir
Gle. A few had hidden themselves in
their wagons, trusting to providence
to get them out of the scrape. the
/ Coloners voice was not heard. He was
probably meditating upon the uncer-
tainty of life in the far West. All was
as silent as the dead.
Before reaching the ford one wing of
the advancing savages had passed up
the stream and another had gone down
ii, apparently for the purpose of attack
ing the camp at both tanks and the
front at the same time. The little squir-
rel rifles and old muskets and harmless
shotguns and brass pistols looked
mighty weak and inoffensive about
that time y few OF their owners
laid them down and assumed be-
seeching attitude towards the ap-
preaching danger. The hushed still
ness was really oppressive and Just at
the moment when some OF the men,
who had loudly proclaimed what they
would do If they were ever atuaeke9
by Indians, appeared ready TO fall dead
i'm their tracks from fear. a shot was
was heard up the little creek, imme-
diately followed by another.
Look out for your lives" came a
ringing voice. Don't show the white
feather, out and face them. AT the
same moment the speaker. who was
one of the youngest boys in the outht.
sprang over a wagon tongue and FOUND
himself face to face with the painted,
befeathered chief of the war party:
Wheter il was the boys very youthful
presence or the appearance of guns
i'm the hands of the whites. for the
Sioux had but few then. or whether
the fact that IL was cattle, not q
horse outfit, and buffalo meat was pre-
ferred to work oxen. no hostile de-
monstration was made. The chief dis
mounted, looked over the crows Tor
moment; remounted. gave word OF
command, and the stIapping, fine look
, ing warriors rode away as swiftly as
, they came. We afterwards learned II
was a war party in search of scattering
, bands of Pawnees which, at that sea
son of the year, ventured from tnt
! river to hunt buffalo. They didn't
want us or our cattle. but If ours had
, been a horse train, no one would have
been left to tell the tale and this story
: would not have been written.
{ After the Indians had left the rol
was called and one of the hunters wa:
= found missing. His name was Rowe
! and hailed from Plattsburg, Wiscon
, sin. He was an apparently well edu
| ! cated man and very courteous in hi!