The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-14
SCOUT SHAVE HEAD.
AN INDIAN DUEL At THE STANDING
ROCK AGENCY.

"A duel which l witnessed in 1870 at
Standing Rock agency. Dakota, said
an old scort, between Scout Shave
Head and Chef Crooked Neck of the
Hunkpapa Sioux was a performance that
would have called for applause from the
most critical audience that ever wit
messed a Spanish bull fight. Shave Head,
it will be remembered, was one Of the
Indian police who was killed while at
tempting the arrest of Sitting Bull in
the fall Of 1890. In 1879 I was inter-
prefer and chief of scouts at Fort Yates,
near Standing Rock agency, where I
had 80 Sioux Indian scouts under my
command, who were selected from the
friendly bands and quartered at the
military post with their families. The
military authorities issued rations only
to the scouts, while their families drew
from the Indian agent. The beef was
river, the Indians crossing in boats.
II usually accompanied the scouts
when they went for their beet. About
$50 Texas steers were killed every two
weeks. These were parceled out to the
several bands, beginning with the lar
ger, who would receive IL or Is head as
their share. the next 10 or IL, and 50 on
to the smaller bands. who would get
two or three. according to their mum
Der. Lastly, single families, not mem
bers of bands, were given beef by them
selves, one steer to four families, or .
quarter to each. The scouts, half breeds
and squaw men were among this num-
Der. The trouble which terminated in
the duel between Shave Head and
Crooked Neck began over the issue Of
beef.
"Shave Head. Crooked Neck, Charley
Pappan. q half breed. and the Widow
McCarty, o squaw who had been mar
ried 70 . white man, were given . quar-
ter each in the last beef issued. Shave
Head, Pappan and the widow immedi-
ately began skinning the beef, when
Crooked Neck approached the scout, and
placing his hand ON his shoulder pushed
him violently aside, saying: You be-
long to the soldiers You have NO right
here. Go to the fort for your beef
II stood not more than 50 feet away.
Shave Head cast one look Of defiance at
his assailant and then came to me and
said, pointing at Crooked Neck: That
man has driven me away from my beet.
II ! wa not under your command, I
would know what TO do. but now I
await your orderx IF you leave me free
10 act,> he II not man enough 70 kesp me
sway from my besG.' s".' *>r'
II answered that since Tie agsnt Md
given him . Quartse Il that bes( 10 W.
thsEsfore hid. and bshsdA psEfsss right
"A TAXA Il - AE-s IS: 90 s7.s>S -.
..Thsn,' said he. stell ahss 4matsts
Keep Away IRON ma Il .tha4
Crooked Neck did NOS bsloag 10 ms
company. and ! had 20 astbosityN vsr
him. ~ 81 ...as. h.,s
livery we'll. said the sooaa. ,I,sheii
take my beef. and rsjoining ths. pkARa
he again offered to aasist In dresdng ~
beet. only to be again thrust awU ~
Crooked Neck. This time he gave uttee-
moe to that savage growl which. ones
heard, . never be forgotten. apd
climbing out Of the slaughter pen o.
the north side. and taking his ride from
his wife. he turned to the left, coming
out on that side of the corral facing the
river. Crooked Neck, seizing his ride.
went out of the corral ON the south side,
and turning to the right the two COM
batants met face to face ON the west
side of the corral Between them wae,
the agency wagon, which was backed
mp to the fence to receive the beef The
first shot was fred by Chief Crooked
Neck over the rear end Of the wagon.
The driver, supposing that he wal the
object Of attack, frantically whipped up
his mules, leaving . clear field between
the two enraged warriors, who were not
more than ten yards apart. Talk about
an Indian wal dancei Here was execut-
ed q dance that surpassed anything Of
the kind l yer saw Shave Head va
the more agile Of the two. jumping
from side to side, rearing high in the
air and again bending low down to tho
ground, all the time keeping his eye
fixed on his foe and his gun ready
for use. The corral had been surround
ed by not less than !, 200 Indians, mon,
women and children, but when the 61I
ing began they had surged to M side.
leaving the space in the rea Of each
combatant clear.
1.-THE second shot was again fred ~
Crooked Neck. but he again missed hts
mark, and during the instant required
by him to throw another cartridge into
his piece Shave Head. who was still -
. statue, took aim and fred. The ball
struck Crooked Neck in the hip, which
crippled him 90 that he had but one leg
to dance IN. As soon as Shave Head
fred he resumed his dancing, keeping IL
up until his antagonist fred again. when
he repeated his former tactics, pausing
In his dance while he took aim and fired
This time be brought Crooked Neck
down with . bullet through his breast.
He fell forward ON his face, bis gun I'M.
der him. His friends pressed forward.
holding mp their hands and calling upon
the scout to desist He had killed hts
"But Shave Head was determined to
make 1t . sure thing. First pointing his