Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-03-20
SCOUT SHAVE HEAD.
AN INDIAN DUEL AT THE STANDING
ROCK AGENCY.

Was Called Down-RIhes at Thirty y.rA,
and Fight to Finish.
"a duel which witnessed in 1874 AZ
btanding Rock agency, Dakota" said
ca old scout, between Scout Shave
iead and Chief Crooked Neck of the
huhkpapa Sioux was performance that
would have called for applause from the
most critical audience that ever wit.
messed Spanish bull fight Shave Head.
1t Will be remembered, was one of the
Indian police who was killed. while at.
tempting tho arrest Of Sitting Bull in
| the fall of 1890 In 1876 | was inter
prefer and chief of scouts at Fort Yates
near Standing Rock agency, where /
had 30 Sioux Indian scouts under nv
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
slaughtered ,on the east bank Of the
river, the Indians crossing in boats.
Il usually accompanied the scouts
when they went for their beef. About
100 Texas steers were killed every two
weeks. These were parceled out to the
several bands, beginning with the lar
ger, who would receive ~ or I5 head as
their share, the next 10 or 12, and 30 OH
to the smaller bands, who would get
two or three, according to their mum.
ber. Lastly, single families, not mem.
bers Of bands, were giver beef by them.
selves, one steer to four families, or q
quarter to each. The scouts, half breeds
and squaw men were among this num-
ber. 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, half breed, an. ..he Widow
McCarty, q squaw who had been mar
ried to white man, were given a 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 90 feet away
Shave Head cast one look of defiance at
his assailant and then came to me and |
said, pointing at Crooked Neck: That
nan has driven me away from my beef.
II l was not under your command, ] |
would know what to do, but now ! |
await your orders II you leave me free
% act, he is not man enough to keep me
lway from my beef.
~ answered that since the agent had
yiven him quarter Of that beef it was
therefore, his and he had perfect right
% take it.
Then, said he, tell that man to
,eep away from me. answered that
Jrooked Neck did not belong to my
company. and / had no authority over
i'm.
every we'll, said the scout. I shall
AXE my beef, and rejoining the others
10 again offered to assist in dressing the
eef, only to be again thrust away by
)rooked Neck. This time he gave utter
noe to that savage growl which. onoe
card, can never be forgotten, and
limbing out of the slaughter pen on
he north side, and taking his rife from
liz wife. no turned 10 the left, coming
mt on that side OF the corral facing the
iYer Crooked Neck, seizing his rife,
vent out Of the corral on the south side,
nd turning to the right the two com.
Iatants met face TO face on the west
ide OF the corral Between them was
no agnpoy wagon. which was backed
p 10 the fence 10 receive the beef. The
rst shot was fired by Chief Crooked
Jeok over the rear end Of the wagon.
he driver, supposing that he was the
bieot Of attack, frantioally whipped up
is mules, leaving olear field between
ho two enraged warriors, who were not
lore than ten yards apart, Talk about
u Indian war danoel Here was eGecut-
d dance that surpassed anything Of
hs kind | ever saw. Shave Head was
he more agile Of the two, jumping
rom side 10 side rearing high In the
iF and again bending low down 20 the
all tho time Keeping his eye
Eed on his foo aud bls sun ready
or use, The corral had basn surround
4 by not less than 900 Indiana, men,
gOmon aud children, but when tho mr.
ng began they had surged 10 ono side,
0aying tho spaoe Ia the rear Of eaob
clear
"The seoons shot was again hFed BY
rocked Neck, but he again missed his
lark, aud duHng the Instant required
y him 10 throw another cartridge into
is pieoe shaye Head, who was Sill ~
statue, took aim aDd hred The ball
tru0k Crooked Neck IA tho hip, which
ripplad bin 80 that he bad bus one 10y
D dsnas on A. soon % shave Head
ged he Tesgmed bis dancing keeplns "
N pDtil bis aDisR0plsl hIed asalp, when
\ repeated bio fogmel iaoilas, pspslnH
\ BIZ daBee wbils be- i0ok ainl aAq nFeq 4,
his tiue no brQlght Crooked hpgs
own With 4 ballet lhlUugl hls mRss1
~ foll forward un hlp face hls Rap va
sr bim. lis friends pgssaea lQGNsia'
oldlnR up thor hands Apd eslllpF apop
As sooat % desiai lie bad tlllso hl'