Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-09-14
AN lNDIAN DOLL

george w. kirkman, L. s. A., In Harper's
Prepare to mount Mountr' / had
lust commanded. zone moment, Mr..
Coleman" interposed the general, step
ping from tho rough agency office. The
scouts have reported that somc Brulcs
are sun out raiding around Look out for
Very we'll, sir, Fours lefti march!
trot! marchn and we were Off through
the council enclosure, past silent
groups of painted Sioux and alert blue
coated soldiers on the road down the
White Clay.
The bloody fight of Wounded Knee had
lust been fought, and many n Sioux
ognllnla, Brule and Uncapapa-lay in his
warpaint. face up TO the uullen sky on
that desolate HELD. ! had been ordered TO
take thirty OF the best sharpshooters in
that campaign at Pine Ridge-and to 80
out to the battle field md bury tho dead
Indians there. So on We clattercd with
our wagons rattllng along behind with
their loads Of dirty half-breeds and
squaw men," We had them along to do
the burying.
There was enough excitement and up
certainty about the expedition to stir up
the blood in our veins, as we trottod
rapidly on, Meeting mud-spatterad scouts
and orderlies, gallopinE mudly by us to
trot we rose over tho dun hills, from
whose Crcsts We could see the long ugon-
cy buildings and the white camps OF the
troops.
As the general had said that we might
be attacked, swung the column over
to the left, to Anstruther's camp Of Chcy-
enne scouts. ] halted u, and dismounting
strobe over to Anstruthcr's tent for news
/ found him surrounded by dozen hawk
nosed Cheyennes. giving them orders
the ready soldier In every word and ges-
ture. "Hostilcs?" he said, in reply 10
me. Eyes, believe there are some over
there. Needn't look for any near the
ELECTROMAGNETIC medicine 10. a good In
dian, they say. Sergeant" he added
calling Il tell, fierce-iUoking scout SER
geant, call back that man--lron Bear
the one that secuted near Wounded Knee
yesterday" Iron Bear came up, Il very
copper-oolored Iron Bear he was, stately
picturesque in fur cap and yellow-llncd
cane.
Iron Bear. you see any Sioux near
Wounded knee7" Haid Anstruther, strilt
ing his knee, and pretended he had wound
ed It, Iron Bear nodded. held up live
right, moving his hands to show he had
seen one party on our side, the other on
the other side OF Wounded Knee Creek.
lie told us about. them In the sign lam
81 think III take Iron Bear along with
me. II you can spare his valuable services
for while, Anstruther," | said,
"Certalnly, old man. Iron Bear you 10
with them" pointing to US, ride. scout. "
replied Austruther, sweeping one arm IN
circle and shading his eyes with the other
through almost. Iron Bear was back with
us on his wiry Indian pony. a hasty
"good-by" TO Austruther and we were
or again on the jump.
tied past our ears. Ahead thin banket
of snow covered the low hills, and
brought out sharply the dark green ,iirs
against the higher peaks OF the Ridge,
Soon we left the mission road, and
swung to the right on the old Deadwood
trial that winds through the terrible Bad
Lands.
The horses were white with the biting
frost. and little icicles hung from our
buffalo overcoats and heavy caps.
near 9% He made s'V eight fingers With Ms
hand-eight miles-never taking his eyes
from their ceaseless eager pearch OF the
hills for the hostile Sioux. We kept going
at n lively gait, with our "ilankers"
ahead OF us on the hills to guard against
ambush. The men did not talk much;
these were wild times. and the air was
death. You couldn't tell exactly when
you yourself had to work to save your
own life, so what was the use OF thlklng
about II, especially when you have both
untamed bronco who insists on having his
own wild way?
or so n llttlo band. Of Sioux; but they
rode the peace" circle on a hilltop. and
we galloped on. An hour or more and
we struck Wounded Knee Creek.
Ogailaias say, the first time the Sioux
came out to this part OF the wild Da-
lSotas, a band OF them strayed far west,
ward and camped beside this turpid
creek. Here in the evening, so the Indian
tradition says, a squaw stumbled, iei
down the steep banks and wounded ner
" . STnseu up Pm" men. Corporal Haynes keep
those wagons together" ! had hald,y
ordered, when Iron Bear, twenty paeas u
front, threw up his hand. and halted.
throwing his pony bnck on Its hauncheJ.
HALT" I spurred forward 70 where iron
Bear sat motionless IN his saddle.
bntfie0eiI-it lay at our feet In a FIAT"
amid the low desolate hills, strewn win
me terrible WRECK OF the light. No LIVING
being in sight amid all the shattered TO-
rces. the still. black patches that mere
and there darkened the peaceful nnow
Above lowered three dark figures ~ inc
sky. Down that ravlne yonder skulked y
the gray sky and the heavy clouds;
Have you ever seen a battlenelqF MOI
Then you will know why ! wished Arn-
lures that even an old soldier can't mo
fault with. But we had not much time 10
spare-so Forward, march, Sergeant,
nost tho fianlters on the hills. Take |
Charge OF them TIL l call you I'm. Keep a !
sharp lookout" |
We aed down on the fiat below. Cne |
NJ the wagons capsized throwing the haif-
breeds pell-mell Into bowling heap; we |
pi1btr1 II, and kept on Halt dismountl |
Maurice take my horse Bring down |
hose wagons. Tumble out. you men"
addcd 10 the now silent squnw men;
'staf-t in right here and dig"
They dug great hole IN the clayey
,artb.six feet deep. ten wide, sixty long.
1nr men stood around. and leaning on |
heir long rifles inlpassiye to the scene
n horror, yet keenly alert. The steam
nc horses champed at their icy nils.
ne Ring uneasiiy, MS they always do wien
1nar the dead bodies OF men. On the as
ami buttes stood our scouts outlinod.
,sainst the bleak sky. Only the clalter
II the shovels against an occasional fiint-
done broke the silence. Soldiers don-
on The approach OF fight or AMIDST
hc etili bodies or comrade or warriors
hev are thinking OF that stern night ma!
VII II, their last, whom they, too, VIII
e fare un to the cold stars.
The great grave was finally nnlsnei;
md ne ragged. sl5uehing shovellsrs ha1
.iimbed out OF the depths The blg
sa CONS were brought up and driven over
M nlain. gathering grim burdens OF
.n,iatys and painted braves Win my IN
eirnrcter / wandered over the. battle
iatt nehind mo rode Lone Neasel-a
ar,ic sloux-the only male survivor o.
IN night where Big Foots band Of sion *
al besn killed TO man Almost -
ta,n ali hat three sqnws and Lone
Iveasel had escaped; the others lay