The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-27

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" M form but keep our
GkZM rs selves in READINGS:
-I/rgMMy for the 18th dis
~- patch, which wa:
brought in on the evening of Aug. q
by Fort Thompson detail, after we had
waited 10 days.
We were ordered to pick out five o.
the best horses and start. Our orders
were to 90 through to Fort Rice-20(
miles-in two and a half days. Al
though there was no moon, the night wa:
clear, and objects could be seen some
little distance. About midnight, while
Rice and myself were riding in the lead
[ discovered some objects ahead of us
but could not tell what they were.
directed companions attention to the
objects, and he yelled: "Who comes
there?"
We at once received answer: "Sol
diers from Fort Rice. Who comes sthere -
After exchanging few words we ad
vanced and found it to be seven boys Of
Co. G, 9th Iowa Cav, on their way to
Fort Sully with dispatch.
We picketed our horses, rested, and
talked with the boys about an hour
They had seen no Indians, but Judging
from numerous fresh "signs" thought
the country was full of them.
We struck out again and kept moving
all night till late In the morning, when
we came to little stream of water, about
40 miles out from Fort Sully, where we
fixed for getting our breakfast. Each
carried bareback and coffee and an old
tin can to make coffee in. One of the
bows also had a canvas ham tied to his
saddle.
We had not gone far when Rice sue
ceeded in shooting an antelope, which
we quartered without sllinning, and hung
it onto our saddles, anticipating rare
dinner when We reached the Little
cheyenne River
A little before noon we came in sight
of the Cheyenne, and about the same
time discovered large Indian camp to
the left of our trail. (We had followed
the trail made by the expedition when
it went up in the Spring. The camp
appeared to contain about 400 or SOC
Indians. and, of course, brought us to a
halt. Some of the boys wanted to put
back for Fort Sully and make run for
our lives, but after talking the matter
over we saw that would not do, as the
Indians had undoubtedly seen US as soon,
or perhaps sooner, than we had them.
So We concluded We might as well 90
DOWN AND BE KILLED
as to be chased ali over the prairie, only
to meet death In the end.
We started over the rough ground
bordering the river, deciding that if the
Indians did not come out after us We
would keep to the trail, and pass thei,
camp on the right. Thus We displayed
the inordinate tenacity with which
humanity clings to life and hope, even
in the face of almost certain death. Gu,
anticipation of becoming objects of the
fiendish delight Of those savage brutes
! by horrible torture at the stake wa:
mingled with review of our past In
such a manner as to cause the drama O
an entire life to be enacted in the space
of a very few minutes, intensified in pro
portion TO IFS condensation.
Our slender hope was soon dispelled
entirely. We had gone but little dis
tance toward the creek, when, in passing
by steep bluff, we were all at once sur
rounded by about ID red devils, who had
probably been lying in wait for some
time. We mvoluntarily halted, know
ing that resistance would only the more
quickly cause our death.
Y.
We assumed as Indifferent an air a
possible, and spoke to the Indians il
their own language, with which we wer,
all familiar at that time, telling them ",
were friends. They answered the same
and shook hands with us. But ou
fears were not altogether relieved, as VIZ
believed this was only another ruse
However, as they did not take our arm
or offer us any injury, we complied will
the request TO go to their camp, while a
the same time the proceeding struck u
as out of the ordinary.
| As we rode into their camp almos
the first Indians We met were some O
those who had been with lis at the for
the Winter before, and the mystery O
our deliverance was solved. They an
peared overjoyed at seeing us, rushed u
and shook hands, and generally mani
tested more pleasure than is usual witt
the Indian, The joy was not altogethe
one-sided, either, as may be imagined
Our situation made us appreciativs 9
possible assistance from any quarter.