The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-12-05
Chronicle Of the Spanish woodward.
IAN EXTRACT.


In the autumn of 1874, while on visit to Fort
Ber,hold, was joined by Chris Weaver in pro
posed beaver trapping expedition to the south
branch of Big Knife River, but a change of plan
found our trap line stretched out around the Lake
of the Painted Woods. Previous to leaving the
Indian village Weaver had an alteration in
an Aricaree lodge in which the usual 'woman
lin the case was proceeding cause, The out
come of the affair was SUCH that my knowledge
of the wild Indian character justified me in utter
ling words of caution my partner for his careless
bandiage and making light of the set superstitons
Of primitive people, especially when done IN
their own Immediate presence.
After assisting in attending the trap line tor
a couple of weeks, Weaver took sudden spell
Of discomfort and abandoned trappers life for
his old avocation, that Of woodchopper, and
started off for Fort Stevenson with the idea
of establishing woodward in the neighborhood
|of that post.
On the morning following my late partners
departure started out the usual daily trip OF
ATTENDING the trap line, with rendezvous quarters
at Point Preparation. About three miles above
that place. bend in the river, called the narrows,
formerly much used by the Indians as crossing.
On the east bank of the river was narrow strip
of young cottonwoods on a projection OF land
connecting with strip of timber covered sand
dunes which stretched along about one mile in
parallel line with the river. A hre had lately
passed through the strip with such intensity that
many of the trees had been totally destroyed
while in some cases parts of the tree trunks were
still standing fantastic silent figures in WEIRD
lonely locality.
In passing to the right of this strip | saw an
object which looked like an Indian, yet as one
trans6xed The red man had evidently got the
first glimpse, and with his black blanket spread
around his FORM and standing erect and mmove-
able, was perfect imitation OF the burnt trunks
about him. Not liking his play, though humor-
ing it long enough to get some distance from him
when drew my field glasses and took careful
survey of the statue poser He remained IN his
position until he thought was far enough away,
and having satisfied himself on the of his
masking, disappeared.
The day following, more wary commenced
attending the trap line with reversed route, and
in the same cump of burned trees, met two In
dams instead of the one, on the previous day,
and both followed the same impressive statue like
manner of the lone fellow the day preceding.
One of them stood close up to a burnt tree trunk
and his presence not revealed until look through
the field glass brought him out plainly. The
day after saddled a pony and raised the traps
But previous to doing SO, discovered four Indians
standing out in plain view on high sand dune
among the burnt tree cump.
The action OF these Indians savored of the
mysterious My stockade home was three miles
away, and there was but two other ranches within
twenty miles While their manner of action was
not friendly, | would have been at their mercy
were they disposed to be hostile. The oPpor
tunity to waylay trapper attending his traps is
very easy task for hostile Indians we're they so
disposed From their actions it was very evil
dent that was not the scalp of the writer of this
chronicle that these Indians of the burnt clump
were after yet it was also very evident that from
him they would wish to hide their identity. The
Indians in those days seldom ever passed the
stockade without camping calling, unless it was
war party, and even these frequently called to
lew war contribution and replentish their com.
missarys But the Sioux were more chary OF &C
auantaincc especially an up bound war party.
A few years previous at the Painted Tree group
about one mile above the sand dune timber strip,
war party of Yanktoneys were in hidln g tor
Aricarees passing the Narrows in bull boats: