Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-11-14

Leaving the father to attend the
poor fellow and give him and the
broken hearted Pai-o-tah such con-
ISOLATION as was in his power, | went
back to the post and wrote a note to
the commanding officer Of troop of
United States cavalry encamped
some six miles above US, telling him
OF the cold blooded murder which
had been committed and asking him
to arrest the murderer. Hastily seal
ing the message, | slipped quietly
around to the Indian camp and gave
it TO young man who happened to
have his horse staked near by, charg-
ing him to go with all haste and de-
liver the note to the captain. When
/ returned to the lodge / found
Culver sinking rapidly. He was suf-
fering intensely, but never complain
ed, and slowly and distinctly in
structed his people as to the dispo-
sition of his property. Then the
good father began to administer the
last sacraments, and / sadly left the
lodge and went home. In little
while the father Joined me.
"He is dead 7" I asked.
eyes,
"And Pai-o-tah7"
"She tainted I; the old women are
caring for her.
Supper was called, but neither of
us cared to eat. We sat in silence a
long time, and finally the father said:
"Never, during my long life in
this wild and wicked land, have |
ever seen or hesrd of such bastard
ly act as that fiend committed this
afternoon. Can man be human, is
he born of woman, who will deliber.
ately shoot down fellow creature
in cold blood? And what is to be
done? Is there no justice in this
landy Can he not be punished for
his crime
"Wait, father" I replied. II have
sent note up to the soldier camp
informing the captain of the affair.
No doubt he will send some men
down to arrest the fellow"
Some time after dark my messen-
ger returned and handed me an en-
velope, the same one in which l had
enclosed my note. On the back OF
it, written in pencil, were the follow
ing words:
Outside my jurisdiction. Send to Fort
Benton for the sheriff. CAPTAIN -.
Send 800 miles for the sheriff !!
And in the meantime the murderer
would be far away, perhaps down on
the Yellowstone or in Dakota on an
other horse stealing raid. That night
the father and went to bed with
heavy hearts.
Early the next morning we made
preparations for burying Culver. Out
of such material as was at hand /
made rude coffin and lined it with
soft new blankets. The father made
a cover for it of black cloth and, true
to his faith, sewed in the center q
large white cross. Then down at the
lower end of the bottom, beneath
the cottonwoods, we dug the grave,
and before noon we laid the poor fel-
low in it. In the afternoon the faith
er and / again sat out in the shade
of the house, trying to get breath
of fresh air. The June sun shines
fearfully hot in those Missouri ri ,er
bottoms. But this afternoon there
was no smoking or chatting. Each
of us was occupied with bis own
thong hts, and they were sad and OPP
pressive.
There had been high old times in
the saloon during the night, a per-
feet frenzy of drink and carousal
which had lasted far into the morn
ing, and now the rnffians were sleep
ing off the effects Of it. Presently we
saw the murderer come out, bare
headed, barefooted and stripped to
the waist He glanced impudently
ut US, and, going on to the river not
many yards away, stopped down and
began to battle his head. As / watch
ed him the father suddenly pressed
my arm, and, looking up, | saw Pal
o-tah, rifle in hand, slipping up to-
ward the bather.
at must not bel'' murmured the
father. Vengeance is mine,' saith
the Lord. I will repsy'' and be
started to rise.
] gfasped his arm and forced hin
back into his chair.
: You shall not interfere, ixshsr,s