The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-17
PAWNEES
VERSUS
TIE SIOUX
Of
the Famous ling Camp of Creede.
BY CY wARMAN.

reversation on the Loop fork Of the
Platte river marked an era in his
eventful l:f=. lie began at this place
period oe seven years Indian fight
ing and scouting. which made him
known in tbs valley OF the Platte. and
gave him a fame which would have
been worldwide had he, like later
border celebrities, sought FOR notoriety
in print and courted the favor of writ
ers of yellow covered literature.
AT that time the Union Pacific rail-
way was in course of construction and
hostile Indians continually harassed
the workers and did all in their power
to retard the progress of the work.
United States cavalry troops were put
into the field to protect the working
corps, ard workmen themselves were
PROVIDED WITH ARMS
for their own defense The Pawnee
Indians were lying quietly on their
reservation. at peace with the whites !
never going forth except on periodical
buffalo hunts, or on the War-path I
against their hereditary enemies. the
Sioux
Mr.. Frank North. then a resident of
the Pawnee country, and thoroughly
familiar with their language and Gus
TOMS. conceived the idea that the
Pawnees would prove valuable allies
to the regular troops in battling with
the hostile Sioux, and with but little
difficulty secured governmental author
!ty 20 enlist two or three companies
and officer them with whites Of his
Own choosing. One of the very first
men he hit upon was Creede, whom he
made first lieutenant Of one of the
companies. The captain of Creede's
preferred the quiet Of the camp and
she government barber to the prairie
wilds and the irate red man +
With Creede il was different He
was young and ambitious, and having
been brought up by the firm hand of a
step-father. peace troubled his mind
Nothing pleased him more than to
have the captain herd the horses while
he went out with his
HAND-PAINTED PAwNEEs
tc chase the frescoed Sioux. He set to
work asslduously to learn the lam
guage of the Pawnees and soon mas
tered 1t. BY his recklessness in battle
ana remarkable bravery in every time
of danger, he gained the admiration
and confidence of the savage men, who
followed fearlessly where their leader
leo 1t stands as a prominent page in
the history of Indian warfare in the
west, that during their many years of
service, the Pawnee scouts were never
ueieated IN battle. The intrepid, dash
Ing spirit of their white leaders in
spired their savage natures with
confidence in their own powers which
seemed to render them .inEincible-
MAJOR North was himself a brave.
energetic officer, fearless in battle and
sAiled IN indian craft, and not a few
OF ms appointments proved to be
Naio@ble ones from fighting stand
point. Because he was always with
them. sharing their danger and lead
ing fearIessly when the fight was
herce, the red scouts came to regard
Creede as the great war Chief and
NEVER DID THEY FALTER A MO-
MENT
when they were needed by the govern
ment. 1t was a compara tive1y eac1,
road to fame with so brave a hand If
WARRIORS and the attendant DANCER
only served to appease the leaders, an
petite for adventures
ne notable incidents in Creede's "a.
resr during his seven years service as
scout would fill many volumes. but
d lew can be touched upon; just enough
10 exhibit his fearless nature and bis
often reckless daring in the face IF
danger. "a
shortly after the discovery of Creede
camp the writer met with q gentleman
VINO mad served on the plains with
Creede, and he told some interestiny
stories We became very well acouaint-
cd and my interest in the hunter. scout
prospector and miner increased with
every new tale told by his companion
on the plains. Those who know Creede
are aware Of his Unborn modesty and
of the reticence he manifests when
questioned about his own personal ex
periences. Hence, the writer as well
as the reader must rely chiefly upon the
stories told by his old comrade the
first of which was this:
During the summer of '6S n large
party Of Pawnee Indians. men and
squaws, left the reservation on the
Loop fork for a buffalo hunt in the
country lying between the Platte and
Republican rivers. These semi-annual
hunts were events of great interest
TO the tribe, for by them they not only
secured supplies OF meat, but also large
Plumbers of robes, which We're
TANNED BY THE SQUAws
and disposed of to traders for -four
and groceries, and for any other goods
which might strike the Indian fancy.
At that time the Pawnee scouts were
lying IN camp on Wood river, about
mile from the Union Pacific railroad
station of that name The hostile
Indians had for some weeks made no
aggressive demonstration, and our
duties were scarcely sufficient to edge
Up the dull rlonotony Of camp life
Once week about half of the company
would be sent on a scout to the west
along the railway. two days march
four days week being consumed by
these expeditions.
Half Of the company had gone on this
weekly scout, leaving but one white
officer In camp, Lieutenant Creede.
lie had, if / recollect Alright, but
eighteen men fit for duty, a number of
Others being disabled by wounds re-
received IN recent battles The second
Gay after the hunting party left, the
section men from the west came into
Wood River station on their hand-car
and eXcitedly reported that band of
about fifty Sioux had crossed the
track near them, headed south, Joe
Adams was the agent at Wood River
and he at once sent q messenger TO the
Pawnee camp to tell Liutenant Creole
of the presence of the hostiles. Creole
hastily mounted his handful of war
riors, and in less than twenty minutes
was
DASHING FORWARD ON THE
TRAIL
of the Sioux The time consumed by
the section men in running into the
station, a distance of about four miles
and the consequent delay caused by
sending the news to Creole, and the
catching up and saddling OF the ponies
had given the Sioux good start, and
when the scouts had reached the Platte