The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-29
THE ROMANCE OLA MINER
Creede's Unique Career to Be
Aired in the Courts.
WIFE WILL FIGHT HIS WILL
Commanded Company of Pawnee Indians
During the Building of the Union Pacific
and Made Record as Scout
From The San Franciseo Examiner

AhSS pdoseu away last week ln9yOS All
geles, Cal, when N c. Creole died, hav-
ing taken an overdose Of morphine.
Ths breath was hardly out of his body
when two rival undertakers quarreied
at his house as to who should have the
care of the remains. and in twenty-fpur
hours time a contest was begun over tile
belongings that promises to be long and
bitter. &.
Creede was born fifty-three years ago
at Fort Wayne. Ind; but his people soon
moved to Iowa, which was then ter
rftory, where the trapper mad more
than the farmer, and where buffalo and
deer and bear roamed at will on the .prai-
RES, nowistudded with houses. He l7ft
home WHEN a mere lad, aiad made his
living fes some years. as a hunter.
Chance brought him to Omaha at the
time when the Union Pacific was bsing
built, and he entered the army as First
Lieutenant of "a company of Pawnee
Indians, number of whom had been
enlisted as sort of irr gular troop, al
lies Of the government in the rewar-ceas-
ing contests with the Sioux
Mr.. Cy Warman a few years ago pub
lished a life of Mr. Gre de, which, while
correct in all details. reads like wild
West drama, and il which the million
aires caresr as a. soldier is graphically
depicted. He LEARNED the languages of
his savage troopers aud in all essentials
became one of them. In daring and en-
durance he excel: ID fi1em and for seven
years Creedes soldiers were the admra-
ton of ali the fighting men of that coun-
try. They were nsyer defeated, and
their collection OF Sioux scalps was the
largest part Of their impedimeri.s.
Creede's last big fight was in 1868, near
Wood River station, in the country be-
TWEEN the Platte and Republican riv-
ers in Nebraska. Mr.. Warman tells the
tale in stirring language.
The Yankton Sioux and Pawnees were
natural enemies, and to see each oth=r
was all that was needed to bring about
a fight. On this occasion the young SOL
der with his troop was in camp near
Wood river station, protecting the rail-
way, arr at the same Tins keeping
watch on the Pawnse villages, as all of
the bucks who were enlisted were off on
big buffalo hunt, leaving the old men,
squaws, and children in charge of the
tribes belongings. Word was brought
to Creole that band of fifty Yankton
Sioux was In that region, and 1t was
evident that they had come to raid the
unprotected villages of the Pawne:s and
stampede their stock while the warriors
were away. Creede's little troop respond
sd to boots and saddles" and, crossing
the Platte, chased after the intruders.
Creede's position was delicate one. He
was a United States army officer, and at
this time peacs ! existed between
the governmeSt and the Yank-
ton Sioux. He had no right
to engage in battle with them, yet he
knew we'll what their purpose was, and
so did his men. The latter recognized
his dilemma and attempted to d;ssuade
him from going any further. Nothing
would turn them; they car:d nothing
for International law or the obligations
OF the government when it was n ques-
ton Of a chance to kill the Yanktons,
their Mated enemies. They told him to
go back to4the post and let them meet
the Sioux without him. but he quickly
tcame to the decision that he would stay
with his n1=n and see the thing cut,
ana ever, though there was no war he
tween the government and the Yan<tons,
under the circumstances he would de-
clare ons himself.
There was brief Farley. Creole told
the Ysntl iorg that he knew they inte-l1ed
TO MA the Pawnee villages ard ordered
them to leave the country. They rested
on tha pcEaticn that he ami his Indians
were United stal ers soldiers, and as peace
existeld he had NO right ito Interfere with
iillsir movements. If he brought on a
contest ana survived he would be dis
glneed by the war -departm The am
swer of the lieutenant was short end
sharp. He gave the Sioux sixty seconds
i'm which to AXE tfra back trail, and on THE
last second they eduar ced. Them there
was trouble. When il. erdcd there were
eight Sioux ready for burial ard the rest
were on their rapid way to their tepess
Crecdeis enemies took The case up, and it
was r2fesredto Gen. Augur, who was then
IN command at Washington. This officer
allowed the action Ito drop, as the yourg
deuteEiaris was held to have been in the
right and to fave acted from a common
sense view OF the affair, even though
technically he was in the wrong. In hi,
book Mfr. Warman gives numberless incl
derjss of a similar character in the life of
Cresdc all of which show that he was a
man of the greatsslt couusge, and ait the
same time, possessed of a gentle heart
and a kerr sense of Justice. In few
years the railway. was completed, and adj
Valncing civilization made the INDIAN
troops unnecessary. The Pawsfees were
mustered out- of service, and their lieu
teniint having saved some few hundred
dollars of his pay, werI. back for a time
20 his old home DIN Iowa. He SOON found
the conventionafities and the limitations
of a. dense popuIa ton too uncomfortable,
arid, after a bu.cf visit to relatives and
flfends, he struck out for the west, bring
ing up at Pueblo. Col, in 1870.
There was no fighting to be dome there
except With Dame Mature, from whom
must be wrestod the gold and silver which
was hidden i'm the mountains of that
country. He get a pan ard kit and COM
menc5d prospect ny about Eliza BEETHOVEN,
N NJ. HIS first days work, Mr.. Warmsn
states, matted him 50. and from that day
urritil his retirement from active business,
he never took step backward financial