The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-10-09

with a soldier escort both for the hay camp proper
as we'll as the moving train of hay haulers. The
camp detail was usually made for the week, com
mencing Monday mornings. At the opening Of
the hayinR season Of 1868 1t Fort Rice. the usual
escort for the lower haying camp. as small war
parties Of hostile Indians were known to be on the
move. The detail was ordered and among the
names of those. who. in the order Of chance was
placed upon the first sergeant roll. was that Of a
young soldier named Vane. On hearing his name
called for the detail, the soldier boy bursts into
tears, and begged TO- be transferred to some other
duty. When pressed for reasons-he related a
strange dream of the previous night. in which he
stood in the crotch Of a low growing and scraggy
oak tree. looking over a plain of waving grass.
when he saw that he was shot and felt himself
in the sensations of dying, and was thus in alright
when the bugle sounded the morning revelle.
lie was ridiculed by his companions, but he
could not be comforted and even went to the post
commander wi = his plea. but the result was he
Joined the escors and went down to the hay field.
AS he came near the camp he pointed to the tree
'clump of his dream. Calmness reigned in air
on water. and within the troubled breast. The
mufled sounds of the moving machines at
work, alone reached the ears Of the soldier escort
as they lay curled in the tent shade watching laz-
lily the hay pitchers sweltering under an August
sun.
''Indians!' ..
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'"not a hostile scare crow within a long hundred
miles" -
The timid antelope feed quietly, in sight upon
the neighboring bluffs. The ravan croaks and
caws unconcernedly in atrial dig%ht.--hovering be-
tween bluff and woodland. The little yellow
.swifts. trot around windward of the camp
fire, shifting with unappeased hunger.
"Indians!'
''How scary these haynakers must bel drawled
a peevish escort, "to have us dragged down here
to watch Indians for them. Bah!'
Some soldiers arise and whist the straws from
their wollen cloths and walk here and there TO pass
slow time away. Some 80 over and talk to the
lawmakers; some to the river and two or the
wander to the bluffs. The report Of a gun now
break the stiffness. A bevy of chickens skurry
through the air in alright. The ravans cease
their cawing:: the swifts havesslank away: the day
orb casting its lengthing shadow across hill and
valley.-the big crimson bali seemingly lnRer-
ing behind the darkened rear base OF the long
high peaks where once the Gros Ventres hoped
and prayed. The rays watt back a stream OF
pur pie across the profile on Horshead hills, a''d
he ver-st glimpse of receeding shadows OF
horsemen in single file are noted ere they
vanish. "
The alarm is given and both soldiers and hay,
makers centre at the camp. Vare alone is mss
nq. A search i. ordered and a report reached.
Did you find him" asked the corporal com
handing, OF an Irish soldier VIII had linseF cd III
he search. :
Eyes sir!
"Where was he?"
I'm the oak clump."
"Asieep?'
mo, Dead. Bullet in his head. Scalp torn
oH. Stripped and mu,ilated."
Saw no lndians?"
None"
f Yates, Bismarck, Washburn, Coal Har5or- !
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