St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-11-27
Decd Of Kindness.
by DAVID WEcHsLER.
copyright, aso7.1
ropyrlght. uso7.1

yTTE HAD come upon an Indian VII
wv lage along the banks OF creek
close under the steep sides OF a noun
tain, and we charged it at once and
soon had possession. Most OF the war
riors were away on am expedition, but
a sub-chief named Gray Wolf, who was
lame from a wound, was in command.
Our revolyers and sabers made quick
work of those who opposed US, and. IN
seeking to get away, Gray Wolf was
knocked down by horse and rendered
unconscious. He was one OF the %
prisoners we safely, conveyed back TO
the fort, and as he was known to be one
OF the most bloodthirsty OF his tribe
his confinement was q rigorous one. lie
was placed in cell In the guardhouse
by himself, loaded down with irons,
and all members of the guard on duty
were permitted to stare at and out
rapeously abuse him by word Of mouth.
Gray Wolf was young man of dignity
and pride, and he perhaps felt the In
suits more than the confinement, though
he made no complaint In either case.
He had been confined for three weeks
when, as sergeant of the guard, looked
In on him one day and began a con-
versation in his own tongue. II re-
suited In his showing me that the irons
were CALLING him. and of his asking
protection from further insult. re-
ported to the officer OF the day and the
irons were removed, and I got some
salve from the hospital steward to
soothe the broken flesh. ! gave Gray
Wolf news Of his fellow prisoners and
of his tribe outside, and at the risk OF
censure spliced out his prison fare with
a part Of my rations. Ibid these things
for him as would have done them for
wild animal, and not because ! sym
pathized with him as a human being.
An, Indian may be technically called
human being, but 1t Is nearer the truth
to refer to him as a human devil. In
getting the redslin released from his
irons / did him the turn he was hoping
9or. That night, with wideawake SEN
tinel standing only six feetaway, Gray
Wolf tunneled under the basement logs
Of his prison and made good his escape,
and it was only by a close shave that /
escaped court-martial. The fellow
showed the devil In his nature even as
he fed. Coming across o teamster ly-
ing under his wagon In drunken stu
por Gray Wolf paused to murder and
scalp him, and from that hour on 9
price was set upon his head and every
soldier In the west was determined to
shoot him down, even Ii he offered to
surrender.
Two months after the escape Of Gray
Wolf, and while his tribe was still wag-
ing relentless warfare, was ordered
out of Fort Gray with a squad Of troop
ers to bridge creek about five miles
away. No Indians had been seen with
In ten miles of the fort, and we knew
for fact that the main body OF them
were raiding so miles to the west.
Seven troopers fully arnled and exer-
cising due vigilance were thought abun-
dainty able to take care of themselves.
and two. hours after leaving the fort
we were hard at work. We needed a
straight trunk 2s feet long for one
Of the string-pieces of the bridge. Leav-
ing my horse at his piclnet-pin I start
ed out alone In search of the right sort
Of tree. We were on a forest-eovered
foothiIl, with masses OF rock outcrop-
ping here and there. I was about 40
rods from the men and just passing one
Of these outcrops when I was struck
down. saw the arm Of an Indian and
club, and then there was a crash and
a legion Of fiery stars. II was perhaps
five minutes before opened my eyes
and found myself lying on the ground.
The Indians, of whom there were three.
must have heard of me through Gray
Wolf, for I was one Of the two men at
the pest who could speak the Sioux
dialect, and one of them said to me:
'H you cry out we viii kill you! Get
up and come along!"
I staggered about as I reached my
feet, and one of them took my arm to
help me along. With one leading the
Way and the other bringing UP the rear