The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-07
STORIES OF A SIOUX WAR.
LAUGRABLE SURRENDER OF CHIEF
BIG ROADS AT PINE RIDGE.
How He Turned His Ancient Rifle
Over to Gen. MiIes-Ind Given 1t
Up So often 1t Was Worn Out-Pa-
thetic Case of Red Star.
From the Denver Times.

FROM the D0INSI IAAtSos
All wars have their tragic and humorous
features, and those that marked the fierce
struggle of the United States army and
the Sioux in 1S9O-91 were strangely and
distinctvely so.
Il was a week or so after Kicking Bear,
Grow Dog (the latter the murderer of cd
Spotted TaiD, and their bands had sur
rendered to Gen. Miles at Pine Ridge
agency that comment was made that Big
Roads, a lusty old sub-chieftain, had not
laid down his rifle as his tribesmen had
done For days and days the old fellow
sulked in his tepee near White Clay creek
refusing to parley with scouts and ennis
saries sent to him by Gen. Miles. He wore
big white hat with his name printed In
black letters near the crown, and a single
eagle feather dropped from his long scalp
lock. Were it not for pair eff split bead
moccaslns and the pungent fumes of red
willow bark and tobacco, which always
clngs to an Indian, there was nothing
else about the raiment of Old Big Roads
to distinguish his from any other vaga-
bond.
One day. while soldiers were mounting
their horses In front of the agency build
.ings preparatory to making a dash after
a few irreconcilables who had broken
away, while sentinels were pacing up and
down the porch of the generals headquar-
tiers, an Indian rode up to the gateway on
his cayuse, dismounted, and with the stride
and expression of a man of confidence, If
not bravado, entered the heavily guarded
| grounds of the agency and made straight
way to Gen. Miles barracks. 1t was Big
Roads. He passed other Indians in dis
dain, and only stopped when the bayonet
of a sentinel's rifle was pressed against
his breast. 1t was then that the chief
called for an interpreter. He proved to be
| Frank Grouard, the famous scout. 1t took
but a moment for the hero of the Sibby
fight to divine the nature of the chiftan's
visit. Hurryng indoors, Grouard inform
ed Miles that Big Roads was without U.s.
ually there is more or less red tape to
wind and unwind before one reaches
general of the army, but this time sulky
greasy Indian, the last of his trbesmen
to hold out against the great Gordon of
steel stretching for miles around Pine
Ridge, had not long to wait. An orderly
escorted the chieftain into the room where
Miles sat with his staff. Grouard acted
| as interpreter.
ASK Big Roads," the general began,
"why he did not surrender before"
The substance of the words was repeated
to the chieftain
The Indian simply grinned
ASK him. continued Miles, what he
has done with his gun"
Grouard spoke to Big Roads, who drew
from beneath his coat an old-fashioned
Springfield rifle which had been cut down
to the length of a carbine. The barrel
was bent, and the stock which was crack
| ed, wound with deer snew. With much
gravity Big Roads placed the weapon on
the table.
Gen. Miles looked at the gun with ap-
parent amazement, and then turned his
face toward the Indian, a suppressed
smile playing about the corners of his
mouth. The chieftain was stoid and stood
with folded arms.
Tell Big Roads," began the soldier
slowly, that this is poor gun for a big
chief to surrender"
strengthening himself to his full hight
and with an air of WEAKNESS, Big Roads
replied in Sioux.
What does he say?" asked Miles.
He says" began Grouard, that he is
sorry that he has no better gun to- sur
render. but that he has surrendered the
one before you so many times that it is
worn out"
The general was .convulsed with laugh
ter, as were the members of his staff.
but Big Roads strobe out of headquarters
with the same stolid air he had borne
during the interview, remounted his pony,
and rode away to join his band
The killing of Lieut.. Casey chief of the
| Cheyenne scouts, by Plenty Horses lust
before the surrender of the hostiles, af-
forded additional evidence of the witness
of old Red Cloud, who, up to the distress
ing event, was flirting with the hostiles
Nearly blind and almost hideous with his
great goggles this famous warrior Of
generation ago was an active counsellor
in the camp of the savages near White
| pfxr all L To ~
and the scouts were instructed to keep
a strict watch on the old fellow. His son
Jack Red Cloud a 1.-THE, red devil who
was up to mischief at all times, was in
the same village proclaiming the power of
the Sioux to whip the soldiers. The old
man, however was more circumspect In
his harangues, although his heart was
quite as black toward the men in blue,
who were slowly but surely dragging their
net around the savages. The war was
now at its hight. Wounded Knee the
Mission and half a dozen skirmishes had
been fought, and the outlook was for
long and bitter campaign.
The killing OF Lieut.. Casey turned the
tide of war and incidentally the mind of
old Red Cloud. So soon as the warrior
learned of the death of the young officer
who, by the way was accommodating near
the hostile camp, Red Cloud made marvel
GUS haste to get back to his shack, which
was nearly 100 miles away, on White Clay
| creek, and within rifle range of the agency
building at Pine Ridge. He was wise
| enough to know that the soldiers would
be quick to resent the wanton murder of
Casey and that IL would be grimly un.
healthy for him to be found among the
hostiles. So, with quirt in hand, and the
, heels Of his well-worn moccasins digging
I into the sides Of his pony. he abandoned
his tribesmen and fed like the wind to the
| westward. His retreat was as masterful
| as that of Chief Joseph in the Nez Perces
war, but far more ludicrous. He wore
a pium-colored overcoat, a SLOUGH hat
and trousers that were hitched at the
waist by belt Of beads. 1t took old Red