The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-23

, and it's details came from one, who,
in his youth, was a participant in the
bloody affray. A great many of the
cases tried before the United States
court Of this district have their origin
in crimes and misdemeanors committed
on the Indian reservations of South Da-
kota, and, naturally, at every term,
there are in attendance numbers of
Indians, and it was during one of these
forced pilgrimages to Deadwood that
the Indian mentioned told his story of
the massacre and robbery to white
friend, but, as measure of precau-
ton. prefaced it with the condition
that the source of information should
never be divulged, and his request has
been religiouSly complied with by his
confidant.
The paymaster who was murdered
and robbed was en- route from the
East to Fort Douglas, Utah, with the
money necessary to pay off the troops
and government employees Of that post,
then the last of series of posts be-
tween the Missouri river and CaIifor-
mia. He had already visited Fort
Kearney, now in Nebraska, and Fort
Laramie. now situated in an acute
angle formed by the junction of the
Laramie and North Platte rivers,
Wyoming, and was on his way to Fort
Bridger, the last outpost of civilization
O1 the EASTERN SlUp0 OIL the ROCKY
mountains, which he would touch be-
fore arriving at Fort Douglas, when
, the tragedy occurred.
| The fight if such it may be called, took
place on the head of Chugwater river, eight
eeen miles west from Fort Laramie, and
resulted in the complete determination of the
| paymaster's party. The camp was surprised
In the early morning by Winding Hawks
band of renegade Sioux. and the half-awak-
ened soldiers and civilian attendants were
ruthlessly murdered they staggered from
their tents. Fer years it had been mystery
what became of the money which the Off
clal carried, and as much of it was in gold
it was believed that part of it had been
cached by the Indians, but until the old
Indian, who told the story detailed the dis
position made of the money; the mystery re-
contains the following additional particu-
lars. which, although the secret has been
closely guarded. have managed to leak out:
Winding Hawks stamping ground for many
years prior to his death was in the country
about the present site of Fort Laramie,
rolling prairie, whose still. green waves beat
up against the abrupt slopes of the Black
Hills on the north, and stretch away in
undulatng swels to the Rocky mountains
the west and lose themselves in the fertile
plains of Nebraska on the east and south.
country whose many wales and timbered
valleys made ideal dwelling place for
the Secretive Sioux.
Some time before he died Winding Hawk
and his companions divided among them
raid, which consisted of something over
$50 600 in gold and about the same amount in
currency. The Indians were all familiar
with currency, it's value and uses, but not
with gold. Winding Hawk was an excep-
ton, however and so when the paper money
had been divided equally among them there
arose discussion as to what should be done
with the gold. 1t was heavy and would per-
haps prove burden to them. He came to
the front with a proposition which was at
once accepted as solution OF the dilemma
in which they were placed.
His proposal was as shrewd as it was bold.
He offered to take charge of the shining. yell
low trinkets and keep them for his share OF
the plumber, giving to the others as COM
pensation his portion of the greenbacks. His
offer was accepted by the others, who Sc
cretly laughed at the chief. The old man
loaded his treasure upon pony and took 1t
away with him to his teepee He did not
live long enough, however, to reap any
enjoyment from his wealth, for he died soon
after, and. according to the usual custom
which prevails at Indian funerals, his treas
ure was buried with him. together with his
favorite pony, his finest bows and arrows and
other implements of the chase and warfare
The old braves who were his companions in
the attack on the paymaster subsequently
came to know of the value of the chiefs
share Of the plumber, but the Indian super
stition that to violate the grave OF member
of their tribe brings i'll luck prevented any
attempt to recover the treasure. Several
times members of the party have been pre-
vailed upon to guide prospecting parties to
the grave of the chief on the superstition
that by permitting the white men to dis
inter the money the latter would themselves
incur the responsibility of violating the grave.
At the last moment, however, their courage
has invariably given out, and the searchers
have been compelled to give up the quest
and return empty-handed.
Should these passes be found guarded-and
It is more than possible they may-the white
Adventures will have to fight their way to
the coveted treasure and out again against
big odds But all this has been considered
and the chances Of success and failure care
fully weighed and the conclusion arrived at
that the venture is worth the hazard.