The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27

DGrdlp lndl ,dDidln ray t' oh "h'ii
had devolved the command, decided
to send for reinforcements. Scouts
were sent out to find Captain Dodge
with his troop of colored cavalry, who
were doing patrol duty in North and
Middle parks, and Scout Rankin under
took the desperate task of reaching the
nearest telegraph station at Rawlins,
Wyo, 100 miles away. Captain Dodge
was soon found, and he succeeded by a
miracle in reaching the el .renched
CAMP without encountering the enemy.
Rankin got away in the night and made
his famous ride of $50 miles in % hours
without injury, though he went through
a country swarming with Indians.
1t was on the evening of September 80
that Colonel Merritt received intelll-
gence of the desperate condition of he
little band. In less than half an hour
from the time of receiving the news
couriers and kilograms were flying to
the different posts i'm the vicinity with
orders to reach Rawlins by the nearest
routes, and during the following day a
strong force had been put into motion
to go to the relief of their comrades.
They were pushed forward as rapidly
the animals could travel. and reached
the intrenchments on Sunday morning.
October 5, the Indians retreating as
soon as the head of the column came in
sight. When Colonel Merritt reached
the scene Captain Payne, who had main
tanned a gallant fight for six days
though suffering from a wound, broke
down completely, and, throwing MS
arms about his commanders neck, wepi
like a child. More than 200 horses were
living dead. Twenty men were dead
and 80 wounded out of the 100 who went
into the fight on the morning of Sep
TENDER 80.
After burying the dead, caring for the
wounded and collecting what could ot
saved from the wreck and ruin, Colonel
Merritt pushed on to the agency, where
he found that all the white men hao
been killed, the buildings plundered anc
burned, and the women carried off into
captivity. The body of Agent Meek
er was found 200 yards from the agency
with a log chain about the neck, one
side of the head crushed in and Z
barrel stave driven through the body
All the bodies were scalped and other
wise mutilated. Chief Douglas. with
band of Indians who had remained a
the agency, had begun the work OF muir
dering the employees as soon as he re
ceived word that Captain Jack had at
tackled the troops.
Colonel Merritt established his head
quarters at the agency, sent his repor
by courier to the telegraph office an
asked permission 10 follow the lnuldh
up and capture the ringleaders of IN
outbreak, they.to be punished accordin
to law. In this suggestion he was sup
ported by General Sheridan, but IN
permission was not granted. The won
en- were rescued by the state authorl
ties and two or three of the leaders G
the outbreak were captured, but non
of them was ever punished. After re
naming at the agency for three month
pending an investigation set on foot b
the indian bureau, Colonel Merritt an
his command returned to Fort Russell
His feat in assembling the troops frol
the different forts under his comman
and setting in motion a strong colum
|, within "a hours to march 100 miles owe
mountain roads in three lays and
half is almost without a parallel in u
history of Indian Observation-Disclosures
Times.