The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-22
WANTS TO FIGHT.
Charlie Ross Would Like to Kill OFF a
Few Beers.

Charlie Ross Would Like to Kill Off
Few Beers.
Great Falls, Dec. 21.-Along about the
9Th of November the Standard columns
at this point contained an article re-
garding the departure of Charles Ross
of this city for Ottawa, where he Went
to organize a company of scouts for
service in South Africa against the
Beers in the present war. AS men
toned at that time, Ross was one or
the most noted scouts in the Northwest
during the Reil rebellion and was rec
commended by Colonel Otter for the VIC
toria cross, an honor eagerly sought
for by English soldiers everywhere. he
did not however, get the decoration,
owing to certain technicalities and the
petty jealousy of certain officer, and
his recommendation for the honor Is
still on the records for action. Three
years ago Ross went from this city 10
the Klondike country, travelling from
Edmonton as a scout with the detach-
ment of mounted police sent in from
there at the time He was in ana
about Dawson for over year but could
not stand the climate on account OF an
attack of rheumatism, which left MIN
crippled for some time. From Dawson
he came back to work on the Montana
Central and lately to the Great Falls
& Canada, where he served in the DIFF
and yardmaster.
Before leaving on his last warlike
expedition, Mr.. Ross dropped into the
Standard office at this point and out
lined his proposed scheme of raising
scouting troop which were to serve un-
der his command, otherwise he would
return to railroading in Great Falls.
That he reached ottawa all right is
evinced by a marked copy of the Free
Press of that city, which reached this
office some time ago. Speaking of ROSS,
the Press says:
"There Is a man in this city at pres
ent who was one of the most noted
characters in the Northwest rebellion
and who has seen more active service
among hostile Indian tribes and had
more narrow escapes than any other
man living. This parsonage Is the re-
nowned Charlie Ross, the great scout
and Indian fighter, who served as chief
scout with Lieutenant Colonel Offers
forces in 1885.
"Mr. Ross has lately been employed
in the railway yards in Montana, but
on hearing Of the Canadian contingent
going TO South Africa he threw up his
| job and came to ottawa in an endeavor
to get going. He was too late, however.
but hopes to be sent over even at this
| late date.
| "As before stated. he was chief scout
| with Colonel Otter in 1885 but previous
| to that served In the United States
army in three Indian campaigns, the
Ute war, the Nez Perce and Bannock.
| He served with Generals Custer. For
sythe, Howard and McGibbon, and is
| the most noted Indian fighter in the
United States. Since 1855 he has served
| for a time in the Northwest mounted
police as scout with the rank of staff
| sergeant.
| "Mr. Ross is now endeavoring to be
sent to South Africa, or get passage
! there He is an expert with pack ami
mails, and in the opinion of officers in
| the city who knew him, would be in
valuable.
"Mr. Ross is very modest in his ref
| erence to himself, but once induced to
talk his stories read like dime novels.
although all actual events. All through
the Northwest his name is house
| hold word and he was frequently men
toned in Colonel Otter's dispatches
! in 1885. He has been wounded three
| times.
IAN officer of a local corps who has
been with him on the field tells the
story Of what Mr.. Ross considers the
! tightest corner he was ever in. 1t was
! in the Ute war in III WREN he was the
means of saving a United States cav
| airy command of 400 men. The troops
were surrounded by hostiles, who shot
| all the horses. Ross was one of the
| eight men who volunteered to get
| through the lines to bring assistance.
| Six of these men were killed and one
was wounded. but Ross reached the
| railway distance of $50 miles. and
brought assistance. He is as Austral-
| ian by birth, native of New South
Wales. and there could be no bette
| instance required to show the British
feeling than Ross desire to go to South
| Africa"
|