The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-28
SAVED OLSEN'S SCALP.
[From the salt Lake Herald


There was much excitement on the
Ute Indian reservation as a result of
the shooting of Mountain Sheep by
James Olsen and Deputy United States
Marshal Smythe. who brought the pri-
sOner from Fort DUchesne, had a taste
of it himself. Deputy Smythe arrived
with the prisoner and placed him safe
" in the penitentiary, but he was sue
cessful by a narrow margin.
The Indians made every effort they
dared to get at Olsen to kill him, but
they were fOiled The deputy marshal
day with the prisoner, but there We're
several Indians lurking about when the
stage started, and he concluded to wait
a day. The Indians did not know what
had become of Olsen, whether he would
be taken to Price, or turned loose and
permitted to go to Nernal, SO they
watched in every direction.
When I was to start on Friday Cap
tain Guilfoyle, the commander at the
post, offered me an escort of cavalry"
said Deputy Smythe, but I figured that
the Indians would not dare to interfere
with a United States officer nor the
mails. 1t seemed to me that if they
wanted to kill Olsen on the stage they
would place a man with gun on some
part of the road where he could shoot
and make good his escape. A squad of
cavalry would only advertise the fact
that he was on the stage, and thus
give the marksman his opportunity.
Olsen, the driver and myself. About
four or five miles from the fort we came
upon seven or eight Indians. Before
they saw Olsen, who was much afraid,
I hid him under the seat and drew the
laprObe over him. They rode up and
separated. coming past on each side.
1 had pulled out a cigar and was quiet
1y smoking to throw them off their
guard Although they looked closely,
they saw nothing. We saluted and they
rode on back. Those fellows had come
more than 60 miles and had been
CamDed out for a week to get Olsen, but
they didn't have nerve enough to at
tack the stage when he was not in
sight.
''Olsen made a sensational ride to
reach Fort DucheSne after the shooting.
He knew that Red Cap, the Indian who
saw the shooting, WOull notify all the
other Indians and they would be after
him. Though his horse was tired he
rode so miles between 3 O'Clock in the
afternoon and 10 at night to the fort.
He kept away from the trails and went
over a very rough route, going across
patches of stones and jumping ravines
so that they could not track him The
Indians We're after him, but they could
not follow the trail.
'All the sheepherders left the reser-
walton as soon as they learned of the
affair, for they believed trouble would
follow. Their camp outfits We're aban-
dOned. The sheep were scattered by
the Indians and there is no doubt that
hundreds were killed. Afterward when
the herders went back to collect them
many could not be found.
There was a rather curious council
at the fort, called by Agent Myton to
consider the capture of the Indian who
had killed another at the Ouray
agency.
Mr. Myton told them he wanted
them to get the murderer, who had fled
to the Colorado border with 10 or Is
men, and said they would defy the pO-
lice. They didn't like the job. But a
squaw, a sister of the dead Indian, came
in and made an eloquent speech of an
hour She told them to be men, to be
braves, and so worked them up that
they decided to go. But they will not go
in posse. 1t is generally understood
that they have sent one or two of their
number to waylay the murderer and
kill him