The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-17

tempt to fight such large party on the
plain or In the timber. So II was decided
to climb up the butte and make their de-
fensc on the height. There had been q
light fall Of snow during the night. 80
they could expect plenty Of water on the
hill in the event of a siege.
AZ they were getting their horses out
of the timber. the Indians discovered tho
little party. They seemed to hesitate.
ana then, Just as the white men were be-
ginning the ascent, FIVE of them rode UP
TO within about 500 yards. There they
halted and raised their hands, with palms
outward. indicating that their intentions
were peaceful.
In the white party was a French-Cana-
dian trapper named Jean Pierre. who had
q smattering OF all Indian tongues He,
with four picked men, advanced TO meet
the five Indians. The latter said that they
were 0ros Ventres. They had been on .
buffalo hunt and had been badly beaten
by the Crows. The Crows, they said.
were In close pursuit, ana they were on
their way to their villages to enlist more
fighting men. They asked the white men
to Join forces with them against the MUIR
derous Crows. The whites were con-
WINGED that the intentions Of these In
dians were friendly, but they declined to
help them, q decision which they soon,
however, had good reason to regret. The
Gros ventres thereupon hastened away.
McKenxie's party scarcely felt like ven-
turing into Silver Bow canyon In the face
Of the story they had heard. It was de-
cided to camp on the hill. All the camp
equipages were moved up to the top of
the bald butte in American gtilch. and all
empty vessels were filled with water from
the little stream which ran through the
gulch.
About noon the first Of the Crows be-
gan to appear in the distance. coming
from the canyon, and soon the whole
force Of nearly 1000 braves was in plain
sight. The whites had strong hopes that
the hostile red men would pass on In pur-
suit Of the Gros Ventres without descry-
ing them. Their trail was discovered.
however and the Indians soon made out
the camp on the hill, the horses being
picketed in plain view. The Indians held
a parley for few minutes and then all
of them left the Gros ventres' trail and
headed for the camp of the whites.
Meanwhile the twenty.four men on the
summit Of the butte were throwing up
breastworks. The Indians reached the
foot Of the hill and then turned their
stock loose In charge Of q few herders.
They made no effort to parley. They
seemed thirsty for blood and booty. and
instantly arranged the attack They d.
vided their forces into three bands or
of the hill and the others climbing at the
ends. All charged boldly up with whoops
and yeIls. Apparently the main charge
was up the side, the columns at the ends
being SO placed as to baffie escape.
The whites waited until the middle coll
umn was within 200 yards Of their puny
breastworks and then opened a terrific
fire. The effect was whitening. But the
Indian braves were warriors Of mettle.
a~. 49, In4 .<eH~ ~
fire they kept on UP the hill. The fire of
the gallant defenders was kept up UNI
ceasingly until the Indians, when within
fifty yards of the works, could stand the
deadly hail no longer. They turned and
fled in a panic. From the peculiar forma-
tion Of the hill, as may be noted by those
who choose to visit the scene Of the con-
fiict, four men at either end, with long
range rifles, were abundant1y able to hold
the other bands in check.
Soon all the red host was gathered in
wild parley at the foot of the hill, out of
range. Not one of the white defenders
had as yet been touched. Night was APP
preaching and supper was had. 1t was
expected that there would be night at
tack, but. nevertheless, 1t was felt that all
who could rest should do so, with proper
guard to Insure the camps security. 1t
was arranged that all should remain on
guard until moonrise, which was about
10 o'clock. After that one-half should
sleep. 1t is doubtful, however. if any one
Of the little band closed an eye that night.
There were frequent cracks of rifles in
the hands of the guards, who aimed at
moving objects outside the camp. The
Indians were trying to remove their dead.
and by morning, in spite Of the vigilance
of the guards, they had succeeded in re-
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