The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-15
HE GAVE UP HIS VEST
BUT REVENGE AND THE GARMENT
WERE NOT LONG WANTING.
Lieutenant Brewers Exciting EHDe-
rience With Observation-Disclosures, In
Which the Great Sioux Chief Was
Thoroughly Cowed.

rience With Rain-In-the-Face, In
which the Great Sioux Chief Was
Thoroughly Cowed.
Captain Edward P. Brewer of the regu-
lar cavalry while a lieutenant was sta
toned at Fort Sheridan with his troop
during the Worlds fair. Brewer is known
among his brother officers and the society
of Chicago as "pansy," a name given to
him for his extreme nicely in dress and his
performances Us escort militaire to the In
fanta Eulalie. But he is no carpet knight,
Us his encounter with old Rain In the Face
will demonstrate.
During all the years Of his service, with
the one exception of his tour at Sheridan,
Brewer has been in the field or frontier
garrisons. He has put in many long
years on the trails of Apaches and Sioux
and is noted as an Indian fighter The
encounter with the willy, treacherous,
cross eyed, bow legged old chief and
medicine man was the aftermath of the
last uprising among tho Sioux. Brewer
and his command went forth from Rose
bud and rounded up old "Rain" and his
band and forced them to get back to the
agency. This made the old Indian very
sore, and he laid for chance to get even.
He got even, but eventually quit loser
This is low it all came about:
Soon after his return Mr. Brewer ap-
piled for few days leave of absence to
visit come friends few hundred miles
q ny. Having received permission he
started in the ambulance one morning
with party of ladies for the railroad
depot.
Looking ahead, they were considerably
surprised to see mounted Indian with
rifle thrown across his saddle bow block
ing the passage, He was one of the finest
specimens of his race, a man of about 45
or so years of age, well built and dressed
with gaudiest Of costumes. Nervously toy
ing with the rifle across his saddle and
casting several scowling glances at the
lieutenant, whom he no doubt recognized
as his recent captor, he spoke few very
impressive and vehement words to the old
driver, who spoke Sioux about as we'll as
the Indian himself
What does he say, Burgess, and why
doesn t he let us passF inquired the lieu
tenant scenting some devilment on the
part of his copper colored friend.
TITS Rsin-in- the-Face, sir, and he says
he wants your yellow vest"
Impressed with the fact that there was
no alternative and moved by the en-
treaties Of the frightened ladies, the lieu
tenant reluctantly disrobed and passed the
coveted prize to the redskin, who received
1t with malicious grin of triumph and
then allowed the ambulance to proceed
Brewer had no intention of letting the
matter drop here, but resigned himself TO
the sting Of the premeditatcd insult with
as good q grace as possible under the cir
cumstances, firmly resolving to fix that
Indian at the first opportunity that
offered. He requested the driver and
ladies to maintain the strictcst silence.
After the expiration of his leave he re-
turned to the post. A few days after he
CHANGED to meet few Indian boys and
promised a big silver dollar to the one who
should first inform him when Rain in the
Face came into the post. A month went
by, and Brewer was sitting one afternoon
with group Of officers expatiating on the
virtues of the first sergeant Of X troop, an
old dragon of 90 years service, when he
was Interrupted by the steward, who an
tiently demanding TO see him.
Immediately the almost forgotten cpl
sode of the vest occurred to Brewer and,
uncercmoniously Selling his campaign hat,
he rushed for the door. A little half
naked Indian boy informed him that
Rain the Face had just como into
camp and then reached out his hand for
the coveted dollar
Mr.. Brewer ordered his horse and
mounting, rode across the parade In the
direction of the now visible redskin who
was heading up the well beaten path to
the "cantsen." The first intimation old
Rain" received that any one was anxious
to see him was the whistling of bullet
past his head. Hastily CHANGING in the
direction of the shot, he saw his old cav
airy friend headed toward him at full
speed. Rain-in-the. Face Immediately
wheeled his supple little pony in the direc-
ton of the agency and set out at full speed.
Brewer, seeing that he had his man on the
run, satisfied himself with keeping
couple of hundred yards In the rear Tho
chase led up hill and down dale, the
prairie flew by so fast that 1t made one
dizzy to look at the tall grass. Brewer
discharged an occasional shot to make the
Indian appreciate the gravity Of his situa-
ton. Tho chief was now thoroughly
frightened and gave vent to his feelings
by u series of short high shrieks at every
shot.
Rain in-the Face reached his tepee, flung
himself to the ground and rushed inside
to grasp weapon, when Brewers rifle
rang out again, and ball tore its way
through the dry buffalo hides of the In
dian s tent. The sturdy lieutenant refined
up his painting steed in front of the
squalid howell and with his rife at his
shoulder summoned the terrified savage
to come out
Rain-in theFace sheepishly obeyed,
with his hands held over his head in
token of surrender. Brewer made the In
dian disrobe. He removed his feathered
ornaments, ghost shirt, breechclout,
beaded leggings and moccasins until he
was as devoid of clothes as on his natal
day. Brewer then directed him to place
his apparel on the flames which he sheep
isbly did. The finery was soon converted
into ashes, and his most priced and boast
ed trophy, the yellow vest, was next order
ed produced Its pristine gnudy splendor
wac NoIt, ~ Ild'i wv ollSH pdIudhtH VI
the food of its thievish possessor. With
another shot or two which threw up the
dirt at the Indians feet Rain-in.the-F Face
executed some rapid steps never known to
wardance or puppy feast and disappeared
into the corner Of his dingy tepee. Rain
in-the- Face, the great Ogalalla Sioux,
chief warrior and medicine man. the Pride
Of his race, was cowed by u boy lieutenant
half his age.
Lieutenant Brewer and Rain-in the
Face frequently mot afterward, but the
Indian skuked at the heels Of the young
lieutenant like whipped cur.-Chcago
Chronicle.