Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-07

rose. His sQuaWS, four in number, made
the usual amount of waillng, and gloom
settled down upon the little post garri-
soned by two white men and three half
breeds.
The mournful Big Head had been
painted for several days. Though the
weather was bitter cold, he appeared at
times outside the lodge painted black and
Invested of all clothing except the rcgu-
lation loin cloth. He was seen to carry
his rifle at all times, and things were fast
! approaching a crisis. when either Fallas
or his partner must be SACRIFICED. After
lected to carry a bundle of presents to
Big, Heads lodge. With a heavy heart
and a bundle of calico, cloths and trad
ers' supplies, the young trader set out on
his diplomatic errand for the chleftaln's
lodge. The squaws came running and
wailing to meet him., and escorted him to
the principal tepee. Big Head sat by the
fire in all his hideous paint, with head
bowed down and his rifle lying across his
knees.
GUIDE FOR CUSTER.
F'allas undid his bundle. took cloth and
covered the dead outside the lodge, and
distributed trinkets among the many
wives. The squaws in turn gave him
soup and buffalo meat, as he now tells 1t.
IT was too scared to eat, but drank the
soup and strung the meat on a stick SO
as not to give offense.' This seems to
have been customary among the Indians,
and we'll understood by Fallas. The
guest must either eat all food placed be-
fore him or carry it away, otherwise the
host would be insulted. The Cheyenne
Chief sat in silence. not raising his head
or speaking, and Fallas, thinking his mis-
sion had awaited nothing, departed; but
he had hardly left the camp when Big
Head appeared and called him back.
Then the sad and mournful chieftain took
: six painted and tanned buffalo robes and
+ threw them out at the feet of Fallas as
5 return presents. Thus peace was re-
I stored. and Big Head buried his children.
g In May. 1873, General Stanley engaged
Fallas as a guide for General Custer, who
= was about traverse the Indian country,
visit hostile camps, and, when necessary,
q subdue them. His plan was to follow the
course of the Missouri and send a steam
S boat a few days in advance to carry the
4 heavy supplies. Fallas Joined General
: Custer at Springfield, S. D., and by the
middle of May the party started keeping
on the east side of the river. Fallas was
: the only man in the expedition that knew
the country, the Indians and their loca-
ton. The command numbered 1000
. mounted men, together with a large
: wagon train, approximately $500 in all,
a The steamboat carried a small guard.
e the crew and a number of ladies, wives
of the officers.
S Fallas on this expedition became intim-
n ately acquainted with General Custer
: and as his daily and trusted companion
tullll lax ICdSitCu l. I. III y. D., WITCH lS
left to return to his home among the
Yankton Sioux.
= Fallas says he usually rode from one tC
r two miles in advance of the Command He
was generally accompanied by Genera
e Custer, M often by Mrs. Custer. Tbs
: general was very fond of hunting, and
had no less than IL dogs with him. He
dressed often in buckskin, and wore a
e red flannel shirt. Mrs. Custer Otter
q asked him to discard this garment. as il
g made him conspicuous and easily seer
n and recognized by the Indians. While tn
general in all things seemed to respect
the wishes of Mrs. Custer. in this instance
g he seems to nave paid little or no at
tention.
- CUsTDR's WAY WITH INDIANS.
e At FIT. Thompson, where Crow Creel
agency is now, a cOuncl was held will
l. the indians The past winter had beer
n unusually severe, and the Indians wer'
short of buffalo meat or other food. The!
n were importunate in their begging. ant
seemed to have only one object in tn
s council, and that to exact food from tn
l. soldiers. General Custer refused to Civ,
N them anything, but told them that thei'
d great father literally grandfather) hat
It sent them there to meet the Indians ant
70 to fight them if they We're ready. He tolt
l. the Indians they had boosted of thei
l. strength and given the great father mucl
j. trouble. He was sent there not to talk
d but to fight. and IL the Indians were TO
1. fighting they could nave all they wanted
J. This talk did not anger the Indians: OIL