The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
VOW OF GROWING CHIEF.
an LssINIBoIS INDIANS LONG WAIT
FOR VENGEANCE

~
Has stabbod Him, ms was Natural
BIAcKFEET RESERVATION. Montana. Feb. 10
"A stabbing ARRAY that occurred here the
other dny reveals a very interesting phase Of
Indian character. Tt was briefly mentioned
In the local papers. but as usual In anything
pertaining to the Indians. the facts and mo-
tives OF the case were not Rivcn.
Twenty and more years ago a young man
named No Coat, son OF Chief Running Crane.
with several OF his comrades. all members of
the Crazy Dog Society. determined to make n
raid ON the enemy. In those days the Black
feet we're at war with all the surrounding
tribes. the Snakes. Crows. Cheyennes. Sioux.
Assiniboins. Crees and Flatheads. The
young men dellberated some time as TO which
OF them thsy should attack. As IL was late In
the season and a long journey would be likely
10 be ate ded by much hardship. they finally
decidNd=tO 20 to the Assiniboin country,
which was only down In the Little Rocky
Mountains. 300 miles distant. Accordingly
their wives or mothers prepared for them
many pairs OF moccasins and neat little pouches
OF rich food. pemmican and dried meat. While
these preparations were being made the young
men carefully performed all the religious GER
emonies proper for the occasion they en-
gagged n medicine man to lend them his mys-
terry or sacred power. and to pray for them dur
ing their absence: they had a solemn medi-
cine'sweat in a little sweathouse by the stream.
during which thew sang all the sacred songs
for those starting for war. Then they made
sacrifices to the sun-supreme god OF the uni
verse-sacrifces OF their most valued posses
sions. such as bracelets. necklaces and beauti-
fully embIoide red garments. These were Sc
curely.fastened to the branches of nearby
trees and were never molested by friend or
foe lest they should Incur the wrath of the
great god.
All we're now ready for the start. and one
evening rs the pink glow faded over the sum
mits Of the great mountains and the stars be-
gan to twinkle one by one. the little party left
the village at the foot OF the rocky hills and
struck out over the wide prairie land. They
walked swiftly In single file. No Coat. their
temporary chief. in the lead. Not a word was
spoken rs they strobe along: each one was
busy with his own thoughts Of wife or sweet
heart left behind; OF the aged parents praying
for his safe return.
For some OF the little band this was their first
venture against the enemy. aud they prayed
earnestly TO the gods and to their secret medi-
cines to strengthen their hearts and to give
them courage and success when thew should
meet the enemy. All night long they trav-
olledswiftly over the great ocean Of the prairie.
taking as their guide the north star. which
is as well known to the Indian as to his white
brother. As-the night advanced a heavy frost
settled down on the short curly grass and they
could feel 1t break harshly under foot. Coyotes
and wolves scurried out Of their way and
stopped at a cafe distance to yelp and howl at
them. Occasionally a band OF buffalo. startled
ut their approach. would go laundering away
in the darkness. But neither the wolves nor
the buffalo nor the niRht itself had any intiu-
ence on the thoughts OF these men. such as
would have been felt by civilized man. Stolid-
ly. :.tirelessly they stepped along and at dawn
were overlooking the valley OF Bear River the
Mariasl. So quietly. 80 stealthily had they
approached the brow OF the hill overlooking
the stream that.a band OF timid and wary ante
lope grazing Just below were not.alarme.l until
No Coat shot. ono.of their lumber. The ami
NAL was quickly dressed and zach one Of the
party taking a portion Of the meat they hur-
ried down the hill and went into the thick tim
Der and willows by the stream. A commodious
warehouse OF poles and brush was soon con-
structed and by the cheerful little fire inside
the party.roasted a generous meal Of the fresh
ly killed meat; then while one went up on the
hill to watch the.rest rolled themselves in their
robes and slept. At noon the sentinel was re-
lieved that he. too. might have some OF the
needed rest. AS evening came on another
hearty meal OF antel ope.meat was partaken OF.
and as night fell and the stars again came out.
the party left their coy shelter in the willows.
climbed the low hill out Of the valley and struck
out once more over the broad prairie. Thus
they travelled. night after night. 80 shaping
their course that each morning would find
them by some sheltered stream.
Between the Bear Paw and the Little Rocky
Mountains a shallow. and sometimes dry, creek,
meanders southwark into the Missouri. At its
confluence with that mighty stream it cuts IN
two a large level fiat. sheltered on each side by
high hills. This place. called by the whites
Cow Island. was a favorite camping ground
Of the Asslniboins. as No Coat knew from ex-
perience. and from the tales Of older warriors.
Game OF all kinds was abundant in the vicinity
the, year round on account OF q shallow ford
which crossed the stream. and was much used
by the buffalo. the elk and the deer. 1t was at
:his place that No Coat expected to find the As
siniboins camped. and one morning just be-
fore dawn. he and his little band cautiously
approaching the hill overlooking tho valley.
heard the bowling and yelping OF dogs. I'M
mistakable sign that the camp was there. It
was thenitoo near daylight to carry out any
scheme that No Coat-may have had. 80 the
party turned back and went down into the will
low by tho river some distance above the
camp. Being SO close to the enemy.they did
not dare to build q fire. 80 ate some of the food
they had brought from home for such an oc-
CablOu. ~ WAS N0TyICOIu, dlLHDuGu tneTA was
no snow on the ground. and they shivered IA
they lay huddled together In the thick brush.
When they went to the river for water. they
saw that mush Ice was running. They tried
to sleep. but the cold made 1t impossible.
Toward noon No Coat determines to do a
little careful accommodating. and slipped out
through thetimber toward the foot Of tho hills.
Beyond the main body OF wood and brush in
which his party lay concealed were large
clumps Of willows, interspersed with open
grassy glRdes. No Coat lodged from one to
another of these. and had Just passed one Of
them when he suddenly came face to face
with three AAsiniboins. who we're probably
hunting deer. They fired at him simultane-
ously. ono bullet Just grazing his neck and an
other cutting O light furrow through his hair.
No Coat had a repeating rifle. aud before tho
others could reload their old needle guns. he
Killed two OF them. The third turn ed and ran.
No Coat missed him. and in an instant the
Assiniboin was out Of sight in tho brush. At
tho sound OF the firing the rest OF the party
came rushing out. Just In time to see No Coat
AHN@h L. -nrlF ~ aalHfH- A.. TO- Is