Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-09

farther out from the stockade, in grow
ing sense of security, and the Indians
let them come.
Full week before the Laramie col
umn could possibly reach the noun
tains, however, Red Cloud was warned
of their coming, their numbers. and
compassionate many horse soldiers,
SO many cheap walks" Unmolested,
the squadron from Fort C. +. Smith,
the Big Horn River post, was permit
ted to retrace its steps. In fancied
safety, born of confidence in that won
derful new breechloader, the little
difference to their surroundings. Then
sending large numbers of his young
men to round up buffalo toward the
Platte, but keeping still his stern and
vengeful eye upon the prey almost at
his feet. the red chief made his final
and fatal plans.
There came a cloudless morning
when the cavalry troop escorted
young officer up the rocky heights to
the west, finding everywhere indica-
lions of recent Indian occupancy, but
not redsllin barred their way. With
out opposition of any kind, without so
much as glimpse of the foe, were they
permitted to climb to Signal Rock, and
from that point, with powerful glasses,
the officers swept the glorious range of
foothills, the deep valley of the Tongue,
the banks of the Piney and the Crazy
Woman, the far-spreading upland
prairie rolling away like some heav-
ing ocean suddenly turned to earth.
east and southeast to the dim horizon,
and there they saw, or thought they
saw, full explanation of their recent
freedom from alarm of any kind.
There to the south, full thirty miles
away, the land was overlaid by dull,
heavy, dun-colored cloud and trav-
ersed by black streaks or blotches that
were recognized at once as running
buffalo. Red Cloud and his braves
then were drawn away in search of
other game, and, light of heart and
foot, the troopers trotted back to the
| waiting stockade, to meet there late
that evening. as the weird tattoo of the
drums and flies was echoing back from
the rocky heights. the first messenger
through in nearly fifteen days-a half
breed Sioux from distant post along
the Platte, bearing a written message
from the commanding officer at Frayne,
| which the veteran commandant read
| with infinite comfort:
Seven companies of infantry and
three. mora troops of cavalry are on
the way and should reach you by Sat-
urday week. The general seems thor
oughly alive to the situation, and we,
too, are hoping for orders to move out
and help you give that internal old
! scoundrel the thrashing he deserves.
All has been quiet hereabouts since
that one party made its dash on Hal
| Folsom's ranch. Of course you know
the story of Lizette, and of course Red
! Cloud must have known that Burning
Star was head devil in that enterprise,
though Chaslla was the victim. 1
| take much comfort in the fact that it
was | who sent young Dean and his
troop round by way of the Laramie.
been murdered to man if 1 hadn't,
and yet hear that absurd old ass at
| Emory put Dean in arrest for not
coming directly home. Pecksnif
should have been retired ten years
ago-for imbecility.
1--WE had a tremendous storm in
the mountains to the south two days
ago and a courier has just galloped
out from Emory, inquiring for news
of Dean. 1t seems he was sent with a
big sum of currency for your quarter
master, and ordered to slip through
by way of Sweetwater, as Red Cloud
was known to be covering the direct
road. Somehow it leaked out before
he started, and gang of desperadoes
gathered to jump him at Canyon
Springs. The storm jumped them, for
two of their dead and dozen horses
We're rolled out on the flats. Dean
must have got through all right, for
Bat saw their trail fifteen miles above
us. OF course, he'll have to make
night marches; but, unless Red Cloud
gets wind of his coming and corrals
him, he should reach you almost as
soon as this. Michel, the bearer, has
your dispatches and orders. Retained
copies are here. Good luck, old man,
4 and nay we meet within the fort
night ard wind up Red Cloud once and
for all time"
This was all, but more than enough,
Riding night and day in wide detour
Michel had made his way to the late
| ly beleaguered spot, and what he
brought was joyous news, indeed
Within the coming week the post
would have no more to fear. Within q
day or two the contractors, then
would have their money. and thai
would tap the suffers stores and JOY
would reign supreme. Enviously the
soldiers eyed the artisans. Not fol
weeks could their paymaster be looked
for, while the funds for the civilians
might reach them on the morrow
i provided Red Cloud did not interfere
He couldn't and wouldn't, said the
commander, because he and his braves
were all off to the southeast, hunting
buffalo. He could and might, said
Michel that night at ten o'clock, aft
| 4or. 1>oI eart 4La 10 ha1