The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-06
A HUMAN sLEUTH.
Extraordinary Skill Of an Indian
Scout in Trailing a Fugitive.

Extraordinary Skill Of an Indian
Scout in Trailing a Fugitive.
From st. Nicholas.
Arklchita, a typical Indian. was chief
scout at Fort Sisseton, Dakota, in 1882.
Although he knew English well, he
held the old Indian hatred of its use,
and would never speak 1t except under
extraordinary circumstances. He stood
about five feet, nine inches in height,
was slender but wiry, and was about
81 years of age. Ordinarily he was
slow and sedate in his actions-very
dignificd, but when the necessity arose
he could be as quick as q flash. and
had, like every Indian on the north
western plains. a pair of eyes that
could equal any field glass.
His services--for he had been en-
ployed as scout for some years-had
been very valuable to the government.
and in recognition Of this fact, the
officer in command had secured author
ity from the war department to pro-
mote him to the rank of sergeant;
consequently he went around in a neat
uniform with chevrons and stripes,
very much impressed with his own
Importance, which he considered sec-
ond only to that of the commanding
officer; and he took care that every
one else also should respect his rank
and dignity.
AS his native name is the Sioux for
Soldier" it is easily seen why he was
SO named; but he had still another
name, which the Indians had given
him before his entering military cir
cles. and that, translated into English,
was the grass walker" or trailer"
for his absolutely marvellous ability to
find the trail of anything that left even
the slightest trace on the ground as it
passed over it.
A desperate soldier named Erica
broke Jail one night, and waa pursued
the following morning. The trail led
to the west for a trine over a mile;
then 1t turned north for quarter of
a mile. and we followed until we came
to tree at the odgeof n slough to the
northwest of the fcrt, called the gar
den bar slough Here Arkichita
pointed under the tree and said Brice
had lain down there TO rest.
The trail here led into the slough.
A Dakota slough" is shallow lake.
the water Of which is from six inches
to three feet deep, with a soft, muddy
bottom, but not generally miry. The
center of the slough Is usually free
from grasses or weeds. but along the
| edges. from twenty to sixty yards out,
! long tule-Crass grows.
| This particular slough was . mile
| long. and varied from an eighth to Il
| quarter OF q mile in width, and there
was foot Of water covering as much
soft mud. During the night the wind
had rolled the water up considerably.
1t see med hardly possible to track any
thing through it. except whore the tu'e
had been broken down. Where that
was the case even l could follow the
| trail; on reaching open water, how
ever, the case was different.
The eastern end Of the slough reached
! to point near the fort not more than
a hundred and fifty yards from Il brick
/ yard, on which was a kiln that had
! been built during the summer. The
| kiln was now ready for firing.
| Once l thought Arkichita was bafIled
after all; he had come to dead stand
still near the tule. Then an inspira-
! tion struck me. Perhaps by circle
/ could find the trail. Happy thought!
put it into immediate execution, nd
found one. Rather elated at my sue
cess, I called: Come quick: heaI
: trail! He came over and took one
! look; just the suggestion of a smile
played on his face as he said Cow"
I did no more trailing. but under
stood what was bothering him. Tht
post herd also had waded through here
! since Brice's escape, and it took all the
scouts endless patience and wonderful
| eyesight to Gaep the trail where the
cattle had passed through it. The
/ grass st"r y Is OF no rso here.
We had passed over half the slough
| in this Circuitous route, when suddenly
Arkichita started straight as the crows
I fly for the edge of the slough near the
brick kiln. Was he following the trail
| On he went until he came to the
shore nearest the kiln; here he stopped
evidently bothered again. There was q
scarcely discerrible footprint in the
mud and water right at the edge of the
slough. apparently the last step the de.
serter had taken before reaching hard
ground, This footprint showed the
toes, as the deserter was now bare.
footed. Another thing about this print
was its direction; 1t stood at right
angles to the line previously followed
Either the man had taken Il sdeward
! spring for the land from his right foot
or he had turned around and started
back over his own trail.
Arkichita went down on his knees an,
Inspected the grass, blade by blade
kept respectful distance at one side
astonished at the turn the affair ha,
taken. Now, inch by inch, on his knees
! lie wrenched the secret from the ap
parently unwilling surface of the earth
Eighty yards from the kiln, he looked
up and glanced at 1t. The same idef
| evidently instantly occurred to both o
us. The trail was leading to the kiln
Then he arose, and. bending over
slowly advanced to the edge of tn.
brickyard.
After reaching the yard Arkichit;
walked slowly around the outer edg,
of 1t, examining the ground with tn
utmost care until he came to the poin
from which he started, when he said
Trail come in-no go out; man II
there" pointing to the kiln.
And circumstances proved him to b
right. though it was thirty-six hour
before the fugitive was located in tn
kiln and captured.
He Is Tanned Now.
About two years ago a fairly wei
known young man of this town who. II