The Iola register., 1900-10-19

the Indians were, of course, the per-
petrators. Nevertheless, it, had been
the policy of the leaders of the North
ern Sioux to avoid any meeting in force
and to deny the completely of their peo
pie in the crimes committed. Supply
trains to Reno, Kearney and c. f.
Smith, the Big Horn posts of the Boze-
man trail. went to and fro with guards
of only moderate size. Officers had
taken their wives and children to these
far-away stations. The stockades were
filled with soldiers families Big bands
of Indians roamed the lovely valleys of
the Piney, the Tongue and Rosebud,
near at hand, and rode into full view of
the wary sentries at the stockades. vet
made no hostile demonstration. Off
GERS and mdn went far up the rocky
canyons of the hills i'm search of fish
or game, and came back uumolestcd.
Escorts reported that they sometimes
marched all day long side by side with
hunting bands of Sioux, mile away;
and often little parties. squaws and
boys and young men, would ride CON
fidently over and beg for sugar. coffee,
hardtack-anything. and ride off with
their plunder in the best Of spirits and
with all apparent good feeling. And
yet the great war chief of the Brules--
Sintogalska-Spotted Tail. the white
mans friend, gave solemn warning not
to trust the Ogallallas. RED Clouds
heart is bad" he said. ale and his
people are moving from the resrva-
ffAng 60 10.
trouble Old traders like Folsom
heard and needed, and Folsom himself
hastened to Fort Frayne the very week
that Burleigh and his escort left for
Warrior Gap. Visiting at the ranch Of
his son in a beautiful nook behind the
Medicine Bow mountains. the veteran
trader heard tidings from an Indian
brave that filled him with apprehen-
sion, and he hurried TO the fort.
rs it true" he asked. that the gov
ernment means to establish a post at
Warrior Gap? Is it true that Mai. Bur-
leigh has gone thither" And when
told that it was, and that only Capt.
Brooks troop had gone as an escort,
Folsom's agitation was extreme. Colo
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"solemnly have tried to warn the gen
eral of the danger of that move. | have
told him that all the northern tribes
are leaguing now. that they have deter
mined to keep to themselves the Big
Horn country and, the valleys to the
north. 1t will take 5000 men to hold
those three posts against the Sioux,
and you've barely got 500. I warn you
that any attempt to start another post
up there will bring Red Cloud and all
his people TO the spot. Their scouts are
watching like hawks even now. Iron
Spear came to me at my sons ranch
last night and told me not ten warriors
were left at the reservation. They are
all gone. and the war dances are on in
every valley from the Black Hills TO
the Powder. For heavens sake, send
half your garrison up to Reno after
Brooks. You are safe here. They won't
molest you south of the Platte. at least
not now. All they ask is that yoy
build no more forts in the Big ITorn.r
But the colonel could not act with
out authority. Telegraph there was
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suihcient Importance to warrant his
hurrying of a courier TO Laramie.
fully 100 miles southeast. and order.
ing troop to scout ucross the wild
wastes to the north, while Folsom
himself, unable to master his anxiety.
decided to accompany the command
sent out toward Cuntonmcnt Reno.
lie long had had influence with the
O2allallas. Even now Red Cloud might
listen if he could but find him. The
matter was of such urgency he could
not refrain. And so with the gray
troop of the cavalry, setting forth
within an hour of his coming. rode the
old trader whom the Indians had so
long sworn by, and he started none
too soon.
Reno was some 90 miles away, and
not until late the next evening did the
grays reach the lonely post. Not a
sign of hostile Indian had been seen
or heard, said the officer in command.
Small bands of hunters were out to-
ward Pumpkin Butte two days before.
Yes, Ogallallas-and scouting par
ty, working down the valley of the
Powder, had met no band at all, though
trails were numerous. They were now
patrolling toward the Big Horn. Per
haps there'd be a courier in tomorrow.
Better get a good nights rest mean
time, he said. But all the same he
doubled his guards and ordered extra
vigilance, for all men knew John Fol
som, and when Folsom was anxious
ON the Indian question IL was time TO
look alive. Daybreak came without a
sign, but Folsom could not rest. The
grays had no authority to go beyond
Reno, but such was his anxiety that It
was decided to hold the troop at the
cantonment for a day or two. Mean
time, despite his years, Folsom decided
to push on for the Gap. All efforts to
dissuade him were IN vain. With him
rode Baptiste, half-breed French