The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-03-30
FRANKLIN, La, SATURDAY, MARCH 80 1901

should adopt civilized method of war
fare. He ordered report in detail an,
called for as complete an inyestigatio,
as possible under the circumstances
There was little more learned tha,
this, that the drill resembled that O
the American dragons and was not a
all like the Mexican tactics. No whit,
man had ever seen the war chief
though one Of Kit Carson's scout.
declared that he had. The chic
was not a Mexican, he said, ant
was a Navajo most certainly. He
was tall, handsome Indian OF re-
markable physique and rcde like dra
goon and not like an Indian Nothing
more than these few facts could Secre-
tary Davis gather.
1t was nearly ten years later that Jo-
seph G. Ives was sent at the head of an
expedition to survey the Colorado
River. A troop OF dragons was de-
tailed as the guard for his party. Ives
had been at West Point and had been
transferred to the typographical sur
vey. While up in the mountains to the
east of where now the town of Green
| River is the Indian glides became un-
| easy and reported that they we're spied
upon by some redskin scouts to whom
they could not approach close enough
to learn their tribe. Guards were more
carefully placed One morning the re-
lief Of one Of the outer pickets found
the man shot through the heart by an
arrow.
There's an Indian chief Oh the
guard line and he's asked to see you"
"You should go to your commanding
officer corporal Ives replied. I'm not
in charge Of the escort"
mo, but the Indian asked for you.
sir, and by name"
well, that's strange-how the devil
does he know me? Bring him up, but
If he has any others with him keep
them out Of camp"
A few minutes later the corporal re-
turned with the chief, who was
marvellous figure for even a Navajo.
He was very tall and straight and
muscled like an athlete A guide was
called to act as interpreter.
II guess we don't need that fellow"
the chief remarked as the guide came
up.
The officers had gathered at Ives
tent and their mouths fell open in
amazement as they heard him speak,
for his English was pure and without
flaw of accent. The Navajo sat down
on camp stool in a self-possessed
way and looked the group of men over
quietly.
Have you any spare tobacco, Ives?"
he asked.
The tobacco was found for him and an
orderly was despatched to an officers
tent for the bottle that, because of the
to civilization, had been
nursed lovingly and held for extraor-
dinary occasion.
How does it come, Ives, you're not |
the uniform? You didn't fall
down at the Point, did you?"
Great Scott, what do you know
about the Point?" cried the astonished
Ives.
But the chief only smiled and went
IN talking about the Point and the men
who were there fifteen years before.
His familiarity with the army ended
here, for he asked hungrily about
,hese few men and how they had done
n the Mexican war. He was surprised
% learn how well their fortunes had
For two hours the officers
stared at this great brown Indian and
their memories in vain efforts
o place him.
"You may be pleased to learn that it
lad been arranged to kill your party
IL, Ives, but recognized you yester-
lay while you were prowling around
he hills, and we'll declare the killing
II for old times sake. I've enough
raves within mile of you to ride you
II down in an hour" the Navajo said,
S he rose to 60.
But who in thunder are you?"
yes cried. you seem to know me, but
can't for the life of me recall you"
Don't you remember Mclean, who
yas in your class at West Point?" the
hief asked.
What! Bison McLean-who was ,,
Eyes. I'm Bison" III
There is no record of any other in
lance of magnanimity on the part of S
Bison" Mclean. Only an occasional {
'apper, with the exception Of Indians, t
NV him after that. His history I
lenceforth is as mysterious as that
hich had connected itself with him 9
hen he was only the great Navajo l
ar chief. How he left the Point and
lined the Indians, and why, no one
nows to this day. The retreat of !.
hief Joseph and his Nez Perces from
ew Mexico to the lava fields in the
ar of 1877 one of the most remark
lie in all military history for its
rategy, is credited by army officers c
the generalship of Bison" Nc +
aan. Col. Louis Craig of the Thirty