Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-17
The Benefit Of
A. Birthmark
THE STORY
OF A CUSTER SCOUT.

the Republican river, in western Kansas,
and the Indian war had fairly begun,
was doing duty with several others as a
scout On the morning Of the 10Th
young man named Robinson reached the
camp and reported that he with three
others had been hunting to the west of us
and had been stampeded by the Sioux
Indians. One had been killed, as he be-
leved, while the others had made dash
for it and scattered. each taking his own
course. Robinson had Numbered upon
our camp after riding all night.
Custer was at this time hopeful of
making peace with the redskins, and the
camp at the forks would be permanent
for at least fortnight. 1t was with this
understanding of the situation that | set
out with Robinson, after he had had an
all days rest, to hunt up his stampeded
companions and bring them in. We left
camp just after dark, both of us heavily
armed, and rode straight to the west. AS
I had never seen Robinson under fire
was more anxious than if one of my fell
low scouts had been with me, but in the
course of couple of hours | made up my
mind that he had plenty of nerve and
could be depended on. AS near as he
could judge his party was 80 miles west
of the forks when stampeded. AT mid
night, after an easy canter of five hours,
we halted, dismounted and went into
camp for the remainder OF the night, be-
lieying we were close upon the spot
where the hunters were attacked. Both
of us slept from that hour until just be-
fore sunrise.
We had a cold bite for breakfast and
had scarcely mounted our horses when
we caught sight of the carcass of horse
lying on the plains about a quarter of a
mile away. As soon as we reached it
Robinson identified the animal as having
been the one he saw fall as the stampede
began. His rider was q man named Nc
Henry, who had previously been employ
ed as a civilian at Fort Larned. The
buzzards and wolves had been at the car
.cass, but we made out that the horse had
received three bullets and dropped in his
tracks. Saddle, bride and all other port
able property had been removed. Rob
inson estimated that the attacking party
numbered 80. After half an hours search
put the number at 20. He believed that
all who dashed away were pursued.
found that none of them had been fol-
lowed over half mile.
Had McHenry been killed or seriously
wounded by the volley which killed his
horse his body would have been found ly-
ing beside the carcass. AS it was not l
reasoned that he had been captured I'M
hurt and taken away prisoner. The
trail of the Indians led to the north, as II
making for the south fork Of the Platte
river, and we followed it at cautious
pace. At the end of five miles we came
to spot where the band had encamped
for the night. 1t was on the banks of a
small creek. in scattered grove and the
first thing we saw was the dead body or
McHenry. The Sioux chiefs had de-
clared their anxiety for peace and were
protesting the greatest friendship for the
soldiers. Indeed. Pawnee Killer had WIS.,
tied Custer TO shake hands and sign
declaration of peace. While the old hypo-
critic was declaring and protesting his
whole tribe was making ready for war
and INDUCING in atrocities. While the
big chief was chow howing" in Clusters
camp and declaring his love for the white
man, one of his bands only 50 miles away
was subjecting hunter to the most agon-
izing fortunes. They cut out his tongue,
blew powder into his body, cut off his
toes, broke all his fingers, pricked HIM
with knives and finally ended by scalping
him. He must have suffered many hours
before death finally came as glad reief-
The body was not yet cold when we
found it, and there were evidences that
the Indians had not been gone more than
an hour.
or the two who stampeded and got
clear. one went to the northeast and the
other to the northwest Robinson mad
held due north and thus reached our
Il 1. L.. OF a n
location. We took up the trail of the one
going to the northeast, believing that he
was In the greatest danger. He, went at
a wild mace for at least ten miles, never
seeming TO have looked back and discoy-
cred that pursuit had been abandoned or
to have turned to the right or the left to
throw the redskins off his route after
darkness came. 1t took us three hours to
cover the distance he rode in one, as we
expected to see Indians at any moment.
About - miles from the spot where we
found McHenry's horse we came upon
that of Jackson, whom we were follow
ing TO the northeast The wild ride had
exhausted the animal and as he fell down
Jacksuz had abandoned him and pushed
along on foot. The animal was on his
feet and grazing as we found him, but 50
lame that he could scarcely move. we
removed the saddle and blankets ana
found Jackson's revolvers in the holsters.
From this point we had no trail to
guide us, and the ground was badly eal
up with ridges and washouts. we roue
forward during the rest of the day, mop
ins, to oyertake the man and neglectlne
ma npeeautions to insure our own safety
Inst at shutdown we followed dry gully
up long ridge and debouched from it
seeing a sight which for the moment ap'
neared TO be an optical delusion. There
were Indians on our right on our lett IL
front. and | turned in my saddle to ses
ether Indians closing in behind US. As
we halted and looked around us many o.
tbe redskins expressed their humor by
erunts. They had probably been riding
to the right and left Of US for hours ane
had finally formed this cul-de7sac Tor us
to ride into. 1t was taxing srea. ues
- Mains for nothing, but the Indian some