New-York tribune., 1901-05-23
COL. ROOSEVELT AMBUSRED
MADE PRISONER BY A BAND OF BLOOD
THIRSTY INDIANS.
AMERICAN HORSE AND sHOT-IN-THE-EYE
WERE THERE-THE COLONEL
CAPITCLATED.

Buffalo May - CSpeciaD have
been wont TO express amusement when Euro
peans committed the error Of supposing that bi-
son could he hunted and red Indians fought with
in short distances Of the great American cities
But perhaps the laugh Will he the other way when
:he world reads Of the capture Of the Vice-Presi-
dent Of the United States by bloodthirsty saw
ages in feathers and war paint al the points OF
their rifles in one of the chief cities Of the coun-
try. in the very grounds of OF the leading
cities and almost at the gates Of the Pan-Amer-
lean Exposition. But that is exactly what hap
pened tonight Theodore Roosevelt was de-
coyed into the ambush Of the savages, was com
petely overpowered by numbers. being himself
unarmed. and two OF the chiefs placed their
hands on his shoulders and made him their prs-
oner He was afterward released on his prom
ising TO give himself up at their camp to-day.
And now. begin at the beginning, Vice
President Roosevelt dined, with numerous other
guests. this evening at the house of Mr.. and
Mrs. Glenny. in Amherst-ave.. half mile from
the exposition grounds. It is fine. large. old
house Of the oldest in the city. a few rods
from 1t stands an old log cabin. which is kept in
repair. but is said 10 date back the days when
the Iroquois roamed at their will the banks
of the adjacent Skajaquada Greek. Early in the
evening a party Of sixteen Indians from the
Indian Congress came stealthily from the
grounds and captured the loghouse without fir
ing a shot. The report is that ,they
abled do this partly through the treachery
Of some members of the dinner party, who knew
Of their intention and omitted mention it
the Vice-President. The band of Indians was
composed mostly of chiefs, and included some Of
the most famous ones in the country. The lead
ers were American Horse OF the Ogalallas. and
Red Cloud, Of the Sioux. Among the others
were Black Heart, of the Black Feet; Calico, of
the Crows; Red Deer, Lone Bear. Yellow Shirt,
Shot in the Eye, Rock and Uncopogna.
AS soon the Indians were in possession of
the loghouse they kndled a huge council fire
and sat down on the floor to wait for their al
lies in the dinner party to entice Mr.. Roosevelt
into ambush While waiting they smoked a
dozen pipes of peace. in honor Of their easy
capture of the house and looted a bunch of
| bananas which they found there. 1t was fully
an hour and a half before the treacherous diners
could elude the vigilance of the Vice President
and betray him. At the end of that time how
ever he was led the door OF the Ioghouse
was pushed in. and he stood alone among the
savages At first he supposed that what he saw
was peaceful show arranged for his entertain
rnent and his first exclamation
Why this is superb! This is hner'
Then he said How; how Then he added
| addressing the Indians, who stood nearest to
him.
Turn around to the fire; let me your
faces Why, this is superb"
But he had scarcely had time TO say all this
before Black Heart and Red Deer, who We're
outside the house fired their guns. Then others
fired and in an instant American Horse and
Red Cloud had their hands upon the Vice Presi-
dent Then American Horse addressed him. He
was understood to say:
Ugh we hear you heap big chief. You great
/ fighting man You big chief Rough Rider You
! win great battle. San Juan Hill. We hear you
| here in land of Iroquis. so now we come capture
Won You our prisoner But you only one many
| ell alone got gHn-we many heap eood nght-
| ing men-got plenty gun So no M Ialr We XII you
| now We let you go-you promise come our
| camn to-morrow-bring your fighting men-we
show you heap big battle Ugh!
There is disagreement however, about this
speech A different stenographer. who stood
nearer to American Horse. says that he spoke
! in substance as follows:
"How?'
| whatever is the truth on this point, it is be-
/ ,,o,,aa hat the yice-President gave his word to
he at the Indian camp tomorrow to see the
sham battle
Fax this time all the other guests cf the dinner
/ arty had followed the e-Presdent into the
1 house and the difference of numbers was no lon
gar so strongly against him. The appearance,
! however was still that the red men "ouiu nave
a distinct advantage in q hght
r, WAS certainly a powerful contrast. The Ind
ians were glorious in paint and feathers ana
looked grim and terrible enough IN the hlckerihs
! Glow of the burning logs. The white party. not
| ou;te so numerous consisted OF men ana women
| a. a,,ar,rg dress. beauti1ed according to tastes
- standards differing considerably from those
| - tho Indians and by no means prepared for
war. IN,
The Indians. however. showed no disposition
TO take advantage Of their obvious superiority