The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-28
Hero of the Arickaree Must
Soon Surrender.
BRAVEST OF OLD TIMERS
Jack StiIweII in Grip of
BrightS Disease.

judge zach" StiIwell. famous Indian
scout, is dying He is in the grip Of
Bright's disease and cannot live many
weeks longer. Knowing this he moved
in from his ranch to be nearer medical
treatment, and while the doctors may
prolong his life. they cannot save it.
Giles stilweI, known all his life as
Jack, was the friend and contempor-
airy Of General Custer, wild Bill, TEX
as Jack, Buffalo Bill" General Miles
and the Indian fighters. scouts and from
] tiersnen Of the days gone by. When
! Custer fought his last fight and the re-
sultant fury among the whites stamped
out the Indian uprisings; when there
was no longer need for the old scout,
Jack" Stilwen retired from the army,
from cattle raising and ranching, and
studied law
Brilliant scout and Indian fighter, he
made brilliant lawyer and his argu-
ments before the courts Of Arizona, Tex
as, Wyoming and Oklahoma will long
be remembered for their wit and COM
prehension of the law.
"Stilwen saw Wild Bill" assassinated
and comforted Texas jack in his last
hours when he was dying of consump-
ton.
His most noteworthy achievement took
place while he was scout under Cen
eral Forsyth, during the summer of 1868
General Miles tells the story most inter-
estingly:
Jack Stillwell was the hero of one OF
the most remarkable affairs with Indians
in the history of the American frontier.
uring the war of 1865. wnen ne was
boardless youth in buckskin, he did the
thing which made him famous through
out the West and stamped him as one Of
the most courageous scouts in he
army.
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel George A.
Forsyth commanding a small body of
about thirty citizens enlisted as scouts.
camped beside the Arickaree river,
small stream in Nopthern Kansas. The
Indians had been reported as rising
and the purpose of the expedition was
to ascertain the txle state of affairs
There was very little water in the
river. it being the dry season-Septem-
Der Il, in fact-and the party. fearing
attack camped on an island in the mid
die OF the river jack Stilweu was
one Of the scouts. About O'Clock in
the morning they were attacked by a
band of 800 warriors, who shot at them
from both banks.
The men placed themselves in a cir
Gle. lying down. and each one instantly
began digging rifle pit for himself The
Indians were repulsed and retreated
Roman Nose, their leader. was killed in /
the charge and the river banks Were +
strewn with dead warriors.
"All was quiet until o'clock IN the (
afternoon. when the Indians. thrsting I
for vengeance. came again. MORE fierce :
y than ever But by that time the 1
dtfenses were finished and the Indians
were again driven of. A final and more +
feeble attack was made about ! oclock j
and then it began to rain. Every one
Enew that the next move of the In
clans, finding that direct attack did not
accomplish results would be to SIR
round the devoted little band and starve
them out, or pick off the unwary By long
from cover.
Taking account of the damage done
they found that they had suffered Sc
verely All the horses and mules had
been killed. making it impossible for
them to set away. Lieutenant Beecher.
second IN command and five men had
also been killed, or mortally wounded,
Forsyth had been wounded. Practi-
cally only seven men out OF the thirty
and seventeen men, including Colonel
were unframed. Obviously the thing
to do was to get help. and that was the
very thing which the Indians were on
he sharpest outlok TO prevent.
Fort Wallace. the nearest military post,
vas a hundred miles away. and For
syth and his mon were without food
surrounded by nine hundred Indians
rom ali the northern nations includ-
ng Northern Cheyennes. Ogalalla, Sioux
md that queer combination Of many
RIDES known as the Dog Soldiers" The
-itua5ion was desperate.
The dead horses were cut into strips
FOR food and wei inside circular
'reastworis was dug FOR water The /
defense was strengthened with useless
adde's and dead carcasses. and. watch
ul against surprise they passed four
lays without any sign from the Indians
'ut an occasional shot when a soldier
ncautously arose to stretch himself ,
on the nth day the meat could no !
onger he eaten. and the suffering be-
anne intense Help must De summoned
r the command must perish. Jack" :
.tilwen one q the few who had es-
aped urharmed 50 far. offered 10 so 70 I
'ort Wallace. II looked 10 be sure /,
cath 10 venture outside Of the charm
g circle. Cld Pet" Trudeau. e from !
ersman. volunteered 10 accompany him. ?
There was nothing elese 70 do. and Z
fsutentant Colonel Forsyth was com
eIIed 70 accept the one-- At midnight.
mid The whispers Of good luck and The
areweu haudshakes Of the boys who
ever expected 70 see them again alive.
be two men crawled over che breast :
orS and waded the river q the ere
sys shore. They Initiated the wear
& apparel ~ tn Indians BY wearing
iankets and moccasins-nate from their
oos tcQs-so as nct 20 lssre the loot- ?
r.ats 81 9 white man Behind them.
The nautuFal way 10 g would have
cen down The river or through ore u =
be many raTines that strated from the 2
yer hank. The most dangerous way e
IS to - straight up over The bald L
80 81 front q the island. S;EEesi. q
aought the ravines would - saI - In 4
Ears ard be also though that the e.
atcr course would be u7ost closely Il
aarsea. 50 he chose IRE t-an orc- the u
ia hin trusting 4 his DISCUSSES L 4
.en. =
IN conversation between Stiiwsu ard K
me OF these same Indians afterwars .
vas proven that they Rad uate a y