Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-23
The Exploit OF
MARTIN BLUESCHIELD.
by Franklin Wells calxni.
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by Franklin Wells calx.n;.

IOI office. 10 await the SLOW
G9l GW coming o: the mail. and
found that the proprieto:
lad gone out 10 supper ard left the
door unlocked. He had no clerk. and
inside were Il Number of blanket III
iiaIs" seated upon boxes ard barrels.
rery much nj home. l knew that Gov
eminent employees 1t all the Sioux
agencies were VIGOROUSLY negligent in
he matter of locks and keys. vet |
was surprised at kclley's supreme con-
idence in these Indians.
When We We're alone that evening
spoke 10 him about the matter.
oh" he replied. in his easy way.
-if there are Indians in the store when
I'm ready for meals. don't send them
put Show Sioux that you have per-
feet confidence in him. and you can
:rust him with anything you've got.
The best clerk had. in the days when
my trade needed help. was an Indian
Martin Blueshield. Martin saved me
from loss by thievery several times;
the thieves were whites.
III tell You of Martins Traces with
Big Kcsly. Kosky had a timber claim
over here on Laroot Creek. lie was
some kind OF foreigner and had
worked in the pineries: lie was'the big
gest and the mcanest man that ever
came into these parts. He WAS 4 ire
menGous fellow in size. with Il neck
and chest like 4 bulls. and he had Il
black beard as coarse as straw. that
c+a01 t..0i sriaf 10 lariSfln.
AT that time the Indians lerc who
have always been peaceablc. were feel
Ing very ttnid. 1t was the wear after
The Custer fight. and the people of the
settlements hereabouts were not well
disposed toward the Indians.
Il don't know how il IS" said Kelley.
refectively. but m0Sr white people
don't seem 10 know the difference be-
tween a good Indian and bad one.
Fully n.nc-tenths OF the Sioux have
never taken part in any hcstilc move
against our people. Yet this nine
:enthS have been made 10 suffer greater
privationS than the fellows Who did
.ha fighting.
We'll. Big Kosky and some others
took advantage of the situation here.
and robbed the Indian whenever they
had half 4 chance. NOsky. ri I.aroot
Greek. was close to the reservation
line. and he had keen eye for stray
ponies. l suppose he stole and sold n
dozen or fifteen OF them in year.
After every loss the Indians would
herd their ponies closer for Il time:
then they'd get 4 litTlc careless and
more stock would disappear. It did
cot the slightest good ,o complain: both
and ;hc missionary here went 20 the
sherihs in the adjoining counties. ANA
tried 10 get them to pat 4 stop 10 the
robhery
''The Indians Don came 10 fear Zig
KosAy mu1h rs some people fear evil
spirits. They thought he had wallaE'
big medicine OF spi.it-'which pro
tected him. They said he could loo.l
right through 4 person and see what
w:s behind him. He usually carried a
twc-b.ttcl AK with a long handle.
which the Indians looked upon rs his
war-weanon: ana they supposed he
could throw this through man at Il
very long distance.
He Csed 10 come TO my store now
and then 10 trade. and tho Indians al
ways Kept away from him for he
hated them and would glare nj them
like mad beast. Bat my clerk. who
had been educated in w. lite schools.
had lost his fear OF wak.a men. and
X was amusing 10 ire TO wa;ch the play
between them
Coed day Mr. Kosky" Martin
would say. Very politely. VIII you
have some rope today. or will you have
one Of these fine knives and he would
hold up 4 hptcher-knife or a coil or
rope for insp ,ction.
Big Kosay's eyes would blaze. and
then he'd mutter something in his OWE
language and turn 10 me for what lie
wanted. Probably. though. there would
have hee1 no fracas between Martin
ard Kosky II | hadn't been called to
Fori Ber,hold on business. Kosky
camc oyc: the next day with i cart and
YOKE az oxen after some flour. When
he entered the store q gfared nj Mar.
lin rs usual. and finding | was 10 be
gone for week or two. lie turned on
his heel and walked out.
a little willie afterward IN Indian
care "a and Jold Martin that the big
medicine wasechun white man-'had
taken one Of my ponies. which was
pickc.cd in a ravine beside the road.
The old scamp Supposed it Was al III
tlian'S pony.
Martin laid nothing. but locked the
store. saddic1 his pony. and went after
BIG Kosky About two miles from The
store he overlook the fellow. with my
Morse lied behind his cart. Then there
was 4 lively time. Kosky got OFF his
cart with his axe and charged Martin.
yelling like wild man. The hoy
lodged on his spry pony and watched
for m opening.
Ne circled swiftly around the cart
oxen unIil Big Kosky was pretty
blown trying to get at him. Then,
n Kosky was mt the opposite side
the cart. Martin made a sudden
il ut the. oxen and bella bored them
II a stofkwhip. 1t needed only a
or two to set them off at 4 jump.
d Kosky. pulled and tired. was left
shout after the runaways.
"Martik ran the oxen to a safe dis
ince. ten cut the led pony's rope,
nd drote the animal homeward. with
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