Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-06-17
- e. g Ma - - -. = - 8. =.
BY Franklin We'Ies calk;ns.

est railroad town and sell them at $40
or S15 each, and the complaints of the
Indians would avail nothing. Such
robberies of the Sioux were frequent In
those days. and kept even the friend
liest Of them in state Of hostile feel
ing.
II don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared to follow tie ras-
calls II they hadn't run Off four of my
ponies in the bunch they stampedcd.
But had left him in charge Of my
property. and when runner came in
with news of the loss he again locked
the store, and leaving some Indians G..
guard, mounted his pony and followed
the ruStlers. lie was careful. after
striking their trail, MO- to come in sight
Of them until after dark.
"About two hours after sunset he
CAM up with them in the coulce OF
Chapeau Greek. Thev had just made
camp, having run the stock more tlan
forty miles over an unsettled district.
Martin saw them without heinz seen.
He picleted his pony beyond car-s:lo!,
and then crcpt close to their CAMP
hiding in some bushes where lie could
Keep an eve on~eveTy movement.
"The three men were sitting about 4
small fire, eating their suppc:. Their
ponies were pickctcd close by, and
their guns, two Winchesters belonging
to the cow-men and m old shotgun
which Kosky carried, lay against their
saddles within their reach.
''The moon was shining brightly into
the coulee, and just below the rustlers
Martin saw the pony Eerd in Il cissc
bunch, most Of them lying Il: rest.
"Thc Indian settled himself to walt,
and presently Big Kcsky got I'D.
saddled his horse. took his gun :nd
vent to look after the herd. while The
Others unrolled their blankets, laid
their Winchesters beside them, and
stretched themselves at their fire.
"They had been talking together and
laughing. and were evidently pretty
we'll contcnted with their catch; they
seemed to feel pretty sure about got.
ting of with the herd. Martin watrhcd
the fellows like lynx, and whcn hey
were sound asleep and Kosky was out
Of sight looking after the herd. h.
crawled into their camp and got both
'their4guns. Then he crawled away
again.
"The guns he carried up the creek
and strapped 10 BIS pony's saddle. Thau
he came back just as slyly to look after
Big Kosky and the ponies. So far
everything had gone to his liking, and
now to get rid Of that rascally herdc:.
"kosky kept the horses in close
bunch, riding about them With his gun
across his saddle, and Martins pres.
pect for running off any OF them looked
pretty poor. Whatever lie did must lie
done before the fellows in camp were
awakened, for the discovery of the loss
of their guns would alarm them at
once.
= "rhe ponies, however. themselves
settled Martins plan Of action. They'll
been watcrcl ut Lame Mans Creek,
some miles bacl. and toward midnight
they began to want drink. and to tlror
into the bed of the Chapeau to look fol
1t. The creek was dry with only Il
pool here and there in dips OF tho chan.
mel; and kosky, to quiet their rneasi.
ness. worked the bunch along up to. ole
of the sullken ponds some two hundred
yards above his rustlers' camp.
Martin followed closely. keeping
out of. sight i'll the dry channel. Very
soon be heard :ine ponies slippin" down
n steep hank into the pond; ana peer.
ing out Of the cover Of tall grass, lie
saw Kosky ride his own horse down to
drink. Martin could just see the
horses rImp MS the animal stood, halt
on end, and the mans head and shoul.
ders. as he sat braced in his saddle.
There was the boys opportunity,
and lie ,ook it us quick as lightning.
lie crawled slyly out Of the grass and
got directly behind the rustler. Then,
using the stock of his carbine as n bat.
tering-ram, he: made a running jump,
striking the man squarely between the
"Kosky was hurled as if kicked by
mule. He struck the water with
splash and sank like sack of sand.
Martin landed behind his saddle, ard
the rustler's horse slid into the wafer,
where he floundered over his breath.
less master.
"The ponies were startled into snort.
ing little, but they were too thirsty
to run. and Martin kept his seat and
rode out upon the bank. He tied his
captured horse to some willows, and
then waded in and dragged Kosky out
into the dry bed of the creek. There
he turned the man upon his face and
slapped his back until he began to
show signs Of life; then he tied him.
hands and feet, and left him there to
come to and reflect upon the uncertain.
ties Of rustling.
"The ponies were now grazing quiet
ly, and Martin moved them upstream
to where his horse was tied, and then
drove them rapidly home.
That experience settled the accounts
Of Big Kosky in these parts. I reckon
the whole business was rather mvs-
terious to him. He never came on the
reservation again, to our knowledge.
and soon after abandoned his claim.
Martins handling Of him gave the III.
dians here some heart to protect their
property, and there was less stealing
Of their stock. They gaye Martin
long name-they called him Strikes-thc.
Big Medicine- White Man" = Youths