The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-02
INDIAN BATTLE.
Eyewitness Tells OF Thrilling Encounter.

y
braska history is John W. William
SOB, Of Genoa, whose memory of events
has made possible this account Of one
OF the great Indian tragedies Of the
Western plains.
Mr.. Williamson came to Nebraska
from Wisconsin and became assistant
farmer for the Pawnees at Genoa in
1872. This was Two years before the
removal Of the Pawnees to their new
reservation in Oklahoma.
In the summer of 1873 the Indians
in the reservation at Genoa asked per-
mission to take an old.time buffalo
hunt. They had given up their right
TO ell the vast buffalo plains Of Kansas
and Nebraska, and this territory was
rapidly filing with settlers.
The oldtime spirit Of savagery al
ways seemed to return to the Indians
during the exciting adventures of the
chase and the settlers were never safe
from depredations during such hunt.
Accordingly, il granting permission
to the Indians to go on the hunt, the
Government Agent, William Bur
CESS, commissioned Mr.. Williamson to
accompany them in the capacity of
trail agent.
The trail agent was expected to re-
strain the Indians from any lawless.
ness, but his authority was only advi-
sorry, as the various chiefs Who accom-
panied the expedition selected one Of
the company as supreme commander
from time to time. The authority
of his chief became absolute during
the time for which he was chosen,
and every movement was directed by
him.
The start was made from the reser-
vation on July 2, 1873. Mr. William
son was the only white man in the ex-
pedition save one, Mr.. Lester Platte,
nephew of Mrs. Alvira G. Platte,
who lived among the Pawnees for
many years as missionary. Mr..
Platte had just arrived from The
East; and, wishing to see some real
Western life, asked permission to &C.
company the expedition.
OThere were 600 Pawnees in the
expedition including squaws and pa
pooses.
The first buffalo seen on this hunt
was lone bull north of Arapahoe, on
small Creek. He was killed and
then there was great feast.
The first surround was made eight
or ten miles south Of Arapahoe, and
they succeeded in killing all Of the
herd, to the number Of $50 or go.
Some white men were stalking this
herd from the South, but on seeing
the Indians they took to their horses
and fed, doubtless thinking that the
Indians were hostile.
Several times in the course of the
journey white hunters had come in to
the Indian camp with some story cal
culated to turn the Indians back, told
doubtless for the purpose of saving
the game for the whites.
On the evening of August 3 some
white men came into tia camp and
told Mr.. Williamson that Sioux In.
dams had been watching the Pawnee
band for several days, and had run
their buffalo herd into the region as q
decoy.
In the midst of the attack on the
buffalo the Sioux intended to stack
the Pawness. After so many attempts
to deceive them the Indians were not
willing to believe the story, and de-
tsrmined to make the surround Of the
buffaloes early in the next morning
as planned.
MIR. Williamson, however, copclud-
ed from she manner Of the hunters
that they were telling the truth, and
tried by every means in his power 20
have the Inaians abandon the chase.
They already had all the game and
pelts they could carry home, and
there was no good reason for slaugh-
tering another herd, but the Indians
could not resist the pleasure Of anoth-
er chase.
Sky Chief was the leader in supreme
command in this chase. He insisted
thst the white men were lying. and
when advised by Mr.. Williamson to
abandon the chase grew angry and
said:
"Buckskin, you are afraid. Many
Sioux have I killed, aud many more
will bite the dust if meet them.
No, we will make the chase. You
shall stay with the women If the Sioux
come"
All nrcnmenfa havino nrnyod ,,o