The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-09-10
STOLEN NAVAJO GIRL
FURNISHED A BIT OF DIVER
SION FOR INDIAN COUNCIL.
Her Ute Lover Overtaken in His
Flight and Forced to Pay
Double for His Fair
Inamorata.

When the extension of the Santa f
&c Pacific railroad was projected a few
years ago through the Navajo Indian
country along the border line of New
Mexico and Arizona, a great council
OF the Indians was called by their head
chief to consider what opposition. Il
any, should be made to the work.
Among the notable chiefs who at
tended the council, Big Bull was proba-
bly, the most conspicuous. He came
down from his log hogan on the Chas-
ca, mounted on a spirited stallion, and
swept In regal style through Canyon
Bonito, in which the council grounds
were located, followed by a dozen
noisy, red-blanketed warriors. The
weird cries Of his people had scarcely
died away when Iron Kettle and Long
Mouth and Bull Elk, in rapid success
sion, fastened after, riding throughthe
council grounds at full speed, followed
by retinues of dusky warriors glorying
in the barbaric splendor of their high
ly colored and silver ornamented trap
pings. After a prolonged delay The
council finally settled down to the bust
ness for which it had been convened
and eventually very wisely decided not
to interfere with the building of the
road.
A considerable number of the war
riors in attendance at the council we're
accompanied by members of their fam
lilies, and the plain at the mouth of the
canyon in which the council convened.
was speedily covered for some distance
about the opening with the temporary
hogans of these people. A number of
Ute warriors, attracted by the assem-
bling of the Navajoes, also gathered at
the mouth of the canyon and estab-
lished themselves ia bivouacs on the
plain near the Navajo encampment.
The Utes had scarcely settled down
in their chosen location when one Of
their number. an adventuresome young
warrior, became smitten with the
Of a Navajo maiden, whose
mothers hogan adjoined his bivouac,
and in accordance with the customs of
he girls people, sought out her father
made him an offer of horses for
he squaw. The offer was promptly re-
fused. with the hope doubtless of OBJ
a better one, but the young
nan as promptly declined to increase
t and Withdrawing his bivouac, set
tbOut cOntriving a plan to seize the
,irl and carry her away to a hiding
,lace in the mountains, where he hoped
o be safe from pursuit.
A day or two elapsed after the plans
# the young warrior were matured,
nd then n morning just before dawn
S the girl was Fastening along a path
through a dense tangle of vines and
'ushes, on her way to a neighboring
pring for a gourd of water, the Ute
eized her, and smothering her cries
Nth his hand, carried her to his biv-
uac and placing her on a led horse,
lounted another and fed northward
18th her towards the country of his
eople.
When the theft Of the squaw was
nally discovered a party of Navajo
quickly assembled, and head
d by the father of the maiden, has
,ned in pursuit. The f~ugitives were
uickly overtaken and the Ute was
)mpelled to settle the affair by the
of a double remuneration in
orses and silver trinkets.
"And what became of the grip"
,ked an army officer of one of the
party some time after the &C.
ooh, that's no matter!" replied the
with a show of annoyance at
e question. you see," he continued
when the father got the
,rses the affair was ended, and the
.uaw belonged to the Ute"
81 see," said the officer. "The father
as more concerned in getting the
.e's horses than in recovering hrs
lighter" +
THE white mans ways are differ t
said the Navajo, alphabetically. /
Evidently" said the officer, "but are t
any girls %stolen?" {
mo-" replied the warrior, abruptly.
t might cost more that way. 1t is I
fer to buy. Possibly the suuaws Y
,uld like it," he added, refectively, Y
Or after the squaw was stolen at the G
uncil other squaws went often for 4
ter in the early morning. They sang
they went" he added, land cooed @
e doves that seek their mates, but =
one came. No. no." he concluded. :
rnestly, "let them coo. 1t is better .
buy" :
II. r. BRINKERHOFF, :
Colonel II g A Retired .