The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1904-09-09
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 Fe
& Pacific railroad was projected 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, II
any, should be made to the work.
Among the notable chiefs who at
tended the council. Big Bun 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 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 through the
council grounds at full speed. followed
by retinues of dushy warriors gloryiHe
In the barbaric splendor of their high
~ colored and silver ornamented trap
pings. After prolonged delay the
council finally settled down to the bust
ness for which it had been convened
and eventually very wisely decided not
10 interfere with the building of the
road
A considerable number of the war.
tors in attendance at the council were
accompanied by members of their fam
lies, 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
he mouth of the canyon and estab-
iahed themselves in bivouacs on the
plain near the Navajo encampment
The Utes had scarcely settled down
n their chosen location when one OF
their number an adventuresome young
warrior, became smitten with the
charms of Navajo maiden. whose
mothers hogan adjoined his bivouac,
and in accordance with the customs OF
he girls people. sought out her father
and made him an offer of horses for
he squaw. The offer was promptly re-
fused, with the hope doubtless OF OBJ
tanning a better one. but the young
man as promptly declined to increase
It and Withdrawing his biyouac. set
about eontriving a plan to seize the
girl and carry her away to hiding
place in the mountains where he hoped
to be safe from pursuit
A 10, O1n a
Of the young warrior were matured
and then one morning just before dawn
as the girl was fastening along a path
through a dense tangle of vines and
bushes, on her way to neighboring
spring for a gourd of water. the Ute
seized her. and smothering her crtes
with his hand, carried her to his biv-
ouac and placing her on a led horse.
mounted another and fed noYthward
With her towards the country of his
people
When the theft of the sQuaw was
finally discovered a party of Navajo
warriors quickly assembled, and head
ed by the father of the maiden. has
lened in pursuit The fugitiyes were
quickly overtallen and the Ute was
compelled to settle the affair by the
payment of a double remuneration in
horses and silver trinkets
And what became Of the girl"
asked an army officer Of one of the
pursuing party some time after the &c
surrence
ooh, that's no matter" replied the
warrior. with a show of annoyance at
he question You see, " he continued
directly. when the father gat the
horses the affair was ended. and The
sluaw belonged To the Ute"
Il see. said the officer The father
was more concerned in getting The
ute's horses than in recovering hrs
daughter
The white mans WAYS are differ
emit" said the Navajo arologetically.
Evidently" said the officer. but are
many girls stolen?'
No" replied the warrior. abruptly
ct might cost more that way II is
safer to buy. Possibly the sQuaws
would like it, he added. renectivelv
for after the squaw was stolen at the
council other squaws went often for
water in the early morning They sang
as they went" he added. and cooed
like doves that seek their mates. but
no one came. No no. he concluded.
earnestly, 'let them coo 1t is better
to buy"
II r BRINKFRHOFF.
Colonel L 5 A, Retired