Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-09
A Daughter 2! !ss Sioux
By GEN. CHARLES HING.
ce,yrisAt iss. by Ths Hobart CsnpAas.

And at this moment the situation was grave in the extreme. There had been bad blood and frequent collision between the cattlemen, herders, ''hustlers"-especially hus- tiers and the hunting parties of the Sioux and the Northern Cheyenne, who clung to. the Big Horn range and the superb surrounding country with almost passionate love and with jealous tenacity. There had been az gression on both sides, then blood shed, then attempts on part of from tier sheriffs to arrest accused or sus- pected red men, and equally deter mined and banded effort to prevent arrest of accused and identified whites. By due process of law, as administered in the days whereof we write, the Indisn was pretty sure to get the worst of every difference, and therefore, preferred, not unnatur- ally, his own time-honored methods of settlement. In accordance there with, had they scalped the sheriffs posse that had shot two of their young braves who had availed them selves of a purposely given chance to escape, and then in their undis- eliminating zeal, the Sioux had opened fire from ambush on Plod- der's hunting parties and the chop pers at the wood camp, who defend ed themselves as best they could, to the end that more men, red and white, were killed. The Indians raL lied in force and closed In about Fort Beecher, driving the survivors to shelter within it's guarded lines, and then, when Fodder needed every man of his force to keep the foe at respectful distance, so that his bull lets could not reach the quarters occupied by the women and children at the post, there reached him by night a runner from the stage sta ton far over to the southeast, on dry fork of the Powder, saying that the north and southbound stages had taken refuge there, with only ten men, all told, to stand oil some 50 warriors, and therefore imploring as- sistance. Not daring to send a troop, Fodder called for volunteers to bear dispatches to Mai Webb, at Frayne, and Pat Kennedy, with half . dozen brave lads, had promptly stepped forward. Kennedy had managed to slip through the encircling Sioux by night, and to reach Fort Frayne after . daring and almost desperate ride. Then Ray was ordered forth, first to raise the siege at the stage station, then, either to hold that im- portant relay ranch or go on to re inforce Plodder, as his judgment and the situation might dictate.
 He knew enough of the stout adobe walls of the corrsi on, the Dry Fork, and of the grit of the few de- lenders, to feel reasonably sure that. with ammunition, provisions and wa ter in plenty, they could easily hold out week if need be against the Sioux, so long as they fought on the defensive and the Indians were not strongly reinforced. He reasoned that Stabber and his people were probably gone to strengthen the at tack, and that having an hours start at least, and riding faster, they would get there somewhat ahead of him. But one of his own old sergeants, Q veteran of 20 years in the cavalry, was now stationmaster on the Dry Fork, and all the Sioux from the Platte to Paradise couldn't stampede old Jim Kelly. Many forced march had Ray made in the past, and well he knew that the surest way to bring his horses into action, strong and sound at the finish, was to move "slow and steady" at the start, to move at the walk until the horses were calm and quiet, was his rule. Then on this bright September day xvould come the alternating trot and