Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-04-13
BY W. M. WOOSTER.

few decades ago they ranged the great
plains, following the buffalo, but are
now attached to the Tongue River
Agency.
The men are tall, well-built, brave;
and their women are proverbially
chaste With the disappearance of the
game and the decadence of inter-tribal
warning, the young braves have had
little or no opportunity to show their
prowess.
In the summer Of 1890, two young
men-Head Chief and Young Mule
who had failed to find favor with the
maidens Of their choice, took to the
war-path to win distinction and wives.
A moon! and the disappointed lovers,
wearing their eagle feathers red
tipped, as warriors do, were again at
home.
Rumors of their return soon reached
their Agent, who recalled that a white
herder living near the reservation had
been missing from his home for nearly
month.
The Murder of Sheep Herder.
The returned braves were question
ed. They openly admitted going on
the war-path and killing the herder. A
detachment of the two troops of caval.
ny stationed at the Agency, assisted by
some Northern Cheyennes, made
search for the body. 1t was found on
the evening of September 9, and had
been scalped.
Fearing trouble, three additional
troops were hurriedly sent from Fort
Keogh, Montana, and the Agent called
a council Of the chiefs and head-men.
demanding that they arrest and de-
liver the murderers.
Two Moons, the war chief, battle
SCARED and old, pleaded for the young
braves, offering a ransom of thirty
ponies for the dead herder. This was
declined. Chief Ameican Horse then
fight if the soldiers attempted to take
the young braves alive; and that their
final message was:
Select the place Of meeting, and we
will come and die in your sight, fight
ing the soldiers"
The council was dismissed, and the
Indians returned in the evening to
their lodges in the hills south of the
Agency.
Twilight fell. Soon flaming arrow
blazed like a rocket in the southern
sky. And far to the north, signal fires
were seen.
Gathering of the Warriors
All night armed warriors, hideously
painted, hurried to the circle of hills
commanding the Agency, while lights
burned late in the valley below, where
the agency officers were consulting.
In the crimson dawn, watching war.
riors saw a mounted Indian police
leave the Agency and take his way
southwark along the misty mountain
trail. 1t was the decision for peace or
for war. AS the first rays Of the sun
gilded the Indians tepees, he drew
rein and dismOunted at the lodge OF
American Horse. The challenge of the
two braves to fight the soldiers had
been accepted-to fight at the Agency
at set of sun.
Directly runners were on to inter
cept the fleeing squaws and children.
The warriors clamored for fight with
the troops but the chief refused. The
council, he said, had spoken with
straight, not crooked, tongues.
Slowly the chill September morning
warmed to amythest afternoon. An
eagle wheeled high above the hills.
which formed an ampitheatre. In the
center, or arena, were the Agency
buildings and the troops. AS the
4 shadows crept out in the valley, the
spectators-warriors old and young,
and squaws with papooses and children
began taking their places on the
circle Of hills. They would see the
fight.
| with Hearts of Iron.
Forth from their refuge in the Wolf
Mountains, rode Head Chief and Young
Mule, painted and armed for war. I'm
guarded they rode. Still was there time
to escape, but the pride of their race,
held them. They went on.
Five miles to the north lay the peace
full valley. and the arena with its
inassed five hundred guns. The trail
wound in and out among the hills.
Leaves were falling, and here and
there were bright red splotches of foil
age. Overhead they noticed flock OF
birds winging southwark. They
thought of the maidens they loved; OF
the war-path: of the feathers tipped
i with blood. and their faces darkened
Silently they held their way north.
ward. Soon was reached the crest Of
q high spur. They turned their ponies
to the west and drew rein. The sun
was almost down. For an instant they
gazed: then pointed to the earth, and
raised their arms in supplication to
the Great Spirit-wheeling they head
ed east at gallop.
Presently they pass some warriors
who promptly signal their approach to
the waiting Indian spectators. Now
they gallop to the very crest Of high
hill. perhaps five hundred yards west
Of the Agency buildings. There they
stop in full view of the soldiers.
4 A bugle sounds. The troopers mount
l. nhe ~