The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-04-13
III W. NJ. WOOSTER.

less Northern Cheyenne Indians.
few decades ago they ranged the grea
plains. following the buffalo, but ar
now attached to the Tongue Rive
Agency.
The men are tall, well-built, brave
and their women are proverbiall.
chaste. With the disappearance of thu
game and the decadence of inter-triba
warning, the young braves have haC
little or no opportunity to show theil
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 white
herdsr living near the reservation had
been missing from his home for nearly
q month.
The Murder of a Sheep Herder.
The returned braves were question
cd. They openly admitted going on
the war-path and killing the herder. A
detachment of the two troops of caval-
~ stationed at the Agency, assisted by
some Northern Cheyennes, made
search for the body. 1t was found on
the evening of September 3, and had
been scalped.
Fearing trouble, three additional
h,,r fn11 ark
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 ransom of thirty
ponies for the dead herder. This was
declined. Chief Ameican Horse then
arose and said his warriors would
fight il 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
ehOh io06So III eu0 AAilo 5ouIh VI eAO
Agency.
Twilight fell. Soon a flaming arrow
blazed like rocket in the southern
sky. And far to the north, signal fires
we're seen.
Gathering OF the Warriors.
All night armed warriors, hideously |
painted, hurried to the circle Of mills I
the Agency, while lights
burned late in the valley below, where
he agency officers were consulting.
In the crimson dawn, watching war. 1
Tors saw a mounted Indian police
cave the Agency and take his way
outhward along the misty mountain
rail. 1t was the decision for peace or
or war. AS the first rays of the sun
,ilded the Indians tepees, he drew
elm and dismounte6 at the lodge of
american Horse. The challenge of the
wo braves to fight the soldiers had
'een accepted--to fight at the Agency
It set of sun.
Directly runners were of to inter
ept the fleeing squaws and children.
The warriors clamored for fight with
he troops but the chief refused. The
ouncil, he said, had spoken with
traight, not crooked, tongues.
Slowly the chill September morning
to amythest afternoon. An
agle wheeled high above the hills,
which formed an ampitheatre. In the
enter, or arena, were the Agency
and the troops. AS the
hadows crept out in the valley, the
pectators-warrior old and young,
md squaws with papooses and children
began taking their places on the
;ircle of hills. They would see the
light.
rENith Hearts of Iron.
Forth from their refuge in the Wolf
rode Head Chief and Young
dule, painted and armed for war. I'm
guarded they rode. Still was there time
o escape, but the pride of their race,
leld them. They went on.
Five miles to the north lay the peace
III valley, and the arena with its
nassed FIVE hundred guns. The trail
wound in and out among the hills.
caves were falling, and here and
here were bright red splotches of foil
ge. Overhead they noticed a flock Of
irds winging southwark. They
bought of the maidens they loved; Of
he waT-path; of the feathers tipped
nth blood, and their faces darkened.
Silently they held their way north
7ard. Soon was reached the crest OF
high spur. They turned their ponies
0 the west and drew rein. The sun
7as almost down. For an instant they
azed: then pointed to the earth, and
aised their arms In supplication to
be Great Spirit-wheeling, they head
east at a gallop.
Presently they pass some warriors
tho promptly signal their approach to
be waiting Indian spectators. Now
hey gallop to the very crest Of 8 high
Ill, perhaps Eve hundred yards west
I the Agency buildings. There they
top In full view Of the soldiers.
A bugle sounds. The troopers mount
nd move IN A dry creek he'd about Atty