Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-11-13
A VISIT FROM THE cHEYENNEs

"Well, Bud, what is the news over at
the oost?"I asked.
Bud. whose manner had been preoc-
cupied. since his return late in the
afternoon, stirred up the oven fire be-
fore which he was broiling some veni-
son, and with an effort answered.
cold Crazy Horse has broken out
again." and relapsed into his study.
now understood Buds silence. Us
ually upon his return from visit to
the trading post he readily told all he
had seen and heard without having to
be questioned. Today, however, he had
been replying in monosyllables and
my curiosity kept getting the better of
me. The ride from the trading post
was a long and tiresome one to be
sure-fully fifty miles-but to a horse
man of the plains from sunrise to sun,
set in the saddle did not tire him so
he could not talk
had Eeen two whole DAYS alone
while Bud rode over to Cheyenne to
purchase supply of ammunition and
sufficient groceries to last us through
the coming winter. To the one who
stayed at home the others return from
this slight contact with the outside
world was an event to be looked for
ward to.
'tAnd the governments" 1 asked.
well, there are few troops at
Laramie and more are coming. But
when they'll get there is another ques-
tion:. The outbreaks spreading Sit
ting Bull and all the other big chiefs
Of the Sioux and Cheyennes have left
their reservations and gone on the
warpath. The governments got It's
hands full this time, reckon. The
telegraph line to Laramie has been cut
and the agent at the post could not
give me much information, but advised
us to pull out of here till it's all over
l don't want to lose my scalp, Jim,
but amt never been much at run
nin'," and Bud, having finally made a
clean breast of his minds burden, look
ed his inquiry of my opinion.
1t was then the early fall of 1876
Since the spring of the year Bud Hard
man and I had been busy locating
and establishing ranch in the Tongue
River region of Wyoming. Prospect
ing for gold for three or four years had
not proven very profitable and we had
concluded we would try cattle raising
at the first opportunity. The sale OF
our last Strike" had placed in our
HANDS sufficient money to make the
venture, and after taking look around
the Tongue river region seemed the
best suited to our requirements.
There we found an abundance Of
fine grass for grazing, plenty of fresh
water and considerable timber firing
ing the streams, affording both fuel
and building material.
After considerable hard work we
had erected cabin having double
walls between which wn packed sod
and long grass. This was done to
make the walls as impervious to the
penetrating winds of the severe win
tiers as 1t was possible for us to 10.
BY the time we had our cabin COM
pleted the season was TOO far ad-
vanced to think of buying stock be-
fore spring. So we started in TO- while
away the time intervening before cold
weather, in hunting, nshing, and In
taking thorough survey of our sur
roundings.
While we we're far from the scene
OF the outbreak. we knew it was the
unprotected and isolated pisces that
were most liable to receive the In
dams visits. We talked the matter
over and decided we would risk stay
ing where we were Then we planned
and studied ways and means Of de-
tense.
Bud had taken the precaution to
bring from the trading post an extra
supply of ammunition and with our two
Winchesters and revolvers we felt
able II necessity demanded, to give
good account of ourselves.
In the DAYTIME no one could APP