The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-07

-four. meat. firearms. powder and bull
lets, blankets, cooking utensils, cloth
ing, and many other things needed by
his tribe. II he could run off five or
six of them, with perhaps half a nun
dred mules and horses, the wealth of
the tribe would be restored twice over.
n feat would be a daring one. and
one to challenge admiration n bring
about alliances. Walk-By-Night would
no longer cover his face and ak of
peace. but his voice would be for war
and his face painted to strike terror
to the hearts of his enemies.
1t was a golden opportunity for
Black Wolf. He had less than fifty
warriors in his band, but all were en-
thusiastic and sure of success. It was
a ride Of seventy-hve miles from the
camp to the bluffs where the fort was
building. but this vas less than two
days ride, even on the half starved
ponies. The medicine man made his
medicine and pronounced it good, and
away rode the young men. The SOL
diers were busy and a wagon train was
era awning owe the plains. The Indians
could not have asked 70 rthe situation
to be bettered. They lost little time in
pushing in. The last six wagons were
cut off by a brilliant dash, seven of
the escort killed, and the six drivers
saved to be tortured at the stake later
on. The soldiers turned out from the
new fort and gave chase. but were
beaten back. Six double mule teams
A-AA4 49, 49, $1,000 -
fruits of the capture, and under the
covers of the wagons was wealth be-
yoRd compare. That was a proud mo-
! ment for Black Wolf when he brought
his prisoners and plumber safe TO the
main camp. He also had his little
speech ready.
Il have heard it said that the
Cheyennes had become a tribe Of wo-
men" he said. with forty-two war
riors [ have captured what you see be-
fore YOU. Let that be the answer. I
have heard it whispered that We must
make a and go upon the reserva-
wagons here are enough food and
blankets to last US for years. If
forty-two of US have done this what
cannot a thousand OF is do? There
are I've hundred white men at the new
fort. Are we to cave them in peace,
or are their scalps to hang on OUT
lodges -
All this and a heap more was said
by Black Wolf before he was throuhg
with his speech, and he carried the
crowd with him. Walk-By-Night con
Guided that he had made a big mis-
AXE and straightway repented of it.
while the squaws chanted and the
warriors Dragged and staggered. The
people. Some of the bands had not
yet come in. Five of the wagons
were unloaded. and the hopes Of the
redskfns were more than realized.
| 41ACAC was ROA ~ 49, RA90A% 00AAC&
and flour by the barrel. There was
bacon, bareback, beans, peas, rice and
tobacco. At n bound the tribe had
Ieaped from poverty to wealth. They
had meant to torture of the pris-
oners that night, but in their excite
ment they forgot the matter. The six
wagons were in 4 center of the vii
lage. The stuff taken from the five
made a great heap me contents OF
the sixth were left for inspection on
the morrow.
BY and by. when all speeches had
been concluded, hunger satisfied and
! the crowd had got hold of enough whis-
ky to give everybody a whooping old
time. some of the younger bucks be-
gan firing their guns One of the team
sters called out to them and tried to
explain something. He was given a
slap on the face and the revel went on.
Ten minutes laeer one Of the bullets
fired by a mad lancer penetrated the
box of the wagon and there instantly
followed an explosion that shook the
earth for 30 miles around. It had been
| the last wagon in the train 1t was
loaded with dynamite for blasting down
a portion of the blufTs. The blast struck
the hills to the west and came back
to strike those on the east. It dug q
hole in the earth 80 feet deep ard a
! hundred feet long. It sent hundreds
/ Of bodies high in air. and It flung hun
dreds of others about ike feathers
/ Less than 100 Indians escaped death
Only one Of the prisoners escaped OF
the herd OF 500 ponies at least half Were.
killed or manned. OF the plunder OF the
wagons nothing was left.
Walk-By-Nightwas dead-Black Wolf
was dead-One-Horn and Great Thun-
der were dead. The power Of the tribe
was oke forever. and the soldiers
even pitied the miserable remnant that
came crawling in and asked to be put
on a reservation and clothed and fed.
Black Volts ambition had done the
trick,-(Copyright, 1906, by G. II SUIT
/ cline.9