Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-07-13
HE GOT INDIAN BLANKETS.
Major Bakers Success in Making Bar.
GAINS.


Major Bakers Success in Making Bar
gains.
Major Chauncey B. Baker, who was
the transport quartermaster who con-
Quoted the recent cruise of the sum-
mer to Cuban ports with the Santiago
battlefield commission, has spent
much time among the western Indians
and has fine collection of blankets
which have attracted much attention
since he has been stationed at Wash
ington. Many of the blankets were Sc
cured from Indians whose names have
a place in the history of the army.
"One of the fine saddle blankets in
my collection" said Major Baker to a
Tribune reporter the other day, "is
saddle blanket which once adorned
the war pony of Black Horse, Nava-
10 chief who never became very friend
ly with the whites. was out in Ariz-
ona holding a pow-wow with bunch
of drifters whom the government want
ed corralled on a reservation when
| met Black Horse. He would not come
within the circle or smoke the pipe of
peace, but hung around on the outside,
sullen, ultradignified and unapproach-
able.
Zone afternoon saw his saddle
blanket-one of the most beautiful
had ever seen-and great desire to
possess it overcame me. Through our
Interpreter l sent him an offer of $25
to which he would not even reply. /
raised the offer to $50, but the an
swer was only a grunt. Finally he in
formed the interpreter that the white
captain did not have enough money
to buy his blanket.
knowing something of the Indian
character | thought out way Of get
ting the blanket and at the same time
winning the friendship of the chief
which was important in the officia1
matter We had on hand. ] sent WORD
to Black Horse that the white cap
tain at last realized his great worth
and importance: felt that he was the
greatest OF all great Indians. and thai
he was more than worthy of being my
guest at feast which | wished tC
prepare for him. | told him that he
might bring friend if he knew ons
who was worthy enough or that he
could come alone if it suited his dig
nifty better. | asked him when he
would accept such an invitation.
"The vanity of the old chief wa:
tickled. He said he would come The
next night. which would give hin
time to work up an appetite tina
would do justice to the white captain:
dinner.
Il prepared a feast which | knew
he would like. There was a stew o
potatoes and beans and onions an,
meat All Indians like a stew bette
than anything else. and they detes
Individual dishes. | found in the store
several cans of apples and had then
opened up. Then I brewed a punch
havoring it with the apple juice. Thi
was poured out in great tin cups hold
ing fully a pint Before we began
intimated to Black Horse that at tn
white captains table he should si]
the punch no faster than did the whit
captain.
The dinner progressed famously
All the while Black Horse kept hi
eye on me. and never missed an oppol
tunity to sip from the tin cup when
did. He slipped little harder and pres
entity his cup was empty. I reache
over and poured into his cup NOR
than half of the punch which remain
ed in mine. An Indian can umderstan
you giving him half of anything 20
may have, but the man who will Civ
YOU more than half is generous hey
ond belief.
AT last the moment came for
final play for the blanket. | arose an
made a speech. Finally | took off tn
uniform blouse, which was about a
disreputable a looking one as an o
ficer ever wore. had worn it tire
months in the brush and it certainl
showed it. This blouse, l explained I
him, was made for the father of tn
white captains father many, man
years ago. 1t was old and it was nea
to the white captains heart. But S
was Black Horse, and the blouse wa
to be his.
He took it with more eagernes
than an Indian usually shows abol
anything, and then he made hi
; speech. He spoke principally abol
himself and made himself out a yer
, great man. Then he muttered SOM
thing and left the tent for momen
n When he returned he had the sadd
G blanket. which with fine bow he ca
!. at my feet"
; Another of Major Bakers fine blan
+. cts was purchased from Mickey Ere
q a curiosity of the plains, who has or
n brown eye and one blue one. Micke
!. always claimed that he was not a
Indian, but had been stolen from h
parents in Mexico by an Indian trit
when no uac bohv uo 6avo1npo