Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-14

The Fugitive Rand-Legend Of
Maiden Isle.
The eastern range of the Coteau
des prairies, running parallel with the
Big Sioux river, was designated in
pioneer days as the outer boundary
separating civilized from savage life.
While beyond lay that fleeting line Of
known as the Buffalo Republic
There, in the valley of the Saint
Jacques, or James river, countless
thousands of those migratory animals
grazed within the trodden haunts of
the Dakota Sioux; whose Travoix
trailed in the chase from the Big
Sioux to the Missouri river.
Knowing we were in the buffalo
country, where war parties of Sioux
Indians roamed, we fastened north
ward along the western verge of the
Coteaus, and camped for the night at
the "Trappers Well'-a beautiful
spring of clear water. located within
the present boundary lines of Clark
county, South Dakota. The Trappers
Well was a conspicuous and strategic
point on the old Indian War-trail that
crossed the course we were taking,
running westward to the crossing of
the James river near the present city
of Redfeld, S. D.
During the previous year the writer
travelled over that old war trail, lead
ing from Big Stone lake, while march
ing with a detached command of
mixed troops, led by Lieut.. Col. Mar
shall, OF the 9Th Minnesota Infantry.
We were in pursuit of a fugitive
band of Sioux Indians who had es-
capped from General Sibley's forces;
after the battle of Wood Lake. They
were moving westward to the old
''Dirt Lodges on the James river;
subsequently occupied by an old vaga-
the distinguished appellation Drift
ing Goose"
The fugitive band, consisting of
thirty-nine warriors and more than
one hundred squaws and children,
had killed a buffalo on the Dakota
plains near Wild Goose lake, and
were gorging themselves in true
4 savage style, when we surrounded
them and captured the whole band
without losing man.
Among the prisoners taken there
was the sister of ''Standing Buffalo, "
noted war chief, whose village was
located on the banks of Big Stone lake
previous to the Minnesota Massacre.
She was the wife of a sub-chief in
a Yanltonaise band, whose territory
was free from the raids of soldiers.
Learning of the defeat of Little
Crow and his warriors, she was has
tening back to the security Of her
dominions on the Missouri and when
we took them prisoners she began the
wall of the death song, thinking the
day of retribution had come.
Hastily preparing our forces Col
Marshall marched us back in charge
of the captured Indians, to fortified
position on the banks of Lake KAN
peska.
There we waited for supplies from
Sibley's army, which was then at
Camp Release, having sent back two
scouts to give notice of the capture OF
the Indians. While hunting along the
southern shores of Lake Kampeska
we discovered a pile of rocks out in
the lake which rose above the SUIT
face of the water; looking as though
4 they had been placed there by the
! hands of men. While looking at the
! singular isle, old Dave Craig, veter
an scout, said:
. "That Little rocky isle is known as
Maiden Island. and I suppose some Of
, the old captive Indians could relate
/ the interesting legend concerning it,
Being interested, we asked an ole
battle scared warrior to give us the
desired information contained in thai
famous traditional tale. But the ole
captive was not in a talkative mood
and he dismissed our interpreter will
a savage grunt of disgust.
But we were more fortunate, whe1
the Indian woman, known as stand
ing Buffalo's Sister, was asked to tel
the historic Indian legend. After con
siderable pursuasion, she was induce,
to relate the following pathetic Indial
tale, known as the >I.s: Il
Legend of Maiden island.
As the captive Indians gathers
around the chiefs wife, hushed t
silence, she spoke In the Siou
language substantially as follows:
81 am the sister of Standing Buffalo
and the grand daughter of the grea