Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-09

command Ia the lead The Indians cut
loose from all superhuous baggage and
took to cover IN the brush and high weeds
along the river bank This charge COW
cred about three miles and was a sort OF
Bull Run on the part OF the Indians.
"A line Of battle was formed the artillery
loaded with grape and canister. but not an
Indian was in sight This stae OF Affairs did
not long continue Indians began to stick up
their heads here and there and move
ment was evidently taking place 20 cut
on our line of retreat. which was regarded
by us with much interest and solicitude,
and there was a sort Of Babel Of voices as
to what to do. / had been ridng an OLD
mare who had seen her best days. The
charge made her tired and she laid down
al this iuncture. ! expected to fire my
mIsket once. but as to the future didn't
know The governor now appeared very
sober man. indeed. Robinson was there
with his sergeant and their heavy army re-
volvers. Marshall West and also General
Thayer. The general was perfectly cool
and unconccrned.
Thnyer Meets Skara-le-ShnrR.
Just at this moment while we were walt
ing to know what to do, old skara-le-
Skara. whom we Fremonters well knew. a
second chief OF the upper village. rode out
I'm full sight naked except for a breech
cout and made signs of peace. He was
not more than fifty yards away when Mar
shall West and the sergeant began shoot
ing at him, but failed to hit him. The tar
get practice ceased. General Thayer rode
out alone between the two opposing forces.
IT seemed to us foolhardy act, bat was
one of cool bravery and resulted, believe,
ia changing what might have been the
history OF this part Of the state. Pete-le-
Shara, the head chief. then rode out alone
and met the general between the lines 1t
was the first time the two had met since
al the Pawnee council at the big village
on the bluffs south Of Fremont four years
before. They shook hands and came over
to our lines. Through an interpreter. he
wanted to know what was the 'ruction'
and what was wanted. He was told of the
deprcdations and that the depredators were
to be delivered up to us. He replied that
the tribe had no desire for trouble and
this should be done
"Then commenced a thrilling scene. The
Indians in large numbers had now gathered
round and the chief harangued them in a
wild, impetuous manner for at least an
hour. The excitement was intense and the
chief was evidently doing his best to re-
strain mis- warriors. He ended by saying
to us through an Interpreter: You are
but a handful / could wipe you out
easily, but you have many more than we
have behind you. This we know well and
have known long and peace shall always
continue it has between the Pawnees
and the white people. Here are four young
men who | am told have been making the
trouble. Take them with you and do with
them as you will
War that Was No War.
This ended the Pawnee war, which was
no war at all. II might have been other
wise. II the nerve of Marshal West and
the sergeant had been steadier and their
aim better when they wantonly and without
orders fired at Skara-le-Shara and had they
killed him as he, unarmed and naked, rode
along our line the pioneers Of Nebraska
would have all been wiped out by a bloody
border war after tine massacre Of our little
force and the settlement Of our fair land
put off at least one generation.
THE four men were delivered to us and we
started home, heading south for Columbus
and passing large camps of Omahas, who
were evidently OH hand to help the Paw
nees. One of our prisoners escaped the
first night The next day another got away
followed by a fusillade of bullets from his
guards. We had not gone far before we
were halted by the irate Omahas and told
of the great damage to them by reason Of
/ the incident, such as the killing of horses,
to say nothing of the manning of people.
Matters were amcaby settled by giving u
fine black horse owned by Moreland, one
of the guards, TO she Omahas. We were
discharged at Columbus and never received
| any pay CT drew pensions. The Fremont
detachment reached home after seventeen
days absence to find our scanty fields Of
! corn dried up from lack OF care and we
/ had to pay the few who stayed at home u
big round price for that necessary. com
modify the following winter