Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-04-20
HEROIC CHARGE OF TWO CHEY.
ENNE INDIANS AGAINST FIVE
TROOPS OF CAVALRY.
A Tragic Romance of the Tepee-
Repetition Of the Days of Chivalry--
Flesh and Blood Against a Hail OF
eaden Bullets.
BY W. M. WOOSTER.

Tue men are Tall, Well-Dullt, brave,
and their women are proverbially
chaste. With the disappearance of the
game and the decadence of inter-tribal
warning, the young braves have had
little or no opportunity to show their
prowess.
In the summer of 1890, two young
men--Head Chief and Young Mule
who had failed to find favor with the
maidens Of their choice, took to the
war-path to win distinction and wives.
A moon! and the disappointed lovers,
wearing their eagle feathers red.
tipped, as warriors do, were again at
home.
Rumors of their return soon reached
their Agent, who recalled that white
herder living near the reservation had
been missing from his home for nearly
month.
The Murder of a Sheep~Herder.
The returned braves were question
ed. They openly admitted going on
the war-path and killing the herder. A
detachment Of the two troops of caval.
ry stationed at the Agency, assisted by
some Northern Cheyennes, made
search for the body. 1t was found on
the evening Of September 8, and had
been scalped.
Fearing trouble, three additional
troops were hurriedly sent from Fort
Keogh, Montana, and the Agent called
council of the chiefs and head-men.
demanding that they arrest and de-
liver the murderers.
Two Moons, the war chief, battle
SCARED and old, pleaded for the young
braves, offering a ransom Of thirty
ponies for the dead herder. This was
declined. Chief Ameican Horse then
arose and said his warriors would
fight If the soldiers attempted to take
the young braves alive; and that their
final message was:
Select the place Of meeting, and we
will come and die in your sight, fight
ing the soldiers"
| The council was dismissed, and the
Indians returned in the evening to
their lodges in the hills south Of the
Agency.
Twilight fell. Soon flaming arrow
blazed like rocket in the southern
sky. And far to the north, signal fires
were seen.
Gathering of the Warriors.
All night armed warriors, hideously
painted, hurried to the circle of hills
commanding the Agency, while lights
burned late in the valley below, where
the agency officers were consulting.
In the crimson dawn, watching war.
riors saw a mounted Indian police
leave the Agency and take his way
southwark along the misty mountain
trail. 1t was the decision for peace or
for war. AS the first rays Of the sun
gilded the Indians tepees, he drew
rein and dismounted at the lodge oil
American Horse. The challenge of the
two braves to fight the soldiers had
been accepted-to fight at the Agency
at set Of sun.
Directly runners were off to inter
cept the fleeing squaws and children
The warriors clamored for fight with
the troops but the chief refused. The
. council, he said, had spoken witt
straight, not crooked, tongues.
Slowly the chill September morning
warmed to amythest afternoon. Al
eagle wheeled high above the hills
!. which formed an ampitheatre. In tn
, center, or arena, were the Agenc.
). buildings and the troops. AS tn
I shadows crept out in the valley, tn
neutrality-suspicious. old and young
and squaws with papooses and childrel
r began taking their places on tn
circle Of hills. They would see tn
fight.
with Hearts of Iron.
Forth from their refuge in the Wol
Mountains, rode Head Chief and Youn
q Mule, painted and armed for war. u
: guarded they rode. Still was there tim
to escape, but the pride of their rae
:. held them. They went on.
4 Five miles to the north lay the peac
q full valley, and the arena with Il
q massed five hundred guns. The ira
q wound in and out among the hill
r. Leaves were falling, and here an
Ie there were bright red splotches of fol
age. Overhead they noticed flock
birds winging southwark. The
thought of the maidens they loved; ,
the war-path; of the feathers tippe
!" with blood, and their faces darkene
Silently they held their way mort
IS ward. Soon was reached the crest
high spur. They turned their poni'
to the west and drew rein. The su
!, vas almost down. For an instant the
= gazed; then pointed to the earth, ar
q raised their arms in supplication
- the Great Spirit-wheeling, they hea
% ed east at q gallop.
= Presently they pass some warrio
= who promptly signal their approach
the waiting Indian spectators. No
they gallop to the very crest Of a his
Is hill, perhaps five hundred yards we
Sc Of the Agency buildings. There thu
IN stop in full view Of the soldiers.
OF A bugle sounds. The troopers mou
: and move to a dry creek-hed about IF