The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-04-13

The last day OF the stock meeting
broke chill and threatening, a threat
which was fortunately not carried out
The freight train hold up was
scheduled for 1880 but it was long
before that hour that the crowd began
to push from all parts of the city to
the fiat by Cliffs residence. The
hill on; the west side OF the road was
solidly packed with people, making
a view that was many times pho
|tographed during the morning. In
front we're the trains and carriages
while at the road were long zine
Of COW boys drawn up in almost mil
itary order where they could more
easily see their favorite sport, the rid
/ ing = >.tlaw horses
This was rather tal..o >as compared
with former years. One or tWsa7 out
Laws pitched hard enough but their
fight was soon over. One man was
thrown, fortunately without any in
juries to himself.
Meanwhile the various actors OF
the main scene began to take their
places on the magnificent natural
stage. The Indians rode in long
line across the fiat mile or SO to the
east, the freight train, two govern
ment wagons, and three froan town,
drew slowly up the hill road, and
the troops of cavalry dividing, one to
the east and one to- the west. rode
off in fours until they, too, were lost
IN the ravines. Only the omnip-
resent moving picture man on his
platform was lef'.
The. wagons came in sight on the
hill road and moved slowly down to
the fiat. Above the hill TO the east
dots of color showed where an IN
Clan or two pushed his war bonnet
above the grass. A scout or two
from their ranks could be seen
stealthily creeping toward the freight
train. Presently they were discov-
cred by the fredghters and shot or
two popped from their revolvers. The
mules were lashed to run and the
| heavy wagons ratified and bounded
over the stones to the fiat below.
The mules were quickly unhitched
and brought into shelter with the
wagons while the men began firing
from between the wheels. A mule
Or two broke away from the bunch
and galloped across the plains adding
to the realism Of the scene.
| Then with rush came the In
dams charging down the hill ,uttering
their war cries and shooting as they
came. Around the wagons they cir
cled while the shots popped like a
bunch Of fire crackers after the center
fuse is lit. Dust, smoke, p1unginp
mules and horses made wild back
ground! for the picturer as the In
dians crossed in rapid succession.
Twice they rode around the wagons
and then closed in on. them with all
the defenders apparently dead.
| Both Indians and freighters had
played dead as the fight went on
and could be seen lying in the grass
around the wagons.
The Indians held an excited pow
WOW around the boxes with which
the wagons were packed and danced
and shouted. Presently a spot of
flame showed at the corner of a
wagon cover that of course had been
carefully prepared for the purpose,
then the fame grew to fire. And
at the proper moment, while all eyes
were fixed on the center of the stage.
rang out the bugie call OF the rescu-
ing soldiers from the hills to the
east.
Across the fiat they came, dis
mounted, spread out with 4 yard in
tervals between the men, firing as
they advanced, and the result Of long
training was shown in this charge. Ii
was play and we all knew It was play,
But each soldier as he kneels to fire
took careful aim and had the. cart
ridges been anything but harmless
blanks, it is safe to say that not all
Indian would have lived through the
hre OF the first hundred yards.
The Indians retreated to their hii,
top only to find themselves out
flanked BY the other troop. A few
lmomerfts desperate fighting and Chief