Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-11-28
Black Wolf s Bad Heart


 Copyright 1906. by c. H. sutcliffe.I
 The Cheyennes had fought the white soldiers for fifteen years. Chief Walk
 by-Night had started out in the belief
 that there were only about 5000 white
 men in all America, and as soon as he could get them together he would fin
 ish them off, but after many years he
 came to have a better understanding.
 When the first blades of green grass
 were seen on the southern hillsides
 word was sent out to the subchiefs to gather in council. All responded but
 Black Wolf He was fiery tempered young man of twenty-five. It had so
 happened that he and his band had taken all the scalps gathered in during
 the year past, and he was ambitious, fearless and a great hater. He wanted
 war all the time He had plans to round up all the white soldiers and make grand finish of them. Let the Cheyennes perform some daring deed and they might count on an alliance with at least three other tribes. Black Wolf claimed to be ill and asked for few days delay.
 On the bluffs on the north oank of Medicine creek the white soldiers were building fort It was within the Cheyenne territory and was another insult to them. Black Wolf had seen the men at work the previous fall. During the winter work would have been suspended, but now that spring had come the white men would be busy again, and again the white topped wag- ons would roll across the plains.
 Those wagons, as he knew, contain ed flour, meat, firearms, powder and bullets, blankets, cooking utensils. clothing and many other things needed by his tribe. If he could run off five or six of them, with perhaps half hun dred mules and horses, the wealth of the tribe would be restored twice over. The feat would be daring one, and one to challenge admiration and bring about alliances. Walk-by-Night would no longer cover his face and talk of peace, but his voice would be for war and his face painted to strike terror to the hearts of his enemies.
 It was golden opportunity for Black Wolf. He had less than fifty warriors in his band, but all were enthusiastic and sure of success. It was ride of seventy-five miles from the camp to the bluffs where the fort was building, but this was less than two days ride, even on the half starved ponies. The pronounced 1t good, and away rode the young men. The soldiers were busy, and wagon train was crawling over the plains. The Indians could not have asked for the situation to be bettered. They lost little time in pushing in. The last six wagons were cut ofS t- bril- liant dash, seven of .h, escort killed and the six drivcrs saved to be tor. tured at the stake later on. The sol. diers turned out from the new fort and gave chase. but were beaten back. Six double mule teams and twelve led horses were among the fruits of the capture, and under the covers of the wagons was wealth beyond compare. That was proud moment for Black Wolf when he brought his prisoners and plunder safe to the main camp. He also had his little speech ready.
 'I have heard it said that the Chey- eanes had become tribe of women," he said. with forty-two warriors have captured what you see before you. Let that be the answer I have heard it whispered that we must make peace and go upon the reservation to escape hunger and cold. In the wagons here are enough food and blankets to last us for years. If forty-two of Us have done this. what cannot 1000 of us do? There are 800 white men at the new fort Are we to leave them in peace, or are their scalps to hang on our lodges?'
 All this and heap more was said by Black Wolf before he was through | with his speech, and he carried the crowd with him. Walk-by-Ni con cluded that he had made big mis- take and straightway repented of 1t, | while the squaws chanted and the war riors bragged and swaggered. The VII lage now numbered 800 people. Some of the bands had not yet come in. Five of the wagons were unloaded, and the hopes of the redskins were more than | realized. There were pork, beef, sugar, coffee and four by the barrel There were bacon, hard tack, beans, peas, rice and tobacco. The six wagons were in the center of the village. The stuff taken from the five made great heap. The contents of the sixth were left ftr on the morrow.
 By and by when all speeches had been concluded, hunger satisfied and he crowd had got hold of enough whs- Sy to give everybody a whooping old .ime, some of the younger bucks began ring their guns. One of the teamsters called out to them and tried to ex- )lain something. He was given a slap 'n the face, and the revel went on.
 Ten minutes later one of the bullets fred by a mad dancer penetrated the ,ox of the wagon, and there instantly followed an explosion that shook the earth for thirty miles around It had been the last wagon in the train. 1t vas loaded with dynamite for blasting Town portion of the bluffs. The ,last struck the hills to the west and anne back to strike those on the east t dug hole in the earth thirty feet leep and hundred.feet long. It sent