Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-09
Black Wolf IS Bad Heart


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. 1t 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 great Halter. He wanted
war al the time. He had plans to
round up all the white soldiers and
| make a 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 i'll and asked for a
few days delay
On the bluffs on the north bank of
/
building a fort. 1t 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-
| oY1C xxynI1Id roll aaroSc tho pIaipc
Those wagons, as he knew, contain
ed -four, 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 a 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.
1t was a golden opportunity for Black
| Wolf He had less than fifty warriors
in his band, but all were enthusiastic
and sure Of success. 1t was a ride of
seventy-1ye 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
medicine man made his medicine and
pronounced it good, and away rode the
young men. The soldiers were busy,
and a 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 off by bril-
liant dash, seven of the escort killed
and the six drivers 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 a proud moment for Black
Wolf when lac brought his prisoners
and plumber safe to the main camp
He also had his little speech ready.
II have heard it said that the Chey-
ennes had become tribe of women,
he said with forty-twO warriors
have captured what you see before
you Let that be the answer. / have
heard it whispered that we must make
peace and go upon the reservation ia
escape hunger and cold. In the wagons
here are enough food and blankets tC
last us for years. If forty-two of Us
have done this, what cannot 1000 OF
us do? There are 500 white men at the
new fort Are we to leave them il
peace, or are their scalps to hang on
our lodges?"
All this and a heap more was said
by Black Wolf before he was through
with his speech, and he carried the
crowd with him. Walk-by-Night con
Guided that he had made a big mis-.
take and straightway repented of it
while the squaws chanted and the war.
riors Dragged and staggered. 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 fol-
inspection on the morrow.
By and by. when all speeches had
been concluded, hunger satisfied AID
khe crowd had got hold of enough whis
Ky to give everybody a whooping ole
time, some Of the younger bucks began
firing their guns. One of the teamsters
called out to them and tried to ex
plain something. He was given slaI
on the face, and the revel went on.
Ten minutes later one Of the bullets
fired by a mad dancer penetrated the
box of the wagon, and there instantly
followed an explosion that shook the
earth for thirty miles around. 1t hat
been the last wagon in the train. L
was loaded with dynamite for blasting