Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-02
How John Wright Was Killed by Indians
Near Town in 1875

49, ~>->-<-<-e 80 ~
Some time, ago saw in your paper
where Col. Lounsberry states that
John Wright was killed on the
Hayes farm, five miles north of town.
This is mistake. He was killed on
the northeast quarter of section IL, 4
township 40, range 80, in what is
known as Burnt Creek township.
He was killed the last Of September
or the first of October, 1875. In
January, 1875, Il chopped wood in
the coolies where he was killed and
it was while I was hauling this wood
that he was killed. He met his
death about 8 O'Clock a. m. us
ually got out there about 10 or Il
O'Clock and was there that day but
did not see any Indians nor hear any
shooting as this had taken place
before I got there. I got my wood
that day on the northwest quarter
Of section II, one-half mile west Of
where Wright was killed.
n. P. Clark of st. Paul, had the
contract to furnish fresh beef at old
Fort Lincoln. George Louis, now
living in Bismarck, and John Wright
were herding the beef cattle on
Burnt Creek when Mr.. Wright was
killed. This is an ideal place to herd
cattle as there is water on both sides
of the range. On those beautiful
autumn days the two herders might
be seen, one mile and a half west
of the camp and the other one a
mile northwest of the camp on the
high hills, and from these hills they
! had fine view of the surrounding
country and they could see their cat
tie all day long. They also could
see everything that passed up
through the country.
Up to this time everything had
gone we'll and the herders used to
divide the cattle each morning when
they let them out, part of them go
ing down the creek to the northwest,
and the others up the creek little
to the northwest, around the big
hill northwest of the camp.
On the morning Wright was killed
i he went out first and took his part
of the herd to the northwest and
, when they were well started out the
herder would go on ahead and get
:, up on one of those high hills, let his
pony feed and sit down at his leis-
ure. Louis used to stay in camp a
little longer and take care of the
4 cooking and the camp outfit. George
4 Louis told me that at about 9'oclocE
! he heard some shooting in the di
rection that Wright had gone. HI
: went into the tent to see wheth e,
5 Wright had taken his gun and found
: that it was left in the tent and a;
lit was no uncommon thing to heal
:. shooting in the fall of the year
where game was SO plentiful Louis
did not pay much attention to 1t
I Evening came and Wright did no
show up with his part of the herd
Louis remained out all night trying
to get the herd together as best h,
: could.
III the morning / went after Loaf
OF wood as usual and when I crossed
the creek saw a man coming dowl
from the camp. This was Georg
Louis. He asked me if I had see:
John Wright in town the evening be
fore and I told him rnat I had not
and then he told me about hearin.
the shooting the day before. He ais,
said that Wright was talking abou
going to town to have his boots re
paired and he thought that that wa
where he was. He asked me to Sc
Sam Whitney when got to tow;
that evening and tell him to send GU
man to help him hunt up the cat
tie. which were scattered over tn
prairie, he did not know where, ant
to tell him Wright was gone. Littl
: did we know that Mrs Wright la,
cold in death mile from camp.
When got to town I went to Sc
Sam Whitney who was working fo
!. N. r. Clark at that time. and toll.
him my errand. Sam got a team an,
started that evening, taking with
j him James A. Emmons, w. H. Sting
son and Major Wood. The mex
morning I went for my load Of woot
and when within a mile of the herd
er's camp I met Sam and the part
with the dead body of Wright Il
their wagon. They told me that h
, had been killed by the Indians and
| had better turn back to town, but
went along as usual and got my Loaf
of wood.
The hill on which Wright was kill
ed Is narrow on top, running from
!. the northwest to the southeast o.