Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-06-17
The Cheyenne Raid
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

In the fall of 1878 between four and
I'VE hundred Cheyenne Indians escaped
from their reservation In Indian Ter
ritory, and. separating into squads,
committed many acts Of atrocity on
the settlers and stockmen Of Western
Kansas.
The Indians proposed to return to
their former hunting grounds IN Ne
braska. which they had reluctantly left
under military authority. Their hos
tiIity was against every white man, and
they left a trail Of bloodshed and desc
lation behind them.
The troops which had been sent TO
force the runaway Cheyennes back 10
their reservation were Of little or no
avail in preventing their evil depreda-
lions and the merciless slaughter or
many people living along the frontier.
Like the sudden descent Of de-
structive storm, the Cheyennes came
down upon the unsuspecting settlers OF
those prairies, burning cabins and other
property, and sparing no one.
At the time Of those fearful raids
there was a family living in a little
bin on a prairie stream in Sheridan
County.
The family consisted Of Mr.. and Mrs
passett and their two boys, Edward
and Frank. The two boys were alone
at the cabin. Their parents had gone
that morning to q town twelve miles
distant to do some necessary trading,
never dreaming of the doom Sd soon to
visit their peaceful neighbornoOd.
Edward Bassett was boy Of four
teen, with a manly face, fearless blue
ewes and strong limbs. He was sit
ting on a log near the side Of the
cabin, his hands occupied with a knife,
whiting out a piece Of pine board
toy for his less fortunate younger
brother.
Frank Bassett was ten years old,
and his pale, thin face, with its pathetic
dark eyes, told only too plainly that his
young life had borne much suffering
An accident had made the boy a
cripple. but not pee wish, entirely help
less one. He could not walk much with
out some aid from others, but he was
always patient, and very useful in help
ing his busy mother.
Franks character was quite as man.
1y as that OF his robust brother, and
his less active life gave him a great
advantage In reading and study. Just
then Frank sat In the doorway read
ing aloud, as he often did while Ed
ward occupied himself with knife and
pine stick.
Suddenly their pleasant paStime was
disturbed by hearing a horseman come
tearing along down the prairie road to-
ward the cabin.
''Who is it?' asked Frank.
ats Ira Sykes, think" answered
Edward, watching the horseman ap-
proach. Eyes, It's Ira, and he's COM
ing here"
Both boys intently watched the horse
man as he rode rapidly toward them.
Ira Sykes was an honest, good
hearted cowboy employed at a neigh
boring ranch. and the Bassett boys
wondered what he wanted at the
cabin.
The cowboy dashed up, refined In his
pony and addressed the boys:
"Hello, yer kids Whar's yer father
an mother?"
"Gone to town." replied Edward.
Ira's face looked troubled, but he
said, quickly:
''Well, l reckon yer lads hev lived
out hyar on Their purary long 'nough
not ter be plumb towards, anyhow.
Their time has now come fur yer ter
show yer nerve Their blamed redskins
hev made a break from Their Injun
Nation. an air comm mighty fast outer
this hyar settlement, a-mowin' down
Their whites like rcg'ler tornady."
"The Tnjunsw calculated both boys,
their eyes large from sudden alarm.
''Are they the real bad. scalping In
1uns, Iraf' asked Edward. glancing ap-
prehensively at his afflicted brother
.srher rail, dog CORN, scalpin' kind,
Ed assured the cowboy. "I'm ridin'
rs fast rs l kin ter warn Their families
out on Wolf Greek, an git them ter
ride fur their towns, whar they kin
hev perfection. Thar's no time to foel
away, boys. Ef yer want ter save yer
scalps, yer must pull outen hyar ter