Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-08-27

fore the Embellishments of old age took the
strength from his
Two Strike great warrior. He had tought
on many field and he had won his name from
the overcoming Of two warrior foes who had al
tackled him when he was alone on the prairie,
Single handed he had fought and killed them ano
1.-TWO Strike" he had been from that day. he was
the leader in the last battle which took place pc
tween hostile bands of savages on the plains OF
America For years without number the two ma
tions the Sioux and the Pawnees, had hated each
other.
In one of Coopers novels Hard Heart, Paw
nee taunts a Sioux thus: "Since waters ran ana
trees grew the Sioux has found the Pawnee on mis-
warpath" The fight in which Two Strike was
the leader of the Sioux was fought against the
Pawnees on the banks of little stream known
as "The Frenchman," in Nebraska in the year
1874.
In the valley of the Platte river the buffalo were
plenty. but the Pawnees had said that the Sioux
should not hunt there and they deted them TO
come 1.-The Pawnee dogs called the Sioux wom-
en-" said the story-teller and old TWO StriKe
sneered.
It was when the grass at its best that the
Sioux started for the country of the Pawnee. Inc
teller of the tale made no secret OF the intention
of the Sioux to exterminate the Pawnees, sparlhg
neither women children If the chance for tnelr
killing presented itself
Two Strike and his Sioux reached the edge Of
the buffalo country and there they waited oppor,
tunty They did not have to wait long. Runners
told them that the Pawnees in full strength mao
started a great hunting expedition led by SKY
Chief noted warrior When the name OF SKY
Chief fell from the lips of the interpreter old TWO
Strike smiled and closed his fist The Sioux left
their encampment and struck into the heart of the
hunting country. There scout told them that
the enemy was encamped in prairie gulch and
that their women and children were with them
to for the hides and for the drying OF Lhe
meat of the buffalo.
Two Strike led his men by "a way around as
the interpreter put it, coming finally to point
less than half a suns distance from the camp In
the valley. The Sioux struck small herd OF Dnt
falo and they goaded the animals before then
right up to the mouth of the gulch, When The
buffalo were headed straight into the valley th'
Sioux prlcked the hindmost with arrows and thu
herd went headlong toward tie encampment o
the Pawnees, who were foolish men and dlt
not watch for an enemy.
When the Pawnees saw the buffalo they mount
ed their ponies and followed them out through tn
far end of the valley to the level plain. Leaving
the women and children behind
Then the Sioux went in to the slaughter, spal
ing neither infancy nor age, and they had amos
ended the killing when the Pawnee braves "a
turned.
Then followed the last great battle which ha
been fought the plains between tribes of re
men. Tie story-teer in the tepee at Pine Ridg
did not say SO, but it is known from the accouT
of white man, Adabel Ellis who knew the ci
cumstances, that the Pawnees fought that day
they had always fought bravely and to the dealt
Sky Chief the Pawnee, rode out in front
his men, shook his hand and called out that Tw
Strike, the Dakota, coward Then Tw
Strike called back that the Pawnee was a dog
whelp and he rode out, armed with his knit
which the only weapon Sky Chief held.
The two leaders met and fought. They di
mounted, turned their ponies loose and grappe
The story-teller fingered not the details of Il
, fight. He said simply, the Pawnees heard 81
Chiefs death cry
; The tale ended. Two Strike rose nared b
right arm, drove his hand downward and tn
: upward, and smiled.