El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-12

In weaving story about the mas
sacre Of the troops at Fort Laramie
in 1854, the Kalem Company ha.
taken advantage Of one of the mos
thrilling incidents Of early frontier
days.
The production is called, 'The
Battle of Fort Laramie"
Captain Blackburn Is the surgeon
at the Fort Laramie Post. He IS IL
love with Ellen, the commandant'
daughter. Ellen reciprocates the young
surgeons affection, and her father give:
his consent to their betrothal
The daughter of Crazy Horse, the
Cheyenne chief, is taken Ill News OF
this reaches the post. Blackburn per-
ceives that the permanent friendship
of the Cheyennes would result if he
were to bring her back to health. He
seto put for the Indian camp. He
finds the medicine man of the tribe
in the chiefs tent An awe-struck
gathering Of Indians watch the mans
antics in his efforts to drive the EVIL
spirits" from the body of the girl In
one corner of the tent he has built a
small fire over which he mutters
prayers from time to time. The medi-
cine mans useless incantations fill
Blackburn with indignation. He
watches the man for a few minutes
and then striding into the tent, shoves
him away from the sick girls side.
The unceremonious treatment arouses
the ire OF the Indian and he vows
vengeance.
Blackburn after an examination,
finds the girl past all aid Her death
is plainly matter of hours. The
doctor can only give her some medi-
cine to ease her pain, after which he
makes his departure for the post.
Hawk, a Cheyenne trader, IS a fire.
quent visitor at the post where he
disposes of his wares. The Indian
has a crippled son whom he loves
devotedly. The boy invariably &C
companies his father on the trips to
the fort. Soldiers lounging about
the entrance to the post tease the
little cripple and his father when they
arrive that day. The Indian dare not
show his resentment. The fun be-
comes brutal when Ellen intervenes
and comforts the little boy. Hawk
shows his gratitude for the aid Ellen
has given him.
When Blackburn returns to the
post he is met by the wife of a settler
who lives some. distance from the
fort. The woman tells him that her
husband has suffered sunstroke and
his condition demands immediate at
tention. The surgeon hears her plea
and goes with her.
In the Indian encampment, the
medicine man is addressing the tribe.
THE death OF the chiefs only
daughter IS due to the white mans
bad medicine" he cries.
The tribe listens to this harangue
and is deeply impressed. A council
IS held which results in their decision
to exterminate the army post, thus
avenging the death of the chiefs daugh-
ter
The Indians outnumber the troopers
so greatly that the latter are over
whelmed and cut down to the last
man. Ellen's father IS one of the last
TO fall, fighting CALAMITY.
When Hawk saw the tide of
battle going against the troopers, he
dragged Ellen into one of the houses
standing against the Stockade wall
With her assistance he dug a tunnel
under the wall Outside the post at
last, Ellen and Hawk found shelter
in the fork of tree on the hillside
When the destroyers had gone
Ellen and Hawk made their way back
to the post. The Indian suggests to
Ellen that they return to the Chey-
enne camp. She would be safe as his
captive Hawk also tells Ellen that
note could be left where Blackburn
would find it upon his return from
the settlers bedside.
Blackburn, returning from the set
tiers bedside is captured.
The medicine man, seeing the man
he hates in his power, tells Crazy
Horse that Blackburn, being respon-
sible for his daughters death, should
be burned at the stake. Ellen sees
her sweetheart tied TO the stake. /
Hawk warns her that they are help
less so far as an attempt at rescue is
concerned. Faggots are piled about
the doomed man. One Of the braves |
lights the pyre with a torch and
Blackburn writhes in apprehension as
the flames approach his body.
But just as the Indians commence
their dance about the victim, a rattle |
Of shots IS heard and the Ogalla1a
attack commences. The battle RACES
furiously. and in the excitement Ellen
and Hawk reach the FIRE and scatter |
II. Cutting the ropes which bind
Blackburn, the three make their es-
cape from camp. !