The Ronan pioneer., 1917-11-23

III Days.
. Crossing. An alarm was Immediate
ly raised and some IL men speedily
assembled to pursue the murderers
who were evidently Piegans. A par
ty of two warriors, and two squaWs,
being then in the neighborhoOd, one
of the warriors called the Lone Writ
er and the two squaws eluded the
vigilance of the pursuers, but the
other warrior was compelled to seek
refuge in cabin about three miles
below Sun River Crossing.
In the meantime, captain Nathan
ial Pope, special agent of the Black
feet, and Deputy United States Mar
shall Hard, hearing of the murders at
Fort Shaw, rode down to investigate
the matter and found party of pur-
suers surrounding the cabin, await
ing further assistance before attempt
ing a capture. Pope and Hard ap-
preached the door of the cabin with
out hesitation, when the Indian
threw it open and surrendered his
pistol his only weapon, to the latter.
Capture of Lone Writer.
The majority of the whites insisted
upon the immediate execution of the
Indian but through the eXertions of
Pope and Hard, his fate was post
poned, though it is doubtful whether
such reprieve would have been per-
mitted had he not promised to lead
the party to the place of concealment
of his companion who he said was the
murderer of Clark.
The party then proceeded to the
locality indicated by their guide, who
was permitted to make signals from
a knoll to secure a response from his
comrades, but in vain. The guide
then indicated a ravine he desir-
ed searched, and the party pro-
e ceeded to examine it, beginning
3 at it's lower extremity, while Mr..
Hard rode by a short cut to its
3 head with view of cutting
g off the retreat of the Lone Writer
G should he be concealed within it. Dis
S covering a dark object as he advanc-
& ed, he made a detour that enabled
J. him to approach within fifty yards
: without discovery. Then, springing
a from his horse and advancing to the
= edge of the ravine, he found Lone
Writer and the two squaWs lying
i there in fancied security, evidently
awaiting the coming of their missing
companion.
a Presenting his gun, Mr.. Hard COM
g PEELED the party to surrender and dis
n arm. At this moment the pursuing
:, party appeared in sight below when
r one Of them recklessly fired, nearly
killing Mr.. Hard, who believed such
to have been the fellows intention,
n though the latter stoutly denied it.
Of hv
H Mr.. Hard in arresting and prosecut-
II ing offenders against the Indian in
tercourse laws, had procured him the
II hearty enmity of the miserable class
Il engaged in the nefarious traffic, and
i it is not unlikely that in this instance
i the attempt was made to put into
execution the oft repeated threats
i against his life.
II Lone Writer Tried to Escape.
HI Through the efforts of Pope and
4 Hard an investigation was accorded
i by the party before putting the In
II dians to death, when it became evil
i dent from the testimony of the
Il squaws, that Lone Writer was alone
Il responsible for the murder of Clark,
II the remainder of the party having
i abstained from all participation. The
Il investigation had taken place at Lar
gents store at Sun River Crossing
Il and at it's conclusion a sentence of
immediate death was imposed by the
II party upon the culprlt. Securing
him with a rope they proceeded to a
II convenient tree, but before reaching
IN it, Lone Writer, who if murderer,
III was also brave warrior, by des-
III perate effort, loosed his bonds,
III sounded the warwhoop, siezed a
III stick, and delivering rapid blows
III right and left among his captors,
III nearly succeeded in effecting his es-
~ cape, but he was at length overpoW-
Il cred and hung.
Il Several of the party, favored the
II immediate execution of the other In
II dian also, but through the efforts OF
IN Captain Pope, he was confined in
II blacksmith's shop adjacent to the
III store to await further evidence. This
III was, however, but pretended con
III cesion to his entreaties, for the fol
III lowing night the Indian was take1
III out and shot by parties unknown. His
II body being found the next morning
Il riddled with balls. The squaws were
Y given their liberty.