The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-05-20
OLD LOVE AFFAIR
OF CHARGING u Z u BEAR E|ls !
CHANGED HI STORY
Great Sioux Chiefs Early Infat-
uation for White Woman Cap
tive Changed Attitude Toward
the Palefaces

How an old love affair, OF Charging
Bear, better known In recent years
as John Grass, the last of the great
chiefs Of the Teton Dacotahs, may
have had an important effect IN the
history Of, the Northwest, is interest
ingly suggested lin the following let
ter from Lewis F. Crawford of Sen
tinel Butte. president of the state
board Of regents, and authority on Da-
k0ta Indian lore: q,
Sentinel Butte. N. D., May Is, 1918.
Editor OF Tribune:
/ notice IN The Tribune Of May IA
an account 81 the death at ri. Yates,
of,the noted indian Chief, John Grass.
It may be OF interest to your read
.ers to know that John Grass early
name was Charging beaE 'LeapinS
Bear, Tor Jumping Bear, according to
the desire of the translator In his
youth John Grass was connected: with
an interesting incident in our western
history #
In 1854 Gen. Alfred Sully made
military expedition from Ft. Yates to
the Yellowstone, conveying across the
Sioux country citizens bound for the
Virginia City gold fields While on
this expedition the battle Of Kiildeer,
at Killdeer mountain, on the present
site OF the Diamond G ranch, and the
battle Of the Badlands-just east of
Sentinel Butte were fought. At this
time the Sioux held Mrs. Fanny Kelly,
q white woman, as captive. This
fact was known to Gen. Sully but he
was unable to get her release. Later
Mrs. Kelly was with the band OF
Sioux that attacked Capt. James Fisk.
near Ives between Rhame and Mar.
marth. Capt. Fisk passed sevelal let
tiers with MRS. Kelly but WAS unable
to accomplish her delivery.sts
The ABOVE is only preliminary to
my story. Charging Bear-later John
Grass-became .enamored with Mrs.
Kelly, who was then q young woman
OF twenty -one. Mrs. Kelly contrived
a scheme to get her release by an
apparent requital Of Charging Bears
affection. After numerous wander
ings they went to the Black Hills In
the latter part Of November OF tnls
some year Mrs. Kelly induced Charg-
ing Bear to carry q letter to # Suily'
on the Missouri river IN South Dako.
Ia. Charging Bear did not know or
the contents of the letter and left Sc
cretly ma promise on the part OF
Mrs. Kelly that she would become his
wife on his fulfilling his mission. The
letter warned the commander OF the
fort that an expedition was being
planned on pretext Of delivering her
to them. but In fact massacre OF the
soldiers was intended. True to his
word Jumping Fear made the 200.
mile journey in the cold weather the
first part OF December and delivered
Mrs. Kelly's letter and received from
the commander OF the fort some pres
ents in return and q letter to be de-
liyered to Mrs. Kelly. A few days
later the Sioux band decided to start
for Fl. Sully-not cognizant OF the
fact that Jumping Bear had previously
set out secretly with Mrs. Kelly's let
ter.
jumping Bear started back, no
doubt joyful In the belief that he
would soon claim Mrs. Kelly for his
wife.
The Sioux band and Jumping Bear
took different routes and did not meet
on the way. To make long story
short Mrs. Kelly was delivered to the
fort, and being warned, the soldiers
were on their guard and massacre
avoided. Congress voted Mrs. Kelly
$1,000 for saving the fort. She was
sent down the Missouri river where
she Joined her own people in Kan
sas Our old Chief John Grass was
then q young man Of twenty-five, and
who knows but his youthful affection
for Mrs. Kelly might not have been
the cause Of his true friendship for
the whites during his long and USE
full career.
Very truly yours,
LEWIS F. CRAWFORD.
FOR SALE-Tomato, cabbage, cauli-
neyeE celery and pepper plsntss , st
:, AAVeA1N:s ,iolsAAJr ts,,., ~
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