The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-03-20

with some of his people, was sent to
Leavenworth and afterward to the
Indian Territory and now the re-
mainder of the great Indian fighting
force was to be sent to their differ
ent reserves.
1t was in the latter part of the
month of June, 1881. Colonel Guido
Elgess of the Fifth infantry, who was
in command of Fort Keogh, sent
John Brugier, a scout, to the Indian
camp about two and one-half miles
west of the fort, with a message or
dering the Indians to break camp and
move down the river about two miles
north of the fort, where they were
to embark on five steamboats, which
were to take them down the river to
Standing Rock. The Sioux were ar
rogant, and sent back word that if
the White Chief wanted their tepees
down, to come and take them down.
Colonel Elgess at once had the call,
Boots and Saddles" sounded and
in a very short time every soldier in
the fort was mounted and in line
fully armed and ready to fight if
ACGu OCs ihCy hldlS hCQ Oob OA liz
flat between the fort and the Indian
camp and halted. Immediately in
front of them were placed four Cat
ling guns of the six barrel revolving
type and two single barrel Hotchkiss
guns. These latter were feared by
the Indians on account of them
shooting an explosive ball and we're
called by them, "Shoot today, kill
tomorrow" Gunners stood by the
guns ready to fire.
Again Brugier was sent to the
camp with orders to the Indians to
break camp and this time break they
did. In less than half an hour the
tepees we're down and the Indians
we're stringing out to their last camp
on the YELLOWSTONE. BY night all the
lodges were up and fires lighted.
Troops were stationed to guard the
camp.
Four of the river boats that piled
the Yellowstone in those days we're
tried up at the bank close to the
Indian camp. They were the Fanny
Bachelor, the General Rucker, Katie
P. Kountz, and the Nellie Peck.
Through some misunderstanding the
fifth boat had not arrived. The
water in the river was falling fast
and fears were entertained that it
would fall to a point too low for the
boats to make the trip down. After
three days wait the last boat put in
its appearance. 1t was the Far West.
The Far West was one of the most
famous of the steamboats, of the
early days. 1t was the Far West that
n 1876 carried supplies for the army
n the campaign that ended with the
of General Custer and his
men on the Little Big Horn. The
lay after the arrival of the Far West,
The troops were stationed around the
camp and messengers we're sent to
The various chiefs to prepare their
people to go on board the steam
boats.
he Indians. The squaws were hust-
ing their many belongings together,
Zach and every one of them shouting,
and laughing and the multi
ude of dogs aiding in the general
loise by their yelping and barking.
The warriors stood in silent groups
moking, making no move to help
he women. The camp was sur 2
ounded by people from the fort who S
lad come to see the Indians depart. Y
lany of the squaws were shaking =
ands with the soldiers wives whom !
hey knew and bidding them good {
we. .
About nine-thirty a trumpet sound :
d and the tepees began to fall. In :
very short while every lodge was
own and ready for loading and the
ask of embarkation begun. The |
oats we're loaded in the following I
RIDER: Nellie Peck, Far West, Katie J
!. Kountz, General Rucker, Fannie !
'achellor. When the Peck was !
,aded and the big whistle blew and
boat began to back out into the I
pandemoninm seemed tol !