The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-12

seemed a long time, he saw a light far
ahead. 1t was q light from a window in
a rancher's shack. The trail led that way,
and the horse made a bee-line for the light.
They came &c the shack. Horses neiged
from a corral. The door of the house was
flung open and a man appeared with gun
in hand.
Wen, stranger" the mar IL the door
"My party is held up by Indians" Elgin
gulped as he slipped from his saddle.
The man in the doorway laughed.
well, son, where might that beT' he
Eigin explained: 81 am on my way to
the fort for help" he told the man.
"NO need to try and make IL tonight"
the man told him, sit is a long ways to the
fort he added, you stay with me till
Reports at Fort KeOgh
Elgin says the rancher's shack was To-
i Gated at a point Wheer the station Of Tusler
now stands. He remained the rest Of the
night with the rancher who did not seem
alarmed at Elgin's story Of the Indian hold
up. There hadn't been an Indian around
that part of the country for ages, he told
The next morning Elgin continued his
ride to Miles City. he reached the old
cOwtOwn during the forenoon and inquired
he way to Fort KeOgh. His intention was TO
report to General Miles, but after reach
ing the fort, he was Informed that Miles
was in Washington. He told his story to
the commander. explaining as UeEb M6
could the location of the wagon train. He
recalled that he had fOrded a shallow
stream the night before. Later he learned
that it was Powder river and that he had
crossed it about where the new bridge
built a year ago stands.
At the fort he learned that there were
some bands of Sioux scouting around In
an attempt to cross Montana into Canada,
to join Sitting Bull.
A detachment Of troopers was ordered to
| tho rpcQun of the wagon train. ElgiO didn't
accompany the soldiers. The troopers found
the two wagons unmOlested. There were
signs Of where the Indians had been but
they had fled probably sensing the ap-
prOach of the troopers. They had taken the
cattle with them, it was evident. Some OF
the Indians had probably kept the cattle
moving from the night of the stampede
| Later the Sioux were rounded up and takeI
back to the Red Cloud Agency in North
Dakota. This was the heroic act Of Matt
Elgin which never received due recOgni
Liked Yellowstone Kelly
Old MilestOwn was a busy place, says
Elgin who soon made his home there. Sol
| diers from the fort made merry in the Ole
town. Gamblers flOcked there. DesperadOeI
also were present. Big Nose George appear
ed. a fugitive from California where he wa
wanted for wrecking a train. There wal
! then a reward Of $1,000 for his capture. HI
never expected anyone in old M1lestOwl
would turn him in for the reward
Elgin met Big Nose George frequently
He always minded his own Affairs and die
not attempt any rough stuff. He was al
ways free with his money and was /
= hearted. Elgin states. He drank and gam
bled, but never started trouble. Big Nos
George was finally betrayed by a gambler
? for the reward. 1t is an old story how D.
was taken down the river in a boat, in II
ons and later started to California on
Union Pacific train, but never reached tina
state as he was taken from the train an
hanged.
/ Among the nOtables of that day wa
Luther S. Kelly, known among frontiers
men as yellowstone" Kelly. The sam
year that Elgin landed in Miles City, "Ye
lOwstOne' Kelly, who was a scout undo
= General Miles, was quite prominent in tn
old COW town. . He wore a suit OF buck
skin with fringe and his face was as dar
as an Indians from the wind and the SUI
His hair was straight and black and hun
Z down to his shoulders. He was with Ger
e eral Miles during his campaign in south
U eastern Montana and was with this gres
military leader when Chief Joseph Of tn