The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-24

fenced some of the thrilling incidents
Of his early career in the West. One
Of these numerous adventures was
meeting with Sitting Bull, who was
then becoming prominent among the
Sioux as a Medicine man and military
leader. This meeting is graphically
described by Kelly in his recently
published memoirs.
cit was while on the Mouse river,
relates Kelley, "that first came in con-
tact with Sitting Bull and his war party.
As we were going into camp one day,
party of hOrSemen suddenly appeared.
Approaching rapidly, they dismOunted
and went through our party shaking
hands, using both hands in the process,
which struck me as singular in an In
woman Of the Santee Sioux. OF course
they told Sitting Bull that I was an
American, and the warriors gathered
around me where 1 stood with my rifle
in hand. The old man with whom 1
messed had assured me that though we
might meet hostile Indians l would come
to no harm as long as 1 stayed with the
party, so I looked them calmly in the
eye while they thrOnged around me, re-
garding me with baleful eyes, hate and
vindictiveness pervading every feature
OF their villainOus faces. Without a
word they abruptly left me, and, mount
l.
Sitting Bull appeared to be about 80
years old. He had a round, pleasant
face, and wore a handscarf of dirty
white cloth, while most of his followers
affected black headgear. / suspected
that the stiff leather cases tied to some
Of the saddles contained war bOnnets as
/ saw feathers sticking out Of the pouch
es. They assume their war regalia when
on the warpath, though they usually
strip to the breechclout when going into
action. They were armed with rifles
and trade shOtguns in addition to the
usual bow and quiver Of arrows. They re-
ported killing white man short time
before near the mouth of the Yellow
stOne.'
Makes His Way to Fort BufOrd
Many weeks were spent in COM
pany with this party of half-breeds,
the youth helping them on their
hunts, and ever alert to gain all
available knowledge of the ways of
the plains people. Finally, he start
ed westward alone into and through
a wild and hostile-infested country,
arriving in remarkably short time at
Fort Berthold, then Indian agency
for the Arikaras, Mandans and Gros
Ventres. Remaining here but long
enough to gain some knowledge of
the customs of the redmen, as well
as the nature Of the country through
which he must pass in his further
westward trek, the lad proceeded
into the domain of the Sioux, headed
for Fort Buford Con the Montana
Dakota line). The appearance there
of so youthful a solitary traveller,
caused somewhat of a sensation, for,
although he was then II years of
age, he was, in appearance, much
younger. In fact, he could not con-
vince the post trader that he was old
rthan IA or 15 years. He was made
welcome at Fort Buford by the CORPS
OF trappers, traders, troopers and the
other habitues of the post. Quiet, and
retiring, he might easily have been
taken for timid boy who was very
much out of place in a wild coun-
try where danger and even death
lurked INCREASINGLY at every mans
elbow.
The Powerful and Hostile Sioux
At the time of young yellow
stone" 'Kelly's arrival at Fort Buford
the Sioux nation of Indians, flushed
with their success at Kidding the ter
ritory adjacent to Fort Phil Kearnev
Wyoming, of white invaders, were
arrogant and exceedingly hostile tC
all whites. The country about Fort
Buford was filled with these Indians
who were conducting an incessant
guerilla warfare on trappers and
traders who operated along the Mis-
souri,. The situation had become 81
grave along the trail that led from
Fort Buford to the next army post
down the river-Fort Stevenson
that it was necessary to send an es
cort of cavalry with the mail between
the forts.
One day, shortly after KeIly's arrival a
the Tort, the mail carriers from down rive
had become considerably overdue and tn
post commander gave them up for lost
| lC happened that there was then some ver-
Important mail to be carried to Fort Stew
enson, but it was impossible to send
cavalry detachment, in view of the fac
that every soldier was needed at Fort BtI
FORD Tor other duties. It was into tbi
emergency that the pathetically youthful
looking Kelly stepped, offering his ser
vices TO the commander, volunteering t
carry the mail alone. His offer was me
with ridicule, and he was refused the per
mission. The laughter Of the soldiers an
OITlcers aroused keen resentment in tn
young mans heart, and prompted the cali
announcement that he proposed to make th
Journey in any event. Kelly became so peI
s1stent that the post commander finally dc
cided to let him start. He was furnishe
pony, and, with the mail in q sack h
set out at dusk of a winters evening.
Starts for Fort Stevenson
crossing the Missouri on the ice, Kell
succeeded In reaching the camp Of th