Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-07-08
(By MRS. Nj. E. PLAssMANN)
rONTANA was never the scene OF In
VI dian massacres, with the sole ex-
VII cention of the Baker massacre.

roNTANA was never the scene of In
M dian massacres, with the sole ex'
lvl ception of the Baker massacre
when a village Of peaceful Pie
CANS. already stricken by smallpox "eIt
slaughtered by United States soldiers al
the command of their officer. who was
said to nave been in a condition winch
should have disqualified hin from CIV
ing an order. The so-called custer
massacre" was a battle between white
and Indian forces. in which the former
were annihilated. There are several in
stances narrated. however, of the killing
of white men by indians, and more OF
the killing of Indians by white men
Some of these stories have been told, but
bear retelling.
One of these is of the murder of John
Ferguson on, or near the Cheyenne res
ervation in the spring of 1892. me cause
OF the murder is still Inc
murderer, afraid to leave his victim
where the crime was committed, calleu
upon an Indian school boy who chanceo
to pass by, to aid in the disposal OF the
corpse.
True to tribal custom. the boy COM
piled with the request and then, fright
ened at what they had done, both es-
caped to the mountains. Troops were
sent out to apprehend them. These
were unsuccessful in their man hunt,
AlQ UIlHllN Nllt SCalAA MtA,
Time passed with nc news Of the fugi-
tives, until the latter. wearying OF their
enforced confinement, sent word 70 the
Indian agent, that on a day and hour
specified, they would be seen on Il nil
near the Rosebud, and were willing 10 De
shot down by the soldiers. The muir
derer knew, n the boy feared death
by hanging should they be taken. and
death by s~trangulation, according TO In
dian belief, meant prevention OF the
souls escape-again to live in the Indian
heaven.
At the hour named the two Indians
appeared on the hilltop, dressed as II TO
20 INTO battle, and while executing their
dance of death to the accompaniment OF
their singing, were made the targets OF
the troops stationed at the foot OF
the hill.
Five years later in the same neighbor-
hood, a crippled boy who had been herd
ing sheep for a Mr.. Barringer disap-
peared. A sheepherder in those days led
an almost solitary life, guarding his
charges in the wilderness. Twice a month
supplies were brought him, and he had
the opportunity to talk with another
human being. The rest OF the time his
most intelligent companion was his dog.
Vainly the herder longed for silence. All
day long, and day following day, he was
surrounded by the constant baa-ing OF
the sheep, until 1t vas not uncommon
for the men to become insane. In this
instance it was believed that John Hoo
ver-for that was the boys name-had
gone crazy and met death somewhere In
the mountains.
This supposition would have solved the
mystery OF his disappearance: but how
about the dog2 Such an intelligent ami
NAL would have stayed with the sheep
until they were safe on the home ranch.
The dog also failed to come home when
the sheep struggled in.
Then it was remembered that John
had always feared the Indians. Satur-
dav night he went to town for the pur.
pose of giving up his job, as he seemed
to nave a presentiment of approaching
death. Mr.. Barringer, If he did not laugh
at Johns fear, did his best to quiet 1t,
until the boy finally consented to herd
a little longer, probably that Mr.. Bar
ringer might have time to engage an
other employe.
A few days later, when the sheep came
back to the ranch Without the herder or
the dog, MIR. Barringer became appre-
hensive n set out to search for both.
He found neither, but everything was In
order at the sheep camp, q pot OF beans
over the dead fire indicating that John
was SANE enough to make preparations
for the meal he was destined never to
eat. The pot of partially cooked beans,
the orderly camp, and the loss OF the
dog, led Mr.. Barringer to suspect that
ohn had been killed. On his return to
town, Mr.. Barringer reported what he had
discovered, and told OF his suspicious. AT
once bodies of men organized and
secured the country far and wide for
any further traces of the lost ones. 1t
was useless, nothing more was found, and
the search was abandoned.
Remembering Johns fear OF Indians
and likewise recognizing their scouting
ability. some of them were questioned
regarding Johns fate, as he might have
met with an accident, and the Indians
knowing of 1t, were afraid to tell. Those
interviewed disavowed any knowledge OF
what had happened to the boy-al OF
them that is, but one. Old Makstea
whose name interpreted was Square
Head, quoted the interrogation by stat