The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-14

to the foothills, and after sending out
two bands of scouts, we found their
blind we pressed on up the creek, and
smudged campfireS. Not deceived by this
at an abrupt turn in the stream we
found them tucked away in a pocket. By
this time it was nearly IL o'clock at
night.
The Indians horses were above them,
hobbled We crawled as close as we
could without making any noise, and as
we had planned, there we lay till near
dawn. One old Indian got up to get
a firebrand to fight off the mosquitoes,
and just as he stopped over the Goals one
of our rifles spoke sharply. He dropped
like lead.
The Indians sprang to their feet and
we let them have it. The old fellow who
had been shot first lay face down in
the Goals and the air was filled with
smoke and the odor of burning flesh.
They didn't have a chance with their
horses SO far above them, and our work
didn't take us long. We stayed only long
enough to get the scalps and clothing of
the white people who had been muir
dered by the Indians.
Meet Calamity Jane
On our way back to camp we met
Calamity Jane, gallOplng across the plains
with her long hair flying. She was car
rying the mail from Deadwood to Custer
City She said that she had seen smoke
ball signals, and that the Indians had
some white families surrounded at Red
water, 20 miles from where we had left
the wagon train
On our return to our wagon train near
noon that morning of April 2, we found
our band diSorganized. Some wanted to
turn back, being afraid of the rowing
| bands of Sioux, others wanted to go on
Colonel Beard had given up the COM
mand. A group of 20 decided to have a
look about, while the remainder stayed
behind.
| When we were pursuing the Sioux who
had massacred the party the evening be-
fore, Tom Nicholson, one Of the mem
bers of our train, had taken his wagon
and had gone on to Redwater, 20 miles
/ from our original camp. 1t was this party
which was being surrounded by the
Sioux and whose message for help Calam-
/ ity Jane had given us We rode ahead
| to Nickolson's camp where they were as
! panic-stricken as we, because OF the
| danger to the women. We left our horses
where Nicholson left his horses, bedding
and grub.
We surveyed the land carefully and
there seemed to be only one place in the
rimrock where the Sioux could come
down. There we hid among the rocks and
waited for the onslaught which Nickol-
son said was sure to come. Dawn was
nearly breaking when we heard the thun-
der of horses hoofs pounding the earth.
True to the prophecy, down they came
on the old trail; whOOping and firing
on empty wagons.
/ Scarce was the last brave down when
a deadly fire crumpled the front ranks.
l Powder fumes filled the air; the death
cries of men and neighing of horses
made q CHASTITY sound. The Indians
never had chance to reorganize after
the first disruption, and when the smoke
cleared, IA warriors lay dead on the sandy
Bodies RastiIy Buried
i We took small pains with the burial,
for the Indians from Red Cloud agency
might sWOOp down on us at any moment.
We laid the bodies in a washOut and COW
cred them with willows and hastened
back to camp.
i once more the $50 members of the
I train were dissatisfied. Colonel Beard
could not be induced to take command
> again and everyone was up in the air
ManV who had been determined to cross
: the plains had turned back after the
l. massacre at Spearfish, and no one could
$ be prevailed upon to take the lead. After
everyone had worn himself out talking
I made a weary suggestion that we move
on to the next stop, and by then every
one would be willing to have q leader.
After breakfast we started again, but
none knew where he was going. Some
were stuck in sand holes, and Others
l tried to take a short cut. Thomas Nick
olson, Bill Baldwin and 1 stuck to the
made camp, though the others didn't
1 reach us until the next morning. Some
} made camp at one place and some al
: another. Everyone had to picket his Owl
! stock and watch it; some cattle got gooC
feed and others got nothing at all.
In the morning they called council
: Colonel Beard told us that we would al
i be killed if we continued in this man
ner. I knew that myself. He asked TO
{ volunteers to take the command. Non'
: came forward. Names were mentioned
> but each declined. Then Tom Nicholson
. got up on wagon.
l. There's a man in this train who cal
lead you safely if he will. He showet
what he could do yesterday when w
= fought those Indians in the rimrCcks
e That man is Bill Allen. I move you elec
t him general of this train and that we al
obey his command until we reach tn
It Big Horn"
They agreed and 1 mounted the WagOl
g in turn.
# There are men in this camp who hav
s crossed the plains before, and are NOR
= familiar with the trail than L; besides,
e have no horse with which to attend
d camp duties" I said.
ir Never mind" said Tom, 81 have
Il 6-year-old bay you can have until "
,e get there"
) After that there was no further reaso
/ for refusing, so I appointed Tom Nickol
i. son, colonel; John Wusturn, major. an
IT selected six scouts. Then we were read
Se to move on.
= The horse teams were put in the from
IS followed by the mules, oxen, then pack
h horses. Two scouts were in the lead wit
the general, one on each side OF the trail
p and two in the rear. At the sound OF