The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-12-18
Plains Roamer Who Visited Bis
marck in 1877 Dies in
California
Attended Banquet in Old Sheri-
dan House on N. p. De.
pots Site

pots Site
One of the greatest Indian scouts
to roam the Dakota and northwest
prairies, Yellowstone Kelly, Is dead.
Captain Luther Sage Kelly. 70, one
time visitor In Bismarck. famed for
his fighting and executive work In
the Philippine Islands, and a veteran
army campaigner and Indian fighter,
died at his home at Paradise, CAL,
yesterday.
Kelly made his first visit to Bis
marck in November, 1877; when this
city was q frontier town. After van
gushing the Nez Perce Indians who
had started toward the midwest from
Oregon under Chief Joseph. Kelly ac-
companied General Nelson A. Miles
into Bismarck. They brought Chief
Joseph and many of the Nez-Perce
tribe as captives with them. This was
then known as the Dakota territory
Writes to Crawford
Captain Kelly recently sent Lewis
F. Crawford. of the state historical
society, one Of the menus used at the
banquet given to General Miles Nov.
10, 1877. in the old Sheridan House
here. The Sheridan house stood
where the Northern Pacific depot
now stands.
Chief Joseph and his followers
were captured at Bear Paw Noun
tain. near Havre. Mont, after MAX
ing running fight covering over $500
miles, one Of the most spectacular
military expeditions on record.
Kelly first came into the midwest
in 1868, going to Fort Berthold. He
was we'll acquainted with ice Diet
rich. present resident Of Bismarck,
who came here in 1869. Kelly at
first was employed in wood cutting.
hunting. and trapping. It was in this
work that the veteran learned the
language Of the Sioux Indians.
He then became engaged to carry
mail between Fort Union and Devils
Lake, making one round trip each
month and receiving q salary of $l00
q month.
Fought Two Indians
On one of these trips he met two
young Assiniboine Indians who show
ed hostility. Kelly dismounted and
with his first shot killed one of the
IndiaEs. The second redSkin took
shelter behind tree but Kelly final
ly killed him also when rifle ball
struck tho Indian, who was using q
bow and arrow, In the elbow Night
had fallen before this fight had ended
and Kelly's two pack horses had
wandered. So the mail carrier walk
ed to Fort Berthold, a few miles
away. under cover of darkness and
returned with a group OF traders the
next morning. The two dead Indians
were found and the pack horses were
grazing about q mile from the scene
OF the encounter. Kelly then COM
pleted his trip.
The Mandan, Gros Ventre and Ari-
kara Indians were mad with joy at
hellys victory and hailed him as
the Little Man With the Big Heart. y
Even the Sioux were strongly I'm
pressed with the strong medicine" Of
TINS man who never lays down his
gum and never again tried to am
bush him. ~ '-444
Kelly engaged next as a free tram
per and hunter in the then-mvster-
ious Yellowstone country nntii :.
knew 1t as did no other white man
II was because of his life as a wilder
ness hermit that he became known as
Lone Wolf" and as "Yellowstnne
Kelly" When General George A
Forsyth was sent in 1873 to explore
the upper Missouri and the Yellow
stone he secured Kelly as his guide
ana Forsyths report was invaluable
10 the army when the Sioux war
broke out three years later.
Moved to Yellowstone
Shortly after this incident he
moved into the Yellowstone river ter
ritory. He carried messages for Cen
eral Nelson A. Miles at Fort Keoch
which IS situated near Miles City
Mont. and took part in all Of Miles
expeditions against the Indians AS q
scout. Miles later said that he didn't
know what he could have done with
out Keliy's aid.
Kelly also took part in the battle
IN which Lame Deer. Sioux chief, was
killed.
After bringing the Nez Perce In
dians to Bismarck as captives, Kelly
enjoyed hunting in this district for
. few days. A paragraph from one
Of his letters written to Lewis r
Crawford, dated May 22. 1923. fol-
lows: II remember that as the
column Of troops escorting the Nez
Perce prisoners approached Bismarck
Dakota Territory, on that November
day Of 1877. walked out with Bill
Erwin. the noted lawyer Of that Pc
lrtod. and chanced to kill an antelope
on the outskirts Of the town-havina
borrowed gun from q soldier.
Kelly ended his service under Miles
In 1873. From 1880 to 1858 he was
. scout with y. s. army troops Il
the Ute country, Colorado.
From 1892 to 1898 he served In the
| general service. U. 8. War depart
ment. From November. 1893, t.
February, 1890, he served as . cap.
tain In the Seventh u. s. Immunes
He also accompanied the Hartman
expedition to Alaska. He served % 1
captain In the 10th q. &. Volunteer,
from 1850 to 1900.
Went 70 Philippines
In 1901 he was sent to the Philip.
pine Islands when the outbreak there
came.
Kelly was . great friend Of Colonel
Clement A. Lounsberry. founder o1
the Bismarck Tribune In 1873, wht
was chairman Of the banquet giver
here. In the 1919 letter which lal
sent to Crawford. he said. III you d
not happen to have . copy Of the On,
closed menu, . souvenir Of the Ne.
Perce campaign. It win no doubt In
terest you. ] remember Colone
Lounsberry. smiling and debonair
rising to make the speech Of thl
! CONTINUED o. page two)