Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-11-29

the white race. These warriors were
armed with the best description of
magazine rifles known to the military
service" probably purchased at immense
cost from traders. "They had besides re-
peating rifles, needle guns OF longest
range, two of them with telescope
sights. and one rifle, a Creedmore sport
ing rifle"
To provide for transporting supplies
and to serve as mounts for the men,
women and children, there were at the
beginning Of the flight, 1000 horses,
these were doubtless better han the
ordinary cayuse, the Nez Perez horses
having a high reputation among the
tribes. The Crows frequently made sal
lies over the mountains to steal them.
So large a humble of horses were re-
have three, as the war horse was rid
den only in battle.
Not Starved Out
Milford was of the opinion Joseph
would have surrendered at first II How
ard had not old him a military ON
mission would be called upon to act in
his case. When in the Bear Paws, he
finally did surrender, 1t was not be-
cause he was forced to do SO by starva-
ton. He still had plenty OF food. Miles,
says milford, tried to shut them off
from water, but evidently was unable
to succeed. A priest had told us the
women dug cisterns to hold the water
the Indians needed. No traces Of these
cisterns remain, but this Is explained
by the later search for cached ammuni-
ton and other things 1t was thought
might be found there.
An amusing story is related Of one
Trumpeter Haywood, who was seriously
wounded while saving the life OF his
captain. In the evening, DR.. Havre was
told that Haywood was wounded and
went out to examine aim. Turning to
those who accompanied him, the doc
tor remarked: Cant get we'll; let him
lie while we attend those h can"
The next morning, as the doctor was
making the rounds OF the camp, he was
asked by q man who lay near q fire,
If he remembered the man he left to
die the night before. YES" returned the
doctor. We'll" continued the prone one,
I'm the Teller, and l amt dead yet.
Next time you probe q man In the side,
cut your finger nail. 1t hurt like HI.
but I'll be id If I would holler."
AT the time of his surrender, accord
ing to Milford, Joseph was 35 years old
and about five feet ten inches in height.
He wore blanket trousers and buckskin
leggins. His features were regular and
handsome, with scarcely a wrinkle
Eyes black and piercing as an eagles
rested on General Miles with an ex-
preston both melancholy and reserved"
His long black hair was worn in a loose
queue at the back OF his head, and held
as ornament a cluster Of green feathers.
Two long braids hung from his temples
in front of his ears"
Manner of Surrender
The manner of his surrender was as
N1y1rr- HA- Ync0rA xatfnraI n Hrfnf colfr-
tation to General Miles, he handed that
brave officer his rife, with the barrel
pointing to the ground. When the
weapon had changed hands. the chief
remember in their dreams during their
Howl rs he gave pace TO his followers.
Others did the same"
How this ceremony affected at least
one OF those who were present at the
surrender Is thus recorded: ITO all who
as though the captives were not savage
hostiles, but rude knights of the plains
and mountains, who, finding themselves
fairly beaten, handed up their weapons
in true chivalric fashion.
Instead Of bright lances and heavy
shields, these Indians surrendered DEATH
dealing rifles of the best kind that in
ventors have been able to produce, and
In reversing their weapons gave a sig
nificance to the act easily appreciated by
the veterans who were silent witnesses
OF the surrender"
After the surrender one of the In
dians offered to go over the line to
bring back White Bird. General Miles,
to whom the offer was made, turning
to General Howard, said: II haven't any
use for White Bird; I've got all his traps
and don't think he Is worth a mule"
Following the surrender the soldiers
tried to find where the Nez Perces had
buried their dead, but search as they
might, we're unable to do SO. There was
no trouble later, I have been informed
by those who knew, for anyone to find
where our dead soldiers lay, as their
bones were plainly to be seen until the
pitiful remains were collected for re
moval to the Custer battlefield cemetery.
Milford states hat the rife pits of
the Indians were constructed with great
skill. some OF them being 5h feet deep
and could shelter a family, the breast
works having been made to project over