Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-08

brothers made their first acquaintance with the
tribe OF Indians with whom they we're to become
famous-the pawnees. The reservation for the
Pawnees had been established IN the section OF
Nebraska In which the Nortls lived and in 1880
Frank and Luther North secured employment
with the agent on the reservation. The next year
a agent appointed ana son-in-law OF
the commissioner of Indian affairs was made
trader for the Pawnees Finding that Frank
North could speak the Pawnae language, this
trader employed him as clerk and interpreter.
The Sioux and the pawnees were traditional
enemies and dl ring the year 1861 the Sioux
made number Of raids on the Pawnees During
one of these Luther North had What he declares
to have been his narrowest escape from death
during his whole career on the plains. He WAS
then engaged In hauling logs to the sawnl on
the reservation and at night was accustomed to
turn the horses and mules of the logging outfit
out to Craze. One morning the animals were
gone and young North set out saddle mule
TO find them. mile from the agency he
Jumped by party OF Sioux who were
between him and the agency. mile in the oppo-
site direction was another traders store and
toward that young North urged bis mule us fast
as Ii could run. But 1t was not fast enough to
outrun splenddy mounted Sioux warrior,
armed with bow and arrow and spear, who
quickly overlook the fleeing boy. But just
the savage ready to thrust his lance through
the boy his horse stepped In prairie dog hole
and before he could get to his feet and use his
bow and arrows, young North had reached the
trading post.
The next year young North enlisted in the
Second Nebraska cavalry which. in the spring Of
1863, was ordered to Join the expedition Which
Gen. Alfred Sully was to lead up tile Missouri
river to punish the hostile Sioux who had been
committing depredations along the emigrant
trails and against the scattered settlements
At the outbreak Of the Grent Sioux War OF
1864, Luther North did his first scouting for the
government, as did his brother Frank North 1t
was during this war, Also that the first group of
Pawnee scouts were organized al the suggestion
of General Curtis the commanding officer In that
area. Seventy-seven young Pawnees
rolled and were placed under command of an
interpreter named McFadden with Frank North
as second In command. General Curtis soon dis
covered that MeFadden had little real authority
over the pawnees but that they obeyed promptly
when North ordered them our. Oh n scouting ex-
petition. As result Curtis gave North authority
to enlist company Of 100 scouts when he
turned to Fort Kearney from that particular expe-
dltion Upon arriving at the fort North called
council of the tribe and made ki own his wishes
Within hour lie had 100 of the best Pawnce
warriors enrolled, all of them anxious for North
to lead them against the Sioux
Then army red tape got in its work. North
ordered to come to Omaha with a list of the
Indian names Thtfe being no railroad he WINS
forced to make the journey on horseback and
reached Omaha in three days. There lie was
kept waiting for two weeks before being furn
ished with muster rolls md enlistment papers
and when he returfed tc the reservation he found
that all OF his scouts had gone off on the
Pawnees' winter buffalo hunt. Frank North was
obliged TO return to Omaha but he sent his
brother, Luther, to follow the Pawnees and per-
suade the men he had recruited to return. Ac-
companied by young Pawnee Luther North
set out but was caught in blizzard which ragged
for three days Being out of provisions, they
started back for the reservation and for feHf
days, during which time they hnd nothing to eat.
they battled their WAY through The snow. Finally
they reached the North home In Columbus
Eventually Frank North found the Pawnees
and after long Journey filled with suffering
from the intense cold they all returned to CoIum-
bus. Here he found q telegram from the com
mandng officer AT Omaha telling him that I'M
less the company was promptly filed the order
authorizing 1t would be rescinded. That called
for another trip TO Omaha and thIs time he made
1t In day and half. Finally. after many diff
euties tlncuding that Of the deserton of 81
Pawnees who had been told TINT they were TO be
sent south TO fight the negrocs) Company A,