Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-12-11

o.
for a day. A rifle pit was dug across
the coulee in which 80 men were sta
toned for the night. Travelling a dis
lance of nine miles the next day the
expedition came to the Three Forks
of the Rosebud. Indians had been seen
in the hills and preparations were
made for another battle. None fol-
lowed. The expedition moved up a
fork Of the stream to the divide be-
tween the Rosebud and the Little Big
Horn where three buffalo were killed.
Making a distance of ten miles the
next day the expedition camped on
a fork OF the Little Big Horn. In the
evening what appeared to be two
wolves were sighted, but well-directed
shots brought them outstanding and
they rushed away on two feet.
Artillery Brought Into Action
At sunrise on the following morning
a picket sounded the alarm of Indians.
The guards and pickets ran in. Three
columns of Sioux, each about 200
strong, appeared in sight. The two
pieces Of artillery we're brought into
play Men CANT to protect the stock.
The reception was SO warm that the
attacking party returned to the protec-
ton of the hills, from which point they
fired slowly at the camp. lack Yates
was shot through the heart when he,
with others went out to scalp an In
dian Jack Bean had shot during the
melee, after which Captain Grounds
ordered all to come in and await events.
Making a short run down a gulch
IL Indians took possession of a hill
that commanded the corral. A charg-
ing party vas formed at once. The
attention of the Indians was distracted
by firing from the camp as the party
approached the hill. After a short rest
the charge was made, when the Indi-
anS fled, panic stricken. The fighting
SavageS endeavOred to protect one of
their warriors who had fingered be-
hind wearing a fine war-bonnet and
riding a spirited black saddle horse.
He was hit in the head by a bullet, but
the body became entangled in the lari-
at COveting the horse, John Ander-
son sprang forward to get it but was
frustrated by a heavy fire from the
hills. Lying down in a buffalo wallow
he waited his time, but saw the Indian
getting up Anderson drew his knife,
made a run and beat the Indian, who
being dazed was trying to get his gun
into position to shoot, and gashed him
in the body.
AS the Indians withdrew the expedi-
ton moved on. A large band of elk
was sighted and believed to be Indians
at first. When camp was made on a
fiat q half mile from the stream the
attempt to drive the stock to water was
frustrated by the Indians who dashed
out from the hills. The body Of Yates
was brought into camp and during the
night was buried near a rifle pit.
A story gained currency that gold
could be found on Goose creek, a tribu-
tary of the Tongue river. The expedi-
ton was divided upon the proposition
of going to Goose creek. The majority
decided to do SO, while the minority
argued that the Indians outnumbered
them ten to one and that any further
advances into the Indian country would
mean the death of all. The entire
party then decided 10 retrace their
steps to the settlements.
The March to the Big Horn
A short march was made to the Big
Horn where camp was pitched on a
fork of Grass Lodge creek. AS the
pickets went out they were attacked
by a large force of Indians. They came
in safely and warned the camp. An
Indian, coming out from the attacking
party, made signs he wished to talk.
Bill Hamilton, protected by a small
party, conferred with the Indian, who
was disposed of with a volley of shots.
That evening the guards we're doubled.
Imitation Grave Loaded
When the expedition crossed the
Grass Lodge creek, the field pieces
were placed on a point to command
the ford while the wagons were rushed
over Above the ford a thick grove OF
cottonwood trees we're discovered to
harbor a large body Of Indians, the
train keeping away from it as far as
possible. Before departing from the
camp, however, some men In the ex-
petition knowing that the Indians, If
they came across the grave of Yates,
vyc,,Il H. ~. TIM hpAp paoda an in1ttaw