Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-05-07

did not see any Indians; neither in
the morning nor in the afternoon; no
signs of Indians. He was emphatic in
his statements.
The situation grew tense. An argu-
ment arose between the scout and To-
bacco Jake. Coming to the attention
Of Colonel Miles, the commander ap-
peared or the scene. Other staff off,
ers also came up.
WHAT" exclaimed the scout. DO
you mean to say that you saw no In
dians or lodges?"
mop" replied Tobacco Jake.
In the meanwhile Pat McEvoy had
crawled under a wagon that was stand
ing near the e Of the controversy.
He heard every word, he saw, and was
a witness of the dramatic flourish that
followed Tobacco Jake's denial.
Uttering an oath and calling Tobacco
Jake a liar in the presence of the COM
mander and staff, and others who had
gathered by that time, the scout drew
his six-shooter and started for Tobac-
co Jake. Colonel Miles interviewed. Al
ways manifesting a disposition to hear
a matter through to its final conclu-
sion, Colonel Miles apparently was not
satisfied with the proceedings. He
turned his attention to Tobacco Jake.
This scout here says that he saw
you enter the tepee of an Indian, a
leader in his tribe; he says that he left
the scene and came back to await your
arrival and report. Is it true, Jake?
Did you go into the Indian camp"
asked the commander.
mo-" Tobacco Jake replied the Sec
ond time.
you did too" quickly and vehement
ly calculated the scout, who gave an
account of his observations, declaring
that Tobacco Jake wa a betrayer, and
that as q scout for Miles he was going
to stand him up and shoot him like
any other enemy Of the American SOL
diery. For the second time Colonel
Miles interviewed.
mo" he pondered for a moment.
I'll tell you what to do" His decision
was that Tobacco Jake should leave
the camp, and forthwith he departed
and was seen no more with the ex-
petition. Subsequently Tobacco Jake,
after the campaigns against the roam
ing Indians were completed, appeared
again in Miles City. He was acct
dentally shot in the hip and for several
years was a patient under treatment,
following which he disappeared leaving
only the memory of his peculiar in
dividuality and his tobacco chewing
proclivities. That is the story as told
Of Tobacco Jake by Pat McEvoy, who
is sitting in the sunset Of his life out
on the west coast and coming over
the events of his own colorful career
as a civilian employe of the govern
ment in the troublous days in Indi-
an warfare. The sequel to the Tobacco
Jake incident follows.
Lieutenant Clark was detailed to go
at the head of a troop of cavalry and
locate the Indian lodge and ascertain
it's position. He succeeded. A fight
was imminent. Some excitement pre-
vailed in the military camp. A Mr..
Curley was wagon-master, under whom
Pat McEvoy was operating, and who
was driving a wagon at the time. He
was ordered TO unhitch his mules and
hitch them to a gun carriage. He
wheeled it into position. The gunners
came up. McEvoy took his team to a
convenient spot to await further or
ders. He watched the fight from an
eminence. Just as he was leaving the
gun carriage, a bullet struck the tire
Of the wheel and spattered dirt and
mud in his face. II was marvelled at
the time that he was not killed, be-