The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-09

Colonel( Miles, who, as it has already
been stated in this articles, later
charged upon the fearless chief and
his warriors, among the ravines and
gullies that line the high bluffs of
Snake creek near its junction with the
Milk river in the Bears Paw noun
tains, cutting their camp in two and
capturing nearly all of their horses.
The Indians were now put to sore
straits by their assaulting enemies.
They could not escape without leaving
behind them their wounded, their
women and children.
They had met United States troops
II different times and had fought five
pitched battles with them, of which
they had won three, drew one and
were now losing this, their last battle.
The total force opposing them was
nearly 1000 men.
News, bearing upon the plight of
Joseph and his tribe, was included with
ample scope and liberal contents in my
second letter from Emmett, in which
he, from his heart Of hearts, wrote:
My fellow troopers and are now
under command of General Howard.
After the battle of the Big Hole basin
the Indians retreated to the Yellow
stone park, Howard came up and
joined Gibbon; after six days Howard
came close to the Indians and they
turned upon us and captured nearly
all of our horses-about $50 head, They
then moved on to the Yellowstone
basin. The wonderful geysers in the
Yellowstone park were receiving their
first visitors.
Mounted Howitzer ON Mules.
Here the Indians captured one
white man and two white women. The
women were released unframed; the
man, with scalp wound, crept through
the darkness of night to safety, un-
observed by the red men.
Nine days retreating over mountains,
through deep gorges and over fallen
timber, brought the Indians to the
Clark Fork of the Yellowstone. They
then lurked northward, avoiding all
white settlements on their way through
the Judith basin, and at last crossed
the Missouri somewhere near the mouth
of Cow creek, and, with their native
impulse to outdistance their pursuers,
urged forward to the Bears Paw
mountains, where we found them be-
sieged by Colonel Miles men. The
colonel assailed them every morning
with requests for their surrender; on
the morning of the fourth day he or
dered howitzer to be mounted on
the back of mule, strapped down to
a government saddle, and that a charge
of grapeshot be fired down into the
huddled camp Of Indians.
"There was a great stir about in the
Indian camp; also great stir with the
mule; the powder burned him back of
his saddle, which greatly touched his
feelings, all he could do about it was
to kick his heels high in the air and
squeal
II hope shall never again be placed
where my eyes may fall upon persons
destined to conditions of humiliation
and ill luck of these people are. Chill
dren suffer for the want of blankets
and the nights are cold But now that
they have surrendered, / hope they
will be cared for. Indians and squaws
filed in Indian fashion to the top Of
the coulee, where they laid down their
arms. Yes, Little Beaver was in line
with the squaws and children. She
looked pale and fatigued--and no
wonderl A small shot from the howitzer
struck her left shoulder. Seeing me, she
advanced. and brought herself face to
face with me, threw her blanket back,
exposing her naked bleeding wound
to my view, while her accusing eyes
seemed to say: "See what you, whom il
has pleased, since three moons past, to
follow. vex and torment us, have at
last done to mel
A Dcserter.
1t was d wild, cold night in December.
A high wind, from over prairie and