The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-09
Nez Perez Battle a :
Joke Wrote Trooper
Continued from page u

trails TO join with other soldiers in
hostile encounters with Joseph's braves,
their squaws and children.
As the young, mounted cavalrymen
filed out of their stockade, each SOL
dier leading at his side an extra horse,
the scene of their action was exceed
ingly impressive to beholders who
watched the galloping line till it dis
appeared behind the western hills.
The troopers, whom the Indians called
the new white warriors, arrived at the
Big Hole basin in time to engage in
fierce battle without first having rest.
In this fight the Indians lost so women
and children and 80 fighting men, This,
His purpose was fixed. Turning back
was a thing not to be harbored in
thought so the besieged red men, their
squaws and children sailed forth be-
fore their pursuers with whom they
hoped to avoid further trials of strength.
Retreated 1000 Miles.
From this point Joseph and his small
band, which at no time numbered more
than 300 warriors, had retreated for
nearly 1000 miles through an enemy
country, still carrying with them their
squaws and children. Not till they had
reached the ravines and gullies that
line the high bluffs of Snake creek near
its junction with the Milk river in the
Bears Paw mountains had their hasty
retreat been checked by Colonel Miles
men, whose hot pursuit on their trail
had hitherto been unknown to them.
About two weeks after the Battle of
the Big Hole, received letter from
Emmett in which he related, in part,
his story of that battle in his homely,
downright speech
Dear Wes,' his message began:
Really. this is no war, for the Indians
are fighting only when they are mo-
Tested. They want to 60 peaosably to
the buffalo country and leave the
question of returning to their own res
ervation to be settled afterward.
SO many things are happening all
at once ! find it hard to pick out
beginning for my story
Yesterday, we had an all days fight
with the Indians. don't mind fighting
men but when it comes to fighting their
women and children then the whole
business makes me heartily sick of it
ALL
.Squaws and children are armed only
with knives; they rush upon soldiers
with these and are generally dubbed
to the ground with muskets, many
have been killed outright
While | was watching an affair of
y nv,
upon me with knife in her appraised
hand and, in wild fury, tried to drive
it in my neck. grabbed her wrist with
my left hand just as the ugly weapon
was swooping downward.
Being much stronger than she, /
held her wrist with a tight grip, mean
while twisting her arm, which / knew
panied her, for she WINGED and cried
in as good old English as either you
or can speak: Don't kill met Don't
kill your yelled, What are you try
ing to do to me?' l shouted Tn not
trying she said, and then she began
to laugh-a laugh that seemed sincere
and strong of feeling.
Freed His Prisoner.
4 still held her wrist high above
my head and could see into her mouth |
clear to her throat, for you know she
still held to laughter and I'm tell you
| never saw teeth more excellent or
beautiful saw them all Why do your
men fight us when we're only trying
to get away to the buffalo country
where we can be free again to do as
we please?' she asked. I cannot answer
you, | said, we're told to fight you
and that is all know about it.
" Tell me- asked, how does it come
that you can speak English?'
Ever since was small child she
said, I picked berries In summer and
sold them to the white people. They all
know me along the Clearwater My
name is Little Beaver; am now II. In
the spring and fall used to catch the
large char fish in the Clearwater and
sell them to the white people and in
this way Of doing things I learned to
speak their language. Won't you loose
your hold of my wrist?' she begged.
You're hurting it and you're twisting
my arrn!'
" Drop your knife said, and I'll
set you free She obeyed my order and
picked the weapon from the ground
and slipped it into my jacket pocket,
where it lies this very moment.
EMMETT"
News came to our hearing that
Joseph had repulsed each in turn Cen
erals Howard, Gibbon and Sturgis But
he had not yet met with General (then