CROW DOG

Crow Dog was a cripple, but he married the best looking maiden in the Sioux Tribe. Though he suffered from the same kind of physical ailment that President Roosevelt so bravely carries today, he was, like the President, a leader in his Rosebud country where the Government had created a military, as well as an Indian, Reservation.

Not noted as a fighter, this lamed red man was a patriotic Indian, faithful to the doctrines of his people, religion as well as tribal law and regulations. He had little use for the white man's modern ways.

When the armies of the United States, in the ten years of contest for control, finally succeeded in forcing the starving natives into unwilling obedience, they selected Spotted Tail as one who was a pliable tool for their purposes, to act as chief at the Rosebud Agency. "Spot" took orders from the War Office officials; paid no attention to his tribe's demands or wishes, therefore, he was not a real Chief of the tribe, according to Indian law and usage, - and Crow Dog vowed he someday would pay the penalty for rashly violating the sacred traditions of his people.

Catered to by the military authorities, Spotted Tail became so haughty and bigotted as to be hated by most of his old friends of the tribe, - and particularly by Crow Dog and his friends, who saw in his every act, complete repudiation of the native philosophy.

His extravagances became obnoxious to his own people; no luxury was too great for him to grasp; he felt that he was a privileged one and could dictate his will to any and all without restraint. And he did.

They tell of him, that he appropriated Crow Dog's wife, took her to his cabin, for his own, among the other squaws he was charged with having. Yes, Big Chief, backed by the U.S. Army; and why not?

But he did not guess on Crow Dog's revengeful spirit or pay due regard to his own obligations to his tribal nation, as Crow Dog and his friends saw it, and he must pay the Indian penalty. White men do the same!

As the story was told the writer, Crow Dog secreted himself alongside the trail, armed with his carbine. Soon Spotted Tail was seen driving toward the Agency, with his two squaws beside him, - one being the legal wife of Crow Dog, - and as he came within range, Crow Dog rose from the bushes, leveled his gun, and shot him.

As the chief slumped forward, Crow Dog selected a strip of his long black hair in his left hand and with his right swung his scalping knife in a neat circle around the top of his head and lifted the trophy, - and cut another notch in the handle of the knife, as proof. It was notch number 13, and we have the knife to show for it.

Crow Dog was arrested. He had a military drum-head trial, and was convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. He was sent to the jail at Rapid City to await his hanging, - some hundred and fifty miles northwest. There he was an exemplary prisoner.

A few days before his date for hanging, he asked the warden for the privilege of going to see his children, - and promised to return in time for the ceremony on the scaffold. The warden gave him a horse and a guard.

After a visit at his home he made a date with the guard to be ready at daybreak for the trip back, but the guard overslept; Crow Dog left alone to be sure that he made good his promise to the warden. When the guard got around, and finding that his prisoner was gone; he raised a great outcry - wired the war offices and soon the whole country was aroused, hunting for the escaped convict.

Crow Dog, meantime arrived at the prison on time, saying he was now ready to be hanged; he had kept his promise.

The story soon became broadcast to the newspapers of the east. There was such a wide interest shown over the case that an appeal was made to the courts for a new trial.

Under the Indian law Crow Dog was not guilty, - and the courts so found. After a long course of litigation, even to the United States Supreme bench. Crow Dog was discharged and lived out his life among his own people.

When with the Indians for the final Sun Dance at Rosebud, his daughter, Walking Crow, then about 75 years of age, gave the writer the scalping knife with which her father had scalped the noted Spotted Tail. It has 13 notches on the handle.

This incident all happened a year or two before the writer first went into the frontier, and is related as it was told then by those who knew the circumstances well.