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Celebrate Famous Battle Semi-Centennial Being Held at Fremont Several Pioneers Attend the Celebration
Trenton, Nebraska, August 8. – Half a century ago last Sunday the Pawnee Indians of Nebraska engaged in their final battle with the Sioux Indians from the north, and in commemoration a semi-centennial celebration is being held here and at Culbertson, Nebraska about eight miles east of Trenton.
A feature of the celebration of the pioneers of the state and older residents among whom is J. W. Williamson of Genoa, Nebraska, who was with the Pawnees and took part in the fight.
Mr. Williamsons account of the battle he gave here today follows:
On the second day of July 1873 the Pawnees to the number of 700, left Genoa for the hunting grounds of this number 350 were men, the balance women and children. Most of the men were armed with bows and arrows old fashioned muzzle loading rifles a few had seven shot Spencer Carbines, and some carried Colts powder and ball pistols.
All were mounted, and in addition took with them some 800 extra ponies to pack home the meats and hides.”
The speaker told of his selections as trail agents and representative of the Indian office to accompany the Pawnees. He told of how the band hunted buffalo and packed the skins and meat on ponies to take it back to the agency at Genoa.
Then he told of how the rumors of the Sioux were spread thru the camp and finally came to the battle itself.
The following morning, August 5, we broke camp and started north up the divide between the Republican and the Frenchman Rivers. Soon after leaving camp Sky Chief rode up to me and extending his hand said, “Shake brother.”
He recalled out little unpleasantness of the night previous and said he did not believe there was cause for alarm and was so impressed with the belief that he had not taken precaution to throw out scouts in the directions of the Sioux were reported to be.
A few minutes later a buffalo scout signaled that buffalo had been sighted in the distance and Sky Chief rode on to engage the hunt. I never say him again. He had killed a buffalo and was skinning it when the advance guard of the Sioux shot and wounded him. The chief attempted to reach his horse, but several of the enemy surrounded him. He died fighting. A Pawnee who was skinning a buffalo a short distance away but managed to escape, told me how Sky Chief died.
“We had not proceeded more than a mile after the departure of Sky Chief when I noticed a commotion at the head of the procession which had suddenly stopped. I started to ride up where three of the chiefs were talking when a boy sixteen rode up and stopped me. Dismounting, he tied a strip of red flannel to the bridle of my horse, and after remounting told me that the Sioux were coming. What significance was attached to the red flannel on the bridle I was never able to learn.
We were only about a hundred yards from the head of the canyon or draw that extended down to the river when the Sioux were reported coming and orders were shouted down the line for the squaws, children and pack ponies to take refuge in the canyon.
The warriors were preparing to ride forth to meet the enemy. Coming to Chief Terra Recekons, who was surrounded by several leading men of the Skeede Band, I suggested that we fall back down the canyon about two miles where there was a small grove of timber and make a stand.
The chief was in favor of the suggestion but Fighting Bear, of the Kitahos rebelled. He had fought the Sioux before and said we could whip them in and open fight.
It seemed but a short time when the first Sioux appeared in the distance. As the Sioux cam over the hill it was apparent that they outnumbered the fighting men of the Pawnees four to one.
I afterwards learned that there were between 1,200 and 1,500 in the band under command of Chief Snow Flake a Brule Sioux.
The Lincoln State Journal – Thursday, August 9, 1923
Convention At Trenton
Special Dispatch to the World Herald Trenton, Nebraska, August 21. -- A republican convention of Hitchcock County today made the following nominations:
For:
Clerk, George Gallager
Treasurer, John W. Fordyce
Sheriff, John H. Brown
Superintendent of public instruction, Mrs. Murdock, Judge F. M. Flansburg
Surveyor, James Ferrier, Jr.
Coroner; Dr. A. H. Thomas
Commissioner, of First district, C. S. Owens.
The central committee of the populist and democratic parties met yesterday and called their conventions for September 14. There is no doubt that complete fusion will be effected and that the winners will be named then.
Omaha World Herald - August 22, 1901
Coal In Hitchcock County
One of the greatest economical problems of Nebraska has been, and still is, the fuel problem. Coal has been the bugbear of the poor man. He has known what it is to pay $14 a ton for it, and still, as he pays $7 to $10 for it, shudders as he hears it shoveled into his stove or furnace, and grudges the warmth dispensed by his glowing grate.
The state has offered a reward to the man who will find this precious commodity in mining quantities within the limits of Nebraska, and great is the number of men who have delved in the bowels of the earth, only to meet with disappointment. Very recently, however, bituminous coal has been discovered in a river bed of Hitchcock County. Both in appearance and its combustible qualities it resembles cannel coal. How deep the vein may be remains to be developed. But at any rate the matter is worth immediate investigation.
Nothing has hurt Nebraska more than the reports which have gone out year after year concerning the burning of corn by the western farmers. These reports, though often grossly exaggerated, have had too much truth in them. Therefore, if the state should be discovered to have a fine and paying bed of coal, it would be a greater advertisement of resources of the state then anything that could be devised.
But not as an advertisement should the matter be investigated. That is, of course, a secondary matter. The vein should be investigated, and, if possible, worked for the advantage of the Nebraska settler who has already endured so many hardships, and upon whose improved condition depends the future prosperity of this state.
Omaha World Herald - March 26, 1891
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