THE OMAHA DAILY BEE ; SUNDAE. OCTOBER 21. 18S3.-SIXTEEN PAGES. 18
BROWNING , KING & CO.
Largest Manufacturers and Retailers of Clothing in the World ,
Henry W. King & Co. and Browning , King & Co. are one find the same firm. They manufacture Twice as Much Clothing as any other firm
in this country. Every dollar's worth sold in their Eight Great Stores , both wholesale and retail , is of their own manufacture .
An idea of the magnitude of the business can be formed by the following figures :
They have on hand at the factory at all times
$500,000 Worth of Piece Goods and Trimmings.
Cut an Average of 3,500 , Garments a Week ,
Have Turned Out 1,367,000 Garments in a Year.
Paid for Labor in 1887 , $966,000.
Sales Aggregated , $6,000,000
Will open their DAYLIGHT STORE on the Southwest Corner of Fifteenth and Douglas Streets , Omaha.
October 25th.
The Best Goods at the Lowest Living Prices. WAIT FOR US.
WNING , KING & , CO
Southwest corner 15th and Douglas Streets.
R. S. WILCOX , Manager.
CROOK'S ' NARROW ESCAPE ,
A Thrilling Adventure With the Noz
Force Indians.
HE IS WOUNDED BY AN ARROW
And Still Carries the Flint In Ills
Thigh A I'rcolpltuitH Advance
Itetrcat A Sliowor
of Arrows.
The Arrow Flint.
N lust Sunday's
B K K was related -
latod the thrill
ing story of
G o n. Crook's
fl rs t Indian
, fight , to which
was appended
the promise in
thin issue of an
other of the old
campaigner's
ad vo u t u res ,
which , while
equally as au
thentic , will bo
found much
more intercst-
ingnndoxcitlng. It had place in the
tame territory.Orogonnnd within a few
weeks subsequent to the incident pre
viously narrated.
It was on n fine day in the latter part
of October , forty years ago , when the
regiment , to which Crook was attached
in the ollieo of first lieutenant , was sta
tioned at , the isolated little post of
Brown's Hole.
Perchance a brief description of this
old-time frontier post will not come
amishere. .
Brown's IIolo was one of the most remarkable -
markablo forts on the whole Pacific
coast. It was originally called Fort
Davy Crockett , hut shortly after its
erection was termed Brown's Hole. It
stood on the ShcotMcnduo or Pralrio
Cock river , aud was more than a mile
and a hulf above the sea level. Prairie
Cock river is now marked on the maps
as Green river. The plain upon which
tUo ix > st waa situated was about six
miles across and was walled in com
pletely by a chain of inoun tains rising lif-
teen hundred feet above. The Sheets-
kadoo entered the plain from the north
west side and sweeping around in a
beautiful curve in front of the fort
made its way through the rugged clilfa
full a thousand foot in height , where it
motes ever with a solemn calm that is
indescribable.
Not the loaat remarkable peculiarity
of this plain Is its climate. Forming a
plateau , us it does , over eight thousand
feet in height , one would suppose nu
eternal winter to hold reign. On the
contrary the rich mountain grasses
with numerous copses of willow ani
cotton wood , were then crowing the
entire year , and when the blasts of winter -
tor whirled the snow in blinding drifts
over the mountain peaks and in the
country around , the horses of the cav
alrymen could be noon cropping the
herbage on the banks of the Sheets
kadeo , and the soldiers themselves ii
the height of enjoyment.
The fort originally WM a hollow
square of log cabins , with roofs and
leers constructed of mud. Around the
outside were numerous shanties , where
the families of the white trappers ro-
nalnod while the latter were absent
among the mountains on beaver runs.
Many of the Shoshone or Snake In
dians , ' as well as the Blnckfcot-
Sioux and NoPorco , frequented
the fort. They appeared in
argest numbers during the winter
months , when they brought largo quan
tities of venison , bulTalo and" mountain
sheep meat and exchanged the same
with the pobt trader for beads , trinkets ,
ammunition , etc. A store Ijouso alf-o
stood on the outside , where the trappers
bartered their furs , and the Indians
their ponies for hatchets , knivcb , ( Ish
hooks , lead and last , but not least , for
whisky.
The Shoshoncs were the nearest as
similated to the whites , and during the
eovoro months nearly the whole tribe
would pilch their lodges on the plain
around Brown's Hole , while scores of
huntoi-H and trappers congregated
within the Blockade or among the In
dians' squawsand a bconoof enjoyment ,
such as they rarely experienced , was
indulged in. There were gatherings
among the redskin lodges , whore botli
races assembled , and the wild
song of the dusky warrior , min-
irled with the catarrhal screech
of the old trapper's filddlo and
there was dancing , and love-making
and marriage , in fact all that goes to
make up life. And many were the wiord
legends related bv some old sagamore or
grizzly trapper , who perhaps had hunted
on snow shoes in Prince Huports land ,
or penetrated to the Fro/.on Sea for
seals and walruses ; many was the es
capes narrated by these hardy , venture
some spirits , who had stealthily secured
thler peltries on the shores of the far off
Columbia , or among the wildest fast
nesses of the Rocky mountains , in spite
of the florco and treacherous Blackfoot
or NoPorco. .
But these days have faded like dreams
and fables and romance , trodden into
oblivion by the relentless foot of civil
ization , only to bo revived now and
then , in the manner of the present inci
dent.
It was a balmy day in Oc
tober , as I said in the out-
bct , when a Shoshone scout arrived at
the fort with the Intelligence that the
murderous NoPcrco were making ex
tensive preparations for a formidable
inroad against the sparse settlements
about Brown's Hole and Shullord , far
ther below.
General Unfits Terrell was In com
mand in those days , and in order to be
fully prepared for the contemplated
descent of the savages , he detailed
Lieutenant Crook and n portion of hit *
troop of calvery men to penetrate their
country as far as was safe and take ob
servation as far as possible , and tiseer-
taln whether or not the Indians were
already on the move.
The scouting party was compoaod ol
men every ono of whom had boon se
lected as most skilled in Indian warfare.
On the present occasion , how ever , Crook
realized that celerity of action was much
more essential , rather than any great
finesse of movement or knowledge of
contending with the bloodthirsty deni
zens of the north.
That very afternoon horses were sad
dled and stood at the fort front with
their eager riders booted , spurred and
armed to the tooth with such weapons
as wore in vogue with the army in those
times.
At a given signal they wore off , and
when the hardy little band of horsemen
had roaohod the last point from which
their forms were visible to the soldier *
\\utchiuf their departure , they wheeled ,
jave a round of cheers , and then , ore
, ho answering shout had died away in
nournful echo , they were hidden , some
of them forever , over the shadowy bwell
of the plain.
At sundown that night they came
to a small river , a tributary of
the Big Horn , where they struck
camp for the night. And as yet no In
dian "sign" had been discovered. The
Slioshonc scout wa- stolid and uncom
municative , and when asked when
something of the enemy might bo ex
pected to become doscerniblo , he simply
grunted :
"Morrow ! "
The stream upon which they bivou
acked was narrow , but deep and clear ,
Mowing swiftly over a bed of white
puhblus , that could bo been glistening
far out from the shore. The water ,
hardly ever free from the snow of the
mountains , was of ioy coldness. The
grass along its banks was luxuriant , and
the soldiers tethered their jaded ani
mals , while they busied themselves
with their evening repast. Ono of the
soldiers gathered tin armful of commotes
and pommc blnncs , which grew plenti
fully around them , and these , with their
hard tack , bacon und tea made a very
relisluible meal.
The commote is a vegetable resembling
the common radish , and IH found in all
the river bottoms of the northwest , but
the ponuno blnno isauativo of the hills ,
and much resembles , both in si/o and
taste , our common turnip , although
much more nourishing than the latter.
They wore up and oil early the next
morning , and with but few halts for
rest and nourishment traveled through
a wild and unbroken country until well
along in the afternoon. Suddenly the
Shoihono called a halt , and fastening
his glittering eyes on Lieutenant
Crook s face , and stretching out his
long , naked arm , he pointed with his
linger to the northwest. In this signifi
cant , yet comprehensive attitude , ho
blood for a few seconds , moveless as a
statute , then slightly inclining his
slender body forward , he dropped his
hand to the bandlo of his tomahawk
and said : "NoPcrco in do valley war
paint on my way to Brown's , Shollor's ,
kill soldier , run off homo ugh ! much
heap bad Indian ! "
The Indian's cjulck eye had discovered
the proxlmitv of the foe , and Lieuten
ant Crook , closely surging the country ,
discovered that the red scent was pointIng -
Ing directly at a deep rout , or arroyo
that out like a huge furrow in the earth
transversely across the rugged plain on
which they found themselves.
Next ho discovered a spiral of bluish
smoke arising from this valley , ana
know that they were near the onomy.
A consultation was hold , short but
conclusive. The Indiansif not in great
numbers should be attacked. If the
force was too large , the trout ) would
draw olT to a safe distance and watch
their movements.
Two good men were sent forward to
roconnoltor. They returned in the
course of an hour and informed Crook
that there were but twenty of the In
dians , and that they were on the war
path. They were camped in a deep
valley , walled on the side on which the
soldiers were by a dangerous precipice.
The Nozo Perco were gathered about
a fire preparing a moul of roast deer ,
apparently utterly unsuspicious of the
nearness of any foo. The gulch in
which they had squatted was wild and
desolate , with a broad stream flowing
southward beyond their camp , while
both sides was walled up by massive
rooks , and shaggy shrubbery , to the
height of a hundred feet or more.
Along the summit of thla precipice on
the side the troops were , was a thick
growth of under-brush , which entirely
concealed the approach of the soldiers ,
who , at Crook's ' command , had dis
mounted , and guns in hand , cautiously
approached the rocky escarpment.
They were soon in a position to com-
mnna a clear view of the Nez Perce
gathered on the plalcau at the bottom
of the gulch ; some were loitering indo
lently upon the ground , while a number
squalled about tin : lire in different atti-
tudes. They wore an ugly looking
gang , and after a short scrutiny. Crook
ordered hia men to make ready , then
to fire.
The volley was a deadly one , as Iho
forms of several dead Indians attested ,
but the remainder with wild yells of
dismay , leaped to their feet and scat
tered in all directions , fleeing for their
lives.
Crook , calling to his men rushed
down the stoop embankment , followed
by a number of the more oourragoous of
his mpn. Once in thu vnlloy ho behold
ono big tufted buck , holding a bundle
over his head , swimming the rivor.
lie ran forward , gained the shore , and
lifting his carbine fired. The Indian
.sank and was seen no more. At this
juncture a shower of arrows from be
hind the rocks and trees , where the
frightened NeI'orco had taken shelter ,
sent Crook's men clambering up the
.sides of Iho canyon again faster than
Uioy had coino down , Ihe general saw
that it would foolhardy for him to re
main , and he turned lo re trout and as
ho did HO he heard the twnng of a bow ,
and the next second a barbed arrow was
sticking in his hip. With a cry of pain
ho pulled the shaft out , breaking off the
beau , which remained buried in the
llobh.
Then amidst n very shower of arrows
ho ran as best ho could , and with the
assistance of one of his men. who had
rushed to his rescue , ho gained the top
of the escarpment without further in
jury or accident.
An they gained the canyon's top , they
saw the Indians leave their places of
concealment and cross the river and
they felt for Ihe time being they wore
gouo.
Lieutenant Crook's wound was blood
ing profusaly , and his men gathered
around him'and did all they could lo
relieve his pain. The arrow head was
htill in his hip , and no ono daring to
attempt to cut it out , the wound was
bandaged as bust they could , and that
that night the troup t > ot out on their
return to the fofct , as Crook knew it was
medical aid or death with him.
They were quite eighty miles from
Brown's hole a Jerriblo long , rough
ride but they made it , reaching there
the following ny ) ruing about noon. The
lieutenant was faint aud weak from loss
of blood and lija .laborious march , and
to make matte.rsi Alarming , gangrene
had set in , and jiJiCiHurgoon at Iho fort
was absent , had gone to Shaller's ,
Eoventy-flve nului ) away , that very
morning. , , i
Crook's brother oflicors cauterized
the wound , and. doctored it up as best
they could , butt tUo lieutenant would
allow no ono to jattQinpt the necessary
surgery to roruow the barb of the
arrow.
The regular surgeon was sent for but
he didn't arrive until the next day.
The wound was then in such a precarious
condition that ho thought best not to
attempt to remove the Hint buried deep
in the general's hip.
And so it happened. To this day the
barbed head of the Nci Porco's arrow
remains In General Crook's hip , and on
cold , damp days ho suffers some from it ,
and cannot walk without a slight per-
captible limp. Otherwise it has Incon
venienced him none , and ho will carry
this evidence of ono of the narrowest
escapes of his life down to hia grave.
SANDV G. V. GitiswoLD.
Coquelin , it is said , has accepted an
invitation to lecture at Harvard college dur
ing his coming engagement In Boston.
HONE OF OUR NATIONAL ODE
The Birth-plaoo of the "Star
Spangled Banuor. "
HOW THE SONG WAS COMPOSED.
A Visit to Port lUolIenry Its H iitory
mid Historical Connections-
Present Appearance
and Use.
HUtorlc Ground.
ALTISIOUK , Oct. 15.
[ S p o cial corres
pondence of THIS
BEK ] Situated at
the extremity of a
long , narrow neck
of land , about two
miles distant from
Baltimore proper ,
fT.1. stands a row of
f ? grass covered
B mounds like senti
nels posted for the
proleclion of a large gray mass behind.
This constitutes that old hintorical place
called Fort MoIIenry. The fort itself
comprises a largo star shaped row of
breastworks constructed of brick with
.sandstone corners and capped
with gray granite. Within these
walls are several magazines , pas
sages ana store rooms placed
in various positions for protection
against bombs. The whole was , some
considerable time since , covered with
earth so that now the tops of the ram
parts are entirely overgrown with grass.
The exposed parts of the brickwork had ,
at ono time , a thin coat of plaster and
were either painted or whitewashed.
At present the original red of the bricks
may bo seen in spots and streaks where
the water has worn away the covering.
At the front , which faces the Patapsco
river , extends a long line of grass-
covered earthworks , the regularity of
which is broken by three rectangular
mounds with stands of artillery rising
above the surrounding works. The whole
extent of this is probably five hundred
foot , The view looking toward the bay
is magnificent. In front stretches an
expanse of water , broken in many
places by passing vessels both large and
small. To the loft may bo seen the
scattered warehouses and piers of Bal
timore , to the right lies a row of green
hills , interspersed with groups of trees
and here and there a farm house , but
forming a portion of the country across
the rivor.
The annals of this place are not only
historic , but Interesting in many
points. The advantage of this prom
ontory was early marked and made use
of as a position for the defence of the
upper part of the bay. A fort was
erected at Whetstone point , as it was
then culled , and held throughout the
revolution. In 1701 , during the general
hostilities between European nations ,
the neutrality of this country was often
violated England , and the trouble at onetime
time threatened war. Hence President
Washington announced an embargo for
thirty days and on account of the 1m-
pending danger , the inhabitants nt
Whetstone Point repaired the original
fort and added the star-shaped brick
works. Over the archway at the en
trance the figures 1794 may yet be made
out , but with some difllculty. This
point of land was soon afterward ceded
to the United States , receiving the name
Fort Mcllonry in honor of James Me-
Henry of Maryland , then secretary of
war. It was made a regular government
mont garrison , but occupied no attcn
tion until the war of 1812.
It was here then , that the attempted
invasion of the British was checked and
repelled. After burning Washington
in 1814 the land and naval forces of the
enemy turned northward , flushed with
victory. They met a repulse by
our militia at North Point but
looked forward to a triumph
ant capture of tha batteries at
Fort McIIenry and also these erected
at Lazaretto , a projecting point of land
just opposite. The actual bombardment
began on September 12 and continued
throughout the night and on the next
day. Some of the ships passed up the
Patapsco , but were almost annihilated
in their attempts to force the rear of
fort. Having lost their commander and
being unable to continue the bambard-
mont , the English retired. The treaty
of peace signed in the following De
cember put an end to hostilities , with
the exception of the ill-fated battle of
Now Orleans.
It was during the torribto bombard
ment of the night of September 12 that
the famous "Star Spangled Banner" was
composed. Francis Scott Key , then a
resident of Baltimore , was detained on
board ono of the British ships
while trying , under a flag of
truce , to effect and exchange of
captive friends. Being of a poetic
tomperment , it was during that event
ful night that he jotted down on an old
envelope these patriotic words. Its com
position has boon described in the fol
lowing extract :
' 'It was under these trying circum
stances thnt ho composed the Htar
Spangled Banner , descriptive of the
scones of that doubtful night and of his
own excited feelings. As the struggle
ceases upon the coming of morn uncer
tain of its results , his eye seeks for tha
flag of his country , and ho asks in
doubt :
"Oh I say can you sco by the dawn's early
light ,
What so proudly we balled at the- twilights
last gleaming ;
Whose broad strums anU bright stars through
the perilous light ,
O'er the rnmparts we watched , were so gal
lantly stumming ! "
And then us through the mists of the
deep dimly loomed that gorgeous
banner fluttering in the first raya of the
morning sun , ho exclalmes triumph
antly :
"T'U the star banner
spangled ! Oh long
may it wave
O'er the land of the free aud the home of the
bravo.
This outburst of a pool's heart thrilled
through the soula of his brethren.
They took it up it swelled from mil
lions of voices , and it became the proud
national anthem of the whole union :
And it goes on to toll how the song first
became so popular.
Dlt is such scenes and uttrring events
that the historical old fort brings to the
mind of a visitor as he gazes at the gray
mass so unpretentious yet uo formidable.
It IB now used , together with the sur
rounding buildings , as n garrison for
United States troops. At present but
three companies of artillery huvo
their headquarters thero. The grounds
are neatly kept ; the road beds are
paved with broken oyster shells , form
ing a sort of macadam , the lawn back of
the fort la used as drill and parade
grounds and Is sot off by piles of sheila
and captured cannon as ornaments. Tha
soldiers' quarters are in comfortable
looking brick buildings , while the o Ul
cers'tlwollings consist of separate frame
structures , a kind of building quite un
common in this part of the country.
The chapel is u dilapidated brick bulld-
ng whose cracks and defects are partly
hidden by the ivy overgrowing it. A
small piece of the front wall has fallen
out , and altogether it has an antique
appearance , but it is not aa old as the
fort by over half a century. In the
walk loading to the door there is im
bedded a marble slab bearing the
date 1850. All the buildings are
of course of comparatively recent
construction. Besides all these there
are separata magazines and work shops
and a dook belonging to the place.
While they are interesting in them
selves , they have not the historical at
tachments of the elder structures , and
are used for the same purposes as the
other United States forts all over the
country. VrcTon ROSEWATKII.
IMPIETIES.
Handwriting on the wall Is not terrible ;
but It Is generally vulgar , and shows ignor
ance and bad spelling.
Christian Martyr ( in the spirit world )
Were you ever on a raokl Modern spirit-
No , but I've ' been on a dentist's chair.
Wo believe Adam was the first man to
start this extraordinary theory that mar
riage U a failure. Hut we must bonr in
mind that Adam's opportunities for observa
tion outside of his own family were very
iniited.
Minister ( consoling Mormon cUor over the
death of his wife ) "I syiuputhl/.o with , you
deeply , Mr. Ilrlgham , in your sad affliction. "
Mormon iSlder "Ah , yes , it's hard , it's
hard I" Minister "Still , Mr. Brlgbam , it
isn't ' as bad as if you or only bad one , you
know. "
A minister was questioning his Hunday
school about the story of Eutyuhus , the
younp man who , while listening to tha
preaching of the Apostle Paul , foil asleep ,
und falling down was taken up dead.
"What , " said the preacher , "do you loaru
from this solemn ovontl" Then the reply
from a little girl oume pat and prompt :
"Please sir , ministers should learn not to
preach too long sermons. "
"What Is the trouble I" asked neolxebub of
Lucifer , who was walking up and down the
infernal regions in a very disconsolate man
ner. "Trouble enough , " was the roapouso.
"More people than we can accommodate ! "
"Worso than that. I'm afraid that wo will
have to shut up shop altogether. " "Shut up
the old place that wo have boon running so
long and so successfully ! " " 1'lmt'H it. ' '
"For what reason I" "I sco that the ooul
dealers are about to on tor Into another trust. "
EDUCATIONAL.
The freshman class at Harvard college * this
year numbers over three hundred studonw.
Among Ihe lecturers at Yolo tUU year will
be Bishop Potter and O. W. Cable , the novel
ist.
Yacht Designer Burgess will deliver a
course of lecture * at Corucll university IbU
year.
year.Founders'
Founders' day at Lohlgh university was
yesterday fitly commemorated by oxurcise *
of a very Interesting character.
John Swlnton'e history has been thrown
out of the lioaton public schools by an almost
unanimous vote of the school board.
The Japanese government has established
n college for women under Hngllsh auspices.
H U to be ruled by a committee of Knglfoh
women for six years.
Clinton ScolUrd , a clever verso writer ,
has been made assistant professor of rhetoric
al Hamilton college a position In which ho
will bo useful rather than ornamental.
President Carter , of Williams college , baa
received n gift of fJO.OOO to found a library
in honor of James Uuthven Adrlance , of the
class of ' 76 , who died a year after graduation.
Rov. Dr. W. K. Hocus has been elected
chancellor of the university of Georgia. Ho
Is a brother-in-law of the rebel general , H.
It. Law on. He was born In India , wuor *
til * parents wore mUtlouarlei.
