mooney] THE SWORD-BEARER AFFAIR 707 



What other claims he made are not known, but his words produced 

 such an impression, it is said, that for a time every t'ull-lil 1 and half- 

 blood among the Crows believed in him. 



In a few months he had become one. of the most influential leaders in 

 the tribe, when, taking advantage of some dissatisfaction toward the 

 agent, he headed a demonstration against the agency on September 30. 

 Troops under ( reneral Ruger were called on to arrest him and the others 

 concerned, and in attempting to do this, on November •">, 18S7, a skir- 

 mish ensued in which Sword-bearer was killed. His death convinced 

 his followers of the falsehood of his pretensions, and the tribe, which 

 hitherto had always been loyal to the government, soon resumed its 

 friendly attitude. (Sec. War, :': A. G. <)., 3; additional details from n 

 personal letter by Colonel Simon Snyder, Fifteenth infantry.) 



The action is graphically described by Roosevelt on the authority of 

 one of the. officers engaged. When the troops arrived, they found the 

 Crow warriors awaiting them on a hill, mounted on their war ponies 

 and in full paint and buckskin. In this author's words — 



The Crows on the hilltop showed a sullen and threatening front, and the troops 

 advanced slowly toward them, and then halted for a parley. Meanwhile a mass of 

 black thunder clouds gathering on the horizon threatened one (rt' those cloudbursts 

 of extreme severity and suddenness so characteristic of the plains country. While 

 still trying to make arrangements for a parley, a horseman started out of the Crow 

 ranks and galloped headlong down toward the troops. It was the medicine chiel 

 .Sword-hearer. He was painted and in his battle dress, wearing his war bonnet of 

 floating, trailing eagle feathers, and with the plumes of the same bird braided m the 

 mane and tail of his fiery little horse. On he came at a gallop almost up to the 

 troops, and then began to circle around them, calling and singing, and throwing his 

 red sword into the air, catching it by the hilt as it fell. Twice he rode completely 

 arouud the troops, who stood in uncertainty, not knowing n hat to make of his per- 

 formance, and expressly forbidden to shoot at him. Then, paying no further heed 

 to them, he rode back toward the (rows. It appears that he had told the latter 

 that he would ride twice around the hostile force, and by his incantations would 

 call down rain from heaven, which would make the hearts of the white men like 

 water, so that they would go back to their homes. Sure enough, while the arrange- 

 ments for the parley were still going forward, down came the cloudburst, drenching 

 the command, and making the ground on the hills in front nearly impassable; and 

 before it dried a courier arrived with orders to the troops to go back to camp. 



This fulfillment of Sword-bearer's prophecy of course raised his reputation to the 

 zenith, and the young men of the tribe prepared for war. while the older chiefs, who 

 more fully realized the power of the whites, still hung hack. When the troops next 

 appeared, they came upon the entire Crow force, the women and children with their 

 tepees being off to one side beyond a little stream, while almost all the warriors of 

 the tribe were gathered in front. Sw ord-bearer started to repeat his former ride, to 

 the intense irritation of the soldiers. Luckily, however, this time some of his young 



men could not be restrained. They, t began to ride near the troops, and one of 



them was unable to refrain from tiring on Captain Edwards's troop, which was 

 in the van. This gave the soldiers their chance. They instantly responded with 

 a volley, and Edwards's troop charged. The light lasted only a minute or two, for 

 Sword-bearer was struck by a bullet and fell; and as he had boasted himself 

 invulnerable and promised that his warriors should be invulnerable also if they 

 would follow- him. the hearts of the latter became as water, and they broke in every 

 direction. 'Roosevelt, J.) 



