332 CALENDAR HISTORY OF THE KIOWA [eth.axn. 17 



my warriors, whom I wished to teach how to fight, to Texas, witli the chiefs Satauli 

 ISrt-iingi/a'i, Eagle-heart, Big-tree, Big-bow, ami Fast-bear. We found a mule train, 

 which we captured, and killed seven of the men. Tliree of our men got killed, but 

 we are willing to call it even. It is all over now, and not necessary to say much 

 more about it. We don't expect to do any raiding around here this summer. If 

 any other Indian claims the honor of leading that party he will be lying to you, for 

 I led it myself." 



Satank, Eagle-heart, and Big- tree were present, and assented to the correctness of 

 the statement made by Satanta. That they were guilty of murder in the first degree 

 I had not the shadow of a doubt, and thought that forbearauce in the case had ceased 

 to be a virtue and would become a crime. I told the meu to go to issuing and I 

 ■would go to the fort (Sill). I went to C(donel Grierson's quarters and recjuested 

 him to arrest Satanta, Satank, Eagle-heart, Big-tree, liig-bow, and Fast-bear on the 

 charge of murder. Scarcely had the order been given when, to the surprise of all of 

 of us, Satanta took the post interpreter into Colonel Griersou's quarters. He had 

 heard that there was a big Washington chief there (General Sherman), and he 

 probably wished to measure up with him and see how they compared. AVhen I 

 started to the agency he said he would go with me, but some soldiers stepped in front 

 of him with their revolvers and ordered him back, and he quietly obeyed. The 

 colonel sent for Satank and Eagle-heart to go to his quarters. Satank went and 

 was arrested. Eagle-heart got nearly there and saw Big-tree being arrested, and he 

 turned and fled. Kicking-bird pled eloquently for the release of the three prisoners, 

 although he entirely disapproved of their raiding. 



A day or two after the arrest. Colonel Mackeuzie, in command of the troops from 

 Fort Richardson, arrived at Fort Sill and reported that the heavy and continued 

 rains had obliterated the tracks of the raiding Indians so that they could not be 

 followed. After remaining a few days, the colonel with his troops took charge of 

 the prisoners to convey them to Texas for trial. Satank was so refractory that he 

 was put into a wagon with two soldiers, and Satanta and Big-tree were put into 

 another wagon. George Washington, a Caddo Indian, rode alongside of the wagons 

 as they left Fort Sill. Satank called to him and said: "I wish to send a little 

 message by you to my people. Tell them that I am dead. I died the first day out, 

 and my bones will be lying on the side of the road. I wish my people to gather 

 them up and take them home.'' Satanta also sent a message, saying: "Tell my 

 people to take the forty-one mules that we stole from Texas to the agent, as he and 

 Colonel Grierson require. Don't commit any depredations around Fort Sill or 

 in Texas." 



When about a mile from the post Satank sang his death song, and with his back 

 to the guard drew the shackles otf his hands by taking some of the skin with them. 

 Then with a butcher knife which he had secreted, he started for the guard in the 

 front part of the wagon, cutting one of the soldieis slightly in the leg. They both 

 jumped out, leaving their guns. Satank picked up one of them and commenced 

 loading it, wanting to kill one more man. Before he got it loaded lie received 

 several shots, and in twenty minutes died in much agony, gritting his teeth. Colouel 

 Grierson had him buried at Fort Sill. He gave the Indians i)ermission totakehira up 

 and convey him to their camp for interment, which they declined to do. 



Mr Leeper, my interpreter, who has since been a practicing physician in Chicago, 

 and Horace P. Jones, the post interpreter, attended the trial of Satanta and Big-tree 

 at Jacksboro. The jury brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree, and sen- 

 tenced them to be hung on the 1st of the following September. I had requested 

 that they be not executed, and gave my reasons for thinking that such a course would 

 have a better etfcct upon the Indians of the reservation. The judge wrote me that 

 he approved of my request and would ask the governor to commute the sentence to 

 life imprisonment, which was done. The Kiowas delivered to me the stolen mules, 

 as Satanta requested. 



