A BUFFALO BILL EPISODE -- MORE INDIAN TROUBLES

There seems to have been little systematic endeavor on the part of the Indians following the Grattan trouble. Bands of hostiles, independent of others, committed depredations here and there at widely scattered intervals.

The Plum Creek affair, the Massacre of Eubanks, the surveying party of the Republican and attacks on the Overland : always there were surprise attacks on the route from civilization's advance guard to the mountains.

This condition required guards convoying emigrants or freight wagons, and while for days they might pass unmolested, any moment might bring startling denouement.

Col. W. F. Cody related to me one incident, when I asked him a few years ago to tell me one of his adventures along the "North River," that I might have a close at home event to chronicle.

Buffalo Bill and two companions had this experience in June, 1858, just over the hill east of Ash Hollow.

He and Simpson and Woods were detailed as guards in connection with others for the convoying of a train of freight wagons from Fort Laramie to Fort Kearney, and they had camped at Ash Hollow. The following day one part of the wagon train had departed with a part of the guard, and Cody Simpson and Woods were to follow up. The other detachment of wagon were to follow a day later.

The three were some distance in the rear of the first wagons, after they had passed over the big hill east of Ash Hollow, which, having been gone several hours, were out of sight. The guards were riding mules, and the J Indians were of such superior numbers, they concluded their only means of defense was continued resistance until the following day, when the second detachment would overtake them. Even this seemed hopeless.