Life, morality, soul, all the finer Instincts of man, were subordinated and submerged in the one great purpose of greed. The stories of Sage in Rock Mountain Travels, include events in the history of the Panhandle of Nebraska. Sage went out over the route later designated as the Red Cloud Trail, with a party of the traders, and his is a harrowing recital of the drama of life on the Running Water and White River in 1845.

"Soon after arrival at White River, a man was sent to a nearby Indian village, with a keg of diluted rum for the purpose of trade. The Indians wanted it "as a gift on the prairie," which the trader refused. A fight ensued, and the trader and two protecting soldiers were beaten off, the former after having been dragged through the lodge fire three or four times, narrowly escaped with his life.

"The Indians then attacked and took the trading post of the American Fur Company, and robbed it of both liquor and goods."

About the same time two traders from another fur company appeared and one had liquor and the other goods to trade. The Indians were treated, and as usual, commenced to fight. In the end they attacked the other trader. He was compelled to flee, and through the friendly assistance of squaws, he managed to escape with his life. His goods were taken, and one of the Indians who had defended him, was

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

murdered, while several others suffered wounds.