In the evening tide, as the autumnal sun sank slowly behind distant western hills, the mist was lighted in a blaze of glory and the guards beheld three beautiful Indian maidens floating in the distance, and finally the maidens, bearing the old men who had been left on the butte, and surrounded by a strange light -- according to the legends of the Indians -- floated into the heavens, upon the wings of great birds of pure white.

The Sioux chiefs were gathered in council

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

to explain this strange phenomenon, but all shook their heads and only spoke of the Great Father. Finally, one old Sioux arose and explained that the old men had been taken to the happy hunting ground, and that the maidens had been sent as messengers of peace, and that unless they made treaty with the Crows there would be a drouth and the antelope and buffalo all leave the country; but if they did make peace the game would stay and they would want no more.

A messenger was sent after the Crows, who requested them to return, which they did, and a compact was entered into, which has not been broken to this day.

Thus Crow Butte received its name.

Brave Band of Indians Killed

In the military cemetery at Fort Robinson are the graves of about fifty Cheyenne Indians. These braves were killed in one of the sharpest conflicts that ever took place between soldiers and Indians. It was in the summer of 1878 that a band of Indians, who had been removed from Pine Ridge agency to the Indian Territory, came wandering back up the Platte and crossed over into the Running Water, where they divided into two divisions. One division continued up Running Water, while the other moved over into the Pine Ridge country, near the head of Chadron creek, and lay there quietly in camp.