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Show I Qtorics of GREAT INDIANS j By ELMO SCOTT WATSON t-opjiidUl, LJ.i, ttmlvtu .Mirtbiiul'iT Uiilnii. ROMAN NOSE'S MEDICINE WAR BONNET FAILED HIM A CHEYENNE war party was attacking attack-ing a .Mormon emigrant train oa the Oregon trail. As one of Its defenders de-fenders dropped lo the ground mortally mortal-ly wounded a magnificent proportioned pro-portioned warrior dashed forward to "count coup" (touch the fallen enemy). The hat of the dead man had fallen off, exposing his bald head. As the red man struck the dead emigrant emi-grant he shouted to the other Indians "Your Roman Nose has counted the first coup on the longest-faced white man ever killed." In many respects Roman Nose (Woqulni "Hooked Nose") of the Northern Cheyennes was the Ideal type of the Indian warrior. Although he was not a chief, incidents of his great strength, masterful personality nnd wonderful bearing are legion. Once In a buffalo hunt his brother-in-law drew his bowstring so powerfully that it broke. The arrow was thrown high Into the air as the sinew snapped. Roman Nose happened to ride up close behind his companion at this instant. Reaching up lie caught the shaft, snapped it against Ids own bowstring and shot the buffalo dead. A man of more reckless daring In battle never lived. He had a war bonnet, the wearing of which he fondly believed protected him from danger. His faith in it was justified until the day of the famous tight with Gen. G. A. Forsyth's t2 scouts at Beecher's Island. Colo., on September 18, 1S0S. Before going into the battle Roman Nose told his companions that he felt sure he would be killed that day. According to the belief the power of the war bonnet would fail if he ever ate anything that was taken from a dish with tin Iron utensil. That morning at a feast given by his friends the Sioux, one of the women who served the meal had used a fork to take the food from the frying pan. When his friends learned of this they urged him to go through the ceremony of purification necessary to restore the power of the war bonnet, but Forsyth's For-syth's scouts appeared before he could do so. Therefore with the certain knowledge knowl-edge Hint he would be killed. Roman j Nose assembled his warriors and ied them on a charge against Forsyth. He nlmost rode over two of the scouts who were concealed in some high ! grass a short distance from the main command. One of these men fired. The Cheyenne fell from his horse, shot through the hack and mortally wounded. That evening nt sundown ! Roman Nose died. .The strong medi- I cine of his war bonnet bad failed him j at last. |