During the period that Bill was scouting for Gen. Curtis, he fought a
duel to the death with an Indian chief, the particulars of which are
partially forgotten, and the facts, therefore, can only be imperfectly
recited. The details, so far as Dr. Thorne can remember them, are
as follows: It will be remembered that during the civil war several
tribes of Indians were employed, chiefly for foraging purposes, by
both Federals and Confederates, the largest force being commanded by
Gen. Jim Lane. Gen. Curtis had received information through a friendly
tribe of Sioux Indians, in Kansas, that a hostile camp of Choctaws had
been pitched on the Kaw river, a few miles west of Lawrence. The chief
of the Sioux, Man-to-yu-kee, (Conquering Bear,) appeared before Gen.
Curtis at Leavenworth and offered to accompany any white man he might
choose to send, as a spy into the enemy’s camp. Gen. Curtis at once
selected Wild Bill for the dangerous mission. Upon setting out on the
journey, Bill had his suspicions aroused by the anxiety of the chief,
and frankly told the Indian that if he betrayed him death would be the
consequence.
The two proceeded cautiously, Bill’s eyes being almost constantly on
the chief, lest the treachery he suspicioned would lead him into a
fatal trap. His fears were realized when the two had got within a short
distance of the hostile camp, for the chief had misled him and then
suddenly disappeared. Bill managed, with his usual good fortune, to
escape the Choctaws after getting inside the picket lines, although
several times they came within a few feet of his hiding places. He made
his way back to Leavenworth, where, after reporting the result of his
trip, he directed his steps toward the camp of the Sioux.
Bill could never discover the motive which prompted the chief to thus
betray him, but he was determined to be revenged. He was personally
acquainted with many of the Sioux, and one of the most trusted ones
he employed to lure the chief to a lone spot where he could take his
revenge. The stratagem succeeded, and, ere the chief was aware, he was
brought face to face with Bill in a sequestered spot thirty miles west
of Kansas City. Bill told the chief that he intended to kill him for
his treachery, and thereupon threw the Indian a pistol, telling him
to defend himself. The chief knew Bill to be a dead shot, and objected
to fighting a duel with pistols, but, being compelled to fight, he
agreed to meet Bill in a hand-to-hand encounter with bowie-knives.
Each carried such a knife, and therefore no further preliminaries were
necessary. The bright, long, keen blades were unsheathed, and each
holding a knife aloft in his right hand advanced to meet the other.
The Indian fought shy and tried to back to cover, but Bill threatened
to shoot him if he left a circle which he then made. Again the two
came together, their hands clenched, at the center of the circle, and,
as the chief was much the stronger, he held Bill’s striking hand for
nearly half an hour, their knives being locked together. A favorable
opportunity being presented, Bill partly tripped the chief, and the
hold was loosened. For a third time they came together, but this time
the result was fearful. Bill slashed at the Indian’s heart, but the
blow lost its full effect by striking the buckskin vest and a buckle on
the suspender which the chief chanced to wear. But the buckle was cleft
in twain, and the Indian’s left side was cut open to the ribs. But Bill
had not escaped, for the Indian, also aiming at Bill’s heart, struck
his arm near the shoulder and stripped the flesh down the bone two
inches.
The combatants presented a terrible spectacle as they came together a
fourth time. The blood was streaming from each and making the ground
fairly muddy over which they fought. The chief was the first to strike
next, but the blow was caught on the edge of Bill’s knife, and, with
a lightning parry and thrust, Bill cut the Indian’s throat, almost
severing the head from the body.
The wound Bill received caused him great annoyance, for after partially
healing, a fistula formed, which Dr. Thorne treated for several months
before he recovered the use of his arm. This fight was one of the most
terrible ever man engaged in, and nothing could evidence a man’s pluck
more conclusively than this did Bill’s.