The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-11-04
TALK WITH CAmANCHE BILL.
The Man Who Has KILLED One
Bundred' and Eighty Indians.

The Davenport Gowa) Gazette has this
account of singular character:
There has been stopping in this city
for couple Of days past, one Of those
characters who have mnde for themselves
a celebrity for their bravery aud daring
on the plains Of the far West, among the
Indians aud buffalo; in recounting who
deeds. hair breadth escapes and peculiar
life, the pages of romance are filed. The
person to whom we refer is 20 less a
character than "Camanche Bill" who ia
reputed to be the slayer Of no less than
one hundred and eighty three Indians.
He has been nine years on the plains,
part Of which time he has been in the
Government service as scout. He has
hunted and killed Indians for the pleas
ure and sweets of revenge, aud hunted
and trapped Of necessity. He is now On
his return TO bis old life IN the West,
having been on a visit to his early homo
in Minnesota. He is about twenty eight
eompiexioned, with a proldslo1nn Of hair
tlrat be wears long on the neck. His
dress is pair Of buckskin pantaloous,
ornamented from the outer seams with a
row of steel buttons, a coarse shirt. an
old coat, and broad brimmed hat His
eye is piercing keen, and he has a grip
like dozen blacksmiths. In response
to our questions he said
"My name is George W. Porter
have been on the plains since '62. was
in the Minnesota massacre, near New
Elm, the 9Th of August Of that year.
All my folks were killed except me and
my little sister, three years old, whom
they took prisoner.
Where was you 2"
81 was away at the military station N
business; went the day before. The
FIRST | knew of the massacre | was COM
ing along the road on my way home,
when saw little ways ahead of me a
wagon filed with women and children,
that the settlers had sent to the station
for protection. just then saw the In
dams pounce upon them, and | dodgrd
into the woods. l could hear the hatch
cts crushing in their heads. They killed
EN- all, every one"
What did you do ?"
"They scalped EN-, and when the coast
was clear l got out, and pretty soon
along came a company Of cavalry, and
we buried them.
Why didn't you follow after the In
dians p
Il had no horse, and the captain didu't
want his men to 20. You see that was
in so, when everything was topsy turvy."
"Did you visit the scene OF the massa-
ere at Mem Elm p
Yes I went there the next day and
saw my father and mother all scalped
aud cut up, and my sister was gone 1
swore by the Eternal God [ would never
rest until had revenge-a bloody re-
veuge.'
"Did you get any trace of your sister,"
''Why, yes they was the Yankton,
Swanee and Sioux Indians, and | knowed
them pretty we'll / learned that they
bad her. knowd what they'd do with
lyon have not been successful IN your
efforts to secure her"
No, you zee, single handed and alone,
a man don't stand much chance. That's
what had been doing all the time Once
in Arizona. was right in sight Of her.
The way l knowed it was her was, / had
been on the trail of the baud Of Sioux
that had her a long time, and she was
the only white person they bad This
was in 60, and then she looked just like
mother l waited fand watched and
watched and picked an Indian off every
little while, when he'd get a mile or two
rom camp; but it was no use. They
Kept too good watch over her."
Were you ever captured p
"Yes. The Blackfeef captured me and
Jim Branden in 81, when we were out
nuntipg. They came on US with a rush,
out they didn't get Us though until
aad killed one young buck"
what did they do with you?"
They marched about twenty-five
niles to their camp, aud they stripped US
9f everything we had, and tied US up to
stake, and let the women pound US
With clubs They did this every day for
,ight days. We were tied with bukskin
hougs, and one night it rained, and We
slipped out of 'em when they got wet.
J i'm got away all right, but just as [ was
yittin my thugs an old squaw woke up
md gave the alarm There was but four
Indians in camp. The rest had gone,on
/ hunt l run, with only knife. They
;ame up 10 me- ana nad desperate
light. One shot had hit me in the left
lrm." Exhibiting scar) II cut and
;lashed the buck that got hold Of me,
md finally gave him one under the ribs,
10 be can't tie any more thongs. And
le cut me, too, here, and here, and here.
showing scars in his arm, neck, aud
)reast) "The other buck never came
rear, for I'd got this bucks gun aforc
le'd reached us"
The rest of "Camanche Bills" story,
low he followed his sister among the
and had fight with tho
white chief of that nation, and other
equally interesting accounts we shall
have to omit. But if our readers wish
to see a genuine frontiersman, they
should call upon the Indian fighter
himself.
Hon RrflRar0 ESEIImOrP