The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-11-14
Camanche Bill.


Bill is in this city, stopping at the
Garrison House. He was in Chicago
during the fire, and lost his rife and
some valuable papers. Expecting to
meet certain parties there, he notified
them to come to this city instead and
he is now here awaiting their arrival.
He attracts considerable attention
wherever he appears by his singular
costume. He is rather sensitive on
this point, and for that reason does not
goabroad much. He called upon us
Saturday, and repeated much of the
story of his wrongs and sufferings at
the hands of the Indians, and his fights
with them.
His real name is George w. Potter,
and he is not more than twenty
five years of age, of medium stature,
and 1.-the and wiry build. His COM
plexion is light, and his features are
almost girlish, at least there is an alb
sence Of that coarseness and brutality
which one is apt to associate with the
kind of life he has led. He has an
eye Of piercing keenness, though not
of that wild an restless character
which the heroes of border romances
are usually supposed to possess. 1t
seems, ordinarily at least, wild enough,
and occasionally, even indulges in a
sparkle of humor. He is dressed in
buckskin pantaloons ornamented with
row of steel buttons down the outer
seam. He says tailor out in Arizona
cut these pantaloons for him, and
charged him ten dollars for the Job.
He considered it extortion, and telling
the tailor that he would pay him half
when he died and the balance when he
got back, he siezed the pantaloons, and
jumping upon his horse, "scooted,"
leaving the little tailor standing in his
door and swearing in Dutch. He con-
siders the cut a fashionable one
spring bottoms, one seem in the leg,
and all that sort of thing. The sew
ing on them he done himself, and prick
ed his fingers profusely. The balance
of his sastume consists Of coarse
shirt, which he says will stand it about
year and half without washing,
and coat made Of the skin of the
Mexican lion-"an animal which no
dog will follow"-made up with the
hair out.
He wears q broad-brimmed black
felt hat, and his luxurant brown hair
streams down over his shoulders.
He says his home is at Fort Grant,
Arizona, though for what particular
reason he calls that his home he can't
say. He lives in the saddle, fighting
Indians. He condemns tent and camp
equipage with strong emphasis, and
says he sleeps where night overtakes
him, and looks out for hls own rations.
de holds the regulars-particularly
the officers-in very low estimation.
and language fails him to express his
contempt for Government Idian agents
His Indian policy is destruction, swift
and sure for every redskin OH the con-
tinent, and he is doing his individual
best to carry out that policy. He feels
annoyed at being reported as having
killed 1873 Indians, since it looks like
Boosting, thing of which he does not
wish to seem guilty. He does not de.
ny that his good rifle has an uncontroll-
able desire to take unerring aim at
nearly every Indian who comes within
range of its muzzle.
The object of his life is to rescue his
sister, who was taken in the Minnesota
massacre in 1862, and to avenge the
death of the rest of his family who
were murdered at that time. His sis
ter, who is now twelve years old, is
held by the Camanches, and he knows
her whereabouts. He says the
Camanches know him very we'll and
are bound to Gift his hair" but he
don't think they will ever be able to
do it, and that he Will yet get his sis
ter. If he ever does get her he pre-
sumes she will be a regular savage,
having lived so long with them, but he
will take her off so far that she will new
er see a red man again. Then his pur-
pose is to devote the remainder of his
life to avenge the murder of his parents
and brothers and sisters. His CONVEX
sation cannot fail to impress one with
the earnestness of his purpose.
He is an excellent representative of
the hunter and scouts of the plains,
finding his highest enjoyment in row.
ing over the almost boundless wilds of
the Western Territories, in an occa-
sional brush with the Indians, and in
hunting the buffalo and grizzly. He
can't make himself comfortable in a
bed and declares that of all the institu-
tions of civilization they are the worst.
He rolls himself up in blanket and
camps on the floor.
He says he is going back next month
to continue the search for his sister.
He will take two good and true men
with him, and that is all the assistance
he wants. He has confidence that he
will be successful before spring.
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