The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-30
The Prairie Police.

Cooperative Win the regular Boldlery
Of the frontier forts in the West and
Southwest, for the pursuit and capture
Of Indian depredators, hnll-breed out
laws, white horse-thieves, and otheI
criminals Of the plains, are class o.
civil officers known as Deputy Marshal,
Of the United States, whose skill and
daring in the arrest OF desperate snyages,
the recovery Of stolen stock, or the slay'
ing Of defiant despcrldoes, are otter
worthy OF the most heroic song of 1
Joaquin Miller Not long ago one oil
these emissa.ies Of justice, Familiarity
known as Joe" Peavy, was gloiifed in
q telegram to the press for having cap
tured, single.handed, and brought into
Fort Smith, Arkansas, no less then seven
lawless whit adventures, who had been
guilty Of Strengthening and plnndering
the friendly Osnges. That was deemed
brilliant exploit but the Memphis
ApUmithinks it hardly equal to the same
officers less published prowress with
the Indians in times not long past. Once,
when noted chief Of the fierce Kiowas,
stalwart aud bloodthirsty aboriginal
called Leaping Panther" had brltally
murdered and scalped whole family Of
settler on Canadian River n strong
military force from Fort Smith secured
the country for miles around in futile
search for the assassin, and il was re-
solved to try what the individual track.
ing skill Of deputy marshal could ac-
complish. Peavy, who knew "Leaping
Panther," and was familiar with every
rod Of tho Indian country, volunteered
to work the case up; with the stipulation,
however, that he should be allowed to
prosecute the adventure alone. The
projected feat was full Of mortal peril ;
the red slayer was with his warriors in
the heart Of country murderously hos.
tile 70 the pale-faces, and the idea of ut.
tempting to capture him single.handed
seemed sheer madness but the indomi.
table prairie policeman confidently un-
dertOok the achievement, despite the
misGyings of his own usually dauntless
professional brethren. Armed with two
"navy skies and q well-wom bowie,
clad in n fox.skin cap hickory shirt, and
buckskin pantaloOns, and mounted on n
tough little mustang, Deputy United
States Marshal Joe Peavy started forth
upon his deed OF high surprise, as sure
OF his foeman us any krighs!y Orlando
Of the olden times. Entering the Indian
nation OH its northern verge, he made Il
circle Of the Kiowa country, so as to en-
ter it from the extreme west, and come
into 'Lcaping Panther's" woodland en-
campment MS wayworn refugee from
the fatigue Of n hunt The wary chief
looked on him with suspicion ut first,
but by skillful use Of his whiskey-
flask, tobacco pouch, ind the gutteral
KiOwa tongue, the more astute intruder
quickly lullcd the warriors distrust,
and even persuaded him into conf
dence not often exncted from red men,
After some days OF tactical tarrying in
camp the tanned Panther consented to
accompany his white guest on visit to
n ncighboring tribe, with no more Of n
train than twofavorite squaws who clam.
ored for the privilege. The possibility
of this feminine complication did not
enter the calculations Of the willy prnirie
detective, yet he accepted it stoically
and was even able to turn it to emf,
nent advantage. In his curious faulty
the chief allowed himself to he led by q
detour out of his own Kiowa country
into the neighborhood Of Fort Sill,
where, without moments warning,
he found himself halted in mid.rUal by
one Of the pi tolls of his treacherous
guest, while another revolver held
the astonishcd squnws Mt command.
Thus OF the mercy OF their suddenly
unmasking enemy the terrified wives 81
the Panther were nlthleSSly compelled
to take from the cntrnppcd chieftRin his
now useless arms, bind his hands behind
/ his back with buclskin thong, and
placc him helpless prisoner upon one
Of their own ponies. This accomplished,
the marshal turned the horses heads,
and drove his captivcs toward the
east. The journey Of captivity extended
over 200 miles through the heart Of q
wild and hostile Indian country, aud
lasted nearly two weeks. From the mo
ment Of his arrest the Kiowa preserved
mllan silence. At night, when they
rested in the woods, the captor tied tho
squaws to separate trees and bound the
fettGred chiefs right arm to his owl
left. Every hours march OF halt was a
peril Of discovery by rowing Indians anC
the exemplary dispatch Of the prairie pO
liccman: but on the twenty.eighth day af
ter his departure from Fort Smith the
deputy marshal reappcared there, bring
lug "Leaping Panther" bound limt
and foot, 10 cxpiate the fearful crime
with which he stood charged. He hat
I pmctiaed for his purpose craft which
had seemed both cowarlly and cruel
but for the consideration that II was hi'
only resource rs one man againHt n M
ton OF foemen.