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 sufierings at
the hands Of the Indians, and his fights
with them.
His real name is George w. Potter,
aud 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 ab-
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 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 costume 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 tollow"-made up with the
hair out.
He wears a 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 his own rations.
He holds the regulars-particularly
the oficers-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 on 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
boasting, thing of which he does moi
wish to seem guilty. He does not de-
ny that his good rifle has an uncontroll.
able desire to take unerring aim al
nearly every Indian who comes within
range of its muzzle.
The object of his life is to rescue hi;
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, i;
held by the Camanches, and he know.
her whereabouts. He SAYS the
Camanches know him very we'll anc
are bound to Gift his hair" but h,
don't think they will ever be able tC
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 ht
will take her off so far that she will nev
er see a red man again. Then his pur
pose is to devote the remainder of hii
life to avenge the murder of his parents
and brothers and sisters. His conver
sation cannot fail to impress one Will
the earnestness of his purpose.
He is an excellent representative o
the hunter and scouts of the plains
finding his highest enjoyment in rov
ing over the almost boundless wilds o
the Western Territories, in an occa
sional brush with the Indians, and il
hunting the buffalo and grizzly. II
can't make himself comfortable in
bed, and declares that of all the institu
tions of civilization they are the wors;
He rolls himself up in blanket an,
camps on the floor.
He says he is going back next montl
to continue the search for his sister
He will take two good and true me-
with him, and that is all the assistanc
he wants. He has confidence that h
will be successful before spring.
An Irishman noticing n lady mas