Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-14
An Indian Killer interviewed.


There has bcen stopping in this city for
couple Of days past, one Of those charac-
tiers who have made for thu mselves a
celebrity for their bravery and daring on
the plains OF tho far West, among the
Indians and the buffalo; in rccounting
whose deeds, hair BREATH escapes and
peculiar life, the pages Of romance are
nllcd. The person to whom We refer is no
less a character than "Camanche Bill"
who Is reputcd to be the slayer of no lesc.
than one hundred and eighty three indi'
ans. He has been nine ye.... on the plains
part of which time ne has been in the
employ OF the government as a scout. Ho
mas hunttc and killed Indians for the
pleasure and sweets of revenge, and
a'lnted and trapped of necessity. lie is
now on bis return to his old life in the
West, having been on visit to his early
home in Minnesota He is about twenty
eight years Of age, of slender build, sandy
complexion, with profuslon Of hair that
he wears long on the neck. His dress is q
pair OF buckskin pants, ornamented from
coarse shirt, an old coat and a broad.
brimmed hat. His eye is piercing keen,
aud he has grip like a dozen blac k smiths.
IN response to our questions he said:
My name is George w. Porter. l
nave been on the plains since 90. I was
IN the Minnesota massacre, near New Ulm,
the 18th Of August of that year. All my
1olks were killed, except me and my little
sister. three years old, whom they took
prisoner"
Where was your"
II was away at the military station on
business; went the day before The first
l knew Of tho massacre, l was coming
along the road on my way home, when I
saw little ways ahead of mo wagon
hlltd with women and children that the
settlers had sent to the station for prctec-
ton. just then saw the Indians pounce
upon them, and lodged into the woods.
l could hear the hatchets crushing into
their heads. They killed EN- all, every
one"
What did you dor"
"They scalped EN-, and when the coast
was clear, got out, and pretty soon along
came a company of cavalry, and we buried
them"
Why didn't you follow after the In.
dians,"
had no horse, and the captain didn't
want his men to 60. You see that was in
'o2, aud everything was topsy-turvy."
did you visit the scene Of the massacre
at New Tiny
Yes; went there the next day, and
saw my father and mother all scalped and
cut up, and my sister was gone. l swore
by the eternal God I would never rest
until had had revenge-a bloody re-
venge."
, "Di d, you ever get any traces of your
"Why, yes, there was the Yankton,
SWanee and Sioux Indians, and knowed
them pretty we'll l learned that they had
her. knowed what they'd do with
her"
You have not been successful in your
Efforts to secure her.
No; you see, single handed and alone,
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 knowed 1t was her was,
had been on the trail of the band of
Sioux that hal her a long time, and she
was the only white person they had. This
was in IS, AMI then she looked just like
mother. waited and watched and watch.
ed. and picked an Indian off every little
while, when he'd get u mile or two from
camp, but twas no use. They kept too
good watch over her."
"Were you ever capturedi'
yes. The Blackseets captured me
and Jim Braden In "a, when we were out
hunting. They came on US with rush,
but they didn't get US though until had
killed one young buck"
" hat did they do with your"
9TH, y marched about twenty five miles
to their camp, and there they stripped US
Of everything we had, and tied US up to
stake, aud let the women pound Us with
clubs. They did this every day for eight
days We were tied with buckskin thongs,
and one night it rained, and we slipped out
of en- when they got wet. Jim got away
all right but just as I was gittin' my
things on, an old squaw woke up and gave
the alarm. There was but four Indians in
camp. The rest had gone on hunt. I
run, with only my knife. They came up to
me. and had desperate, fight. One shot
had hit me in the left arm" exhibiting
scar). II cut and slashed the buck that
got hold of me, and finally gave him one
under the ribs, 80 he won't tie any more
thongs. And he cut me, too, here and
there, and here" (showing scars on his arm,
neck and breast) THE other buck never
came near, for I'd got this bucks gun
atore he'd reached u.s.
The reat of "Camanche Bills" story,
how he followed his sister among the
Camanches, and had fight with the white
chief Of that nation, and other equally in
teresting accounts, we shall have to omit.
But if our readers wish to see genuine
frontiersman, they should call upon the
Indian fighter" himself-Dauenpor
(loaaa) Gazette.