Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-03
AN ARKANSAS KIT CARSON.
Sssm1ngly incredible Adventures of q
snsed states notwithstanding Of
aA1owe Chfef-The Hero OF q Humid
red Hal rhraa 4 N, E..--'ns

Seemingly kneredfble aavemfu res Of a
= n Eie states Observation-Disclosures OF
req HatrDreadfh EscaDeS. -.
In the telegraph dispatches a few davs AGO
an account was given of Deputy United
STATES marshal Peavy, Of Fort Smith, Ark
SIisas, having brought into that place seven
Whhe men, who had been fighting with
some OF the Usage Indians. The fact of
one man alone bringing in seven prisoners
may excite surprise to the minds of some of
our readers, but after reading the following
incident they will be inclined to believe it:
Joe Peavy, as he is Familiarity called, is
man thirty-tve yeaIsbf age, about five feet
ten inches IN hight, slim built, not weighing
over one hundred and thirty-iive pounds.
dark brown hair, thin mustache, steel gray
colored eyes, and thin visaged cOunte-
nance, with determination written in every
iineament. Of all of the deputy marshals.
Of which there are large number in that
district, Joe is perhaps the most daring, and
the best acquainted in the Indian nation,
through which they ride. In his rides
through the nation, Joe invariably goes
alone, thinking he can keep his business
and actions closer this way than with a
partner. Armed at all times with two, and
sometimes four, large sized navy skies, and
knife that somewhat resembles a scythe,
he often makes excursions out into. Sioux
and Kiowas' country, back of Fort Sill, and
distant over two hundred miles from civil
cation.
About three years ago noted war chief
OF the KiOwas, known as the 'Ieaping Pan
ther," scalped and burned alive white man
and his family who imprudently ventured
too far within his domains. When the
news reached Fort Smith, a number of dep
uty marshals and detachment of United
States troops were sent to capture the red
skinned assassin.
After spending about two weeks securing
the country, the men were forced TO return
to Fort Smith without a single prisoner.
AT the time they started out Joe Peavy was
in the nation, from which he returned at
about the same time as the party. "Leap-
ing Panther" was well known to Joe, who
had frequently visited him as well as others
OF the wild chiefs, and when he learned of
the result of the expedition he volunteered
to go out and bring him in.
knowing that it was almost certain death
for one man to venture within the clutches
OF the "Leaping Panther" the United States
Marshal insisted that Joe should take some
men with him. Declining all company, he
one evening mounted his horse, and cross
ing the river rode in the direction of the
kiowa country. Nothing was seen of him
for nearly month, and many of his friends,
who were aware of the nature of his ride,
were fearful that Joe had at last been over
come. Those who knew him best held out
that he would turn up all right, and offered
haf not no hrnt fIs Obi
The latter were right, for just twenty-eight
days after he was last seen entering the
woods, he rode into town with the sLeaping
Panther" bound hand and foot on a pony
in front of him, while two squaws, who
proved TO be the favorites of that worthy,
were on ponies behind Joe. The latter per-
sOnages rode quietly through town to the Jail,
where he turned his prisoner over to the aJI-
thoritles. Upon being questioned as to how
he effected the capture, Joe stated that he
made circle around the KiOwa country
and entered it from the West. Knowing
every foot of the ground, he had no difficulty
in finding the village OF the Kiowas and his
man. The latter at first regarded Joe with
suspicion, but the judieious use of bottle
of whisky and some tobacco, together with
any amount Of unauthorized lies-in pure
Kiowan-as to where he was from, finally
caused the chief to think it was all right.
Joe stayed around the camp for over a
week before he could induce 'Leaping Pan
ther" to make a visit with him to some
neighbOring Indians. When he finally con-
sented to go with him he concluded to take
two of his wives with him. This did not
suit Joe, but fearing to arouse the chiefs
suspicious he made no objections, and the
whole party moved off in the direction of the
other Indians whom Joe said he wished to
visit. BY a liberal use of his tongue Joe ill-
duced the chief to make detour from their
direct course so as to bring them near Fort
Sill. While riding along one day and when
well out of the KiOwa country Joe suddenly
brought one of his revolvers to cover the
chief,while with another he halted his wives.
Telling the chief that if he moved he would
Kill him, Joe, under a threat of instant
death, compelled one of the squaws to re-
move ali of her husbands's arms, and then
to securely tie him with a thong of buck
skin. The whole transaction did not detain
the party over a half hour after which the
horses heads were turned in the direction
of Fort Smith. At night Joe would tie the
squaws to separate trees, after which he
would tie the chief to himself, and i'll this
way pass the night. From the time that he
was placed under arrest, the Chief, Indian
like, preserved a stOlid silence, never open
ing his lips except at times to order one of
his squaws to perform some service.
In this manner Joe Travelled over 200
miles, partly through a wild Indian country,
and all through a country in which white
face could not probably be found.
This is but one of the many instances of
JOe's daring, and of which large volume
could be written. Throughout all that
country where all are armed from their ear
lest years, Joe is recognized as superb
shot with the revOlver-the fayOrite weapon.
Some feats which he has performed with
this weapon smack Of the marvellous, such
as snuffling the candle, driving nails, etc.
Horse-thieves are Joe's especial pets, he in
variably bringing back the animals stolen,
while the thief is never after heard from.
Joe says they are always put away. 1t is
supposed they are-with about a half ounce
of lead lodged in their brain. Never en-
gaging in a quarrel unless forced upon him.
Joe is credited with having furnished no
less than seventeen jobs for the coroner,
not counting the hOrse-thieveS, who always
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