The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-19
A MARDI.GRAS STORY.
HOW MIR. SKINNER ENJOYED HIMSELF AS A BIG
INJUN.

: The subjoined scrap of Mardi- Gras literature
is given to the world by the Louisville Courier
Journal:
The Mardi- Gras procession on Tuesday was
witnessed by large crowds, and the ludlcrous
impersonatlons of character will live long in
the memories Of the masses, who laughed
until their sides ached. Among the motley
host who perambulated the streets in process
sion was a long, cadaverous looking fellow,
representing a Comanche Indian. His face
was painted red, his suit was well made up
Upon his penderous feet were pair of new
moccasins, and hanging from the beaded girt
that encircled his body were half dozen
''hoss pistols" and as many scalps.
Inside this belt stuck a cheese-knife and a
scythe blade. His long black hair was
banded with brass hoop, from which stuck
about dozen of turkey and goose feathers, and
in his right hand he held with an iron grasp
a tomahawk, red with some victims blood
Any one who had ever read or heard of the
famous Indian warrior, Bloody Nose, would
have said he had arisen from the dead and
joined that procession. But it was not the
blood-thirsty rover of the forest. 1t was
Skinner who personated him, and he did it to
perfection. His appearance was terror to
women and children, while his warwhoop and
| the revolutions of that bloody tomahawk were
certain death to "de culled population"
, Everybody saw the wild Indian, but nobody
knew it was Skinner.
While the procession moved through the
various streets, Skinner would get dry and
break ranks by lodging into bar-rooms and
taking in his usual dose Of % tre-water BY
the time Skinner had war-vhooped ten or
fifteen blocks, aud hid about half keg OF
!" fire-water abont his person, he was in
" fine trim to play Com niche, and began to
think he WAS ''Bloody Nose" sure enough,
for he tried to scalp no less than.a dozen dar-
kies that fe into his hands.
The procession passed within square or
two of SINNERS house. Skinner has a wife,
and she is the mother Of five little male and
four female SINNERS. SINNERS wife does
her own work; in fact, she's "boss" OF
SINNERS house, and, instead of her rushing
off with string of little SINNERS after her to
see the procession, she kept the little ones at
home, and stayed in the kitchen attending to
cleaning the pots, kettles and pans after
dinner.
A new idea struck Skinner. He would 90
home and scare Mrs. Skinner and all the little
SINNERS He cut loose from the procession,
took another dose Of fire water" and by the
time he reached his front gate, he was the
most reckless-looking Comanche the world
ever beheld. Picking up new courage he
rushed into the front room where the little |
ance was accompanied by wild yells and fancy
dancing, while he made that tomahawk fly
around the room over the children's heads as
If he meant business, the little SINNERS
shouting, 80 Mr.. Ipjun, don't y "mothe,r'
murder 'tire = and there were such
screams as would have made any "sure
enough Indian run.
Skinner was inst in the middle of his fun !
when the screams of the children and the
of the Comanche brought Mrs.
Skinner to the scene, armed with an iron
skillet. She slipped up behind the "play-
full Indian" drew a bead on his nose, and
landed that skillet with the force of a sedge-
hammer and the rapidity Of lightning against
it. The hand let go the tomahawk, the
feathers flew, the belt bursted, and the
Scalps pistols and knives fell to floor. There
was t1esh-and- blood spot in the middle of
bis face whore that nose was moment be-
fore the skillet mashed it. 1t now looked
There was groan, a fall, a somersault or
TWO, and all was quiet. That Comanche had
found the "happy hunting grounds"
Instead of Mrs. Skinner sending for the
!octor and bathing his face, she looked down
nto his mutila.ed face, and, shaking the
skillet over him with her right hand, ex-
'laimed: "I'li war-whoop you. You thought {
'ou'd scare somebody, you derned old fool: !
'ut | know'd you, soon as l SEED your feet
nd smelt your BREATH"
P. S.-Skinner has an Indian masquerade
nit for sale cheap. He won't be able to be
ut until he gets done breathing through his
ars. The doctor says his nose may grow
Mt again by the time the next Mardi.GRs I
axes place. We advise Skinner to get ]
rass nose and Ego West"