The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-06-22
A REAL INDIAN FIGHTER.
Harrison Barndecker's Adventures
with Indians and Bears.
From the Denver Tines ]

Fridays Rio Grande train brought IN
one of those characters sometimes met
with in this vicinity. He rejoices IN the
name of Harrison Barndecker, was born
in Ohio in the heat Of the PRESIDENTIAL
campaign of 1910 hence his given name)
and came to this section with his father
in 1856, before the Pixies Peak excite,
ment was thought of. His family had
removed to Texas year or two previous
to the above date and commenced stock
ranch. A sudden raidof the Comanches
deprived them of every hoof, and In the
fight with the sayages his mother and
elder brother were killed. This decided
the fate of the two survivors, and having
by their determined resistance weaned
out the little band of raiders, they struck
out for the mountains. Though they did
not "on bended knees" &c, swear eter-
nal vengeance and destruction to the Co.
manches, they did not allow an opportu-
nity to pass without taking scalp,
While on their way across the Iexas
plains, from their cover in an arroyo they
saw a band of Comanches go into camp
Before morning five scalps dangledi from
their belts, and they were provided win
horses with which to continue their Jour
ney, They pitched upon point iar
into the heart of the range as the
scene Of their future life, and there
for ten years they lived, seeing only the
trappers and hunters that stumbled on
their retreat, save when once year one
went to Santa Fe to exchange peltrles FOR
years supply of powder and lead. Some
glittering sand in one of the streams near
their cabin attracted their attention, ana
taking some of the stuff to Santa re IL
was found to be gold.dust. They didn't
90 crazy overit, but after that when game
was scarce they washed the sand, and IN
the course of few years had Accumulate
ed enough to keep the old man comfort
able for the balance Of his days. Then
old associations came back to the father,
and he determined to once more return
to civilization. The son accompanied
him, but year in Ohio was enough. 1t
was in 1866, when everything was in a
hurrah upon the close of the war, and the
Young man was disgusted with the bonn
bast INDUCED in by politicians, and re-
turned to his cabin alone. Since then he
has made frequent trips to the settle
ments, and has on several occasions been
employed by parties of Eastern Nimrods
to assist them in their search for wild
game His bronzed face takes peculiar
expression when he tells how many have
taken home the fruits of his rifle, to palm
off on their friends as the result of their
own skill.
In the severe winter of 1871 he had an
encounter with a bear which he had
wounded, and received spat which left
an ugly scar, extending from his left tenn
pie down his cheek, shoulder, and arm
to his wrist. The animal died, but be-
fore he could bandage his bleeding arm
storm arose suddenly, and for three
days, though he succeeded in building a
fire, he had all he could do to keep from
freezing to death. When he did start he
was full day in reaching his cabin, only
two miles distant, and had four toes so
badly frozen that they dropped of, keep
ing him confined to his cabin for three
months. Last summer party of New
Yo. kers secured his services while out
here, and one of the party.has organized
party for the Black Hills, which has
engaged him to accompany them. He
started on Saturday morning to meet his
party at Cheyenne.