The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1878-06-29
THE HERCULEAN HUNTER OF THE
GREAT AMERICAN PLAINS.
from the st. Louis Evening Post.


GREAT AMERICAN PLAINS.
From the st. Louis Evening Post.l
About three miles down the Illinois
shore, near the little town of Cahokia,
lives very queer Indian, who has
history ~ remarkable as it is romantic.
He IS q full-blooded Cherokee, and &C.
oording to his own assertions, no 10 over
one hundred years old. His name is
Msenoo, and he was born in the county
OF Jefferson, Mississippi, where his tribe
resided over century ago, and from
which region they were transported to
the Indian Territory. John, or the "Big
Indian" as he is famiiarly termed, is an
extraordinary person in appearance. be-
ing Six tset four inches in height, weigh.
ing about 100 pounds, and IN spite OF
his age il erect and comparativ vely robust.
HIS hair is now perfectly snow-white;
he has but a few teeth left, and within
the last TWO or three years he has grown
somewhat bald. He is fisherman and
frog by profession. and has wife
about sixty years OF age, French
woman, who does not speak English.
His first wife was an Indian hall breed,
by whom no had two culldren, ootu llv-
ing in the vicinity OF Cahokla, and
hunteis and sportsmen by vocation.
At the age or seventeen Meehoo had
already become noted tor his physical
strength and great powers Of endurance.
Unfortunately he bscAme invoived III u
quarrel with the Cnlef of The Cherokees,
Mahannaral, and slew him. Moohee,
while making an effort to hsr Was appre-
hende by his tribe, aud. after q trial
according to the forms common TO the
Chsrokess, he was condemned to De
burnt Ut the stake, but during his short
confinement, preparatory to his under
going this terrible penalty, he escaped.
lie went to the northern Part OF the
Territory OF Mississippi, where he joined
the Chicasaws. Here, too, his beliiger-
ant disposition broke out again, anu he
killed two OF the Choctaw Chiefs and
made captive q woman Of tho tribe, with
whom he fled. His life since then has
been Series of wsnderings from one
State to another. FROM Mississippi hs
proceeded to LOUISIANA, thence to Texas,
and from Texas to Missouri, and for the
last fifty Years hs has been living iu the
vicinity Of st. Louis, where he has fol-
lowed the precarlous Rvocatlon OF frog
hunting. He has always been famed for
his remarkable strength. during his
earlier life he WAS able to lift l,U0O
pounds on dead level. On one occasion
he carried upon his broad shoulders a
barrel OF pork. weighing 800 pounds,
FROM the landing At East 81. Louis to hls
then home below Cahokia, distance OF
SIX miles. Several years ago he lived in
the old town oi Kasksskla, in Illinois,
where he was employed IN the hourlue
mill. Remarkaole stories are told of the
wonderful fats OF muscular strength
performed by him. 1t is said that he
was IN the Lablt Of placing upon hii
shoulders two bags OF wheat weighing
2Oo pounds each, and carrying them uE
hsht OF stairs, This labor he woulC
psrform for two hours, never seeming tc
tire.
While roaming through the woods one
Gay, his dogs, which were following him
oayed huge stag in the bed of driet
Creek Meehoo Was unarmed, and afte
several Intellectual efforts to club the dee
with such bludgeons as he could pick up
no siezed the infurlRtsd beast by th,
antlers. and by main strength hurled hin
over his head, breaking the animal
neck.
Msshoo. at the time. was probably th
mlghtiest huntsr that roamed the Wild
OF tue American bottom. Forty and fit,
Years ago bears were plentiful in tn,
thlck forests of the swampy regions skirt
ing the eastern shores of the Mississippi
and bear hunting was Meehoo's favorlt
sport.
He still carries upon him the marks o
more than one terrific contest with sav
sgs bruin. To reporter who visite,
nun on Thursday last, he gave reCita
OF remarkable struggle he had with
Dear in the Winter of 1929, while huntin
through the Dry Greek bottom, abou
seven miles south OF where Centervill
S!ation 10 now situated. II was on th
zAth day OF Dscsmber, and light sno,
covered the ground. Msehoo mad gon
out for the purpose of hunting wild hogs
and had with him one dog that wa
trained for that particular sport Whil
uaversing the bottom he was suddenl
confronted by huge black bear. Th
dog rushed at him, but the bear at on
olow Of his powerful paw stretched th
poor brute dead, and at distance {
snirty feet Bruin poised himself on h
n'nd legs az II throwing down the gaun
'et OF battle. Meehoo immedlatel
pulled down upon MIN with bis rife, br
70 ~ MS dismsy the powder refused to 4
W. The cap exploded with loud nois
~ was Immediately replaced by fres
one, but before Nsehoo could fire se
ono time the bear was upon him, and
sacn close proximity that it was impo
Goie for him even to use the rifle as
club. Then man and besst closed in
'Ffaois struggle, tbs bear In his cha