The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-01-29
JOE

FJOE.
In the summer and autumn of 1868 was
the operator in charge Of the Overland Tele-
graph coIupany's office at Plum Creek sta
ulon, Neb., about fifty miles west of Fort
Kearncy. ~ 6E&$ Ss#E ii 81
BeforeI took charge at Plum Creek a COM
paDy Of soldiers had been stationed there to
keep the untrierdly Indians III subsection
and to subdue any outbreak on the part Of
those who pretended to he on good terms
with the government. But affairs on the
plains being quiet, the presence of the troops
was considered no longer necessary, and they
were ordered into Omaha.
Every one else out there being SO confident
that no danger Threatened them I went to
work without any apprehension myself of
coming troubles. Che company furnished
me with good horse, two navy revoIverss and
a carbine, and my quarters were in an adobe
building, called in the parlance Of the plains
"dobey!" she walls were built of sod, and
the roof was constructed Of strong cotton
wood logs III place Of rafter5 and covered
with the same material that the walls were
composed OF, In summer time grass and
flowers grew upon the sides and top Of the
"dobey," and made ita very pleasant place
OF abode,
Ny communication with people Of the
world was rather limited, til comfy persons I
ever saw being travellers in the overland stage,
movers in ox-wagons hound for the Pacific
slope, and an occasional visit FROM a ranch,
man of the plains. s5 t.-r. -. -..,. b. :.
For awhile the novelty Of being aim ost
alone and free from the restraints that civil
LIKED life impose upon us rs very pleasant
out when L became accustomed to this the
silence OF the desert during the daytime was
almost overpoWering, and ohere were times
when | almost sighed for even sight at even
3 hostile Indian. Sitting in my little Office
some days. everything was so hushed and
still | could almost imagine that everybody
else i'll the world was dead, and that | had
oeen left behind as q sentinel guarding their
tombs. AT night the scene from my office
window was weird and ghost-like, butthe raw
enOus coyotes broke the stiffness that reigned
throughout the.day by swapping andsnarling
at each other until the morning dawned
For the sake OF passing the time I got to
firing at the creatures with my carbine and
reVolvers, and it was astonishing to note how
quick they would deVOur one when he fell
pierced by a bullet Some nights I would
kill four or five, and in the morning when I
went out to see what remained of their car
cases, nota bone would be found left behind
IN time discovered that they would tear the
flesh from the bones and then carry them to
their LARS to pick on during the day.
killed buffalo, antelOpes and Jack rabbits until
l wearied OF even that kind of sport; and 80
glad WASH to see anything human, the ugliest
and most Ignorant man on the globe would
have been an hOnored and welcome guest
After remaining month in that vast solitude,
RESOLVED to throw up my ,positlon--although
ii was lucrative one and go where could
have the company OF at least one human being;
but an Incident occurred just at that time
which caused me to alter nv determination,
Sitting one day in the door of my .'dobay,"
peeling some potatoes for dinner, was
startled bJ the appea lance of q shadow but
little distance from me. CHANGING Up sud
denly, 10 the poor INDIAN was Standing a
few feet from the door with lordly mein and
an air which | thought denoted an intention
to possess himself OF my scalp. Not desiring,
however, to part with it, I sprang from nv
seat and had him covered with my carbine
before ne had time to get the drop on me.
Pale face no shoot. Heap good friend, y
SAID be. Me good lnlun, and do heap WORK
for pale faces. Cooky and wash good Pawnee
6fave-ughr l5 .-.-@ =. - ~ Z. ID.
At first I was under the impression that
there were more than one present; but when
discovered my mistake, put down my
carbine and telt Il ) further fear.
He told me that he had been captured by
the SiouX from the Pawnee tribe. hut had
escaped from his captors, and if / would le,
him stay he would work for me, and be shear
big clever IDjnn.7e ass az &essss7 1. d So I
hailed his coming with delight: id the
first place. because wanted SOM kind of q
companion, and 10 the seconed place because
was fond of studying The Indian Character
and here was splendid opportunity of graft
lying the whim. I made him wash himselI
thoroughly sagy and put on q suit Of my ownr
rlgged out, sans war paint, feathers and othe,
ge"gaws, that he was a toIelably fair snrci
men OF the genus hoaao. T
He had along Indian name 70 could not
change it to "Joe' This suited him ore attv
and all during the day while he was washine
the pots and doing the "house-work" general
ly, could hear him saying to himself, Pale.
faced chief call me Joe, Joe, Joe. "Pale-face
chief clever and good to Joep' y
T mic tada ,5ott u L.
would run off with my horse and firearms
but IN time I learned to trust him implicitly
and became very fond OF him. The SEQUEL tc
my story will prove how worthy he was OF my
3 confidence. fEE s tE&E W&s
u All, what royal time we had together chas
FL ing the antelope and the buffalo. My interes
81 revived IN this sport after the protracted ST
US lence was broken, and some days we Woulc
wander many miles out On the plains Joe
was feet OF foot, and could walk oil day lone
without the least sign of fatigue. Occasion
sally I would take him up behind me; but hf
generally Insisted npon walking, and lei
him have his way. He was particularly so
lilcitous about my comfort and convenience
ated every day was delighted with the de yel
z oLpment OF new phases in his character Hf
4 hsld noble mind, and was as sympathgtif
4 ard soft-hearted Us a child. He nad, too, 81
afr of ch1valry and court sy about him whicf
wEas particularly engaging, and needed moth
ing but ths opportunity to make himselfa rea
ME, but he could not be prevailed upon to i.
sd, always standing by me with a deferentia
all, anticipating all my wants I was great
asgonished at his general decornm, and ofrei
wondered where he acquired his gentle an
often dignified mannsrs-neYc having motto
ed such characteristics in any other Indiar
ALI the reward he askea for his faithful Sc,
vices was kind treatment and assurances fron
me- that appreciated him. i: Il
Eae came one day to where ] was cleania
myEpistols, the perfect personifcation Of con-
misgraton and grief. observed that he wa
deeply disturbed, but waited for him to speak
Finally he 5said 'sPawnees soon get O
warepath big. Mixing theirpaintnow Palt
faced chief have to leave fore long, @
Pasynees take scalp Of pale faced chief 10
ean'ssa pale.face if he stay, but will tel
him. Whet to leave" tf
tier that frequently heard him mntterin
10 himself. heard him say one morning.:
''i5awnecs heap kill pale faces when get Wa
paint o.. Shan't kill pale-faced chief, forJo
WIFE save him. Joe will never see pale.faee
ahiasf after he runs away from PaWnee braves
5Sao.r Joe, poor Joe!n g5zs u .{5 s.,
Inen he would weep bitterly, seeming /
iutdsr THO most poig liant sorrow.