Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-05-06
A FOOT


In q higher Climate -FOr mis- Ilcaltn'
On last Wednesday there arrived here
with the Indians from Pine Ridge
agency an individual who introduced
himself as c. L. Footc, travelling CORE.
spondent, and solicitor for the Chicago
Tribune, con a walking tour for my
health" He first made himself known
to T. /. Wheeler, who subscribed and
paid for the weekly Tribune. He then,
through an introduction from an limo
cent party, downed Henry Altien and
Messrs. Jim Clark, Cochran and John
son, and if not discovered and exposed
would undoubtedly have vitimized
numerous others. Having been intro
duced to the individual ourselves we in
turn knocked him down to Mr.. Curran,
who with his usual hospitality invited
him to take a drink. Walking into the
saloon he called for a lemonade, such a
demand coming from a supposed news
paper man Immediately excited suspi-
cion, and as he produced no credentials
Wheeler & Cushing SEN a dispatch to
the Tribune asking if G. +. Foote was
an authorized agent and Thursday after
noon received the following reply:
CHICAGO, May 4th,
Wheeler & Cushing, Custer:
G. l.. Foote unknown to us. Have DO
agent at Custer. TRIBUNE Co.
AS soon as the dispatch was received
r. /. Wheeler and the others mentioned
above rounded Mr.. Foote up, who was
found trying to procure a horse from a.
Ii. Kemmish. When corralcd the color
left his face and he visibly trembled
Wheeler, To relieve his embarrassment
remarked that he was smoking Il rather
strong cigar, when Foote replied, "yes
it makes me feel faint" He was march
ed into Wheeler & Cushing's private
room, where he was questioned ant
made to produce the amount about SIS
(all he had received from Messr,
Wheeler, Albien, Clark, Johnson and
Cochran on subscription. The law VA.
then e~Xpounded and he was told t
leave town a soon AS convenient hex
day, and early yesterday morning G. L
Foote was a foot on the road leadin,
north. When questioned he first in
sisted that he was agent for the Tribune
but could not account for the dispatch
He then said that he was appointet
through another party, but for certain
reasons could not say who, but whei
cornered stated that he got his authorit,
from f.. Rosewater Of the Omaha Bee
who was interested in the Tribune. III,
was informed that a dispatch or lettc
to that effect would be all the explaina
ton required, to This he replied tina
Dir. Rosewatcr's connection with tn,
business was not to be made public an,
he could not telegraph him and get n
answer. In conversation with us OF
Wednesday he stated that he had hel,
the position of city editor on the Fri
bune for two years, but had lately hcl,
the same position on the morning editio,
Of the Omaha Bee and his healtl
falling from too close attention 20 bust
ness he was advised By his physician? t.
take a walking tour through q countr,
with n higher climate" that he lef
Lincoln, Neb., Il month ago and walked
to Pine Ridge agency, there, judgii.:
from remarks dropped, he got the conf
dence of Indian Agent McGillycudd,
and improved his health by hobnobin;
with the officers at that place at thei
expense. He claimed to have a letter o
introduction from McGillycuddy t,
Judge Moody, but failed to produce
While a smooth talker he placed too
much confidence in his power to de
%ceive, or in the gullibillity Of the people
in this meek o woods" AS it is Ii,
should and is thankful that he did no
have to Climate higher" If he ha(
succeeded in getting Kemmish's hors'
before the arrival Of the dispatch tn,
altitude he would have reached nigh
have depended altogether on hight o
the tree and the length of the rope.
He is a young man Of about 80, dys
peptic blonde mustache, close cut hair
inclined to badness and is dressed in
brown business suit and light colore,
o%vercoat. He stated hat he would b,
able to clear himself as soon as h,
reached Deadwood, and if so we shall
take pleasure in making him right Will
the public.
Moral - Newspaper correspondent
should never indulge in mild irrigation
and always carry credentials.
Messrs. Drew and jenkins left on Tues
day for Rapid to begin work on Penn
ington county's court house. The,