Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-06-06
Life IN the fenhs wilds.

to the waist and fringed on the outer
seams blue flannel shirt aud iaunty
black tie, leather belt exposing the
bone handle of dirk-knife and the
ivory handle of Colts seven-shcoter,
constituted, with the exception of hat
the exterior outfit of George ".
Symonds, a noted Texan ranger, who
arrived in Philadelphia on the 18th of
May. The broad sombrero, worn
further back on the head than Is usual
with the head ornament in the North,
was of heavy gray felt, with band
nearly three inches deep Cf twisted silk
cord, surmounted with silver orna-
ments, the lower and upper surfaces of
the wide brim being also decorated with
a silver band. In appearance Mr..
Symonds Is of a slender and wiry build,
of medium height, with thin, prominent
features and bright, intelligent eyes.
giving an amiable and gQod-natured ap-
pearance to his countenance. His
straight black hair, parted high in the
forehead and combed back, falls down
over his shoulders. When he strolled
through the streets he was an object Of
much curiosity and OF much interest as
he told stories of frontier life to knot
of newly made friends in the smo king
room of the hotel.
In conversation with a reporter he
said he had obtained short furlough
from military duty and took advantage
OF the opportunity to come North on a
hasty tour of inspection, more with a
view to the enjoyment OF holiday than
any other purpose. He is stationed at
Camp King, about fourteen miles from
Fort Davis, with Company ID, Frontier
Battalion of the State troops, and Ii, also
in the employ of the Federal Govern
ment as scout and guide. He antici-
pates discharge from the former posi-
tion, on account of the incompatlbility
OF the double employment.
When asked if he could throw any
light upon the present surroundings of
General Crook ana his command Ill the
Sierra Madra Mountains. for whose safe
tv III the present campaign grave fears
are felt, he said that while he was fami-
liar with the country he was uncertain
as to the prec Sc number of the indians
engaged and their chiefs. He thought
there were about one hundred and fifty
bucks" 81 with their squaws and papo-
oses, composed entirely of renegade
Apaches from the Mexican reservation.
When an Indian crosses the borders of
reservation without a passport, ana
especially If he be armed, it Is the pre-
sumption that lie is bent upon some
waIlike expedition. at least Is actuated
| by dangerous motives. He said that in |
his opinion the aprrehensions express
ed as to the possible tretchery of the In |
dian allies were entirely groundless. |
Il understand" said he, .'that Bow /
Legs, Seminole, and Juan Jose are the
chiefs of the Indians under General |
Crook command and they are thoro-
ughly reliable. Juan Jose is Sankawa,
a mixture OF Mexican aud white with "a /
little Indian" "a 'greaser, then" sug-
gested the reporter. "a 'greaserT p" re-
piled the Texan. at wouidt be well |
for any one to say Juan Jose was
'greaser.' That is his sensitive point. !
Ii newspaper called him that he would
depopulate city rather than let the
guilty man escape. He is friendly to
the soldiers, but touch him on his SEN
sltiYe point and he would be bad out
fit.'"
81 think he is honest, though" con
tinued the scout, land he has with hun
Low, under General Crook, two com.
panies of White Pine Indisns. they
are seryiceable and good fighters, al
though they are now 'caballo,' that Is
they are foot Indians, not mounted. as
the others are. Yes, have more faith
han al, 20 II, 2
dian outbreak than L have In the troops
although General Crook is a brave man,
full OF ambition, and fully posted on
the devious tactics of Indian wafare."
Branching flo the subject INTO a de-
sultory talk about tho customs of from
tier life and its attractions to men whose
personal characteristics displayed no
peculiar stfinity, and of the peculiar
methods OF the hostile Indians, Sy-
nonds said that he was first identified
with Company Z, troop of Texan
Rangers. under Captain Nevill, who
killed Sam Bass, the notorious despera-
do and Tor years one Of the most dam
gerous men In the State. At that time
the part of the country in the neigh
bornood of Camp Davis was full of In
Glans and there were no settI ments
outside OF the posts. The company of
Rangers, % in number, were stationed
at MoOskie's Ranch, six miles from Fort
Davis, the county seat. On the night
OF their arrival at their new barracks a
ball was given In the town III their hon
or. The guests, said he, ''were Mexi-
cans, cowboys. gamblers and the re-
gulatlon frontier crowd, who come on
horseback as is the cnstom, and tied !
their animals in the coral. A boundt;- ;
ful supper was provided on tables out I
side and the dancing was in full blast !
upstairs. During its progress an Indian
walked in, took general survey of the
surroundings. measured the outfit
pretty thoroughly in his own mind and
quietly departed.
While the music was playing and the
oise and laughter was at its height in
the ball room a party of Indians stole
down the mountains. collected all the /,
horses of the jewellers and gathering up ,
the supper departed as silently as they
came. The band was led by VIctorio
KING Vlctorio, as styled himself
and he WAS the greatest of all the Indi-
an chiefs. 1t Is said that he not only
could talk Spanish and English, but
he could write them, some people even
declaring that he was educated at one ;
of the missions. 1T is the custom of I
the tribes to travel at night along tue
tops of the mountains, so that they keep c
the canyons in full view, and they would 5
NOT cross one if they could travel twen- d
ty-five miles to avoid it. But IN 1880 ?
Victoria, with go bucks. superbly a
mounted and inlly armed, made a de-
scent straight through the canyons, de- f,
Tying the soldiers and the forts. He =
b bvouacked on the plains and made no y
attempt at conceali' g his presence. Ten /
of us, with Captain Nevlll. started III n
pursuit, and wnen his scouts reported y
that the Big Texans were in the rear he =
his plans of piliage and retreat
ed into Mexico. He was more afraid
Of the Big Texans than tn, American
arIny. He was afterwards killed il