Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-08-16
WILD BORDER WAYS.
Six Incidents of Life I'm Some of the
Unsettled Corners of the West

the mountains, were led by Major
Llewellyn down to a station on the
Santa Fe railroad, a few DAYS ago.
When train doomed in the band
was awed and whispered EXPLANATIONS
Of " de-sa-rata" (wonderfuD were
many times repeated The brawny
fellows, who empty handed would
face grizzly, were afraid to step into
the cars, and the squaws and their
children crouched behind their trem-
bling lords, But they were induced
to board the train, and fiat on their
faces between the seats this remark
able band of Apaches was borne into
Santa F'e to take part in the terho-
millenial parade. No part of the pro,
cessIOn was 50 striking. Leonine
heads set on shapely, robust frames,
with massive shoulders and chests full
and rounded, splendidly displayed by
tlght-titting buckskIn costumes; sin
envy trunks and TANKS of shifting
muscles, constituted the physical ma
terial for an exhibition both graceful
and unique. The keen, strong black
eyes glistened in a setting of red,
brown and yellow, drawn across their
dusky faces in lines and bands of or
lglnal and striking designs San Juan
wore around his neck medal OF Gar
field. During the second day of their
visit maiden of the band fell in love
with a white exhibitor. As he was
arranging his wares his wrist was
grasped from behind and he turned to
see the figure of the Apache woman
vanishing in the crowd, leaving with
him silver circlet from her own arm.
That MEANS" he explained in the
evening, as he pulled back his cuff to
show the ornament, that [ must see
her before either of us leaves here.
1t would be as good as my life was
worth to take off this bracelet for all
hour while | stay in Santa Fee"
At this time the Sioux under Little
Chief and Iron Heart are encamped
around Fort Trotten, Dakota. To a
traveller who visited the fort last week
they said they would give their scalp
locks If Mr.. Arthur would ride over
to see them during his Yellowstone
trip. Soon after the traveller reached
the fort he witnessed ''sun dance"
He heard din and presently over the
hill at furious space came the Indians,
each riding q horse bareback, all in
war points and feathers, and each
carrying a large branch of a tree. It
looked like an approaching forest.
There are 700 Of these Indians at the
reservation, and they looked Just as
seen in pictures. They paint them
selves from head to foot, and wear
nothing but a cloth around the hips
There are two long pieces of cloth
hanging from the waist, thickly sewn
with feathers Their legs have two
bracelets of bells set in fur. One fell
low was painted bright lemon color
from head to foot, with q belt of
bright feathers around his waist,
sweeping the ground. A long braid of
hair hung down his back; brass but
tons and thimbles were worked in:
one side Of his head being shaved and
the other side not, and an immense
cockscomb of red feathers on top.
There was one painted stone color,
with any number of beads hung
around his neck. They carried toma-
hawks, spears and many queer instru-
ments. The bodies of many of them
were fearfully painted. About $50
braves took part in the dance
Valentine Nebraska, has become
the widest resort of the cowboy. He
may be seen ON the main street at all
hours, more frequently at midnight,
if the moon shine, than at noon. Gen
orally he is tall and bronzed, with
muscles of steel. He wears high boots
heavy trousers, a blue shirt, big
white hat and at the hlp a glistening
revolver of the largest pattern, always
loaded and always accompanied by a
belt filled with cartridges. This is the
cowboys toy. He plays with it as
children play with toy pistols, and
fires it off whenever he feels like it.
The night is merry with it's gentle flu
silade; the cowboy shoots dogs with
it, shoots at stovepipe hats if they APP
pear on the street, shoots at the 81 ound
in front of the 'tenderfoot" and scat
ters the dirt sver his polished shoes;
he fourishes it in,the moonlight, he
plays tunes on it, he serenades with it.
The wind blew off a strangers stiff
hat the other night; an urchin caught
it and tossed it into the air; twenty
revolvers were whipped out and the
hat fell to the ground riddled with
holes. When the stranger protested
one could have heard their laugh half
way to Omaha.
One of the wealthiest men in Texas
is Captain Hilliard, who is now visit
ing in st. Louis. Last Thursday he
received letter from his overseer on
on the Nueces river, telling him of
remarkable flood there A goat-herd-
er drove about seven hundred goats to
water in the river, and while the goats
were drinking just below bend in
the stream, a mountain rise came
down like solid wall of water from
ten to fifteen feet high. On one side
Of the stream was a perpendicular
bluff, and on the other gradual in
cline, but before the goats could get
out Of the way 200 out of the 700 were
drowned ann the herder only escaped
by swinging himself into q tree where
he was cOmpelled To remain ON his