The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-05-05

mails, to the great wonder and admiration
Of those of his friends in the State who
have never crossed the plains.
The chief Of the hunting outfit was
man in middle life, six feet three or four
inches tall, straight as an rrrOw and 1.-THE
and wiry as a panther lie had keen
gray eyes, which were the most expressive
features of Il rugged though kindly face.
He was dressed in true frontier style su-
perbly armed [ admired peculiar knife
and pistol scabbard which he wore and he
informed me that it was made out of the
skirts of the saddle of that famous despe
RADIO, Sam Bass. He was at first very diff
dent and spoke about himself with great
modesty After we became better ac-
quainted he grew more communicative,
and around the camp fire during that two
weeks he spun many yarn of frontier ad-
venture rivaling in dramatic interest any
stories told by the dime novel writers.
This frontieIsman's proper name is n. Il.
jenkins, but like most bordermen, he has
an alias, of which | shall have something
to say further on. He was born in Ten
nessee, but when he was thirteen years old
his parents moved west, settling first in
Missouri, afterwards wandering to Kansas
and from there to Colorado. Young Jen-
kins early learned the use of the rife; he
became an expert marksman, and at the
age of sixteen killed his first Indian. He
is a magnificent hOrseman, and is rather
proud Of this accomplishment. Continued
out door life on the plains and in the
mountains developed his independence of
spirit, and for years he lived among the
wilds Of the then almost unknown west
hunting and fishing. He had many adj
ventures and countless hair breadth escapes
from death. Like most bordermen he cul-
tivated an intense and bitter hatred for Lo,
and many an Indian has been sent to the
happy hunting grounds through his agency.
[ asked him how many Indians he had
killed in his lifetime.
/ ''Right smart" was the answer; $50
many that | lost count of them years
ago
His fame as brave man and skillful
borderman gave him a reputation all along
/ the frontier, and just after the close Of the
late war he was employed by Brigadier-
/ General Mckenzie the famous Indian
fighter, as scout and guide. The general
became strongly attached to him, and the
friendship continues to this day. He par
ticipated in many fights with the red men,
and when Mckenzie raided into Mexico
jenkins guided the troops as far as the
Rio Grande For his services on this oc-
casion General Mckenzie presented him
with a fine horse, which he still rides
The noted desperate, Sam Bass, was at this
time terrorizing Texas by succession of
bold and brilliant robberies. Jenkins de-
termined to follow Bass and mounted on
mule he took up the trail The rangers
were pressing Bass at this time and party
under command of Captain Peake, of the
frontier battalion, overlook jenkins. When
the commander of the rangers asked the
scout where he was going he made char
acteristic reply: "I'm following up Sam
Bass" he said, ''and in twenty -four hours,
Judging by the sign, III overhaul his out
fit.
This reply so pleased Captain Peake that
he enlisted jenkins on the spot and he re-
mained with the rangers several years. He
was with Peake's command when Sam Bass
was attacked on Salt creek, Denton county,
early in the spring Of 1878. In the fight
which followed Jenkins killed Bass lieu
tenant, the notorious 'Arkansas johnson, y
and wears the latters spurs as a memento
of the struggle. He was favorite scout
of the lamented Custer, and was with him
only short time before that last bloody
battle on the Little Big Horn.
Captain Jim Peake considered Jenkins
one of his best scouts, and speaks of him
in terms of the warmest praise. When
jenkins Joined Peake's command he had
been away from civilization for years, and
the captain on one occasion having to pay
visit to the capital city of the Lone Star
State, took Jenkins along with him. When
they reached Austin, Jenkins, who was in
the dress Of frontiersman and armed to
the teeth, attracted a great deal of atten-
ton, and the boys followed him about in
crowds He thought this ovation compli-
mentary to himself and invited the curious
juveniles to the nearest confectionery, where
he spent all his money treating them to
candy, soda water and ice cream. When
night came the captain took Jenkins to the
Raymond House for supper. The dining
room was crowded and the table was re-
splendent in its setting of glass and silver
jenkins advanced to the table, drew his
bowie knife, spread biscuit and piece of
steak, and stepping back began to eat as he
had been accustomed to eat in camp, stand
ing up, with his bowie knife and fingers
answering all purposes. A grinning ser
want invited him to be seated.
''No, thankee,' was the answer, II am
doing tolerable well here"
He was assigned a room at the hotel
furnished in the most luxurious manner,
with soft carpets, rich furniture and
downy bed. When the captain went in to
arouse him next morning Jenkins was
stretched out on the floor, wrapped in his
blanket
why didn't you sleep in the bed?"
asked the captain.
II did try the burned thing" was the
answer, 'but | begged in it clear over my
head"
My friend mad Milton" had addressed
jenkins as Buffalo Bill, - and one night
asked him how he came by the title.
"Well," said he, ''its long story. 1t
was way back in the fifties and me and my
pardner were scouting and buffalo hunting
on the head waters of the Colorado. In
dians were tolerable thick in them parts,
but we were in camp three or four days
before they pestered us. One evening |
started out to kill deer. walked up the
bank of little creek for a mile or two and
finally started up buck. I fired and he
dropped dead. Walking up to where he
lay | whipped out my knife to bleed him.
Just as | stopped saw the feathered head
of Commanche not twenty feet away, and
before [ could raise my gun three more
bobbed up. I dropped one of 'em and
stepped behind rock for shelter just as
about twenty of them rushed upon me from