The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-13
THE F." WHITE HEAD"
A Fitting Death of the Monarch
of the Plains.

"Say Bill, whar We goin' to camp,
heyP"
"Bout five miles further on, guess"
"Why not here, pard? Plenty of
water an grass.
Eyes, 'zactly so; an sumthin' else,
too"
'NWhat's that?"
"Tll tell yer. Don't say nothin'r'.
The scene near the Comanche and
Loup creeks, Eastern Colorado; the
time, A. Dwell, about thirty years
ago, say. The personages, two tall,
sunburnt hunters, guides, or both, who
are plotting q somewhat long train of
emigrants across the plains. These
cmigrants, although comparatively
used to the Western wilds, were not
yet to be trusted in any matters relat-
ing to the management of the train,
nor in making a decision in which its
direction was in the least degree con
cerned. The hunters, Bill and lobe,
were always appealed to, ard their
verdict was final, no matter what SUBJ
ject might be under discussion.
Twas about six o'clock, on a lovely
day in September, and the train, with
Its patient draught animals, had been
"toiling steadily along till its teamsters
We're Just thinking of camping, the To-
cality was so lovely, at the junction of
the two creeks afore named, with low
hills upon either side that stretched
away in airy shapes till lost in the dim
haze of the cloudless sky. The clear
creeks, set with sedges, looked so in
Wiling, the men and animals alike
turned wiStful eye upon their cool
How. Green grew the grass there and
the beautiful stretching meadow
seemed to roll its free sward away to
the foothills, where Gray's and Longs
peaks Glove The still blue air. WHY
not camp there? "Thar's little
grade right ahead, Toby. Jest YOU 90
forrad and tell the teamsters to put on
brakes in time, and I'll stay here and
keep things stiddy like"
So Bill proposed; but Just as the
heading team had almost cleared the
grade, its near hind wheel dropped in
TO an unseen muskrat burEow that un-
dermlned the way, and brought up with
a jerk so sudden that the axle snapped
of-as Tobe expressed it-"short
as pie-crust" leaving the great
wagon q helpless mass in the
road, AND, in addition, stopping the
Roadway of the rest so quickly
that an unexpected melee was the inn
mediate result, This having subsidized
i'll some measure the fractured axle
was subjected to an examination which
resulted in verdict that "some time
must be given for REPAIRS" and as no
p@t OF the train could proceed with
out the remainder halt all along the
line was ordered for the night. and or
ders given to scamp upon the spot" a
proceeding which, while it gave un-
limited satisfaction to most of the train,
called forth the loudest expressions OF
anxiety and distrust from the hunters.
just my luck; dog-gone it." said
Bill, ''ter get kr tched in this blasted
place! Wouldn't had it for hundred
dollars!n
This remark was overheard bv one
OF the leading emigrants, who hastily
inquired:
What was the matter?"
Hushn' said Bill, II don't want
these punkin-heads ter hear me; wait
till after supper, then III tell ye."
SO, the DUSTY journey for that day
done, the camp made, and the tired
beasts picketed near the sparkling
Loup, cropped the wild Gramma sweet
and crisp.
"Sit down, boss" said Bill to the
cmigrant, who was named Yark. .sSit
down. Say lobe, tell every teamste1
to picket the horses extra strong. and
put good men on guard. We don't
want no sleepy-heads tonight, no mat
ter what fur. Ye only-waste yer breath
tellin' these civilized critters any thing.
or tryn to make 'em underst; nj. Sc
go ahead, and then come back here. =
Away went lobe; and, having full
hlled his order, returned. Then, pull
ing out their pipes. the three men
gathered around to hear the story
which had been so suddenly stopped
MS 1t was being related by Bill that
afternoon.
"Yark, did We ever see the White
Head?'"
No; don't know what you mean. .
Ibid We ever hear OF himp'
mo, never did. What is it?''
Hes the greatest critter that goes
on four legs and this is his 'stampin
ground for the present. / may as we'll
commence at the beginnin':
The White Heads a horse an
such horse, that we must see him ter
take him in. Thar never was his equal
yet He's faster than an antelope,
stronger than a butler, kin fight like q
painter, an is es cunnin' es a coon.
Thar never was a corral that could
keep him, nor lariat stroag enough
70 mold him. Well, re say. s'pos~ he
Is all this, what then? Jest this: To-