The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-11-01
" LUCKY JOE"
he Recounts q Few Thrilling ADJ
ventures with Indians
How Ho Gained tho Appelsation of
"Lucky Joe"-Charging . Band OF
Red Skins Single-Handcd-A
Dash for Life and Liberty.

FROM May, 1906, to October, 1870, I
vas In the employ of the Government
rs an Indian scout and dispatch rider,
and during the last three years of nv
service was seldom referred to, ex-
sept in official papers, otherwise than as
LUCKY joe" l was lucky. There
were twelve of us mustered into sery-
Ice at Fort Kearney early in May. Be-
Tore November eight of the dozen lost
their lives. Before April was the
only one left of that crowd. In the
four years had thirty different part
ners, every one of whom was killed or
so badly wounded that he had to leave
the service. While scores of brave
fellows left their bones on the plains
and among the hills was only slight
~ wounded twice in all those years of
peril 1t is little wonder, then, that
they called me "Lucky Joe," and
that white men and Indians alike
believed that I could not be- killed ex-
cept with silver bullet. They even
tried that without drawing blood.
. What people call luck is Outlines
easily explained. I had served for
three years in tho army of the Poto-
mac, acting as scout, spy and cavalry
man. l had been in twenty battles and
skirmishes. I had been closely pinched
many times as scout and spy. There
tore. to begin with, I had nerve. l had
trained myself never to be surprised
or ratified at any thing and to expect
the unexpected. I was young and Wig
orous, had a keen eye, and could shoot
with Bogardus. For four months
previous to reporting at Fort Kearney
l was in daily training. 1 trained
rs runner and jumper. l
practiced at creeping and crawling
and burrowing. I practiced at two
handed shooting with my revolvers
until I was perfect. I invented a war
whoop of my own and got it down
perfect. I had a Kentucky running
horse, and l broke him to stand under
all circumstances. He would lie down
when commanded, come at my call,
stand sentinel at night, and when
uttered my war whoop he was ready
to help me fight. My hard work was
not known to the soldiers and pioneers,
and they therefore attributed to luck
what really belonged to nerve and
training. As I made no explanations,
the sobriquet of Lucky Joe became
firmly attached to my identity.
Ny first startling adventure occurred
Oh the north fork of the Platte river.
between Fort Kearney and Cottonwood
Springs. There was q detail of SOL
diers stationed at the latter place, and
] was sent from the fort with sealed
orders. At that time the hostiles
were threading that section in every
direction, and had run off great deal
of stock and killed many soldiers and
citizens. was offered detail of cav
airy to see me through, but preferred
to go alone. As q matter of fact
wanted to test my nerve. Itmay seem
queer to you. but you must remember
that had trained for the occupation
and adopted it, and was naturally
anxious to excel. 7 left the fort at
dark of starlight night for the ride
of about thirty-fve miles, having every
reason to believe that there were two
hundred redskins prowling between
the two points. The first ten miles /
made at a rafting pace, as my horse
was in fine fettle and scouting parties
had been out during the day to intim-
idate the Indians. After that distance
had been covered checked the pace
and was alert.
The best route lay along the bank of
the stream, but as that would be the
route watched by the reds I kept back
about mile. The post to which l
was going had been attacked several
times, and I did not intend to ap-
proach it until daylight. The sentinels
would be on the qui vive for Indians,
and the chances would be nine out of
ten that they would fire upon me in
the darkness. / had plenty of time,
therefore, and let my horse go at q
walk. We were in the open, and it
was nearly midnight when seven In
dams suddenly rode across my course.
My horse heard them coming and
stopped of his own accord, and they
passed so near that I could plainly
C.O1nt tina nurnhar Had Wa haoy,