Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-06
BUCKSKN JOE.
He Pulls Down a Neat Little Pension of
$4,000.

$4,000.
He dropped into the editorial rooms of
the RECORD UNION office, and, taking seat
by the stove, asked for the city editor.
When that individual put in an appearance
the stranger introduced himself as Joseph
Garrison, of Wood River, Idaho, better
known throughout the Western country as
" Buckskin Joe" or 1.-The Fire Chief"
buckskin was pioneer of the Pacific
coast, having visited California in the en-
ploy of the Government some years before
the discovery of gold. Buckskin was feel
ing quite jubilant when he entered the
office, having just come from the State
Capitol where he had an interesting inter-
view with Governor Waterman and the
Adiutant-General. The latter gave him a
certificate, setting forth that during the
civil war Garrison was member of Com
pany 6, Second Cavalry, California Vol
unteers. That document gives me-" he
added, pension from 1913 of $12 so per
month"; little nest-egg of $4,000: and
If they allow me interest upon
it. will be quite a large sum.
I'll tell you how it all came about" con-
tinued Buckskin. 81 joined the army
when the war broke out with Mexico, par
ticipated in five battles in that little I'M
pleasantness, and was wounded five times
This was reported to army headquarters
and in 1913 l was allowed a life pension of
So 50 per month. AT the close of the war
| drifted farther west, and was not aware
that Uncle Sam had done the fair thing by
me until about year ago, when a friend
of mine discovered it among some old
pension files at Washington. | was at that
time engaged in mining in Idaho. l went
on to Washington, proved up my identity,
and the only thing that stood in the way of
getting my pension was to prove that | was
loyal during the civil war-from 1861 to
1865 These documents settle that ques-
ZION, and | am now entitled to my money.
Talk about loyalty, there are only two
things that l love, and that is my God and
my country.
Here are some letters from the lead
ing men of IDAHO" said Buckskin, as he
handed over large envelope containing
letters from The leading Territorial officers,
and the editors of papers in that section.
One particularly was good one and was
addressed to Elwood Bruner, District At
torney of Sacramento county, from his
brother, who is a resident of the Wood
River country. After requesting Mr.. Bru-
ner TO assist Buckskin in getting his papers
from the State officials, the letter closes
with: He knows every trail from the
Missouri river to the Pacific Ocean, and is
he'll OF a fellow in a bear fight"
Mr.. Bruner did as requested and Buck
skin had no trouble in getting the desired
document. He was well known in this
section in war times, and was one of the
charter members of Sumner G. A. r. Post,
in this city, and is one of the very few
survivors of that little band. His life
has been an eventfui one. and, like
Daniel Boone and others of that type,
he was only happy when on the outposts
of civilization, and his life has ever been
that of a frontiersman. He was born in
Maryland, is 81 years of age, and is a cousin
of c. K. and Lloyd Garrison. Tall, erect,
long flowing black hair, parted in the mid
die, clear, piercing dark eye, he is the
perfect type of the Indian fighter and bear
slayer of dime novel fictions.
Buckskin is modest man, and dislikes
to talk of his adventures but he can tell
story in manner most intensely interest
ing When asked how he came to get the
name of "Buckskin," he said: :" l came
out to this coast in 1859 as a scout with
General Ianders. Being an export shot
with the rifle, and an excellent horseman,
l was Chief of Scouts on that expedition,
and had many hair-breadth excapes. In
skirmish with the Snakes, l killed young
chief who had on suit of buckskin,
which, for finish, | never have seen its
e Iual. The Goa was made without seam,
OF young elk's hide, the arms being the
fore legs. 1t was tanned so nicely that it
was soft as felt. The pantaloons were also
make of elk skins, and it is no exaggera-
ton to say hat the squaw who beaded
that suit must have been at least four
years in doing it. | wore that suit
tor long time, and that is what gave me
the name of Buckskin joe don't like
It. There are lots of other fellows who
are called Buckskin, many of then rene
gades and ouicasts of society. Take for
instance Buffalo Bill Heis everywhere.
| have known a score or more of them,
and none of them amount to much. Take
Bill Cody for instance, who is now coming
money in England with his Wild West
show. Do you know how he got his cog
nomen of Buffalo Bill? Well, I'll tell
you. When they We're building the rail-
road across the plains Cody took a contract
to furnish the labOrers with buffalo meat
at So carcass. He went to Missouri and
brought out hundred repeating rifles of
the most improved pattern, and selecting a
hundred warriors upon the plains, gave
them those weapons on condition that they
would deliver the meat. They did so.
Besides getting So for the carcasses, the
hides netted him 81 each, and Bill Cody
made money out of ii. Did he do right or
act square with his Government? No,
sir. A few years later Custer and his brave
little band of soldiers were cruelty mas
sacred, and the guns that Bill Cody gave
to the Indians did the work. He loves to
pose as Buffalo Bill, but he is only a
third rate actor, or what in this Western
country we would call barn stormer.'
No good, true or loyal man would have
done what Cody did. and his little specula-
ton in buffalo meat, which gave him the
title of Buffalo Bill, caused the loss of
800 OF cur soldiers and the death of Custer,
one of the bravest men that ever fell on
the field Of battle