The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-06-29
a RIDE FOR LIFE.
Thrilling Experience OF a Man Who
Rode Many Mics on a Waterless
Waste or Prairie Land.

Waste of PFdifHe Land-
st. Louis Republican.
do you see that why, sharp-eyed
man there swinging those Indian
clubs?" q gentleman asked Of Repub.
liam reporter who was at the Missouri
Gymnasium training for an interview.
"That is Professor Grahame. the
fencing teacher here
81 know it,"
"But do you know him?"
"only slightly
'NFell, 60 talk with him. He has a
wonderful budget OF stories. The
man has had a most varied expert
ence."
Acting on the advice the Professor
was oon engaged in a general CONVEX
sation that gradually grew more per.
sonal, and when pressed to speak Of
himself did so with unusual modesty.
The professors tull name is James
w. Grahame. He is an Englishman
by birth and is forty.one years Of age.
In 1864, while still a boy, he went to
New Zealand, being attracted there
by the wonderful description of the
place given by o captain Jenkins, who
brought a delegation oil Maori chiefs
to England. He became overseer Of
q sheep ranch, and after q year Joined
those who under the gold excitement
r,rsxA# - Halt L. NIrLgI. 49, L.
was hurt by a landslide, and was tax
en- to Australia for medical treatment.
He was in Melbourne at the time the
steamer bearing the gifted Gustavus
v. Brooke sunk on it's passage to
that place. After some years spent
in the wars with the b~ush-rangers,
young Grah6rae came to America and
at once went to Texas. His New Tea.
land and Australia training predis-
posed him to the pursuits of the trap
per, and for years he followed that
life on the border. He was attached
in the capacity OF a scout to a survey
ing party o. the Texas Pacific Rail-
road, and was with one or two pros
pecting companies that travelled that
section for mining and other pur-
poses. subsequently, he was a scout
for the United States army in its In
dian warfare.
Always,i in speaking OF the adventures
ne related, the professorwasnoticeably
free from egotism, and was inclined TO
ascribe the heroic parts OF the expert.
ences to Others.
cit was from Fort Concho," he said
shat a company OF twenty-five men
in 1876 was ordered out on q scout.
You see the Indians would wander
from their reservations and steal
cattle and horses and commit other
depredations. They would do their
work so quickly that it was unsafe to
wait Tor the reports ofthese outbreaks,
and it was the custom to alternately
send the different companies out on
scouting expeditions. Their duty
would be to ride along the line OF the
reservation, and ii any trail was dis
covered that seemed particularly
fresh they were to follow it in search
Of the Offenders. The party of twenty
five mentioned struck such q trail.
As it lay across the edge only OF the
Staked Plain, Captain Nolan, who
commanded, thought it safe to follow.
For three days the trail was followed,
apparently growing fresher all the
At that time it was discovered
that the water was exhausted, and the
and animals began to suffer for
it. 1t was the middle of August, and
under its terrible sun the men were
without shelter. There was not q hill
or o tree in sight-only that gl~ittering
sand. The men pushed on expecting
every hour to strike water, but they
were doomed to disappointment.
were three scouts with the COM
and they, under the belief that
they knew where water could be found,
lefp the main body, promising to re-
turn and conduct them to the springs
when found. Two days were passed
and the scouts had not returned. The
were going mad. Every animal
but three had been killed and its
blood eagerly drank by the men. The
scouts had separated and two days
after leaving the command one Of
them rode into Concho with the news
Of the dire plight OF Captain Nolan
and the company. The only parties
who knew the plains we'll enough to
venture in relief we're the friendly In
1ians. and they were at Fort Griffin.
A rider from Concho made the dis
lance between the two points in a
and hall q day. / was at
when be arrived. The day
was hot and sultry. and every.
shiks had that hazy hum that comes
With August. The sight, however, Of
this courier, dusty and travelworn,
and Of his painting horse, informed
The fort at once that something inn
portant was astir. We we're at din
aer when be came, but left it, of
TO hear the news. Col. Mizener
VAS commanding at Griffin then, and
he hardly read the dispatch before he
old its contents TO the Indians.
There was one. u Tonkaway Chief,
Old Charlie, who listeded to ii,
md then only asked which way No
ans company went when they en-.
.ered Staked Plain. Being told, he
put his hand confidently on his breast
ind said, "Me find ,em.n It was only
i few minutes before a party Of eight
Indians under the leadership OF Char.
lie left the fort with back animals and
OF water. With the unerrinq
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