Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-10-31

fighter, and who was also noted for his
convivial qualities. He had high Old
time with the boys that day, and late in
the afternoon repaired to his camp up the
river piece and went to sleep. When be
woke up he conceived the idea of giving
the rest of the boys at town fright. and
securing a dried cow hide he cut out
pair pf sandals, which he laced on his
feet and going down 10 the river bank he
walked along the soft sandysoil. making
the impress 1T his sandals and leaving a
broad trail. He then Went up to the town
and told some of his friends that the " acos
We're on the war-path, headed by Big Foot.
and as ii was dark they failed to discover
his sandals They organized a party. how
ever and started out to keep watch TOR the
night. The next morning rhcy found the
trail left by Wallace. and following it up,
they found Wallace himself sound asleep.
with the sandals still ON his feet. Ii is
said that he afterward killed the Waco
chief but whether this bee true or not. he
has been known as Big Foot Wallace
ever since the incident above mentioned
In 1863, says correspondent of the St.
Louis Globe Democrat. ] had occasion TO
travel from San Antonio to Laredo, Tex,
and becoming separated from the party
with which ! had set out, ! was delighted
10 reach Captain WallaCe's cabin ON the
bank of the Chicon about dusk one evening,
and was still further pleased to find him at
home He lived there alone, but hardly
ever spent night in his cabin unless he
had company, generally taking his rifle
and blanket and ,ecreting himself IN some
adjacent thicket. He said If he slept in
the house he slept sound and the Indians
might Slip up on him. and they had made
seyera. attempts to surprise him He
promised to pilot me back % the Laredo
next morning and help me 10 find the party
from which had become separated during
the day
We started about sunrise in the morn
ing and when about FIVE miles from the
casin we came upon three deer quietly
feeding. Big Foot wounded one of Them
and pointing ont the direction for me to
travel. he started in pursuit Of his game
telling me if he had not oyertakcn me
when ! reached a certain hin, which he
described. for me to wait for him ! had
scarcely ridden three miles after parting
with Captain Wallace, when ! cspied a
party Of Lipan Indians, about fifteen in
number bearing down upon me, about
half a mile away. The bill where the old
man had directed me to wait for him was
about a quarter of a mile away. and put
ting, my horse at a full speed reached it
some distance ahead of the Indians. dis
mounted and tied my horse, and, taking
position behind tree, prepared to defend
myself The Indians advanced TO within
200 or 300 yards when they halted and
seemed TO be holding q consultation
Suddenly heard yell, and at the same
instant discovered Captain big Foot -
riding at full speed directly at the Indians,
waving his hat and calling out in Spanish,
Come on. boys. here they are; saul INTO
EN- The Indians "stOod not ON the
order Of their going but went at once, ~
and when the old man got to where ! was
standing, badly scared. asked him whom
he was speaking to. He said nobody he
had just taken that method Of soaring the
Indians Off II certainly proved "A very
eifectuai method
About year after this a Choctaw IN
dian who lived in Atlas -osa county. named
Bob Coins. ran away TO Mexico. carrying
ora number of horses with him, among
the number four belonged to Big Foot.
The old man started after Coins, and !
met him i'm Laredo ! asked where he was
going. when he told me Bob Coins had
stolen some of his horses and was at Llpan
village over i'm Me&ico and he was going
over after them asked him if be pro-
posed 10 take legal steps to recover his
property. He said no; Coins had stolen
his horses. and he was going to steal them
back About ten days later met him
atrliu. when Ae told me hn had recovered