The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-11-01
JosEPHus SAVED CUR scALps.
"A Wild West Goat on the warpath-some
of His Franks

Wild West Goat on the warpath-some
of His Franks.
"Josephus" was a character. Now,
although Josephus was character,
tie innocence of his expression and
the subdued manner in which he
walked about among the tents and
cabins of "Hard Pan Bottom" contin-
ually got him into trouble, as we'll as
those temporarily associated with him.
Hard Pan Bottom was rough mining
camp in the Black Hills, and the COM
panions of Josephus wcre for the most
part reflex Of the landscape, hard
looking and "rocly." How Josephus
received his name no one in camp
knew; it was said to have .scome
nat'ral." He had a long grayish
beard, exceedingly prominent ears
and great curved horns. In fact, Jo-
sephus was a well developed Rocky
Mountain goat.
The "boys" all liked Josephus, that
is, after they had made his acquaint-
ance and Introduced their friends.
This latter operation was always pro-
ductiye of much mirth to the mutual
friend, "and consisted in enticing some
new conner to meet ''The Judge. -
The meeting usually took place in
front Of Buckeye" Smiths "pizen'
shop. Josephus entered into the spirit
of the affair with great gusto, and
never failed to make a hit with the
public. The operation consisted in es-
corting the victim to Buckeyes"
shanty and engaging him in CONVEX
sation, while the Judge" as he was
nicknamed, was sent for. During the
conversation process piece of red
flannel was pinned to the waistband
Of the new boy"
One or two shrill whistles generally
brought Josephus on the double quick,
and it was without in the least Slack
ening his pace that he made a bee line
for the red rag, and the consequence
was that the new acquaintance inva-
riably measured his length on the
ground, and as hcscrambled upon his
hands and knees was again laid low;
and so it continued until the rag was
removed or Josephus asked to have a
drink. During the ceremony of in
PRODUCTION, cries of Here's the judgeH
Mr. Jones, Mr. Josephus!N 'tshalse
hands with him, pard!' BE respect
full, stranger!' and similar ranlarks,
accompanied b. shouts of laughter,
were banded about by the delighted
spectators, while the yells ard pistol
shots helped to bring the surprised
stranger to demoraliZed condition of
abjcct fear He then stood treat to the
crowd
The beard of Josephus was contin
ual source Of annoyance to him, as the
miners enjoyed pulling it to provoke
its owner to fight.
daylight, in the tent Of yellow
Mike" the boys first realized the value
Of Josephus. A party had all the night
been devoting their energies to the
noble game of poker and to discus
sing the Indian outbreak, when sud-
denly, just outside, there was dull
thud, a blood curdling yell, another
thud, another Shrek and through the
side of the tent, in all the hideousness
of his war paint tunblcda full aedged
Indian brave, while close behind came
Josephus. All hands sprang to their
feet, revolvers were drawn, the Indian
was killed and the camp aroused, just
in time, for already were the war
whoops sounding and rifles cracking.
1t was only after three hours of hard
Fighting that the attack was repulsed,
when the surprise having failed the
savages drew off. AS for Josephus, he
received the rank of colonel, although
more often spoken of as IThe Spy
Killer" But Josephus did not long
live to enjoy his honors. Unlimited
"red eye whisky was too much for
mis- constitution and he died fighting
imaginary Indians. The entire camp
attended the funeral, which was pro
nounced to be the most high toned OH
record in the county.-New York
Tribnnc.