The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-06-24

SCOUT FOR 80 YEARS.
A True story that Reads like a Real
Istic Dime Novel,
Cincinnati ENQUIRER.

tCncihnati Enquirer.l
novel dinner was given a+ M;lldala
by Fred Kinsinger. The gre.t If tbe
occasion was Lawrence D. Kingston.
VINO enjoys the strange distinction of
having spent the most of life of thirty
'nIesyears on the back of an Indian pony.
AS the well roasted veal and the brown
MED catfish disappeared Kingston re-
clted In the unvarnished style of the
scout the details of life as exciting as
Monte Cristo's.
Kingston had been on his way to Wash
lngton with a lot of trappings when by
accident, at Chattanooga, he lost them.
He came to Covington to arrange for a
settlement with the railroad and to call
upon a young lady who had been en-
gagged to his twin brother, a scout, who
was killed In an engagement with the
Apache chief Geronimo. In Covington
he met Mr.. Kinsingers engineer, Charles
Fulmer, who had been soldier during
the Modoc war, and had then known
Kingston, and visit to Milldale was the
result.
Kingston is native of Colfax, Yuba
county, Cal When he and his twin
brother were mere babies, not a year old,
their parents were massacred by the Mo-
docs, but for some unaccountable reason
the infants were saved by the reds and
carried away with them. They were
raised by their captors until 10 years Of
age, having become proficient in all the
traits of their adopted people. A COM
f1ayoNr Of TT1i4a1 Ctofac cal ,J;a,- ~
Cheatham, raiding the Indian retreat one
day, rescued the two youths and took
them to his camp, where. they were
placed in charge of Donald Mckay, chief
OF the Warm Spring Indian scouts, to be
educated as such.
Two years later, then being in his 14th
year, young Kingston began what has
proved to be a very eventful career, be-
ing placed on the trail of the Piutes in
Nevada, who had been on the warpath
for some time. Since then Kingston has
scarcely been out of the saddle, and so
valuable have been his services to the
government that he has been in constant
demand, both in the north, south and
middle of the wild west.
He has repeatedly covered the famous
great trails of the country, and has done
scouting against all the noted tribes and
rebellious chiefs. He saw active service
in the Modoc troubles in 1888, and was
one of the party with Gen. Candy when
he was assassinated. After the capture of
Captain Jack he was transferred to Gen.
Towards command, which was then
engaged in subduing the Piutes. Hehad
a hard struggle with the Chief Winnie
mucca. The latter was killed by young
bugler when he appeared to be having
the best Of the scout.
He performed secret service duty dur
ing the Mormon troubles of 1876, and
was with Gen. La Coma when he was
killed by the White River Utes. In 1875,
a year that will always be famous in the
history Of the far west for the terrible
Custer massacre, young Kingston was
sent to that general with dispatches, and
was ordered to report to the latter and
chief of scouts, Bill Campbell. He reached
their camp at o'clock on the morning
Of the fatal day.
The Indians were like locusts in a
fight, so numerous, and every hour after
they opened the attack seemed to swell
their numbers. At o'clock in the after
noon Custer, seeing that the situation
was getting hopeless, started him to Maj
Renos camp for relief, he having been
expected for some time. The mission
was certainly not pleasant one, sur
rounded as the brave company were on
all sides with the ferocious Indians. He
managed, however, to get through the
lines, but not until he carried with him
several wounds, one a very severe one
on the head. He reached Mai Reno,
who was seven miles away, and when
he returned two hours later the terrible
in sight, but they left some narrowing
evidences that they had been there. The
dead were piled everywhere, and sur
rounded by barricade of bodies, both
of savages and whites, they found the
remains of Custer.
He spent two years watching Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s stages and chasing
Apaches, and in 1879 was with the gov
eminent party that took the Alaska to
go in search of the lost jeanette. He
told most interestingly the history Of
to rs dogs. north, the mutiny of the
crew, skirmishes with the natives and
his escape with three companions from
the death that afterward came to the
company. They found the wreck of the
jeanette, but the survivors had started
south in another direction. The return
Of the Alaska crew was one of intense
suffering from scurvy and from attacks
from natives. He and three comrades
got away and were helped south by the
Flathead Indians. He lost all his COM
panions from scurvy, and when he finally
reached the Blood Indians, after terrible
experiences, he was nearly dead from
the same affection.
As soon as his health permitted he
was sent to the Apache country, where
Geronimo had murdered the Bryant
family. He was with the soldiers when,
in a sldrmish with the Indians, he
started the firing that brought down
Spotted Heel, one of Geronimos strong
est friends
During 1880 he did active service
against noted outlaws and aided in the
capture of several of the worst, includ-
ing Roberts, who was their chief; also
of Arizona Sam and Rattlesnake Jack
After that he was on trail against the
Piutes, spent a year carrying mail
through hostile Indian country, and in
1884 was with Gen. Sheridan in the Ban
mock war
Kingston is nov stationed on reser-
walton at Fort Walla Walla. He speaks
all the Indian languages and handles
Enplish excantinnallv well