The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-05
SHARP INDIAN TRAILERS.
CURIOUS POWERS or MAN HUNTERS
or THE RIO GRANDE.

More skiifully Than Bioodhonnds-
Methods Employed by the TraIler..
Palon and Cameno. the two Yuma In
dams who, until after the killing of Vic
Wilson and Andrew McGinnis by the
train robbers Sontag and Evans, were
members Of the posse in the capacity Of
trailers, and after the tragic affair re-
fused to serve longer since they consid-
cred the party displayed lack Of bray
cry, with the exception Of Frank Burke,
rank among the half.dozen or so most
expert trssilers in their tribe. says the San
Francisco Chronicle.
Palon and Cameno, especially the first
named. have long enjoyed well earned
reputation among the whites in their
peculiar branch Of knowledge, gained
through many campaigns similar to the
Sontag, Evans chase in which they have
just taken prominent part. and often
involving hartisiiips and privafions such
as but few Caucasians could endure.
Both are splendidly built are com
pactly put together, and every
movement of their sinewy, muscular
bodies indicates the possession Of just
such qualities rs are necessary in the
successful fulfllment Of the duties Of the
profession adopted by them.
The method adopted in following the
trail Is identical with that of every tribe
living along the Colorado. but the keen
ness Of their vision, the exact attention
paid to every detail. however slight, and
the dogged persistency and unwaverins
patience under the most aggravating cir
cumstance, while incomprehensible to
their more civilized brothers. rarely fails
to bring about the capture of the unhap
py fugitive. The Yuma apparently has
no sympathy for the susferlngs Of the
man De il pursuing. but limits his am.
lition solely to the qualification attend.
ing the enhancement Of his victim and
the anticipated pleasure consequent upon
the monetary reward that will be received
If successful
The exactness with which every leaf is
scanned, every rock and bush examined
and the close scrutiny to Which the soil
itself IL subjected by these trailers. to-
gether with the rapidity of movement
and the absolute accuracy of their infer4
ences, is, to say the least, startling.
Seldom do they miss the footprints and
then only when rains or violent sand
storms obliterate every trace. They are
as skilful in hiding their own tracks as
they are in uncovering the indications Of
others, The procedure on losing trail
is identical with that Of pack of well
trained hounds Starting from the last
clearly defined depression, they circle
about until it is again found. Then,
jogging along at an easy gait with eyes
fixed upon the ground, they do not
waver, despite discouragements of every
kind, until the night has fallen or the
fugitive is overtaken. They have a won
derful faculty for distinguishing the
footprints of a particular horse or person
from dozens of Others. Very little is
eaten, and only an occasional scanty
mouthful Of water taken when engaged
in tracking. The hardships caused by
the burning semi tropical sun, the thorny
bushes and caetii and the heated sand
under foot are needed almost as slightly
as if they did not exist.
prison officials at Yuma to fly red flags
from the walls whenever prisoner
effects M escape, and Indians are always
keenlX watchful for the appearance Of
the sign they understand SO well. A re-
ward Of $50 is usually offered for the
successful trailing and location Of such
escape, and since this amount means flb.
solute wealth to the average Yuma. the
opportunity for earning it is never az
lowed to slip by,
4 few years ago two conyicts, one an
elderly Mormon and the other quite
young man. escaped from the peniten
tiary at night by scaling the walls, dc.
seconded the predipitous bluff upon which
the structure stands. reached the Col.
orado, flowing rapidly past its base, ap-
propriated boot moored to the shore.
cast OF, and within few hours had
crossed the Sonora line. Their absence
was not discovered by superintendent J
III. Behan until the following morning
when the trailers, including Palon,
tracked the fugitives to the water S edge,
then separated into two bands, and ac-
companied by prison guards, followed
either bank of the river, until miles be
low the frontier the boat was discovered,
and along the opposite bank, some dis
lance above, the tracks Of the men lend.
ing into the brush
In spite of the cunning displayed by
the Mormon, who caused his companion
TO precede him, while he, wrapping his
feet in barley sacks, walking behind
carefully obliterated the tracks of the
younger man, and the selections Of both
whenever possible of stones, branches,
twigs and SO on upon which to step, SO
as to make the trail az indlstinct as it
could be made, ana the fact that sand
storms had almost obliterated every sign,
these Ymnas tracked the eonvicts1 d.
rectly back into the town whence they
started, thence through the streets to the
Southern Pacific roundhonse, picking
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