The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-21
TRAPPED BY RED Men.
Riding for Life Amid Horde of
Bloodthirsty Cheyennes.

Everybody in Montana, and, in
fact, nearly every one living west OF
the Missouri, knows or has heard
of Paul Mccormick, who is now a
henchman of Senator Tom Power
of Montana, and who for years has
been the willy little republican SEN
ator's right bower in his deals with
the Indians. Nearly six feet in
height, broad-shouldered, resonant
of voice, and with eyes as keen as
hawks, despite the slightest de-
feet in the lid of the left orb, Paul
is an ideal frontiersman, a favorite
with all who know him, and whose
prowess with the rifle has beer dis
played in many tussel with the
Indians. Not every one out in this
section of country, however, knows
what turned Paul's hair premature
ly white, for the brave fellow is 10th
to dwell upon this incident in his
eventful career, whereby he SO nearly
lost his life, and which caused his
magnificent crop of jet black curly
hair to take on the whiteness of
driven snow.
It happened early in the seventies,
according to Montana letter to the
Chicago Herald. Paul, with a num-
Der of traders, had gone up the Yel-
lowstone in hatboat loaded with
goods that they expected to ex-
change with the Crows for skins and
such other commodities as the In
dians had to barter for the gaudy
blankets and calicoes SO highly
priced by the bucks and squaws.
At this time the Cheyennes were on
the warpath against their natural
enemies, the Crows, which made
travelling in that country even more
dangerous than usual. But the
traders were all old Indian fighters
and trappers, thoroughly familiar
with the locality, and not likely to
be scared off by trifes, besides
which Paul Nc Cormick, their leader,
was known to be the best shot in
the Territory, and whose knowledge
of Indian tactics had been gained
in many a dearly bought field of
experience.
Landing at Pease Bottom, the
outfit made the fatboat fast, and,
after selecting q suitable site, pro-
ceeded to build a blockhouse, as
much for the purpose of protection
against the hostile Indians as to
store their merchandise. Every
morning it devolved upon the keen
eyed Mccormick to saddle his horse
and, :r;.A vii. .;s trusty Sharp's across
his saddle-bow, ride to the summit
of the nearest butte and scan the
country for Indian signs. This
completed, he would lope his horse
back to camp to assure the boys OF
cold trails and prospect of unin-
terrupted work on their house.
One bright morning as Paul
started out on his accustomed scout
he was approached by an old trap
per known to the rest as Grizzly,
who said he reckoned he'd jine Mac
in his ride that day if the latter
didn't keer. OF course Paul was
glad to have company, and willing
" waited until Grizzly brought up
his horse and cinched on the saddle.
Lured by the brightness of the
morning, and intoxicated by the
fresh, delicious air, which they in
hailed in long breaths as they gal
loped over the short, curly buffalo
grass, the traders strayed much
further from the camp than was
customary with Paul when he was
alone, but as they had scaled
several buttes without noting trace
of Indians, each rode along unsus-
picious of danger, lost in the enjoy
ment of the perfect June day.
They had walked their horses up
pretty stiff butte, and, arrived at
the summit, were breathing the an
imals while taking survey of the
country. For miles around not a
sign of life could be seen save in
the far distance, where black speck
in the sky circling earthward told
them of a possible breakfast await
ing the Industrious buzzard which
had already scented its prey. Griz.
zly had been discussing with Paul
the best method of defense in case
they were surprised by Indians and
found it impossible to break away
"I'd shoot the critter right thar
Mac" said the old trapper, indicat.
ing a spot behind his mares ear
land she falls 'ithout er culver.
Then down clost to ther carkiss yel
squats, an behind these breastworkE
yer pumps lead inter ther bloomin
sayages, an stands 'em off onte
ther boys gets anxious about US an
forms a rescue party. Els just e
simple ez"
But old Grizzly never finished hl'
sentence, for at that moment W
rose from the sagebrush, where b
had lain concealed, tall bepaintet
Indian, who uttered a wild whohp
and in an instant the sagebrush al
around vomited redskins, bowling
shooting, yelling in concert, lnten
upon soaring the animals upol
mh;ah 4hn fradora saf so they WQull