The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-22
A WILD RIDE FOR LIFE.
HOW PAUL MCORMICK'5 HAIR
WAS TURNED WHITE.

Was Killed-Brutsl and Fiendish
Acts of Mutilation.
From the Chicago Herald.
Everybody In Montana, and, in fact,
nearly every one living west Of the Mis-
souri,, has heard of Paul Mccormick. who
has charge of Senator Tom Powers inter-
ests, and who for years has been the willy
little republican senator's right bower in
his deals with the Indians. Nearly 6 feet In
hight, broad-shouldered, resonant OF voice,
and with eyes as keen as a hawks, despite
the slight defect in the lid OF the left orb,
Paul is an ideal frontiersman, a favorite
with all who know him, and whose proves
with the rife has been displayed in many a
tussle with the Indians. Not every one out
in that section of country, however, knows
what turned Psul's hair prematurelY white,
for the brave fellow is loath to dwell upon
this incident in his eventful career, whereby
he 80 nearly lost his life, and wuich caused
his magnificent crop of jeJ black curly hair
TO take on the whiteness OF driven snow.
1t happened early in the '70s. Paul, with
q number of traders, had gone up the Vel
lowstone in a fiatboat loaded with goods
that they expected to exchange with the
Crows for skins and such other commodi-
blcS 40 bu6 luuldud uhQ W Vol AOE Luc
gaudy blankets and calicoes 80 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 ne scared off by trifes; besides
which Paul Mccormick, their leader, was
known to be the best shot in the territory,
and whose knowledge Of Indian tactics had
been gained on many dearly bought field
Of experience.
Landing at Pease Bottom the outfit made
the fatboat fast, and after selecting a suit
able site, proceeded to build block house.
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, with his trusty Sharps slung
across his saddle bow, ride to the summit of
the nearest butte and scan the country for
Indian signs. This duty completed he
would lope his horse back to camp to assure
the boys of cold trails and prospect Of I'M
interrupted work on the house.
One bright morning as Paul started out
on his accustomed scout he was approached
by an old trapper, known TO the rest as
Grizzly, who said he reokoned he'd Zine
Mac in his ride that day if the latter didn't
keer." OF course Paul was glad to have
company and willingly waited until Grizzly
brought up his horse and cinohed on the
saddle. Lured by the brightness of morn
ing and intoxicated by the fresh, delicious
air which they inhaled IN long breaths as
they galloped 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 a trace Of In
anh d a1urnr IT
ger, lost ia the enjoyment of the perfect
June day.
They had walked their horses up pretty
stiff butte and, arrived at the summit, were
breathing the animals while taking q sur
vey Of the country. For miles around not
a sign of life could be seen save in the far
distance, where a black speck in the sky
circling eastward told them Of a possible
breakfast awaiting the industrious buzzard
which had already scented its prey Grizzly
had been discussing with Paul the best
method OF defense in case they were sur
prised by Indians and found 1t impossible
TO break away.
''Id shoot Their critter right thar, Mac"
said the old trapper, indicating a spot be-
hind his mares ear, land she falls 'ithout
or culver. Then down coss ter Their csr6is
yer squats, an behind these breastworks
yer pumps lead inter Their bloomin' savhges
an stands EN- off ontel Their boys get anxa
ious about US an forms a rescue party
Els jest ez simple ez-"
But old Grizzly never finished the SEN
teHce, for at that moment up rose from the
sage brush. where he had lain concealed, a
tall, bepainted Indian, who uttered a wild
whoop, and in an instant the sage brush all
around vomited redskins, bowling, shoot
ing, yelling in concert, intent uDon soaring
the animals upon which the traders sas, so
they would become manageable and ham
dlcap the riders in their efforts to escape.
1t seemed to Paul's startled senses that
where moment before no sign of life was
visible now circled thousands of whoopiDg
savages, eager for his blood, and il for the
nonce he lost his customary nerve he was
surely excusable.
The animal he bestrode was wiry mus
tang, full of energy, with good deal of the
devil in him. His gyrations under fire re-
rquired ell of Pauis skiIful horsemanship
to prevent his being unseated, especially
with dozen Indians firing crosswise over
and under the brutes body. Apparently
the redskins were more DESTROYS of ceptur-
ing Paul alive for the purposes Of torturIng
than to kill him outright, which may ac-
count for his almost miraculous escape from
the hundreds of bullets that zipl tipped in
the air all about him. AS for Grizzly, he
had encountered a chance shot at the first
onset. and. stone dead, sat upright in the
saddle with his arms outstretched, his head
bare and a streak Of blood urickling over
his long, gray mustache that fell from a
round bullet hole sunk square between the
eyes. Grizzly's mare, bearing her dead
rider, at first broke away from the Indians
and circled over the plateau, but, returning,
ran round and round in a still narrowing
circle until a well-aimed shot dropped her
in her tracks.
all this Paul saw before he managed 20
break through the Gordon OF Indians that
endeavored TO snare him. Several times the
1.-THE savages were running neck and neck
with his mustang, and once a vicious tug
nearly pulled him from his horse, but he
kicked loose, and with yell Of defiance gall
Hoped madly down the butte in the dtrec-
ton OF the block house, a hundred bullets
singing IN his ears, sent in deadly earnest
by the Cheyennes, who viewed their in
tended victims escape with deep ohagrin
that found vent in a chorus Of savage yells.
Straight to the block house rode Paul,
chased fer the first few miles by about a
dozen braves, who fired as they ran, but
without in6ictlng any damage save 10
wound his horse. So intent had he been on
his escape that not once had be returned
the ire of his foes, although in addition TO
his rifle he carried two big navy revolvers
In his belt that held six rounds Of cartridges
each. To friend, later on, he confessed
that it never occurred 60 him TO use either
the rife or the revolvers, although he might
hava dOna aana IaodIv daruaga r.y,fh fho