The Portland daily press., 1892-03-10

Sheridan a,ring the same Indian
trouhles, +siis a. wonderful story of
hybrid found in an Arapahoe village.
The Indian villages IN the wichita
mountains were captured In January,
1869, and contained the old men and
squaws Of the tribe Of hostiles, while
the warrisrs were still out on the war
path. In these villages there were
many objects of curiosity, and the Off
GERS and men of the Nineteenth Kansas
and Seventh United States cavalry used
to spend much time visiting Them
One afternoon several OF the Of
fcers of the Nineteenth Kansas
were sauntering through the Ara
pahee encarnpment, when they were
somewhat startled by. coming upon
a ferocious looking brute tied
behind one of the Indian wickies. It
was about the size of year old New
foundland dog and OF a greyisk
brown color. The head and neck pre-
sented wild and formidable appear
ance, somewhat milling a noun
tain lion, while the body and limbs
were long and lank and decidedly wolf
ish in shape and looks The ANIMALS
eyes glowered with fierce light and
its general air was sferocious and start
ling, and the officers were disposed to
give it a wide berth. While critically
examining it from safe distance an
old squaw came out and thorough
half breed interpreter, with the party,
the gentlemen learned it's singular ped
igree. A female Indian dog had
crossed with coyote, the offspring be-
ing also female. and this hybrid had
again crossed with a cinnamon bear,
the result being the animal before
them. Capt. David Payne of the Nine
teenth was seized with a desire to pos
sess the brute and found little diff
Guilty in persuading the squaw to ex-
change it for moderate quantity Of
coffee and sugar. Being taken to
camp it became the general object OF
curiosity, and many an evening game
Of poker was played for its possession,
everyone being anxious to bring it
back to the states and open negotia-
tions with Barnum for fancy price.
1t required but little experience with
the brute to demonstrate the fact that
it entirely belied its looks, and was
really one of the most timorous and
cowardly Of animals. Pointing finger
at it would make the cur sink behind
the tent in abject fear, while it would
run away from the smallest dog in
camp. It had simply inherited all the
bad qualities of it's mixed ancestry and
none of the good ones.
About the middle of February its
owner got a leave OF absence to return
to Kansas in company with Col. Craw-
ford of the Nineteenth, who had res
signed his commission, and the attempt
was made to bring the brute into the
purviews OF civilization. AS the trip of
some $50 miles had to be made with
paels-mules, it was necessary to lead the
dog and he was placed in charge of the
captains orderly. In crossing the
broad prairies between Fort Arbuclsle
and Fort Gibson, the animals feet be-
came SO sore and infaped from cactus
thorns that modification took place and
he had to be killed. Even the skin
could not be saved and thus this re-
markable hybrid was entirely lost to
science. at- ~t
There are few records of hybrids
breeding in the second generation. but
this case was well authenticated, and
the brute is well remembered by the
men of the Nineteenth Kansas, and
many of the officers of the Seventh
United States cavalry who survive the
Big Horn massacre.
GEORGE B. JENNEss.