The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-04-08
NE THROWS ROPES,
The Career Of . Texas Boy who 1 owed
Bronchos Better than Books.

EApache George, tio un"u "A0 Az
Buffalo Bills cowboys in thelE memorable
fight with DR.. Caryer's calvalcade at
Hamburg, Germany, FIVE years ago. is IN
San Francisco.
He is the Qne who trailed Frank and
Jesse James to the moonshiners' camp ip
the mountains of Georgia, and was with
the outlaws when they fought and
whipped Pinkerton's detectives; the man
who is acknowledged by the cowboys OF
America to be without peer 10 handling
the rope and whip.
He is here among us, and is daily show
ing hia skill to wondering hundreds on
the water front, says the San Francisco
Gall.
The day was when Apache George wore
diamonds, but his love for the nomadic
life of o plaipsmau broke him, and he
works NOW for salary as .'the attraction .
for a patent medicine peddler.
George still sticks to his greasy buck
skin jumper and chapparajos, and wears
bis hair cowboy style, long and hanging
oyer his shoulders. Wonderful hair it is,
too, for with it he can lift clear from the
ground dead weight of 500 pounds.
A more romantic and checkered career
than that of George Bush, alias apache
George could hardly be imagined even by
writer of the improbable dime novels of
the day, and still more wonderful is the
fact that most Of the events of his life are
too we'll authenticated to admit of being
questioned.
apache George Bush was born IN San
Antonio, Tex, in 1843, his father being
sold Joe" Bush, Government scout in
the employ of the United States and work
ing with the famous Texas Rangers.
San Antonio at that time and for many
years afterward was the last town between
civilization and Mexico. 1t had no rail-
roads, and it was three days. hard ride
to the next town to the eastward.
In 1868 George, then strong, sturdy
boy of Is, who was much more proficient
with the lariat and rifle than in parsing
verbs and nouns, and who could ride a
wild broncho much easier than he could
do sum in simple arithmetic, was sent
to an old uncle, who lived on big ranch
some distance from San Antonio de Bexar,
to be educated.
The uncle was college graduate, and
George was to be tutored and taught and
kept away from wild horses and herding
cattle.
The schooling lasted just one week to
day, and then one night he quietly
crept out Of the house saddled the feetest
pony in his uncle's corral, and struck out
across the plains toward the Mexican line.
Morning found him a good 60 miles from
bis uncles ranch, with pony tired and
spent with the hard riding and long dis
lance covered.
George struck out as he thought in the
direction of home, but instead walked
inta an encampment of Apache Indians
and there tried to steal pony, but was
caught and made captive.
For four years or until he was 10 years
Of age, George remained with the Indians,
marrying young squaw and living as
one of the tribe. He made numerous at
tempts to escape, but was closely watched,
especially by his Apache wife, whenever
the tribe camped near white people.
One night Apache Georges chance
came. He was sent with several Indians
to 9 settlement on the frontier to buy am
muniton because he could talk English.
He saddled an unbroken broncho and let
it run away with him, and once out of
gunshot he piled the quirt and was soon
beyond reach,
He landed at the ranch of "Coloneln
Plats, well-known Texas stockman, and
with him lived some time. It was while
IN his employ that man cane to him
and wanted him to 60 into the Wild West
show business. He went, and when the
show was in Georgia detectives applied
to the manager for trailer to hunt down
Frank and Jesse James, who had escaped
into, the mountains of Georgia, and were
hiding among the moonshiners.
"Apache George" gladly undertook the
mission, having learned trailing while in
captivity with the Apaches. He followed
the James boys into moonshinsrs' camp
and was taken captive by the James boys,
aud tAe detectives who were with him
then attacked the camp.
George says he has been in many tight
hole, but never before OF since has he been
in e place where both his friends and en-. |
emies were trying to kill him. The James
boys escaped, leaving George in the moon
sinners camp.
lie then Joined the Cody and Carver
Wild West show, better known as buffalo
Bills show, and after touring the United
States went to England with it. In Ger
many Buffalo Bill" and Or. Carver quar-
relied and they divided the show. George
went with. Buffalo, Bill"
The rival shows fought for patronage in
the various European towns until the bit
terness of the quarrel extended to the cow
boys themselves, and in Hamburg, Ger