Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-09-27
Leaves From the History Of the Cham
piOn Shot Of the World
An Indian Fighter.
He Had Many Strange and Romantic
Experiences on the Plains
in Early Days.

tlVes OF race OF men VINO MADE 1T pos
sib!e for the west to become the great
empire it now is. He was one Of the most
famous of the pioneers who led the van
Of civilization and marked the paths for
those who came after. A TRIBUNE re.
porter learned from him during pleas
ant conversation last night many inter
es'ing details of his life. Since he has
consented to give an exhibition at the
county fair on Oct. /. 2, 3, and DR.. Car.
yer has become greatly interested in
Great Falls, where some of his relatives
now permanently reside, and he talked
freely to the reporter.
DIR. Carver was born and raised in the
wild west. He is direct lineal descend
ent of Governor Carver who landed on
Plymouth Rock in 1920, 80 that good
blood runs in his veins. At a very early
age he ran away from home, and turned
his face toward the setting sun; In 1867
he was living With the Yankton and
Santee Sioux on the Minnesota river.
From them he learned all manner of
wood craft and Indian cunning, which
was to prove great benefit to him in
later years. After the Minnesota Indian
wars he removed with the Sioux to Da
kota, spending two years with them
there. At this time, although only
youth he stood six feet in his stockings
and weighed over 200 pounds. He is
today six feet four inches in height and
weighs 2G5 pounds, s,measuring forty-seven
inches around the chest His influence
among the Sioux became 50 great that
he was elected by them medicine chief
and it is from this fact that he takes the
title of ''Doctor." After several years
experience among the Indians he once
more returned to civilization and got
job driving stage between La Cross.
Wisconsin, and Winona, Minnesota
One night his coach and passengers
went through the ice on river and
horses and passengers were drowned.
Then young Carver quit the stage bus-
hess and went to Arkansas, where Ire
hunted among the Boston mountaiHs
Here he got mixed up with the Jameson
and Quantrell gang of outlaws, who
warned him out OF the country. Carver
and several other trappers and hunters
dctied the outlaws and private war o.
sued, which brought the latter to lln
! end OF their career. The winter Of lSi2
found DR.. Carver and partn-
named Blue Dick camped on the
Erenchman in Nebraska, am
perlences with bad Indians under TIE
leadership of three chiefs named whist
ler," Fat Badger and "White Ante
lope." DR.. Carvers revolver and rifle
made good Indians Of the three chiefs
and many of their followers after tie
most approved western method of those
days. It WAS on Frenchman creek that
Dr. Carver killed $500 buffalo in one
season, shipping the saddles to ChicaEJ,
He received for taem $3.50 apiece, After
the buffalo disappeared the doctor went
to California, and it was there that be
commenced his career as professOna.
shooter. This was about 1873. osncc
that time he has given exhibitions all
over the country. He has also Travelled
over nearly all the countries of Europe,
exhibiting his ekill before emperors,
kings and princes, from whom he has re-
ceived many valuable decorations and
souvenirs.
Perhaps the most remarkable of all lis
performances, rs it combine. a test Of
skill and endurance at the same timf
was shown at Minneapolis ia December
1883. The Minneapolis Times of Decem.
ber 30, 1888. tells the story as follows
"At precisely go this morning b'
Carver raised his rifle 10 his swollen
shoulder for the last time and sent q
target flying into the air. He accom-.
isbed the unparalleled feat Of shooting
GOOO0 targets in six days, an average Jf
10000 day, breaking all previous records
During the last three days the doctors
arm and shoulder have been 80 sw0lleu
that he was only able to continue by eo.
i,' i