The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-12-11

ia 80, seeing that he is protected Meth
er by the laws of God nor man. Hence
he becomes an outlaw in many cases.
A pathetic case is related, which | can
scarcely believe to be true. for frater-
nal love is as strong in the breust of the
red man as of any other race. A white
Desperate killed an Indian t get pos
session of his mine. The dead mans
cousin in turn killed the murderer, and
did NOT stop until he had killed sev-
eral others and thought his revenge was
complete. When the news was report
ed at the station" the usual raiding
lNarsu
dams were killed, and 1nlly IT. was
learned that this particular Indian had
a brother among the few that had been
captured. He was told to return to his
camp and bring back to them the head
of his brother, the murderer. Failing,
they would organize a large party and
exterminate all the Indians on the Mo-
1ave desert. The Indian soon returned
with the ear of another Indian, which
he said was that of his brother, whom he
had slain. The desperadoes wanted more
proof. Under threats the Indian did re-
TURF with the head of his brother. This
seemed to appease the wretches, and
no massacre followed. 1t is believed.
however, that a white man assassinated
the murderer and compelled the broth
er to bring in the head, and claim that
he murdered his own brother.
However, since that time the Indian
has become morose and has taken to
the warpath. He has followed the trail
OF the miners through the ravines and
canyons and shot down a paleface
whenever found. At last accounts he
has a-ssassinated nine men and two
women, none Of them being a party to
the deed which drove him to seek such
hellish revenge.
Indian t~railers are often used in these
expeditions, for there are renegades
among the red men as well as other
races. The t~railers hang around the
towns, have forsaken the life of vaga-
bondage and become sufficiently civ
ilized to betray their people-fOr a
price. They are, however, not trusted
by the white people, and when a few
desperadoes attempt to regulate" the
town, they occasionally shoot one OF
l THESE QOmGSlICdtGA 1uulduSy J0Sb " sec
him fall" When off duty, the t~railers
sell bows. arrows and pottery to our
lists at the railroad depots. These are
made by the squaws and children-the.
Indian brave generally considers II be-
meath his dignity to labor. The squaw
also does the cooking, gathers the wood.
and brings in the brush for the com
struction of their rude huts.
The Indian trailer Is selected for his
keen eyesight and sharp hearing. Along
the trail, almost obscured by drifting
sand, he can see the footprints which
tell him whether 1t is that of an In
dian or a white man, and the number.
A bruised or bent twig or blade Of
grass is a sign he readily reads, and by
.he imprints around the camp fire he
reads the number of campers and their
movements. He shades his eyes with
his hand and looks into the distance
and discerns human figures which to
the ordinary eye are a black speck, or
perhaps not seen at all. He places his
ear to the ground, and, rising, points
in a certain direction, and grunts:
'Umph, heap, many" Presently acloud
Of dust is seen, and If the palefaces are
in large numbers, they stand and re-
ceive it with a volley. Otherwise they
fly toward camp, for it is a band Of ia
age Piutes sweeping down upon them
and perhaps a massacre follows.
). N. sCANLAND.
|, AT Colon, Mich. a farmer found q
, gold ring in a potato hill