The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-03
An Experience wita Apache Kid.

Out this way Apache Kid wasn't
much Of a celebrity, says the st. Louis
Post-Dispatch, but for miles along the
Guadaloupe canon he was great guns.
Kid was a mean Indian, who tried to
Kill white man or grengo every
day, and turned his head to thieving
when he couldn't find human game.
There was great rejoicing in the
Apache country when a squaw came
down from the mountains and said
that the outlaws body was rotting
among the rocks.
George Hickey, who runs tobacco
mist shop at 101s Franklin avenue,
laughed when he read the story.
APACHE Kids body has been rotting
in the Sierra Madre foothills oftener
than have fingers on my hano," was
his comment OH the dispatch.
Hickey is an old prospector. He was
born in Germany and educated for a
metallurgist. he came to America and
prOspected for twelve years through
the Apache country. He is still a
young man, though an occasional gray
hair betrays his adventurous life.
When the bottom dropped out Of
silver, Hickey came to st. Louis. He
is making money selling cigars and
thinks of starting mining school this
winter for prospective Klondikers.
During his sojourn in the West he
made the acquaintance of Apache Bill,
and once had an experience with him
that overtOps the romaneing Of writers
of wild western tales.
"I can't believe Apache Bill dead, "
said Hickey, Saturday. "He wasn't
built for dying like rat in his hole.
When he quits it will be from shock
of lead. That story about his body
rotting among the rocks has been told
by half dozen ggomen he has turned
loose. He has that story circulated
when he wants to keep quiet and stop
the endless pursuit that keeps him al
ways on the move.
"He'll turn up again before the win
ter sets in. He's not over thirty-five,
and he's too tough to give up to dis
ease.
81 met him first when he was scout
ing for General Miles. He was at
tached to the San Carlos reservation.
Frank Leslie was the chief of scouts
and the Kid was his best assistant. He
couldn't talk much English, and for
this reason l doubt the rumOr that he
went to school at Carlisle, Pa.
"He began his career as an outlaw by
running off from the reservation and
killing buck against whom he had an
old grudge. He was sent to prison in
California, but was pardOned by Presi-
dent Cleveland. He returned to Ari-
zona and soon the country was aroused
by the murder of two prospectors.
''The Kid turned up, was accused Of
the crime, tried and sentenced to life
Imprisonment He, two Indians and
a Mexican were being brought by
Sheriff Reynolds and deputy to pris-
on when they escaped. They were
handcuffed, but Apache Bill told his
mates to strike the deputy with their
manaeIes and stun him. He did the
same for the Sheriff. They told the
Mexican to skip out, killed the officers
and took their guns and provisions.
"After that the Kid waged ineessant
warfare on the whites. had the mis-
fortune to fall in with him in Deeem-
ber, 1890.
II was prospecting in the Guada-
lOupe canon, and making my head
quarters at John Halls ranch. Hall,
myself, John Bridger, of Blue Mills,
Mo-, and Bunk Robinson, of San Seba
county, Texas, both of them cowherd-
ers, were the only ones on the place.
"On December 10, Bridger, who had
been up in the hills branding cattle,
said that the Apaehes were about, for
be had discovered slaughtered beef
with the entrails and tenderloin taken
out