Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04
AN INDIAN WARRIOR.
THE FEATs OF "CHEROKEE BILL -
OF THE ROUGH RIDERS.
HIS WONDERFULLY TRAINED HORSE.
The Hedskin Is n Magnificent Shot
and n Suberb Rider-Instructing
his Comrades i'm Forest Fighting
His Ambush Work.
CFor the Dispatch)

In the Second Troop Of Rough Riders
which is now at Montauk Point, a pic
turesque and notable character is "Che-
rokee Bill who, as his name indicates
halls from the Indian Territory, and pe-
longs to the once powerful tribe Of red
skin warriors. Were IT not for his high
cheek-bones and bronze complexion he
would pass muster for a tall and muscu-
lar New Highlander. But the Indian origin
of Cherokee Bill is unmistakable.
Like all Indians, Bill rides his horse as
though he and the animal were one, and
his skill with rifle and revolver is a
constant source of wonder and delight TO
his comrades. His feats in craftsmanship
are the talk of his regiment. Any Of his
comrades are willing to hold a silver dol
lar for Bill to shoot from their fingers,
or hold pipes in their mouths for him to
shatter with a bullet.
With his horse at a gallop, and hanging
on with one knee and a hand, he can hit
small target at hundred feet two oIt
of three times with his revolver.
HE CLIPPED THE STEM
were firing at watermelon i'm a field at
a hundred yards, and manifesting plea
sure when they hit IT, which they did
about every other time Cherokee Bill'
Joined the group, and after looking con-
temptuously at the shooting for some
time. said This is what you want TO do"
and. firing his rifle, he cut the stem al
most completely off.
Bill has taught his horse all the ordi-
nary tricks that cavalrymen employ, and
many others which remind one Of the
wonderful performances Of the Weste n
Sioux. He makes the animal lie down ana
become pillow for him while he pre-
tends 10 sleep. and then tells him TO go
on guard while he remains sleeping. The
horse walks off fifty or a hundred feet
and plays, the part of sentry TO perfec-
ton. Bills breaks 4 stick I'm order TO pro-
duce the noise made by an enemy creep
Ing upon mans trail and the horse
returns Immediately and paws his master |
gently until he Is wide awake
THEY SWAN TOGETHER.
While the regiment was in camp al |
Tampa, Fla, one of the most picturesque |
sights was 10 see Cherokee Bill" and |
his horse I'm swimming together The dark |
copper color of the mans body made nm
seem of the same hue as his steed. They |
swan together and even played together,
In the water. and not until the animal |
was thoroughly tired did II manifest any |
desire TO return Co the land.
At Fernandina, as well as Tampa, "Che-
rokee Biz taught his comrades many
queer indian tricks. thereby furnishing
any amount Of amusement for the SOL ]
diers OF other regiments On one occasion |
he had them all creeping upon a foe. in
which every one of the party lay fiat upon
his face and wriggled worm-like along
The ground. Their dark uniforms, which
they wore at the time, the Cuban uni
forms not having been furnished made
little contrast with the earth. grass. aud |
bushes around ana a person at a hun |
ired yards would never have dreamed !,
nat body Of resoiutc men was stealing
silently along.
INDIAN CUNNING.
To the spectators 1t occurred that had
Bin been a member of the troop
hat was cut up so badly, the story Of the
light in which Hamilton Fish lost his life
would have been told differently. Instead
4 marching carelessly. with much laugh
er and conversation, right into n death
rap. they would have gone forward with
indian cunning and carefulness, TO stlim-
lie on the ambushed Spaniards and stalk
he stalker. What could not a regiment
I Cherokee Bills. with their unerring
lie ana silent marching through the bush
ccompllsh in campaign such as that
4 Cuba? This question the soldiers who
ew Bin playing the schoolmaster with
Is comrades asked eacn other again and
gain {
MARGHERITA ARLINA HANIM.
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