Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-05-05
NERVE AND BRAVERY.
How Noted New Mexico Trader QUIT
witted Old Wolf and His Bana
of Indians.

| John l.. Hatcher, noted trader of
New Mexico had such reputatio as an
| Indian fighter that his name was a ter
ror to the savageS who infested che set
| Elements. His caravan of Is wagons,
| loaded with furs and pelts, and handled
by as many men, was approaching
! Wagon Mound one day in the summer of
| 1859. The Indians were at peace with
everybody, but Hatcher knew that at
any moment marauding party of
young braves might pounce upon him.
What did happen, as related by Col. M
man in 1.-The Old Santa Fe Trail"
slowed that Hatcher's knowledge of In
dian nature was accurate, and his nerve
of the best.
The train, strung out in single wag-
ons, was suddenly charged from over
ELL by 800 savages, feather-decked and
painted. They gave the sign of peace
as they came up. Hatcher accepted the
sign for the occasion, though he knew
| the savages would murder and rob his
whole party il they could. He invited
| the head men to some refreshment. as
was usual. and threw n blanket on the
ground, on which sugar in abundance
was served out. The warriors, having
a fondness for sugar, helped themselves,
and expressed great delight at the way
they were being treated.
| They were Comanches, under the COM
mand of Old Wolf, then an old man,
whose name had long been a terror to
the white men. While the chiefs were
lunching Hatcher formed his wagons
into a corral. He knew that nothing
but a desperate deed would save him
and his men, and he thought out the one
I thing to do. He was small man. but
full of muscle and perfectly fearless.
The cnieTs had finished eating, and
were sitting close to the wagons, Old
| Wolf leaning against a wheel, with
Hatcher next to him on his right.
Hatcher asked the old chief to send his
young men over the hill, and was SO
earnest in his request that they all
stocd up. Instantly Hatcher with his
left hand seized Old Wolf by the scalp
lock, and with his right drew out his
butcherknife and held it to the chiefs
! throat.
No one had time to move. The little
why man, surrounded by eight or nine
| Comanche chiefs, stood firm, and said
to Old Wolf:
'Send your young men over the hill
at once, or I'll kill you right where you
arei''
The other Indians. knowing that
Hatcher would do what he had threat
ened if they tried to rescue their leader,
| stood still.
| Old Wolf shook his head defiantly.
Hatcher, growing still more determined,
repeated: "Send your young men over
the hill, tell you!"
The chief shook his head again.
'Send your young men over the hill.
I tell you, or I'll scalp you alive as you
are!''
Again the chief shook his head.
Hatcher began slowly TO make an in
cision in Old VOLTS head.
AS the chief felt the blood trickle
down his forehead, he weakened, and
the young men over the hill and out of
sight.
The order was given to the savages.
who were amazed spectators Of the
strange scene, and they quickly mount
ed their horses and rode away over the
hill, leaving only five or six chiefs with
! Old Wolf and Hatcher.
Hatcher, still holding on to the chiefs
scalplock, ordered his men to throw the
furs out of the wagons and get inside.
When they were all under the cover of
the wagon sheets, Hatcher let go of the
chiefs hair, ard told him and his friends
to leave. They went Off and did not re-
turn. Hatcher had taken the one
chance in a hundred, and it had saved
him.