The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-04-07
ROUGH RIDERS ENLISTING TO FIGHT
The SPANISH.
Col. Porter J. Hand Organizing Company
of Cowboys, whs viii Make If Inter-

| Ii there IS war some OF the opa0 =
| ish soldiers will have to face a com.
pany of as daring men as ever rode
a horse and as accurate shots as
ever fred a revolver. This company
will be under an intrepid leader; q
man who has absolutely no fear. He
is Colonel Porter J. Hand, Of Ne
braska City, Neb. Governor Hol-
comb of Nebraska, has authorized
him to form company and he is
now securing the western ranges for
men whom he knows to be as reck-
less of personal danger as himself.
Colonel Hand is typical western
man. He has hair that falls down
upon his shoulders and big long
dropping mustache, while his eye is
steel gray and piercing. When
aroused there is q CLEAN in his eyes
that warns you that the storm 10
about to break. The men he is look
ing for are old Indian fighters and
government scouts, but since the
subiugation of the redskins they
have been herding cattle on the
range or engaged by the government
at the different agencies.
Colonel Hand is dead shot and
as brave man as ever drew breath
of life, said an old Nebraskan who
has known him for a number of
years. "He can toss a fve-cent piece
up in the air and crack it every time
with A and one of his pastimes is
to have friend hold dime between
his fingers while he shoots it. He
spent a number Of years on the
plains but left them few years ago
and settled in Nebraska City. L am
not at all surprised that he wants to
organize company and go to the
front You can rest assured that he
will always be around where there
is any powder being burned.
1t was during the Sioux rebellion
at Pine Ridge in the winter of 1890
and 81, that Hand gave an exhibi-
ton of personal bravery. A party
of Indians escaping from the battle
of Wounded Knee were sweeping
across the prairie towards the bad
lands. Hand had been out on q
scouting trip for General Colby of
the Nebraska Guard and was return
ing to Rushville to make his report.
He saw the Indians and SO rode
down into a pocket where be was
safe from them But no sooner had
he ridden down into a ssfe place
than he realized that q woman was
alone in a cabin back a half mile,
and in q direct line with ths fleeing
redskins. He shuddered when he
thought what her fate might be. He
knew that her husband had gone to
Gordon and that she was alone and
unprotected. He did not hesitate .
second. Digging his spurs into his
broncho he rode up on the highlands
again and dashed away to save the
woman.
The Indians saw him and urged
their horses On. Hand rode for two
lives that day. He game d the cabin
ahead of the Indians and seeing the
woman standing outside he did not
hesitate, but dashed up to her and
raising her up on the horse in front
of him, went on in his mad ride. He
told her in few words. She was a
western woman and knew that she
was safe.
The Indians gained on them for
the increased burden was almost
more than the horse could stand,
but he pushed bravely on. The In
aians soon began shooting, sizing
up the distance that lay between
them and their prey. Hand realized
that he must execute coupe SO he
rode down the steep sides of a canon
and doubled on his track. coming
out back OF the Indians. He reach
ed Rushville in safety, but he was
so modest that he never told anyone
of that ride.
1t was during this same time tibet
he rode from Rushville over to Pine
Ridge and back, killing two horses
in the trim He has had saHaral