Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-09


GecrJe +. Powell of Lacrosse. Wis, who
cabled an acceptance of tire haron's chal-
lenge. DR.. Powell is an old time Indian
scout and frontiersman and is recognized
as one OF the best pistol shots in the Unit
ed States. His eye is so good ard his hand
so ste3dy that he shoots pennies from be-
tween the thumbs ard fingers of friends
who have enough confidence in the accu-
racy of his aim 10 hold them for him. He
practices on such small targets rs min
heads, which he can hit Us far as be can
See them, and he thinks he can DO az much
for this dueling Spaniard. Once be oven
shot at 30 fine mark as hair. which he
cut in two at several PAGES while a friend
held Il stretched between his hands Dr.
Powell is a brother of White Beaver, once
mayor OF La Crosse. He is a Kcntuckian by
birth. but part Indian by descent, his
mother being the daughter of a Seneca
chief. His father was Of Scotch descent.
After the fathers death the mother and
young George went 10 New York for a
time, but aftCrward moved to the western
frontier, where the boy acquired the ac-
quaintance and friendship Of Wild Bill,
Texas Jack. California Joe. Buffalo BIZ
and PeOn Pallorday. He served with dis
tinctiOn as n scout under several frontier
army commanders and now has a $3.50
pistol presented 20 him by the lamcnted
General Custer.
Still another adventure Of international
interest is related By correspondent mt
hey West. During the former instruction
the Spanish attempted to capture certain
Cubans in Florida by what they termed
diplomacy. On n certain morning the
steam sloop Of war San Jnan. Captain Ra-
mon picacero, arrived in port with many
colors flying and after the usual salute 10
the American flag dropped the captain $
gig into the water ard with an armed
crew went ashore. Colonel Williams was
at that time in command ut Fort Taylor.
on the east end of the island, and into
Fort Taylor went Don Ramon, nrcum-
panied by his aid. When there. after intro
ducirg himself, the Spanish captain said
that he had the honor to inform Colonel
Williams that the san .Tuans mission in
Key West was to gather in number Of
scamcn who had deserted from her In Ila-
vana and escaped to Key West Would tho
colonel do him the great favor 20 assist in
securing the dcscrtCTs.
Colonel Williams replied that IL would
bt We. Htttb llitilrilFt 10 90 Gflh tnlIg
within the law To obligo Captain picacrro.
but un. Irtunately for the Spanish inter.
ests there were no Spanish dcsCrtcrs on the
United States reservation, and beyond that
| reservation the colonel had no authority.
Accordingly the two officers went to the
| mayors Office, and I'm response to a re-
quest from Captain P!caccro "a couple Of
/ policemen were detailed Il 20 around tho
| city with the captain and arrest any de-
scrtcrs from the san Juan that the cap
| tain might discover.
Thereafter for several hours Captain
Picacero, his aid, Colonel Williams and
| the policemen marched up and down the
| streets, looking into sailor Eaunts and
finding no one who was not beyond qucs.
ton citizen Of Key West. Then, at Nhe
invitation of the colonel, the party went 10
| a place where cool and refreshing drinks
were compounded and sat down to rest.
The Cubans had, OF course, kept out Of
sight, and everything was very peaceful
around the party at the hotel when Con
eral lcnacio Gomez, tho leader OF the
Cuban revolutionary party in Key West,
| unable TO restrain his hatred for the Span
lard, against whom he had personal
grudge, came stalking into the hotel de-
| termned to Kill him.
The moment Gomez appeared Captain
| PicacorO recognized him. jumping to his
| feet, he drew his sword and shouted:
| Ola! There is The one man We came
to seek! Take him! lie is tho traitor!"
| Unawed, Gomez whipped out "A big re-
volver, shouting that bo had come to shoot
the Spanish tyraEt, and leveled it at the
| captains breast.
n second more and there would have
been an international complication for the
| state department to consider, but before
Gomez could shoot or Picaccro use his
| sword q number Of Yankee bystanders
| surrounded both of them. One wrenched
| the revolver from Gomez, and two moro
grabbed him by convenient folds Of his
garments and clidcd him from the COM
pany. Those who surrounded CAPTAIN
Picacero ditAJot touch him. They merely
presented wall OF Yankee bodies which
he could not pass.
At that Captain Picacoro turned to Colo
mel Williams and angrily said:
"Commandant, you promised to give
me help, but l am not permitted TO arrest
| that traitor
rs he a Gcserter from your shin. Cap-
| tain Picacero:" asked Colonel Williams.
| "Dcsertcr! No, sir. He Is worse. He
is traitor whose life is forfeited under
the law"
Il promised to go with you while You
looked for desertcrs from your ship, Cap