The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-31
WITH KIT CARSON.
JUNGLE Billy EWING TELLS or
EARLY DAYS ON THE BORDER.

Colonel William H. Ewing, better known
70 the pioneers OF Montana as "Uncle
Billy" Is a native OF Kentucky and Is no
ordinary war veteran, for he began his
military career more than 80 years ago,
then go years old. when he entered the
army for the Seminole Indian war Ten
years later 'Uncle Billy" enlisted and
went through the Mexican war, of which
he is now pensioner and he carries a
memento of the battle OF Taos in his knee
"a Mexican bullet.
"Uncle Billy" did not take part IN tho
war of the rebellion, as the breaking out
of that war found him an owner OF slaves
on plantation in Missouri, and he was
In the dilemma of sympathizing with the
south and unable to fight against the flag
. which he had helped to carry and support
SO long. He came to Helena, bringing
with him somo Of his slaves, who were
loath to part from their former master. but
the modern convoniences for protection
from the severity of Montana winters were
somewhat scarce In Helena In 1854, and
the negroes being unable to stand the cold
he sent them to Oregon for q miider eli
mate.
Uncle Billy" is as full Of the history
of the west as an egg is of meat. There is
not section of the United States west of
the Mississippi or north of Mexico with
which he is not familiar, and when in u
reminiscent mood he tells many frontier
story of mountain and plain OF intense
interest.
~ was all through California in 1880,
and have been through there several times
since. l rode mule once In the early
6fties from Sacramento down through into
old Mexico. l have many friends in Los
Angeles, and, besides, / shall probably
see Apache Bill down there somewhere
The last heard of him he was prosper
Gus citizen in that vicinity. Who Is Apache
Bill? Well, don't mind telling you the
story.
"Let me see. IL was somewhere along
in the early spring Of 1865 / was one of
a company of guides and spies numbering
about 30 mounted frontiersmen, all cxpe
rienced fellows, under the leadership of
Kit Carson, about whom so much yellow
backed literature has been written.
"Well, this company of guides and spies
was attached to Colonel Fauntleroy's
troops in pursuit Of the Apache Indians,
who had been marauding, numbering and
looting on the Mexican frontier above
Taos. The regular troops, about 800 men.
had been called out TO suppress these dep
relations and it was the duty of Carson,
our captain, and his company to scout in
| advance of the troops. The weather about
that time Of the year was somewhat cool
and disagreeable. The scouts came upon
| the Apaches, 500 strong, early in the morn
| ing before light and 1t was our object to
surround them and hold them in engage
ment If possible until the arrival Of the
| regulars, but tho willy devils were on the
alert and were already breaking camp.
| We stampeded and captured enough ponies,
| however, to set the greater number of them
afoot, and then pursued them holly sew
| eral days.into the Businesses of the noun
tains, where we came upon them again.
| In this second brush with them we killed
| number. including some squaws-for
they had their squaws with them and II
being in the early morning 1t was impossi-
bic to distinguish the bucks on account OF
| the similarity Of thoir dress with that OF
| the squaws at that season of the year.
| But let me say right here that the squaws
| of the Apaches were as merciless in their
warfare as the bucks themselves. Kit
| Carson shot one In the back while she was
OH horseback and just in the act of get
| ting away with one of our men, who " as
| down, but Carson was greatly grieved at
4
tenderest hearted man that ever drew a
blade on an Indian, and he afterward gave
a Mexican five silver pesos to go back and
put her out of her misery.
after holly contested engagement
through tho chaparral tho Apaches retreat
cd farther into their stronghold and l
went in pursuit of q number, when one
whom had taken for n buck Indian, but
who turned out to be squaw, attempted
to jump her pony across a deep, narrow
| gorge in tho hills The horse failed TO
make successful leap and fell to the bot
| tom and lay on his back, fast in the ravine
with his feet tanning the air. AS ii seemed
| fruitless to follow the rest OF them, dis
mounted and entered the cavernous bed of
the now dry mountain stream In search Of
| the endorsed foe. followed the tracks
up the gorge about ] so yards, when cano
upon "a bed of sand at the edge of great
stratum of slate rock, under which the
water had washed deep recess.
| "Noticing that tho tracks of the fleeing
Indian were somewhat irregular in this
sand, stopped, and getting down on all
| fours ! peered into the depths beneath,
from which came no sound, but after my
eyes had become accustomed to the dark
ness / saw two little eyeballs that flashed
like diamonds. managed to reach In and
get hold of n little human leg and pulled
out nm Apache papoose. probably years
old, who began to squall and fight like q
wildcat, having with animal instinct re-
manned motionlnss and quiet until cap
turcd. Then. discovering that had been
following "A squaw, went back to my
horse, tied TIC papoosc in my blanket and.
mother fashion, cinchod him OH my back.
In that way. after giving up further pur
suit of the Indians. ! rode with him 100
miles back To the troops. ! named him
Bill, after myself 4 ,il,lic Bill
"Getting To camp. found that nothing
would reduce tho lil.lu r',iskin from his
savagcry but plentiful supplies of sugar,
and finding Elm too much OF an incum
brance In my line Of business sold him
to Lieutenant Colonel John Is Magrudcr
for 100 pesos In Mcxicnn silver Ills pur'
chaser aftorward bccan,u General Magru-
der of the Confederate army and took little
Apache Bill rs a body servant NIL through
the war OF the rebellion Then he educated
him, and cSIs~t io So him III Calitor
mia. "-IIelen. Mon Independent
L