The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-29


cried out: We'll done, my boy; you've
killed your first Indian and done it like
mani"
The pony express was started in 1860.
Cody was too restless to stay at home,
so he left for the west again and OBJ
tanned employment as rider. 1t was
hard life, beset by uncommon perils, but
suited the youngster we'll He had but
one experience with road agents and
won out with his usual luck in that.
His resources and cool head have stood
him we'll in all his picturesque career.
This episode is thus related:
will had an eye out every trip for a
holdup, but three months went by be-
fore he added that novelty to his other
experiences. One day as he flew around
bend in narrow pass he confronted a
large revolver in the grasp of man who
nlanifestly meant business and whose
salutation was:
Halt, throw up your hands,
"Most people do and Willis hands
were raised reluctantly. The highway
man advanced, saying, not unkindly; I
don't want to hurt you, boy, but l do
want them bags
Money packages were in the saddle
bags and Will was minded to save them
if he could, so as the outlaw reached for
the booty Will touched the pony with
his foot and the upshot was satisfactory
to an unexpected degree. The plunge
upset the robber and as the pony swept
over him he got vicious blow from one
hoof Will wheeled for revolver duel,
but the foe was PROSTATE, stunned and
bleeding at the head Will dsarmed the
fellow and pinioned his arms behind
him and then he tied up his broken head.
The prisoner must have horse hidden
hard by and bit OF search disclosed it.
When Will returned with the animal the
owner had opened his eyes and was be-
ginning to remember few things Will
helped him to mount and out OF pure
kindness tied him on. Then he strad-
died his own pony and towed the dismal
outfit to the next station. Here the
prisoner was left with the stock tender
and the pony express rider was off again
trying to make up for lost time. 1t was
the first time that he had been behind
hand on his run, but by way of excuse
he offered to Mr.. Chrisman detected
and broken-headed gentleman tied to a
horses back"
Cody's career with the army in the
war, his love affair, marriage and EN-
ployment as scout is public property.
His meeting with yellow Hair" as the
Indians called Custer, and their first ride
over Indian-infested plains are too we'll
known to need reproduction. But
among the incidents OF this service none
is SO comical, albeit with a possibly
tragic setting, as the adventure with his
mouse-colored mule 1t is told as fol-
lows:
1T was Clusters intention to remain at
Fort Larned for some time and Will,
knowing he was needed at Hayes, tar
ried only for supper and short resting
before starting back. When night fell
he proceeded warily. Suddenly dis
tant light flashed into view, but before
he could check his mule it vanished.
He rode back few PAGES and it reap
peared. Will dismounted, hitched his
mule and went forward. After he had
covered half mile he found himself be-
tween two sandhills, the pass leading
into little hollow, within which were
a large number OF Indians camped
around the fire whose light he had fol-
lowed. Himself a very Indian in
stealth, he drew near the camp fire, when
suddenly there rang out upon the night
air, not rifle shot, but the unearthly
braying Of his mule.
"Will was startled, naturally, but the
Indians were thrown into dire confu
sion. They smothered the camp fires
and scattered for cover, while sentinel
sprang up from behind rock not
twenty feet from Will and was off like
deer. The scout held his ground till he
made good guess at the number of In
dams in the party, then ran for his mule,
whose voice, raised in seeming protest,
guided him unerringly AS he neared
the animal he saw two mounted Indians
had hold of it and were trying to in
duce it to follow them, but the mule,
true to tradition and its master, stub
bornly refused to bulge foot. A rifle
shot dropped one of the Indians and the
other darted off into the darkness. An
other bray from the mule, this time a
paean of triumph, as Will jumped into
the saddle, with an arrow from the bow
OF the wounded Indian through his
coat sleeve Will reached Fort Hayes
in the morning to report the safe arrival
of Custer and Larned and the discovery
OF the Indian band, which he estimated
at 200 braves. The mule received hon
orable mention in his report and was
brevetted thoroughbred.
The foregoing are samples OF the
writer's style. The natural exultation in
the success and proves of favorite
brother, the sole survivor of three, is
discreetly modified throughout. But
l.