River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-07
SHOUP WAS CRAFTY.
How the Idaho Senator Once Cap
tured IN Army of Apaches.
Eare Courage and Tactical skin Dis
played at Moment when De-
feat and Death seemed
Inevitable.
Especial washington Letter. ]


"Keep your eye ON Senator Shoup
and see where he takes his seat in the
senate restaurant said Senator Davis,
of Minnesota.
This suggestion was made in private
conversation. and Senator Davis would
give no explanation of his reason for
exciting the curiosity of the writer
He is a very warm personal friend OF
the Idaho statesman; and, of course,
ii was understood that there was some
thing humorous or interesting in the
idea put forth.
After several days of observation 1t
became apparent that Senator Shoup
would not take a seat at lunch time
in the senate restaurant unless he could
sit facing the door If the tables were
occupied so that he could not sit fac
ing the door he would go out, walk
about, talking with friends, and await
an opportunity to secure seat facing
the door. Finally one evening when
alone with him the writer told of the
suggestion of Senator Davis, and the
subsequent observations, and the grand
old man smiled as he said: at is pc
culiar habit. and did not suppose that
anybody noticed it. OF course there
is no danger. here. but for almost 20
years | was obliged to sit facing the
door with my reyolvers on the side of
my plate, in order to be ready for trou-
Bile; and the habit stays with me. /
always feel more comfortable when. l
face the door while | am eating"
This brings about revelation con-
corning the history of a remarkable
man. Senator Shoup was for many
years one of the bravest and most ac-
tive of all the government scouts on
the far western frontier. One cele-
brated scout and Indian fighter has
Travelled all over the world, giving eN-
hibitions of frontier life; and he gives
realistic demonstration of his knife
combat with an Indian chief. in which
he came out victorious. But Senator
had II knife combats with Indians, and
the fact is known to but few.
The quiet old man never talks of his
prowess. nor of his services TO the gov
eminent. His daily life manifests the
sagacity and wisdom of the poet who
wrote:
1.-The bravest are the tenderest,
The loving are the daring
Senator Shoup is now in the sixty
fourth year of his age. He is about
five feet ten inches in height. broad
shouldered, muscular, light of step,
and with alert eyes. His smooth shaver
face is strong, but gentle, and he is
as mild of manner as schoolboy, But
those who know him well realize that
his firm set jaws indicate the deter
mination of character which has made
him famous and beloved in the inter-
mountain region. Moreover, he is
phianthropist who loves 10 help those
who seem disposed to help themselves.
His brother Jim was here visiting
for a few weeks. and one evening the
writer asked: lis Jim your only
brother?'
There came stern look on the gen
lie face as he replied: Yes, Jim is
my only living brother. | had another
brother once. but he was assassinated
by Mexican bandits. When we found
him his hands were all cut to pieces.
showing that they had attacked him
when he was unarmed. 1t took some