The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-19
SAVED BY AN ARMY CAP
A Regimental Device Inspires
Snake Indians With Respect.
Returning to New York After Forty
Years of Adventure-A Bakers Boy
Wealthy Ranch Owner-An Inter-
estinE story of Narrow Escapes.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1s.-Forty-two years
ago n. willoughby was bakers boy in
New York city. He returned recently to
visit his sister and is now lawyer in two
States and owns a ranch in Butte county,
Cal He is STAYING at the Mills Hotel.
AS youth willoughby's soul was above
his breadpans. He longed for adventures,
and in his busy life as prospector, mine
owner, and scout he has found many Of
thea.
He left New York for the coast on the
schooner Vickery, sailing from the foot Of
Pacific Street, Brooklyn. He was then
twenty years old The ship went ashore
off st. Cstbarine's. Brazil, and for thirty
two days crew and passengers lived on a
sandbar.
The schooner was finally aoated and
reached San Francisco after voyage last
/ ing six months and seventeen days
In this city willoughby was member
of the Sixty-ninth Regiment. His account
of narrow escape, in which he believes
his life and that of companion were saved
by his regimental cap. is Is follows:
In May. 1864. at Canon City. Canon
Creek, John Day county, our claims got
filled up by a freshet We had been
showed in for six months. Two years
work ard time were lost. We decided to
prospect and report back in two weeks.
George Jarnegan and l were toled off
TO visit the Burnt River Mountains, above
Express Ranch. As the Snake Indians were
treacherous and set of thieves, We
equipped ourselves with two horses, a
Wfprbaefar tu-n Jrav ravnlytrc and a
shotgun The third day out brought us to
Burnt River and on the fifth day we
headed back for Canon Creek. AT Washoe
Ferry few charred timbers were all that
was left of the ferry house.
AT the ferry camp Jarnegan's coolness
and bravery. with a little blutiing on my
part, saved our lives and horses. Jarnegan
was born in the backwoods of Iowa. He
had never seen railroad or steamboat,
but was well versed in the ways OF the
Indians.
We made a camp at the ferry. / was
toasting bread on the end OF a stick when
Jarnegan spied a cloud OF dust on the Big
Bend Trail about three miles away. Jar
negan left the fire TO reconnotre. On his
return he said he saw a band of Indians
with about 200 horses and their women
and children on the trail. We were twenty
miles from any white men, and had either
to fight or bluff.
II decided to try a bluff. l knew the
Chinook language. In my pack was an old
cap which had worn when a member Of
the Sixty ninth Regiment. l carried Il as
a keepsake. The big brass numerals were
still on it, General Crook had been OPP
Grating in STEMS Mountain a short time
before, and TIE Snakes were afraid of him.
We hastily decided TO represent ourselves
as Crooks scouts, looking for camp of
troopers. ! put on the cap with the big
''ea' In front of it. aud wrapped myself in
an army blanket.
''Jarnegan sat down on a stump. holding
his rife in his hand. When the Indians
spied our camp they halted. Leaving the
women, children, and horses on the trail,
the warriors came forward In single file.
When thirty PAGES from us l called in
Chinook 10 their leader TO stop. We told
them we were Crooks scouts, looking for
camp. The Indians we're much i'm
pressed. They eyed the cap with its ''6s'
and appeared 10 be as anxious to get away
as We were TO have them go. We gave
them some Of our bread and bacon. and
they hurried back to their hating place as
fast as their ponies could carry them. The
last we saw of them they we're racing
down the trail TO dodge Crook. have
always believed il was the big brass ''69''
on the old New York regiments cap that
saved our lives"