Arizona republican., 1901-03-11
WHY HIS HAIR TURNED GREY
Col. Casey's Tale of His Indian Ex-
 perience.

One night this week a party of old time New Mexicans accidentally met here, says the Clifton Era, and after talking over old times, they proceeded to congratulate each other on their youthful appearance. Col. D. c. Casey superintendent of the Medler mines. was one of the group. Some one re- marked that while the spring of youth seemed to abide with the colonel, the frosts of winter had silvered his erst- while raven locks. We'll" said the colonel. m tell you how it happened, boys, and never told the story before. Ii was the year that Judge McCOnas and his wife were killed by the In- dians in the Burro mountains-'S3 or 'S4, I have forgotten which. IL was some time after that event, however, when things had quieted down bit. I had been in the hills for some time and was returning to Silver city through the Burro mountains, and or course, was on the lookout for Indians, My horse became sick and l stopped to let him rest. I pulled off the sad
 
 blankets and laid down. l was soon fast asleep, but how long l slept do not know l was awakened by some one prodding me in the back As soon as my eyes were open ] saw that was surrounded by twelve or fifteen Indians. They all carried Long Toms and had them in their hands. Well, sir, I was so badly scared that l could not speak or move. I was paralyZed. I sat there and looked at the Indians and they looked at me. l felt my hair straighten out and I knew that it was standing straight up. I thought or every mean thing had done in all my life Pray? No couldn't lift a hand to bless myself. l knew they would kill me and my only hope was that they would shoot me. I could almost feel their lances sticking that they stood there an age and looked at me and I looked at them. Their ugly mugs are stamped on my memory forever. I would recognize any one of them in a crowd today if I should meet him. Soon I noticed two or three other Indians foolng with my horse, as he was too sick to try to get away from them. Presently they com menced to go, one at a time, and soon they were all gone but one. who seemed to be the boss of the outfit. After they had all gone. he addressed me in good English, and said: Good day, Dan Casey How the devil he knew my name has always been mystery to me. He may have seen me on the reservation, or possibly my name may have been on some part of my outtit, and he could read, as many of them can. After he had gone l still sat there SO badly scared that was unable to move for I don't know how long. l thought they would come back and would kill me should l attempt to get LID. Then. like a flash of lightning 1t came to me that they were goVern- ment scouts, I leaped to my feet, threw the saddle onto my horse and although he was sick. I am sure that l beat all records in covering the dis tance to Silver City. I felt so good when I got into town that I set 'em up' to everybody. I told them it was my birthday, and that I never was so happy in all my life, and that was the truth. have been blown up in mine, have had my body crushed and filled with dynamite caps. which kept the doctors busy for a week picking them out, but I never was scared before or since. There is no scare on earth like that of an Indian scare, Well, inside of week from that time my hair was well sprinkled with gray, and inside of year 1t was as white as it is today"