Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-02-12
COWBOYS INDIAN BARoMETER
Secretary Cages Interview with a
Western 4sBad NAM on How to
Cope with Indians

O4lAC1d-S were HA-
changing stories few nights ago in
Washington Mr.. Milton Z. Allies, as
sistant secretary of the treasury,
turned the topic TO hi ghway robbery
by relating an anecdote he had heard
during recent outing, says the PhiIa-
delPhia Saturday Evening Post.
1t was told by our stage driver in
Yellowstone p~rk.'' said Mr.. Ai,es,
land was intended TO throw light on
the reputed chivalry of western high
waymen. a stage was held up in the
Black Hills. Among the passengers
waG school-teacher who by dint of
painful frugality had saved up enough
TO invest in ticket to her home in
Vermont and return, with six dollars
left over for expenses en- route.
"'Oh, Mr.. Highwayman,' she i'm
Plored, 90 not take my money. 1t is
all l have. and without il l shall not
be able to continue my journey 10 my
widowed mother in distant Mont
pelier.'
The bandit opened her purse and
surveyed the six silver dollars. Tears
started in his eyes, ard he said. chok-
ingly: No, marin, III not rob you en-
tire; I'll split the difference; here's
three dollars back, and GOO bless yer
That reminds me of an incident in
my own career" observed Secretary
Gage. You wouldn't take me for an
Indian fighter, perhaps. and that's
where your judgment would be most
sound. 1t happened years ago before
the Union Pacific was completed to
Denver. Julesburg was the end OF
the line. Imet on the west-bound train
II acquaintance from Chicago. My
destination was the terminus Of the
road, but they were going on by stage
160 miles farther to Denver.
Several stages had been attacked
recently by rowing Indian bands, and
the excitement and dangers of the
approaching trip Of my friends were
uppermost in our minds. Although l
had no actual business in Denver l be
gan to long to share the peril of the
journey. Under orders Of Gen Sher-
man, then commanding the depart
ment of the Missouri, all passengers
travelling through that country were
armed, and with our re peati1g rifles we
1elt unusually brave. As our train
pulled into Julesburg 4 stage arrived
from the Colorado metropolis, and
among its passengers was a typical
frontiersman. His hair was pictur-
esqueIy long. His buffa,o-sllin coat
came to his heels and when it Tapped
back it disclosed at his belt brace
of brave-iooking weapons. He looked
out amused from under his SLOUGH hat
a our tenderfoot. company.
81 accosted him and found he had
come all the way from Denver.
Tel me- said I, IF you had no
business in Denver and some Of your
friends were going there, would you
accompany them just for the pleasure
of the trip?''
Stranger. if l had no business in
Denver I'd go in the other direction
he replied, sweeping his arm toward
the Mississippi river.
"'There is real danger, then, from
the Indians between here and Denver?'
Exactly he replied; the scalp
ing business is the chief industry of the
Colorado plains just at present.
but you got through all right l
persisted.
"'Yes, but l know their ways; know
1ON ~ W q tC4I III ii III SNtti t en- vi"
= THAT was the knowledge I sought,
and I asked him to explain, which he
did in detail.
Some of your party he went on,
wants to sit on the seat with the
driver. These drivers bear watching.
for sometimes they'll get down, cut the
traces. and streak out astride a mule,
leaving the passengers to face the In
dams.
The thing to 90 is to watch both
driver and mules. The mule is the
barometer Of the prairie. He knows
when a storm is coming, and he can
sniff an Indian farther than a man
can see him. You mustn't think Of
sleeping on them hundred and sixty
miles. Just sit With your rifle between
your knees and hold it tight. As soon
as the mules snort warning of the In
dams the driver should pull the team
around short. All the party should
then get out and make ready to fire,
You'll see the Indians coming nearer
and nearer. Suddenly they'll rush to-
ward you, shooting as they advance,
and shrieking their battie-cry. That's
the time for you to display nerve. Pick
them off one by one with your rifles.
at the same time giving prolonged imi-
tation of their war-whoop-thus:' and
he emitted a series Of alarming savage
yells.
keep up a steady fire now, and,
above all, don't let up moment on the
war-whoop. The Indians are brave in
their challenge, but they don't relish
the answering defy
81 wasn't certain continued Secre-
tary Gage, chat l could remember az
this, so 1 asked him 70 repeat the pro-
gramme.
''When he got to the war-whoop part
of the performance, and attempted to
drill me in making the sounds. I sud
denly got an inspiration. I've decided
not TO go!' exclaimed.
What's the matter?' he asked.
CT shouldn't have any breath left
to make that war-whoop,' replied.
Latest Thing ia sleeves.
Sleeves on evening gowns are
dropped from the shoulder. Ere
quently they consist of a mere strap
or a series of straps, while on a very