The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-05
Soaring a Tenderfoot.

From time immemorlai the Edsie
office has been a popular resort for
tourist printers when New Years comes.
Just as sure as the old year dies, almost
on the exact stroke OF the clock. some
fellowcraftsman puts in an appearance,
as II TO turn over new leaf and make
good resolves in an atmosphere that en-
coure ges reform in the printers habits.
OF course they put in New Years morn
ing. when the paper is out. telling stories
of their travels, which are listened to
! eagerly by the native printers. and es-
peciallv by the devil. who is always
keen for a story of romance. especially If
there is any blood and thunder in it.
This was the story a wanderer from Ok
Iahoma told last New Years:
Several years ago I was working In
/ north Texas town, and just about max
I in ga living The shop / was working in
did not furnish regular employment, and
/ was casting about for something bet
ter. when a telegram was received by the
/ foreman of the shop in Texas, asking
| that a man be sent to Eufaula, Indian
, Territory. ] took the situation, and that
evening found me aboard Katy train,
bound for Eufaula.
Il found upon my arrival that the city
of Eufaula contained but few stores. two
hotels or boarding houses. one street
about a quarter Of a mile wide, which
the railroad split down the center. Pork
and beef on foot were in evidence
everywhere, and the shop I was 10 work
in was a frame structure. a story and a
nalf high, built on blocks about eighteen
inches long. thus giving all the space
beneath the floor for the shelter of the
homeless pigs that were anything but
slow TO take advantage of 1t.
II was looked upon by the natives as
an easy thing until ] skinned a few
out of their eve teeth in some watch
trades, winding up by taking all the
change they could borrow, beg or steal
in series OF poker games. Then II was
that the young sports made up their
minds that 1 should be given a rare
treat of some sort either 'snipe hunt
ra badger fight or something OF that
sort.
Charley Angel was the first TO ask
me to go 'sniping,' but told him it had
been my habit to initiate the young men
of my country in that line so long that
would be sorry TO hold the bag myself.
but ] was wise there. and that had 10 be
abandoned. Finally they hit upon an
other scheme. They knew I was learning,
or trying to learn. Creek, so they made
up a story about some fullblood Creek
Indians being camped near the rail
road bridge on the North Canadian. and
one of the young men agreed to be my
guide one dark night, to the camp. !
fell in with the scheme all right. but
before starting | had my suspicious
aroused by seeing half dozen of the
gang skullxing off towards the camp of
the fullbloods.
Il went to my room IN the hotel and
strapped a big 45 Colts under my coat.
I did not know what sort OF deviltry
those Young scamps were up to, but
knew that if AZ began 20 preach on
there in the woods. that they might be
induced 70 see the error of their ways
much more readily than If I had tried
to them. ] also had a full belt of cart
ridges. and knew how to slide them into
place. having had about five years. prac-
tice in Texas. Arizona and New Mexico,
so that I had little fear OF bodily harm.
Charley Angel was to be my guide.
one Of the young fellows I knew in the
town spoke Creek like a fullbiood
Il went to the postofice, where ] met
Charley. and we started out I had
pint of Texas tanglefoot. which 1 had
struggled into the country when I came
north. and Charley and 1 each took
copious dose Of it before We had gone
very far on the road. Then Charley be-
gan telling me about the wrath OF the
fullbloods wnen 4 'paleface' showed NJ,
saying that / must not be scared If We
should meet some Of the young bucks OF
the camp before we arrived. Then
turbied The gang were going 70 give
me scare and wake me run M legs of
getting back 10 town. l had heard 81
that kind OF fun. but had never been
up against IL.
When we were about a mile from town
and in the thickeSt part Of the timber
between Eufaula and the river Charley
stopped and said. IN stage whisper.
What s that I told him I heard Moth
ing unusual. we walked on fer about
fifteen minutes. ard were just comiag
around a bend in the road. when half a
dozen dark figures Ioomed ND and
voice shouted Halt" in good. plain Eng
nsh Charley yelled 70 ne &c run Tor
my life and then sprsng into the under
brush The six men then began yelling
Greek in way that vas not nice 20 hear.
and about forty shots were fred 10 about
as many seconds Then ny - began 70
ten them the history of Texas a. Ian
suaze more eagerly listened t. than
Greek ] hred SIX shots a. fast as my in
dex finger could press the trigger. then.
jumping 10 one side and living fat dowu-
L pushed SIX more cartridges into place
ard il was q little less than 20 time
until old n was giving them another
iustsllment 81 the continued sso-y. ~
first SIX shots rad neel dred ia the ait.
but al the aTst q the second SIX i had
cot s. bead or q fellows les ard rad
used IL Is bring about . reconciiistiou.
ard AZ the crack fihe g-n s0me very
choice cuss words began - leak out. aa1
The men began 10 ask ler a trssce which
granted az once. but ordering someone
% STRIKE = light 4 fre vas 5000 going
bat hy iss light ! OILY ssv fza - the
awful redskins one VS. Crarl-F Angel.
ard The other vas friend ~ rilae who
hoped the counter I'M 3 srece-y store
ard be & Ms who had got orr - rs
50 messengers 81 his TX The Ecunsl
10 the leg id no; snaaasy 81 auszhirg ~
the bali hzd gone through la~ az a-l
~as. ro- ali Z kae~- Sta 90 tae vlt so|
kansas Charley ard hei5e1 Tie