The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-04-07
INDIANS LOVE A BATTLE
A THEORY WITH A LIVELY SCRAP.
TO DEMONSTRATE IT.

ssO 0PSSsos N19O 0oiN 20 DS DViuC
by Indians Toward White Men
Their Preferences in the Way OF
Fjghting--Annual Outbreaks of the
Yaquis-
The Indian fights just for the fun of
It." said the colonel from the west, to
. New York Sun man. ''Only last year
/ had an experience that was as warm
an affair as I ever had I'm the early
sixties.
II was down on the CHA nyer look
Ing over q piece of land I wanted to
buy for sheep raising. liked the
place all right-water and pasturage
just suited me-so / began to consider
It seriously.
"'Eyer have any trouble with In
dians? asked the old pioneer who
owned the land
WALL he said, Tnjuns do get a
little restless now and agin, but it
don't mount to much. Jest livens up
both parties enough to give 'em new
zest'
81 didn't consider that the old mans
point of view might not be mine, so
mentally made the note, indians not
troublesome.
Next day I proposed we go out on
a hunting trip, and the old man agreed.
Some neighbors of his joined us, and
we set out on horses, just 10 of us.
1--WE struck a trail into the hills.
About noon we discovered big grizzly
wallowing in pool of water, and ad-
yanced on foot to interview him.
I'VE had just spread ourselves out
in fne style to open fire, when shot
rang out in chaparral above us, and
we heard the spat of bullet as it hit
the rocks just where our game was
The grizzly let out grunt and looked
up.
Then we opened fire. The bear just
rose from that pool like small noun
tain in eruption and with just about as
much noise. He came right for us, and
the rifle cracks sounded like full
sized battle. But just as the bear was
coming close enough to make us con-
slider quick retreat he fell dead.
1--WE all rushed up with whoop, but
about the same time there was another
whoop from the chaparral, and four In
1ians came pelting down on us. They
reached the bear just as we did.
Then followed an exciting debate |
couldn't understand what they said,
but the old man evidently could, for he
answered them back in their own
tongue. 1t seems they claimed the bear
because they fired the first shot. He
told them to git, and as we outnum-
bered them they got, but they were
pretty sulky about it,
1--WE skinned theabear and were hit.
ting the trail back to camp. Suddenly
we heard a shot, and bullet whistled
right between US.
Hit fer the rocks, boys" shouted
the old; and, following him, we made
up hill for some granite shafts stick
ing up, with bullets flying thick.
Meanwhile I could hear Indians
whooping behind us. When we got be-
hind the rocks we had time to look,
and there were about 20 Apaches COM
ing across the landscape ON their
ponies.
'As soon as we opened fire they
paused and began the old game of cir
cling. They simply crouched over their
saddles and made circuit around our
hill, firing all the time
"Our Mexican friend dropped dead,
but soon we saw an Indian fall, too
The firing was like a gigantic Fourth
of July celebration.
Those Indians kept up steady fire
till dusk. We saw another of them
drop, and the old man got bullet in
his arm, and another of our men was
wounded in the neck.
THAT night was one of the unpleas-
ATTEST ever spent. We expected an at
tack every moment, but when morning
came the Indians were gone.
TITS all right, boys said the old
man, they've cooled down and quit
I'VE got back to the ranch without
seeing more Indians. But that set
tied me ON buying land for sheep rails
ing there. I wanted to leave right of,
SO the old man escorted me back to
the railway station.
We'll. would you believe it, on the
station platform saw one of those
same Indians who had claimed our.
bear. Before could get over my sur
prise, the old man walked up to him,
the two shook hands and they con-
versed
What's that mean?' I asked, when
ne rejoined me.
oh, we was jest a-talkin' over the
scrap my friend answered He was
tellin' me they had two bucks killed
an one wounded. Says he enjoyed the
Jamboree, an hoped | did,
"But couldn't see that sheep rails
ing and jamboree of that sort ont
we'll together.
Indians don't fight white men for
any particular grudge they bear them.
In fact, they would rather fight other
Indians, because they feel that the
white mans soul isn't in it for the love
of the sport.
They know that we only fight when
we have to, and they consider that
degrading spirit An old Sioux chief