Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-05-27
AN INDIAN DETECTIVE.
Spotted Horse Thief With the Help
Of His Sharp Eyes.

Spotted Horse Thief With the Help
Of His Sharp Eyes.
This is a Ponca Indian Sherlock
Holmes story" said an oldtimer, puff
ing freshly rolled cigarette. T lived
at the Ponca agency in the eighties
when few persons, except government
inspectors and cowboys ever came. oc-
casionally stranger stopped on his
way through the country to buy chuck
at the traders store. The Poncas
wore blankets in those days, and were
much better Indians than now.
1T was high noon one spring day,
and the agency was as quiet as
graveyard. Four Indian policemen sat
browsing on a bench, the usual loafing
place, against the agency building.
Summer was in the air and the prairies
and timber in the river bottom looked
fresh and green. In the agency office
hung the six-shooters and ammunition
belts Of the four policemen, and nearby
was stock Of rifles, ready for quick
use. Desperadoes were in the country.
scouting between Kansas and Indian
Territory, and the agency employees
were always on the alert. The Ponca
pony herds often were raided, and the
policemen kept close watch for the
horse thieves.
"The four policemen on the bench
were disturbed by the sound of
horses feet. The horse, a fine one, was
ridden by a stranger who dismounted
at traders store and disappeared in
side. The first policeman rubbed his
eyes a moment, said ugh and the sec
ond. third and fourth did likewise. One
after the other they went quickly into
the agency Office and came back with
their belts and pistols.
"They made dash for the traders
store, but the stranger saw them COM
ing and ran out the back door toward
the timber on Salt Fork The four po-
licemen began firing in volleys. The
stranger shot as he ran. and escaped
into the heavy growth Of trees without
a scratch. The four policemen were In
fighting trim, and kept up the chase.
1.-THE noise Of the firing awoke the
sleepy agency like a cannonade. Men
and women ran out doors to learn the
cause Of the uproar. Little clouds Of
smoke that hung in the air, and occa-
sional shots in the timber showed that
the fight was still on, but no one could
tell how or why It began.
1.-THE stranger ran to the river,
sprang into a skiff and was on his way
down stream when the four policemen
drew up opposite and commanded him
to come to shore and surrender or be
killed. The stranger refused and bull
lets began striking the water near the
skiff He changed his mind quickly and
gave up.
"He was marched before the agent,
who asked the four policemen:
whats the matter who rs this
man?'
"Him horse thief
do you know him?
"'No; we never see him.
"Do you know his horseT =.
"'No; never see him horse before.
"'Well, how in thunder do you know
that this man is a horse thiefT de-
manded the agent, who was growing
angry at the idea that the four police
men had suddenly jumped up, half
asleep, and began shooting to kill at
possibly inoffensive stranger.
"The chief Of the four policemen
curved hand around each eye and
said: White man ride with 'blinders"
on bridle.' And that was his only ex-
PLANTATION.
His evidence, however, was strong
enough to convict in that part Of the
country. The Indian knew that any
stranger riding on horse back 80 Tar
from civilization would have regula-
ton outfit for his horse, and that a
stranger with good horse and bride
with blinds in all probability was
thief who had stolen both from some
mans stable.
1.-The stranger was locked up In the
agency callaboose and held for In
quiry. The policemen had made no
mistake In a day or two postal card
was received from Kansas sherin
asking the agent to keep a lookout for
man and a horse whose description
tailed with the stranger and the horse
captured by the four Indian predeces-
sors of Sherlock Holmes. The sheriff
came and identified the stranger and
the stolen property and took them back
to Kansas.-White Eagle correspond
ence Kansas City Times.