The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-19
Tale CT an Old EreighteT.

Yes" admitted the old train
master of the Santa Fee trail, there's
been, some interesting books written
about life on the plains in the old
days-some that are pretty fair his
tory so far as they go; but the sto-
ries are always told from the white
mans point of view.
There was another side, and those
of us who lived among the reds
know that naturally there's just
about as much of the savage in the
one race as in the other. 1t was my
good fortune-and in the light of
after events I can say that honestly
to spend nearly a year at first as
prisoner, and then as adopted MEM
Der of their tribe, among the
Kiowas.
II knew intimately Satanic, Sa-
tank, Big Tree and Kicking Bird. the
last of worst reputation among them
all. There were many good and
generous traits in all these men, and
Kicking Bird in particular was much
thought of in his family and clan,
because of his loyalty, his truthful
ness and his just personal dealings.
THAT this chief could be more
than just, upon occasion, even to his
enemies, I can testify from personal
knowledge. Some years before l
lived among them, the Kiowas were
once camped on the Canadian River,
on the common hunting ground of
several hostile tribes.
lone day two of their lads, out
fishing, following the banks of a
small creek, strayed a long way
from their village. They were
Jumped and captured by a hunting
party of Chiricahua Apaches. Co.
chise, the famous leader of their
tribe, was with the band when his
men ran down the young Kiowas and
took them prisoners. The boys,
though armed only with their fish
spears, and no more than fourteen
and fifteen years of age, put up a
valiant fight in defense.
Expecting at once to be put to the
torture, the lads begged in the sign
language that they might be given
knives, and that each, pitted against
a stout warrior, might be allowed to
die fighting, while thus furnishing
entertainment to their enemies.
"Cochise was so delighted with
their gallant bearing and warlike
spirit that he bore them unframed
to his village, a days ride distant.
There he Toasted the lads, loaded
them with presents and sent them
home with an escort, who bore a
message to their tribesmen.
"'Tell Them said Cochise, that
somehow or other, probably because
of intermarriage with captives. two
youths worthy the name Of Apache
have been reared among them. And
say that my only excuse in sending
them home is that the boys choose to
live among dogs
"These lads were nephews of
Kicking Bird-his sisters sons-and
the Kiowa chief was so impressed
with their return, and the manner
Of it, that he vowed he would
again lift his hand against the
Apaches ave in self-de<ense. This
oath, I believe, he faithfully kept,
though the Chiricahuas were the bit
serest of hereditary enemies.
During the first season that I was
with them the Kiowas and some of
Ihnir ol1ioc tho Honoonohnc rvnro
camped for a time on the Cimarron
River.
ut CHANGED that Cochise and his
band were hunting buffalo in the re-
gion-a fact of which our scouts
soon made Us aware. AS a rule,
there was. by common consent, an
armistice observed by the hostiles
when buffalo were plenty and they
were laying in supplies. For one
thing, the annual supply of meat and
robes was their one prime necessity,
and for another, the Indians were
too much overfed for exertion be-
yond the needs of hunting.
"Yet a party mixed of our own
men and the Comanches ran plump
upon a party of Apaches in riding
over a sharp ridge. They met, in
fact, face to face and within arrow
range. Fighting, under the circum-
stances, "a inevitable, and the
Apaches, being the smaller number,
were whipped. One prisoner, a wiz
ened old man, was taken by the Co.
manches.
"This old fellow the barbarous
Comanches would have 'staked out
Bird no sooner heard of the capture
made by our neighbors than ne hur-
ried over to their tepees, and at once
began negotiation for the purchase
of the prisoner.
"Eickirg Bird at this time was
very wealthy as wealth goes among
Indians. He owned a large and fine
herd of mustangs. The Comanches.
who were preparing for a scalp
dance, at first refused to consider
an offer Tor their prisoner. They
finally, however. named thirty riding
ponies as their price, and to their
immense surprise, Kicking Bird
closed the bargain and took their
man.
There was no little curiosity
among the wild fellows to know what
Kicking Bird proposed to 90 with his
Apache, a little d~ried-up ole warrior
of near three score and ten. The
Kiowa kept his counsel. and some
time afSar n,idninht slinnnd out Of