The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-08-02
Sam Harding 5
Trophy Duke p c.y'.,

OF Sam Harding.
Assne with his wife and child he
had threaded the forest that lay be-
tween the settlements at Dover Point
and the lake, and. once arrived upon
its banks, he built his cabin, and set
about his work at once Of clearing up>
a homestead.
For many years there had been sus-
pended from smoke-stained beam
above the broad fireplace trophy OF
the early days he had spent on the
shore Of the lake.
70 was an Indians scalp.
So long had it hung there that 1t
was as died and smoke-begrimed as
the beam itself.
Few there were of his visitors who,
remarking it. failed to inquire why 1t
was thus preserved.
To these he did not fail to tell its
history, as we shall do now.
We will give 1t in his own words,
90 the reader may imagine that he is
sitting in the cabin OF the old pio-
neer, with the strange trophy sus-
pended before him.
"You ask me why it is that keep
that thing In the house? Well, will
tell you.
when | first came up here to set
tie on the banks of the Ossipee, 1t was
a bowling wilderness for miles and
miles on every side.
Il hadn't but one white man for
neighbor. and he lived two miles away,
down at the foot OF the bay.
"But had plenty OF another kind
There were wild beasts and savages
on all sides, and there were times
when they both gave me lots Of
trouble.
with the beasts | could get along
pretty we'll
"When they got too neighborly. !
would spend few days in hunting.
and get them thinned out. so that for
time could live IN peace.
but with the redskins il was diff
ferent. 1t want no use to try and thin
them out, although there was times
when had to try my hand at It. My
plan was to keep on the right side OF
them if ! could, but could not al
ways tell which side that was. They
were mighty uncertain. You never
could tell for a certainty when they
were friendly to You or when they
we're waiting for good chance to
take your scalp.
"a big bear. one which ! Judged by
his track would weigh at least 500
pounds, had been into my corn. and
the way he had finished it was enough
to make anybody's temper rise. Il
seemed as though the critter had
trampled down and destroyed COCA
hve bushels of it,
"There was not any trouble in fol
lowing the trail he mad left behind
for his feet were az big round as
/ peck measure, and you could see
where he had planted EN-, half dozen
! rods ahead.
'aThe valley became narrower ano
narrower as you went up, until at lasi
the rocks came so close together thal
they shut out the sunshine, and kline
| of twilight filed the place.
Il had just made up my mind that
should find his bearship not far from
fawe when all at once heard deel
srowl only little ways afore me,
"The next minute saw him
lad seen me and was sitting up OF
end. to give me a hugging when
come near enough.
1t was a good chance for shot, an
bringing my rifle to bear, took goo
aim for the spot right between hi
fore shoulders and fired. The mex
moment he was kicking among tn
dry leaves, giving up the ghost
Il knew that there would be n
need OF another shot, so I did not sto
10 load my rife again, but rushed rigt
up TO the spot.
Il wasn't long in getting there. an
when did. found that there wa
somebody before me.
"A redskin. fellow had had SON
trouble with before, was standing ovs
The bear. who was Jest gasping b
last. and the varmint had sent q
arrow into it, and knew in aamomeI
that he meant to claim the carcai
for his own. But ! had no intentiC
of being cheated out Of my meat
this way. So | walked up TO the bea
md whipping ont my knife, cut !
throat.
The redskin looked as ugly as pl1e
and in broken English wanted to knc
hat did that tor the bear was p
aud lie was going q have il, he said
II Sowed him s'lat IL was my b.
st. not his alrow that had killed
ut that did not NAL the natter a.
better
white man let il alone. or Ini
have his scaln he criac as he dr.
his knife,
You'll have to take il first, y
thieving redskin. said I.
Il mad not hardly got the words .
Of my mouth before he sprang UP
ME. But l was ready for him.
knocked aside his hand, which
meant to twist into my hair.
For about minute It was as Ia
a tussle as ever had in my life;
at last I managed to trip him up. q
down we went across the carcass