Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-18
"YASkEE jim" CELEBRATES
Today He is Seventy-Five Years Old
and Hale and Hearty.
GUARDS MESSAGE TO CUSTER
Has the Dispatch which MiEht Have
saved Custer and His Forces
and VIII Deliver ~ 20 No
One but Gen. Custer.

in the history Of America under his pictur-
esque nickname. or under his right name.
James George. but certain II Is that he has
earned a place in the history of the new
world. for he is one OF three men who dis
covered Yellowstone Park. Before the days
OF the railroad he operated a toll road
into the place built by nature-the. first
path cut into the park.
Mr.. George is closely related to several
residents in Omaha. and is known here by
reputation. although he has not been more
than few miles east Of the Yellowstone in
half century Mrs. George p. Mathews
OF South Omaha is his sister, and Mrs. l. J.
Copenharve his niece.
Though still vigorous in spite Of his
years. Yankee Jim" has but one ambition
to deliver message in death which h,
could not deliver in life. Tha. is the
despatch from General Rosencranz to Cen
eral Custer. Had the message reached
Custer in time, the massacre that shocked
the world would not have occurred.
Il must deliver the despatch to Custer;
It is for him and no one else will get it."
That is the answer the veteran plains
man. scout and prospector gives TO all who
attempt to secure the scrap OF history from
him He has been offered large sums of
money Dy the government anu bg museums
but the rugged old frontersman cllugs. to
the little piece Of paper with a tsuacity
that verges on the fanatical He refuses
TO allow It to leave his possession even
for a moment for fear IT would not be
returned to him
Lives In the Past.
One OF the most picturesque figures of
picturesque age, Yankee Jim" lives much
in the past. Out on his mountain ranch,
fifteen miles from the entrance t. Yellow
stone Park on the ,Bozeman rad. he
dreams OF the days that are gone and
awaits the moment when he can deliver the
message to Custer. Occasionally he Will
tell of the hardships of his lash across
the plains that brought him too late to the
Inflated leader, whose bravado brought
death TO himself and his men, but for the
most part James George is reticent
He has but one hobby, the cooking of
fish. Fifty years of experience over
camp fire and ranch range have left him
without peer in America in the prepa-
ration Of fish, and his famous fries have
drawn many a tourist and not a few noted
men from their ordinary paths One of
these men was Theodore Roosevelt.
The last meeting of Yankee jim" and
the former president was VI
the old-time Indian fighter. He had known
Theodore Roosevelt before politics entered
into the latter's career-when he was
youth ranching out west TO build up his
health.
On his last journey through Montana
while in the White House. Mr. Roosevelt
sent word that he would like to have
Yankee Jim" go to the railroad that they
might chat for a moment OF old times.
The message was taken 10 Mr.. George
This was the answer he sent; III Theo-
dore Roosevelt any else wishes to
see James~George. they may come to my
ranch ! will be glad to see him there"
Roosevelt Calls ON Him.
And the president went. There We're
"reminiscences that delighted the hearts OF
the eastern newspaper men with the presi-
dent. and there was a fish fry that stands
out as an event extraordinary in the tales
OF the ranchmen about Yankee Jim"
James George was born on September
is, 1896, at Liverpool, Columbiana county
Ohio. In 1866 he moved with his parents
to Scott county, Iowa.
Then came the DAYS of the gold excite
ment in Colorado. when the word OF strikes
swept across the continent like wildfire
inflaming the imaginations of the country's
youth in the four quarters of the land
James George caught the fever and fifty
years ago last June he set out under the
banner OF pixies Peak or bust"
He was won from the ranks of the gold
hunters by the romantic life of the plains,
and after taking his turn as cattleman.
prospector and scout. he discovered Yell
lowstone park with two others.
Realizing the value OF the territory
built corduroy road into the park, con-
structing 1t only after overcoming diff
culues that many times brought them near
defeat They operated the road on the
toll system, Mr. George eventually buying
out his partners. Then the government
gave land grants TO the railroad and a
steam line was run in. putting the wagon
line out OF business.
The remains of that log road are stfil to
be seen in the marshes through which It
was laid.
IL was worthless when the steam line
was first operated, but James George could
have sold out to the railroad for a fortune
had It not been for his indep, ndent spirit,
which led him to attempt competition with
the railroad.
Associated with Colonel Cody.
Then came more scouting. in which he
was Tor time associated with Buffalo
Bill. Later Mr.. George secured coal lands
which gave him something more than a
competence, and he settled down on his
ranch. devoting the rest OF his days with
grim determination 10 guarding the unde-
nvered message to Custer
He possesses the plainsman's power over
animals 20 an unusual degree, and In his
youth by this occult strength tanned rattle
snakes till they were pets. Vt times he
stll exercises this odd phase OF his char
acter.
one OF twelve children. he has seen few
OF his family since he set out for Pixies
Peak more than half century ago lie
cherishes their memories as they were
when he last saw them. and a few years
ago when telegraphed that his mother was
dead he wired back that he would not 40
20 the funeral.
Il want to remember them all as they
were" he said.
A few days ago he said to friend IN
live to be at least 30"
His physique gives promise OF fulfilling
the prediction. But the future has lost its
charm save for the small delights that
come day by day and Yankee Jim" ever
turns backward 20 the crowded busy day
when men were men in the west and ther,
were big things to do.
RuAMNlMN TUE nj n nnnEn