The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-12-05

Luscher sitting peacefully II
his office. You wouldn't thinl
at casual glance he was a Soldier
of Fortune" says a writer in the Kan
sas City Star.
Well, he isn't-as the term has com,
TO be used to describe every wanderei
who strayed beyond the bounds Of hi.
native country. Let a track laborel
return from Mexico and he's "sol
der of fortune" The same goes fol
a Cooks tourist.
But there used to be real soldiers
OF fortune who had real adventures
In unreal countries. Richard Hardins
Davis made fortune writing about
them, but most Of them have beer
written out. Perhaps there is a new
crop growing up In strange countries
waiting to come home with new sto
ries. However, there aren't many Of
them these dull days that have new
stories to tell.
That's why 1t is surprising to fine
Doctor Luscher sitting peacefully In
his office and chatting about the
times he used to chase headhunters
In Formosa with native Chinese
troops.
1t was 80 unexpected. You wouldn't
Judge Doctor Luscher to be the sor,
OF man who plunged through dank
3ungles and over bleak mountains to
run down the head hunting savages
of an untamed country The doctor
seems to be too courteous to take
part In anything OF that sort. Still
hes not so young as he used to be
and there Is no telling what an ad-
venturous soul he used to be when he
slept under tropical stars. There
must have been a powerful spirit of
unrest within him, for 1t is known
that he has served under four flags
before be settled down to a staid prac-
tice here.
Served Under Four Flags.
! Doctor Luscher was present when
American troops moved against In
dams on the plains, when Cubans met
Spanfards and when mongrel met
mongrel in Honduras. Also he has
seen the Chinese troops charge with
gongs and flags and devils heads
against deadly aim of waiting and
Rrfnning French soldiers. He has
seen the headhunters skipping through
the tangled bush and has been fortu-
nate enough to have lodged divers
spears aimed at him.
All OF these things are written I'm
his memory, which goes to show that
you never can tell about your neigh.
Dor Really you wouldn't suspect II
of the doctor as he sits peacefully in
his office in the Argyle building al
Twelfth and MCGEE streets.
An article published In the Star
last Sunday told how Japan is omen.
ing a MILITARY campaign against the
headhuneeSs on Formora. The bead.
hunters are >0f Malay descent and
were probably cast on the coast az
Formosa by storms at sea. Since
man can remember they have been
undesirable, with their head hunting
and cannibal practices China used
so own the island. but 1t was sick
and tired OF 1t when Japan came along
An 1895 and took 1t In as a war prize
Japan has its own troubles with the
natives who have only vague and in
distinct ideas Of the correct mode Of
toward their fellow men.
They eat their enemies and thew
friend on earth. Altogether
they are a wicked race, but they have
been meking both ends meet. after n
manner Of speaking. by hiding away
In the tops OF the rugged mountains
Of Formosa
1t was into these mountains that
Doctor Luscher went with TOO Chi
nese soldiers in 1886. Immediately
after China had been counted out in
the Franco Chinese war Doctor
Luscher had been the only medical
man with the Chinese army in the
var, having organized a hospital corps
Df nifty men.
The headhunters had been killing
the Chinese camphor wood cutters in
the mountains. Reports had been
drifting down to the government, but
China was SO busy trying and falling
to whip France with magic charms
and incantations that 1t didn't have
time to get after the wild tribes. 1t
was great sport for the headhunters.
swoopiDg down on the helpless Chi
nese who were gathering camphor
wood In the forest and butchering
them. At last China found time to
start after the savages after peace
With France had been established.