Mexico weekly ledger., 1914-11-19
PROF.. TORREYSON WAS
some SCARED He ADMITS
Former MeJicO Man Tells of "Trip
From This City to TT. Smith.
Ark, Through Kansas
INDIAN LOOKED FERocrous
Knew He Should Resent Insult to wo-
man and Child But Was Frozen
TO the Seat.
TIT. smith, Ark. Herald)

Aee"AieN HNfhefoVS pieaSlnk epiSoueS
and he also related a thrilling one TO
The Herald.
1t was in September, 1898, that Pro
fessor Torreyson first came TO For
Smith. He had been reared in an old
settled community in North Carolina
not far from Washington, d. C., and
like every other boy he had RECALLED
himself with Indian dime stories I'M
til he had become convinced that the
average Indian was about as des-
perate a character as could possibly
be found.
He was living in Mexico. Nc, 1.-THE
nome of brilliant Col. Bob White, who
was his intimate friendl. when he ac-
eepted the appointment as principal
of the Fort Smith High School. His
Missouri friends chaffed him about
going to Fort Smith and taking the
chance of being scalped en- route.
Prof. Torreyson made the trip to
Arkansas by way of Kansas City SO
that he might see C~offeyville, Kan,
which town he would pass the day
following the Cherokee run of
which he had read much. Again. only
about ten days before the Daltons
had raided ~Coffeyville, and he was
quite anxious to see the scene of such
outlawry and to learn something
about the people.
1T was a very hot Sunday after
noon when u train pulled into the
station At Coffeyville," said Prof.
Torreyson to The Herald. There
were several thousand people as
sembled around the depot. Most of
them were disappointed Cherokee
runners but what was particularly
noticeable to me was that almost ev-
cry one was armed with some kind of
a gun.
The coach in which | was seated
was stopped in front of the depot,
and the window was about on a level
with the depot platform. My atten-
ton was instantly fastened upon a
formidable looking Indian, and the
tallest mar that | ever saw. He was
arrayed in regular Indian style, and
had a cartridge belt and two big re-
~volvers strapped around his waist.
at is needless to say that this
pale-faee was scared, and ! was glad
when the train started TO leave Cof-
feyville; but imagine my horror the
next minute to see this ferocious-
looking Indian open the car door and
start walking toward me. What could
do to escape him, was my first
thought, but ] was frozen u my seat
as be leisurely staggered down the
aisle and ea~relessly scrutinized the
passengers as he passed them.
when he got to the seat in front
of me he stopped and i~nsolently star
ed at u lady and her little girl who
occupied the seat. Then he passed,
only to return and repeat the insult to
the alarmed lady. | felt it was my
duty as a man to act, but / confess
that | was too scared to act. being
unarmed and a stranger in a strange
land and besides the Indian was ac-
eompanied by several fierce-looling
cowboys and intoxicated as was the
Indian.
FINALLY ! observed a magnificent
looking young man, perfect of phys
ique and well groomed, approach the
beastly Indian. make a few quiet re-
marks to him which he appeared to
be about to resent with his gun, when
as quickly as a flash of lightning the
young mans stout and strong right
fist shot out, and the powerful blow
drove the big brute almost half the
length of the car. His head struck
the floor and his feet flew up, and
then he fell back almost unconscious.
"The strange young man was as
cool as though nothing had happen
ed, while my fright had greately in
creased. The brave young mar then
summoned the train crew, and they
dragged the Indian out Of the coach
door to the platform, stopped the
train, and pushed him off into the
tall prairie grass. The cowboys had
witnessed the punishment of their
Indian companion on aecount Of his
insolence, but the proves Of the
hero Of the occasion evidently cowed
them into a peaceful mind.
Professor Torreyson is now secre-
tary Of the Arkansas State Board
of Education and special representa-
tive Of the University of Arkansas.
He resides with his family in the
capital city.