Deming graphic., 1921-12-13

were as many as three thousand troop
ers based on that post at the time.
On one occasion, Chief victorio actu-
ally fired a volley into the main e.
trance gate at Fort Cummings In
crafty effort TO ensnare the soldiers
into an ambush The Indians were
disposed along nearby gullies and raw
ines, and only the timely warning of
an initiated prospector saved the gar
rison from the lethal trap. Navajo
Bill was present at the capture OF Ger
onimo, among others. Though hale
land hearty today "Bill" approached the
.yalley of the Shadow" for period
last winter. At that time the well
known missionary, A. II. Thompson,
likewise an old-timer called TO lend
what cheer he might to the passing
scout. He depicted the beauties OF the
coming life In the city Of many man
sions and otherwise prepared the old
scout for cheerful exit After a
long silence he asked sympathetlcally
"Bili, what are you thinking Off"
I'm thinking Of getting well. you're
damn tootin.' was the brisk and con-
fident reply. "Bilr' was headed in
the wrong direction and Brother
Thompson left him to shift for himself
Navajo Bill looks good for another 100
years. at the present writing.
/ Years ago they say, Walter Birch
field and some cronies were engaged In
la fashionable frolic. now technically
known as high lonesome" In their
revelry they ran afoul Of the law In
the majestic person Of Frank Preusser,
deputy sheriff Of that day. Frank was
something of an athlete and he proceed
ed at once to pummel the registering
youths one at time. aud while 80 oc'
cupied. Walt began a counter attack
! by heaving a brick from cover which
caught Frank full in the back of the
bald spot. But Frank, like a giant
shedding cootie, continued the bust
ness In hand and after spell turned
around with the vigorous inquiry
"who hit me with that brickY" There
being no reply from the culprit, Frank
resumed his original, II painful du-
. ties.
Pioneers like TO recall Louie Altman
and his German New Years Masque.
rade Ball. Louie was the manager Of
the affair which proved to be. as ona
might expect, huge and hilarious sue
cess. That is, all save the wind-up
Once tho Bali had begun. Louie fclt
: fatigued and famished so what more
natural than that he should adjourn
himself-with the proceeds Of the
Ball. unfortunately-to nearby
restaurant. He ordered up a great
steak dinner and thcu turned for the
waiting period to the card games next
door. To be tragically brief Louie ex'
, pended thousand or so dollars of the
charity bali funds ON the elusive mis-.
, tress Of chance. He never got his
dinner and, old-timers declare the Ger.
man colony spent the next few days
on the trail Of the dlstraught impress
+ ario-arIned to the teeth. In the end
however. everything was settled
j amicably and another Demjng success
l. passed into history.
Bob" Campbell, fenian jokester, hs
+ of the oiistling beard aud honest per
i sonal standards. was a super Dic.uPss
= que character. like all men he hnt
a some failing. among them lack OF faitl
in supreme being Of the o.thodo,
c mold and an excess Of reliance on th,
= prevalent "hooch." One night-rathei
g early In the morning-whlle attempt
u ing to reach home after the usual spree
I, he walked carelessly into an uncovered
o well. He landed unhurt, however, ant
Q Immediately began to make the wei
;, ring with his enthusiastic shouts fo
4 succor. Hughie williams then a mer,
q boy and not 80 sure Of himself as he &
today happened by and hearing tn
weird Outcries from what seemed tn
bowels OF the earth itself, Hughie onl!
stopped long enough to accelerate hi
homeward steps-he was taking n
chances with the evil spirits. Poo
Bob" sobered by his predicamen
maintained continual howl CONSISTING
| principally Of "oh my God. get me on
Of here" until braver souls came to bi
rescue at the break OF day The fer
I vent religious tenor OF his appeal. 4
view OF his well known agnosticisu
later made him the butt OF much goo
natured spoofing. And. finally, tn
late General Stephen Birchfield. cor
federate veteran and companion Of tn
1 noted Quantrell, provided no little en-