The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-10-22
California Joe Va Va = s Sc sSsa esss ss3st. az. ID The 4: 4 Rs sif sss.as

O. this lind thar's likely to be more
dOdgtn' an runnin' than hghtin,' an two
men kin do better'R twenty; they can't be
seen half ez fur, an won't leave much Of
a tran fer the Injins to find. II we git
away frum here by dark, well be so fur
away by daylight that no InjiEs is a-gOin'
to bother US. Wal, I'm gOin' back to the
boys an see if / kin bOrry a leetle to-
hacker, so whenever you git them dOcki-
ments ready, jist send yer orderly to me-,
an me an my pardner'u be ready"
Custer t~hereupon penned his report to
General Sheridan and had finished IL when
California Joe appeared and remarked:
JOe's 'pardner" turned out TO be Jack
COrbin, almost the antipOdes of Cali
fOrnia Joe in regard to many points OF
character. He seldom spoke unless spoken
to, but was a keen and sagaciOus scout,
well versed in Indian lore and with a
thorough knowledge Of the country.
Custer delivered his report to California
Joe, and that person, after unbuttOning
numerous coats, blouses and vests, con-
signed the package to one Of his numeF-
Gus inner pockets remarking.
wal, I hope an trust yer won't hev
emmy skrimmages whilst I'm away, 'euz
I'd hate nightly now to miss ennything
Of the sort, SEEM I've stuck to yer this
Joe and COrbin then took their depar-
ture as Custer shook hands heartily with
both men and wished them good luck and
a safe journey. The troops, by easy
marches, generally drew near to Camp
Supply, and Custer was uneasily wonder
/ ing WueLnEE MS Two COuLAGLn ndu 6VLAGM
thoroughly safely. Two or three days had
elapsed since their departure.
While the general and some Of his staff
were riding in advance of the troops, the
attention of the party was directed to
three hOrsemen who were riding slowly
along near a fringe Of timber. custer was
at q loss to determine whom they might
be. The three hOrSemen evidently dis
covered Clusters party, as they at once
turned their mounts and disappeared into
the timber, doubtless taking them for
1 an enemy.
Custer's field glasses at once were
leveled toward the spot, and Just as the
last hOrseman disappeared into the tim
Der, the joyful discovery was made tnal
it was none other than California Joe
mounted on his raw-bOned mule. custer
lat once put spurs to his morse ana dasheu
forward toward the hOrsemen, who pres
emily rode cautiously out Of the timber
for another look at the approaching party.
Custer swung his hat, and Joe appeared
to recognize him, as he stuck the spur
into his lO~ng-legged mule and was sOOL
grasping his chief by the hand.
81 counted on it bein' you when L rus
ketched sight Ov yer" he explained hearth
ly, ''but l wasn't takin' any chances OF
lit bein' Injins, an conclOOded that TINS
ERE timber would be the best place q
make a stand in case l war mistaken. w
war a%-gittin' ready to sling LEAD into yel
i'm case it turned out to be lnJins. Wal
= I'm powerful glad to see yer again, ChaCi
dead sure. Hsw be ye, ennywayF
l. Joe then related that COrbin and him
e self had made the trip in safety, and tina
General Sheridan, after eOmphmenCihl
1 them, had fed them well and then statSe'
them back, in company with one oCne
d scout, to meet Custer and deliver a pack
age Of letters and orders. 4,
Such were some of the incidents II
which California Joe figured Whlte Scout
is ing for Custer in 1868.
a To be continued in Next Weeks Issue)