Year: 1871

In the telegraphic dispatches a few
days ago an account was given of Depu
tv United States Marshal Joe Peavy, of
Fort Smith, Ark, having brought into
that place seven white men who had
been fighting with some of the Usage
Indians. The fact of one man bringing
in seven prisoners may excite surprise
in the minds of some of our readers, but
after reading the following incident
they will be inclined to believe it.


Joe Pc Wy, as he is familiarly called,
is a man thirty-hve years Of age, about
five feet ten inches in height, slim built,
not weighing over l35 pounds, dark
brown hair, thin mustache, steel gray
colored eyes, and a thin visaged coun-
every lineament. OF all the Deputy
ber in that district, Joe is perhaps the
most daring, and the best acquainted in
the Indian Nation, through which they
ride. In his rides through the Nation,
Joe invariably goes alone, thinking he
can keep his business and actions closer
this way than with partner. Armed
at all times with two, aud sometimes
four large-sizcd navy skies and knife
that somewhat resembles a scythe, he
often makes excursions out into the
Sioux and Kiowa's country, back of
Fort Sill, and distant over two hundred
miles from civilization.


About three wears ago n noted war
chief of the Kiowas, known AS the
" Leaning Panther scalped and burn
ed alive a white man and his family
who imprudently ventured too far
within his domains. When the news
reached Fort Smith. a number of Depu-
tv Marsbals and a detachment of United
States troops were sent to capture the
red skinned assassin. After spending
about two weeks scourinp the country,
the men were forced to return to Fort
smith without a single prisoner. At the
time thew started out Joe Peavv was i'm
the Nation. from which he returned
about the same time as the party
mLeoninc Panther" was we'll known 10
Joe, who had frequently visited him. as
well as Others of the wild chiefs, and
when he learned the result of the expe.
dit;on. he volunteered to 90 ont and
bring them in


Knowing that il was almost certain
death for one man to venture within
the clutches of the Leaning Panther"
the United States Marshal insisted that
Joe should take some men with him.
Declining all company, he one evening
mounted his horse and crossing the
river he rode in the direction of the
Kiowa country. Nothing was seen or
heard of him for a month. and MANY of
of his friends, who were aware of the
nature of his ride, were fearful that Joe
had at last been overcome. Those who
knew him best held out that he would
turn up all right, and offered bets that
he brought the chiefin with him.


The latter were right, for just twenty
eight days after he was last seen enter
ing the woods, he rode into the town
with the "Leaplng Panther" bound
hand and foot, on pony in front of
him, while two squaws, who proved to
be the favorites OF that worthy, were on
ponies behind Joe. The latter person
age rode quietly through town to the
jail, where turned his prisoner over to
the authorities. Upon being questioned
as to how he effected the capture, Joe
stated that he made a circle around the
Kiowa country and entered 1t from the
west, Knowing every foot OF the





the village of the klowas and his man.
The latter at first regarded Joe with
suspicion, but the judiclous use OF u
bottle of whisky and some tobacco, to-
gether with any amount OF unadulter-
ated lies-in pure kiowan-as to where
he was from finally caused the chief to
think it was all right.


Joe stayed around the camp for over
a week before he could induce Leap
ing Panther to make a visit with him
to some neishboring Indians, when he
finally consented to 90 with him, and he
concluded to take two of his wives with
him This did not suit Joe, but fearing
to arouse the chiefs suspicious he made
no obiections. and the whole party
moved off in the direction of the other
Indians whom .Joe wished to visit, Bv
= liberal use Of his tongue Joe induced
the chief TO make q detour from their
direct course so as to bring them near
Fort Sill. While liding along one day,
and when well out of the Kiowa coun-
try, Joe suddenly brought one of his re-
volvers to cover the chief, while with
the other he halted his wives. Telling
the chief that if he moved he would kill
him. Joe, under u threat of instant
death. compelled one of the squaws to
remove all her husbands arms, and
then securely tie him with thong of
buckskin. The whole transaction did
not detain the party over half an hour,