201

He then did a number of fancy tricks, such
as catching the reporter on a dead run and
then throwing the rope in a half-hitch over a
man standing close to the spot where he
brought his first captive to a standstill. Lassoing
horses, men on wagons with the horses

[Drawing]
LIFTS TWO MEN BY HIS SAMSONIAN LOCKS

going at a trot, or catching small boys by the
feet as they ran was mere child's play to
Apache George.

"Now, take this paper," said George, banding
the reporter a piece of newspaper about
six inches long and folded up. He next produced
a "blacksnake" whip that measured
twelve feet from the tip of the buckskin
"cracker" to the handle. Telling the reporter
to hold the paper at arm's length
George backed off and taking the whip began
cutting the paper off an inch at a time. As
the paper grew shorter and shorter and the
stinging lash wielded by the man standing
twelve feet away cut nearer and nearer to
the reporter's fingers he grew nervous, but
just as he was about to tell Apache George
that he was satisfied--more than satisfied, in
fact--the cowboy gave the whip an extra
flourish, and, with a crack like a pistol shot,
the lash cut the paper clear and clean less
than a quarter of an inch from the finger
ends.

"Now, I'll show you something else," said
George. Taking two chairs, he called one
man weighing 180 pounds and another
weighing 165 pounds and asked them to be
seated. Standing between the chairs George
took off his hat and dividing his long hair so
that about half of it hung on either should
he stooped and told the men to take hold of
his hair with both hands and hold on as they
would to a rope. The men obeyed, when
Apache George straightened up, lifting both
men clear of the chairs. There they swung,
holding on to his hair for a second or two,
when astonishment made them loosen their
grip and drop their feet on the ground.

"I haven't got an iron jaw," laughed
George, "but I'll pull against any man in
this town with my hair for any amount of
money."

He then did a number of fancy tricks, such as catching the reporter on a dead run and then throwing the rope in a half-hitch over a man standing close to the spot where he brought his first captive to a standstill. Lassoing horses, men on wagons with the horses

[Drawing]
LIFTS TWO MEN BY HIS SAMSONIAN LOCKS

going at a trot, or catching small boys by the feet as they ran was mere child's play to Apache George.

"Now, take this paper," said George, banding the reporter a piece of newspaper about six inches long and folded up. He next produced a "blacksnake" whip that measured twelve feet from the tip of the buckskin "cracker" to the handle. Telling the reporter to hold the paper at arm's length George backed off and inch at a time. As the paper grew shorter and shorter and the stinging lash wielded by the man standing twelve feet away cut nearer and nearer to the reporter's fingers he grew nervous, but just as he was about to tell Apache George that he was satisfied--more than satisfied, infact--the cowboy gave the whip an extra flourish, and, with a crack like a pistol shot, the lash cut the paper clear and clean less than a quarter of an inch from the finger ends.

"Now, I'll show you something else," said George. Taking two chairs, he called one man weighing 180 pounds and another weighing 165 pounds and asked them to be seated. Standing between the chairs George took off his hat and dividing his long hair so that about half of it hung on either should he stooped and told the men to take hold of his hair with both hands and hold on as they would to a rope. The men obeyed, when Apache George straightened up, lifting both men clear of the chairs. There they swung, holding on to his hair for a second or two, when astonishment made them loosen their grip and drop their feet on the ground.

"I haven't got an iron jaw," laughed George, "but I'll pull against any man in this town with my hair for any amount of money."