The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-07-06
barious 1flatters.
a NOBLE ACT.

A NOBLE ACHs -@ sF.
Lieut.. Beall, u. S. Navy, is already
knowfto the country, having particularly
distinguished himself on several occa-
sions, as bearer of important dispatches
to and from California, both through the
heart Of Mexico, during the war, and a
cross the Rocky Mountains. forcing his
way, with equal spirit, through civilized
and savage enemies. AS gallant naval
officer and intrepid traveller, with the
courage to face and the energy to over
come every difficulty and peril, we can
we'll believe he has no superior; but we
have recently heard an anecdote told Of
him, being the account of a circumstance
which happened on the last journey to
California, from which he has only so
lately returned, which, while il illustrates
the dangers of the road, proves that there
is another quality in him higher than
nero resolution aud bravery,-a humane
and generous disposition, which gives to
those virtues the character Of heroism.
1t was, we believe, in theGila country,that
Lieut.. Beall, having encamped his party.
and placed it in safety, went out hunting.
He set out alone, on favorite saddle
mare, which was generally kept up or
spared for such occasions. About six
miles from the camp, he had the good
fortune to killa deer; and he was on the
ground dressing the carcass, when, on
looking up, he suddenly beheld troop of
mounted Apaches. who had discovered
him and were dashing fnriously towards
him. They had. doubtless, heard the
report or seen the smoke of his rife, and
so were on him before he was aware; but
he knew very we'll that to be overtaken by
them, single white man lmong those
naked hills, was certain death; and, ac-
cordingIy, leaving his quarry, and mount
ing in hot haste, he relied upon the met
al of his mare, which he put to her full
speed, to carry him back in safetyto the
the camp. Away dsrted the young lieu
ternnt, and on rushed the savages, thuder-
ing and yelling in the certain assurance
of their prey,--But confident as they
were, the fugitive was quite as well salts
fed of his ability to escape; although
their horses were fresher than the mare,
and it was pretty certain that they were
gaining slightly upon her. and would
give her a severe contest before reaching
the camp. .o e r.
Thus. assured his safety. but not re-
iaxiug his speed, Lieutenant B. had re.
covered half his distance from the camp,
when. dashing over the crest of the hill,
he was Mortified at the sight Of one ofhis
own men. on foot. climbing the hill, and
ia fact, following in his trail, to assist him
in the hunt. The sight Of the Lieuten'
ant flying down the hill at such furious
rate, was doubtless terrifying enough;
perhaps the poor fellow could hear the
whoops of the Indians ascending the hill
from the opposite side; and. at all events,
he understood his fate, and spreading his
arms before the horses head he cried oul
with the accents ofdespair. "Oh, Mr.
Beall, save me! arm husband and the
father ofsix helpless children!"
Never was prayer more quickly heard
or more heroically answered.
The lieutenant, though riding for his
own life. Immediately stopped his mare
dismounted. and giving her to the man
said,
you shall be saved! Ride back Il
the camp, aud send them out to give my
body decent buriall" ~ sf 'st>o
And so they parted.-the foolman tt
escape, tho officer as he supposed to b'
slain; for the hill was utterly bare, withou
a single hiding place, and he thought o
nothing but selling his life as dearly a
possible. '''s
For this purpose, he drew revolver
and, sitting down on the ground, waitet
for the savages, who, in moment came
rushing over the brow of the hill, end
then, to the unspeakable amazement o
Lieutenant Beall, dashed past him dowr
the decent like madmen, not a soul o
them paying the least regard to him, no
a soul in fact seeing him. They saw, il
reality, nothing but the horse and horse
man they had been pursuing for the las
few miles: they knew nothing ofa foot
man, aud perhaps the figure ofthe lieuten
ant appeared to eyes only bent on the at
tractive object, as stone or huge cactus
which abound on those sterile hills.
At all events, Lieutenant Beall, b
what seemed to him an almost drec
Providential interposition in his behalf
remained wholly undiscovered, and, in
moment more the Apachcs were out d
sight, still pursuing the horse and rider /
the camp. Silvia ..a-l .g,'t 81
The latter barely succeeded'in escar
ing with his life, the Indians having ovei
hauled him SO closely just as he reache
the camp, as to be able to infict one O
two slight wounds upon him with bullets
orperhaps with arrows. As for Liet
tenant Beall, he was not slow to take ac
vantage Of his good fortune, and sele,
ting roundabout course, he succeed Q
in reaching the camp. just about tho tim
the poor fellow whom he had saved, an
the other, members Of the party were ,
bout sallying out to obey his last reques
and give his body decent burial.
Upon such an act as this it were 8,
psrauous to comment. tits an act, how
ever, which deserves to live in men,sre,
collections like the story ofa great ba
tle.--P Philadelphia american. ee
RThe Mayor of New York has i
..i. ...ot;,,xi ,r1 rim a the rloaiu