The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-14
A NOBLE ACT.

| Lieutenant Beall, U. S. Navy, is already
well known to the country, having particu-
larly distinguished himself, ON several different
occasions, as bearer Of important despatch
es to and from California, both through the
heart Of Mexico, during the war, and across
the prairies and Rocky Mountains, forcing
his way, with equal spirit, through civil
| lied and savage enemies As gallant
naval officer and intrepid traveller, with the
courage to face and the energy to overcome
every difficulty and peril, we can well be-
lieve he has no superior; but we have recent
| ly heard an anecdote told Of him, being the
account Of circumstance which happened
on the last journey to California, from which
he has only so lately returned, which, while
| it illustrates the dangers Of the road, proves
that there is another quality in him higher
than mere resolution and bravery hu-
name and generous disposition, which gives
to those virtues the character Of heroism,
1t was, we believe, in the ella country,
that Lieutenant 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 for
tune to kill a deer; and he was on the
ground dressing the carcass, when, on look
! ing up, he suddenly beheld troop of mount
ed Apaches, who had discovered him, and
were dashing furiously toward him. They
had, doubtless, heard the report or seen the
smoke oil his rifle, and so were on him be-
fore he was aware; but he knew very well
that to be overtaken by them, single white
man among those naked hills which they
called their own, was certain death and,
accordingly, leaving his quarry and mount
ing in hot haste, he relied upon the mettle
Of his mare, which he put to her full speed,
to carry him back in safety to the camp.
Away darted the young lieutenant, and on
rushed the savages, laundering and yelling
in the certain assurance of their prey. But
confident as they were, the fugitive was
quite as well satisfied Of his ability to es-
cape ]; although their horses were fresher
than the mare, and it was pretty certain
they were gaining slightly upon her, and
would give her a severe contest before
reaching the camp.
Thus assured of his safety, but not relax
, ling his speed, Lieutenant b. had recovered
t half his distance from the camp, when, DASH
ing over the crest of hill, he was Mortified
at the sight Of one Of his own men, on foot,
climbing the hill, and, in fact, following in
| his trail to assist HMM the hunt. The sight
| Of the lieutenant flying down the hill at
, such furious rate was, doubtless, enough ;
/ perhaps the poor fellow could hear the whoops
Of the Indians ascending the hill from the
opposite side; at all events, he understood
his fate, and spreading his arms before the
horses head, he cried out with the accents
of despair, ooh, Mr.. Beall, save me
am husband and the father Of six helpless
children !" Never was prayer more quick
| ly heard, or more heroically answered.
! The lieutenant, though riding for his own
life, Immediately stoppedhs mare, dismount-
i ed, and, giving her to the man, said, sYo on
shall be saved. Ride back to the camp,
and send them out to give my body decent
burial F." Andso they parted the iootman
to escape, the officer, as he supposed, 10 be
slain ; for the hill was utterly bare, without
single hiding place, and he thought Of moth
ing bu:selling his lie as dearly as possible
For this purpose, he drew his revolver, and
sitting down on the ground, waited for the
sayages who IN moment came rushing
over the brow Of the hill, and then, to the
unspeakable Amusement Of Lieutenant Beall,
dashed past him down the descent like
madmen, not a soul of them paying the least
regard to him, not soul, in fact, seeing him.
They saw, in reality, nothing but the horse
and the horseman they had been pursuing for
three miles; they knew nothing Of foot
man; and perhaps the sitting figure Of the
lieutenant appeared, to eyes only bent on one
attractive object, as stone or huge cactus,
such as abound in those sterile hills
4 AT all events, Lieutenant Beall, by what
seemed to himself almost direct Proyiden-
tial interposition in his behalf, remained
wholly undiscovered and ina moment more
the Apaches were out Of sight, still pursuing
the horse and his rider to the camp. The
latter barely succeeded in escaping with his
life, the Indians having overhauled him SO
closely Just as he reached the camp, as to
be able to nflict one or two slight wounds
upon him with bullets, or perhaps with ar
rows. As for Lieutenant Beall, he was not
slow to take advantage of his good fortune
and selecting roundabout course, he sue
ceeded in reaching the camp just about the
time the poor fellow whom he had saved,
and the other members Of the party, were
about sallying out to obey his last request,
and give his body decent burial.
, Upon such an act as this it were superfu-
Gus to comment. 1t is an act, however,
which deserves to live in mems recollections
like the story Of great battle and victory
Phiia. North Americaa
GEORGE LIPPARD.--Lippard was one Of
the most importunate and unreasonable Of
the ofice-beggars about Washington. Ow-
inr 10 some necllliarities &c character ,uhirh