American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-06-07
A Narrow Escape.
Corporal.

One of the officers, who was command
ing a troop, concluded one day that it
would be safe to grant permission to a
part of his command to leave camp for the
purpose of hunting buffalo and obtaining
fresh meat for the men. The hunting party
being strong enough to protect itself
against almost any ordinary war party of
Indians that might present itself, left
camp at an early hour in the morning and
set out in the direction in which the buff
falo were reported to be. The forenoon
passed away, noon came, and still no signs
of the return of the hunters. The small
hours of the afternoon began to come and
go, and still no tidings from the hunters,
who were expected to return to camp after
an absence of two or three hours. The
officer to whose troop they belonged, and
who was of an exceedingly nervous tenn
permanent, began to regret having accord
| ed them permission to leave camp, know
ing that Indians had been seen in the vi
cinity. The hunting party had gone by
route across the open country which car
ried them up a long but very gradual
| ascent of perhaps two miles, beyond
which, on the level plain, the buffalo were
supposed to be herding in large numbers.
Anxious to learn something concerning
the whereabouts of his men, and believip"
he could obtain view of the country he
v,
officer, whose suspense was constantly
increasing, determined to mount his horse
and ride to the summit of the ridge be-
You'd which his men had disappeared in
the morning. Taking no escort with him,
he leisurely rode off, guided by the trail
made by the hunters. The distance to
the crest proved much further than it had
seemed to the eye before starting A ride
of over two miles had to be made before
f1,ph trha inf hnf "a
there the officer felt well repaid for his
exertion, for in the dim receptions of a
beautiful mirage he saw what to him was
his hunting party leisurely returning
toward camp. Thinking they were still
long distance from him and would not
reach him for n considerable time, he did
what every prudent cavalryman would
have done under similar circumstances
dismounted TO allow his horse an oppOr-
tunity to rest. At the same time he be-
gan studying the extended scenery, which
from his exalted position lay spread in all
directions beneath him. The camp, seen
nesting along the banks of the creek at
the base &C the ridge, appeared as pleas
ant relief to tue monotony of the view,
which otherwise was undisturbed. Having
scanned the horizon in all directions, he
turned to watch the approach of his men;
when, behold. instead of his own trusty
troopers returning laden with the fruits of
the chase, the mirage had disappeared,
and he saw a dozen well-mounted warriors
riding directly toward him at full speed.
They were still far enough away to enable
him to mount his horse and have more
than an even chance to outstrip them in
the race to camp. But no time was to be
thrown away; the beauties of natural
scenery had, for the time at least, lost
their attraction. Camp never seemed so
inviting before. Heading his horse to-
ward camp and gathering the reins in one
hand and holding his revolver in the
other the officer set out to make his es-
cape. Judgment had to be employed in
riding this race, for the distance being
fully two miles before a place of safety
high bred and accustomed to going such
distance at full speed, might, if forced
too rapidly at first, fail before reaching
camp Acting upon this idea. a tight rein
was held and as much speed kept in re-
serve as safety would permit. This en-
abled the Indians to gain ON the officer,
but at no time did he feel that he could
not elude his pursuers. His principal
anxiety was confined TO the character of
the ground, care being taken TO avoid the
rough and broken places. A single mis-
step or stumble on the part of his horse,
and his pursuers would be upon him be-
fore he could rise. The sensations he ex-
perienced during that flying ride could not
have been enviable. Soon the men in
camp discerned his situation, and seizing
their carbnes FASTENED out to his assist
ance. The Indians were soon driven
away and the officer again found himself
among his friends. The hunters also
made their appearance shortly after, well
supplied with game. They had not found
the buffalo near camp as they had ex-
pected, and after finding them were car
ried by long pursuit in a different di-
rection from that taken by them in the
Hence their delay in returning
to camp-"Lite on tie Ploins," By General
G. 4. Custer, in Nay Galaly.
A LOVE STORY FROM THE LUNATIC
visiting the Lunatic
Asylum on Blackwell's Island, lady in
charge of one of the female wards called
a reporters attention TO pretty, fair
haired girl about twenty years of age,
who had not spoken word since she en-
tered the asylum, over two and a half
years ago. Her name is Lord Beekman,
and her insanity was caused by disap-
pointment in love. She was engaged to
be married to Il young man who, shortly
before the appointed wedding day, left
her and became engaged to another
The keeper and his assistants
have resorted to many cNpedicnts to make
With her arms tightly drawn
over her breast, she sits on the same stool
md listlessly stares at the walls the whole
lay long, recognizing nobody, and seem
ng unconscious of the presence of others.
Ihe most romantic episode of this de
anged woman's life is that once IL year
Toung man comes and places IA bouquet of
lowers in her hands, after which he inn
goes away. The name and res
dence of this mysterious visitor are
1Tork sun.
AS some lady visitors were recently
coing through IA penitentiary, under the
scort of the superintendent, they came 10
room in which three women were sew
ne. Dear meI' one of the visitors whis-
,ercd what vicious looking creatures
Pray, what art they here iorfn Because
hey have no other home. This is our
and they are my wife and
wo daughters" blandly answered the SUI
OCEAN steamers charge two dollars per
ead to bring babies this way, but let
hem go to Europe for nothing.