Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-15
A Narrow Escape.

One Of the officers, who was command
| inr q troop, concluded one day that il
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 buf
| 1alO were reported to be. The forenoon
! passed away, noon came, and still no SIGNS
OF the rctarn of the hunters. The small
| hours OF the afternoon began to come and
90, 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 a
| route across the open country which car,
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 believin .
he could obtain a view of the country be
| yond which might prove satisfactory, the
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 tC
| 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
| the highest point was reached, but once
| there the officer felt we'll repaid for his
| eXertion, for in the dim receptions Of {
! beautiful mirage he saw what to him was
his hunting party leisurely returning
| toward camp. Thinking they were still
a long distance from him and would not
reach him for a considerable time. he did
what every prudent cavalryman would
have done under similar circumstances
dismOuntcd TO allow his horse an OpDOl
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 of the ridge appeared as a pleas
ant relief to the 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 trustv
troopers returning laden with the fruits of
the chase, the mirage had disappeared,
and he saw a dozen Well-mOuntcd warriors
riding directly toward him at full speed.
They were still far enough away to enable
to, l.,
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 50
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 place Of safety
could be reached, his horse, not being
high bred and accustomed to going such
a distance at full speed, might, if forced
too rapidly at first, fail before reaching
camp. Acting upon this idea, q 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 a stumble on the part of his horse,
and his pursueTs would be upon him be
fore he could rise. The sensations he 6x-
perienced during that flying ride could not
have been enviable. Soon the men in
camp discerned his situation, and selling
their carbincs 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 as near camp as they had ex-
pected and after finding them were car
ried by long pursuit in different di-
rection from that taken by them in the
morning. Hence their delay in returning
to camp.-"Life on tie Plaias," By General
G. 4. Custer, IN Nay GalaIy.