Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-05-22
A Ride for Life. 3 !
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Bathing Under ID ifficulties.


f'Life on the Plaihs'l by General
G. A. Custer, in the May number
of Galaxy: "There was a beauti.
ful, clear stream of water, named
Bluff Creek, running through
camp, which supplied bathing fac
ilities to the officers andlmen, a
privilege which few allowed to
pass unimproved. Whether to a.
void the publicity attending 10.
calities near camp, Or5ato see a
point in the bed of the stream
where the water was fresh Fand
undisturbed, or from a motive
different from either Of these, two
of our young officers mounted their
horses one day without saddles,
and rode down the valley OF the
steam perhaps a mile or more in
search of a bathing place, Dis
covering one TO their taste, they
dismounted, secured their horses,
and after disposing of their appar-
ell on the green sward covering the
bank, were soon floating and
floundering in the water like a
pair Of young porpoises. How
long they had been enjoying this
healthy recreation, or how much
longer they might have remained.
is not necessary to the story. One
of them happening TO glance to-
wards their horses, observed the
latter in a state of great tre'pida-
ton. Hastening from the, water
to the bank, he discov cred the
cause of the strange conduct on
the part of the horse 5, which was
nothing more nor less than a par
ty of about thirty Indian warriors,
mounted, and stealthily making
their way toward the bathing par
ty, evldeLtly having their eyes ON
the latter, and intent on their cap
ture. Gere was a condition of at-
fairs t'nat was at least as unex.
pect4d as it was UNIV elcome.-
Quickly calling ont to bis com
ranion, who was still In the wa
ter, unconscious of approaching
danger, the one ashore made haste
to unfasten their horses and pre-
pare foT flight. .a....
Fortunately the Indians who
were now within few hundred
yards of the two officers, were
coming from the direction opposite
camp, leaving the retreat of the
officers open. No sooner did the
warriors find that their approach
was discovered than they put their
ponies to their best speed, hoping
to capture the officers before the
latter could have time to mount
and get their horses under head
way. The. two officers in the
meanwhile were far from idle: no
flesh brushes or bathing towels
were required to restore healthy
circulation, nor W as time wasted
in an idle attempt to make toilet.
If they had sought their bathing
ground from motives of retirement
or delicacy, no such sentiments
were exhibited now, for catching
up their wardrobe from the ground
in one hand, seizirlg the bride rein
with the other, one leap and they
were on their horses backs and
riding toward carnp for dear life.
They were not ex actly in the con-
dition of Flora McFlimsy, with
nothing to wear, but to all intents
and purposes might ,as well have
been SO. Then followed race,
which, but for the risk incurred
name the two who rode at the
front? The pursuing warriors,
seeing that they were not likely
to overtake and capture the two
knights of the bath, slackened
their pace a nd sent a volley of ar
rows after them. A few moments
later and the two officers were
safe inside the lines, where. they
lost no time in making their way
to Their tents TO attend to certain
matters relating to their toilet,
whJ ch the sudden appearance of
their dusky visitors had prevent
eI. 1t was long time before they
ceased to hear illusions made by
their comrades to the cut and
style Gf their riding suits"