The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-12-18
A RACE FOR IIFR
A Pair ur ssalpp Barely saved

Ii appears ahMB ph the ANhM HA4s NiMAt
Whetmore, aoconpanied 81 sarrnnt
left Gen. Miles headenaHlurh on aha
Washita to carry dispatches % oamp
Supply. Reaching the canadian riTeF
he concluded TO leave the train and -.
cort with which he had been travelling
and strike for Supply, accompanied on-
ly by his servant. This was very risky
undertaking, as the balance Of the story
will show. Scarcely had Whetmore and
Hamilton, his servant, left the train be-
fore they saw
SIGNS OF THE REDSKINS.
But they were both full Of pluck and
anxious to reach their destination; and
so, unmindful Of the danger thev were
in, dehantly galloped 'on toward the
north. Toward night, on the 18th, the
two reached a stream where they do
termined TO camp, but on rounding a
point came suddenly on a band Of three
redskins who, on seeing the blue coats,
scattered through the brush like leaves
before a winter wind. Here was a nice
position for The two men, for they we'll
knew that the Indians they had met
were but stragglers Of
A STILL LARGE PARTY
In the immediate neighborhood. And so
it proved Retracing their steps they
put spurs to their horses, only to ride
into the midst OF party Of nine mount
ed savages, who were so completely
taken by surprise at the appearance Of
the soldier boys that they merely turned
on their horses and gave one steaty
prolonged stare at the blue-coated in
truders. But Whetmore and his COM
panion did not take the introduction so
coolly. Quickly wheeling their horses
they started down the slope and out on
the sleety and frozen prairie with
THE SPEED OF THE WIND.
They were in for il now. One look be-
hind them revealed the savages in full
pursuit. But they had good start. The
wind was blowinga gale from the north
west and the piercing needles Of sleet
drove straight into their faces with
binding fury, but they could neither
stop nor change their course. On went
the fugitives, and on came the blood
thirsty pursuers. II was a veritable.
RACE FOR LIVE.
None of your dime-novel fctions, but
living. breathing, palpitating, excit-
ing fact. Nine hell-hounds Of the
frontier after two blue-conts and their
scalps. This was the exact situation,
and Whetmore and his companion knew
il. They also knew that their horses
would not hold ont long against the terri
ible storm, and began to devise ways
and means to sell their lives az dearly
as possible. They thought Of making n
stand in the Buffalo wallows, when the
remembrance of the terrible fate Of
Chapman and his companions made
them dig in their spurs a little deeper
and seek a more favorable location Al
last it was evident that they could 20 no
further, and
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
The trail they were making on the
sleety surface told them their was no es-
cape by fight, 30 unslinging their car
bInes, they dropped behind a small
thicket and prepared to "pass IN their
checks" as lively an possible. BY this
time darkness had set in, and the storm
Of sleet and snow was raging with una
bated fury. LoEg and anxiously those
two benumbed and benighted men knelt
on the frozen crust and waited for the
appearance Of their savage foes, but they
came not.
Either the redskins had been
PELTED OUT IF THEIR PURPOSE
By the terrific storm, or else they had
come to the conclusion that the market
price of two scalps would not justify more
than one or two twenty heats on a
stiff and slippery prairie. At all events
they gave up the chase. Lieut., Whet-
more and Hamilton stayed behind the
thicket all night, narrowly escaping
| freezing to death, and expecting every
moment that the whOops of the savages
would be heard and the crash Of a toma-
hawk put them ont Of their misery aud
end the terrible suspense.
When morning dawned the Eavages
had disappeared, but the beleagured
men were in another pickle. They were
LOST ON THE PRAIRIE
Lost as effectualIy and completely as
though they were in mid-ocean. The
storm howled as fierce as il did during
the night. By nothing in the heavens
above or the earth beneath could the
points of the campass be Determined.
Weary, frozen, hungry and discouraged, i,
the wanderers began TO feel that their
miraculous escape on the night before
was only a putting of Of the inevitable.
Finally. seeing that they we're complete
ly bewIldered, they struck for the near
est stream and followed il TO the mouth.
II emptied into a larger one, and thus
these men kept on until
AFTER IEEUMERABLE HARDsHIPs
They succeeded in striking the old trail
fifty miles south of Camp Supply. For
ty miles from the post they met the
cavalry out in search for them, and were
escorted TO quarters, having been nearly
three days without food, and with their
clothing frozen tight 10 their bodies. IL
was a most thrilling and exciting adven-
ture and we regret exceedingly that lack
of space forbids mentioning more than
the most meagre details Of this interest
ing affair.
TOLD AS 1T WAS
BY the bronzed lieutenant, still clad in
his rough woollen shirt, cavalry boots,
and pants the stripes of which proclaim
ed the wear and tear Of the race through
the underbrush, it only wanted the
charm of n campfire 10 finish the word
picture Of one Of the most exciting ad-
ventures ofthe Indian campaign. Lieut..
Whetmore SAYS his hands and feet are
badly frost-bitten, but otherwise he II in
good health and spirits. Hamilton, his
companion in the adventure, has not YET
arrived from the frontier, owing 70 bis
exhausted condition.
-@-lore