, 1877-07-28
THE F0RTrNE OF VAR.
LITTLE HISTORY CONNECTED WITH
PRIVATE KILLED IL IDAHO

ne EVhk III OE ~ 2kas
LITTLE HISTORY CONNECTED WITH a
PRIVATE KILLED IL IDAHO
Nearly year ago the quarterlnaster :
Office at this post was notified from The
War Department to furnish transportation
to Mrs. Alice A. HurIburt aad two ochildrel
from this city to Fort Lapwai, idaho Tea
ritory. As II Is not unusual thing To-
officers aud men IN the service 70 obtali
similar orders from the department this
would have probably attracted htt.e al
tention had it not been for the mathe-
matical turn OF mind of some OF the
clerks. The order was dated July Is,
1876, and was to theeffect that the Quarter
masters Department win furnish Mrs
Alice 4. Huribut and two children trans
por,ation from st. Louis TO Fort Lapwai,
Idaho Territory, the cost OF which Will be
deducted from the pay OF her husband,
Private William l. Hurlburt, Company +,
First cavalry, in instalments OF S1U per
month.
In glancing over this order it occurred
to the clerk who received Ii that 1t would
take Private Hurlburt some years 10 pay
of his little debt to the government. Al
together it was a most singular matter
Ihe cost of the journey would be upward
Of 800. A private soldiers pay Is only
Si3 per month, and the idea Of giving up
all Of IT but So a month for the period Of
nearly four rears would be rather gloomy
to contemplate From tins little mathe-
matical calculation the clerk naturally
enough turned to specializing as to what
kind OF people this soldier and his wife
must be, to place themselves in such ex-
tremity for the sake Of being together.
1t seemed strange, indeed, that two such
people should ever have become separated.
Then it was matter Of curiosity to know
why this soldier had enlisted. The record
showed that he had only been IN the SER
vice about a year, and the more the mat
ter Was discussed the more singular did 1t
seem
THE SOLDIERS WIFE.
Before the question had approached a
solution their speculations We're cut short
by the arrival of the soldiers wife. She
was pretty lady Ike little body, with
two fine children, and evidently had pass
cd coed portion Of her lie under hap
py auspices. There was a shadow OF
trouble on her smooth brow that made
her really charming ways irresistible. Her
helpless situation and eyid mt anxiety re
garding her projected journey, coupled
with her oft expressed desire to see her
husband once more, excited the greatest
interest in her welfare, Before she had
been in the Office fifteen minutes she
could have counted friend IN every one
of the good looking young men about the
establishment Fully believing that she
was about to take very foolish st p they
tried every means OF persuading her to
relinquish her purpose. Before leaving
the office she SAID her husband had lost
his prop rty year before and in tit OF
desperation had enlisted Directly after
ward he had been ordered 10 the West and
she had no5seen HIM since. 1t was SO hard
to be separated and she would endure
any privations TO be near him. So she
went. Whether she arrived dsafe or not the
quarter1naster Office here would probably
never have known but for one Of those in
cideGts the service is liable TO.
TIE FORTUNE OF WAR.
The telegraph two days ago brought
the names of thirty-four soldiers and
eighteen settlers killed in the last Indian
uprising in Idaho, and IN the list WAS that
Of Private Hurlburt, Company i, First
cavalry. His company was part OF the
force that went out from Fort Lapwai TO
the assistance OF the settlers az Mount
Idaho on the 18th of June last. They
we're either drawn into an ambuscace or
deserted by the guard left in charge Of
the horses, and the little detachment was
cut to piecs, losing in killed and wound
ed nearly Laf the total number that went
ont
4 brother-in-law of 6hs. Hurlburt
called at the quartermaster Office few
DAYS since with letter lie had received
under date of June II, from L wiston,
idaho, notifying HIM of the death of Mr.
| HUlbmt also acquainting him with the
fact that Mrs HurltUt was still at Lap
wal and in destitute circumstances What
ever the brave little woman's trials may
her after be, she will probably ever be
consoled by thethought thai she had gone
when he called her and stayed by him to
the last.-St, Lpojs Repn5iieR.