The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-12-19

A. 1.,id.as i. Il. 1.ai.. War Il 1854.
BY COL. HExRY IxxAS.
CHAPTER II.

By COL. HENBY INxAN.
CHAPTER II.
| Safely through these dangeroul
bluffs, aud across the beautiful bot
toms that to-day are dotted with som,
Of the most picturesque homes in Els
worth county, marched the little ar
my, and it's one white-covered ambu
lance
| Not an incident disturbed the quie,
of the grand autumn day, except the
occasional slaughter Of buffalo, In
mere wantonness now and then, b.
some struggling soldier, and early in
the afternoon the stockade in the bend
Of the Smoky Hill was reached.
After an inspection of this remote
little garrison, which was found in ex-
celient spirits and condition, the line
OF march was resumed next morning
for Captain Conkey's camp on the
| Walnut.
The company OF one hundred men
acting as an escort was too formida-
bic number to invite the cupidity OF
the Indians, aud not sign of one was
seen as the dangerous fats of Plum
Greek and the rolling country beyond
were successfully passed, and the can
with nothing to disturb the monotony
of the march.
Captain Conkey's command at this
important outpost, were living in q
rude. bat comfortable sort of a way in
the simplest Of dug-outs, constructed
along the bank of the stream, and the
officers little more in accordance
with military dignity, IN tents a few
rods in the rear of the line of huts.
A stockade stable had been built
with capacity Of two hundred and iif-
ty horses, and sufficient hay had been
put up by the men TO carry the ami
mails through the winter.
Tn. Captain was a brusQue, but
kind-hearied man, aud with him were
stationed two other officers, one OF
whom was son of Admiral Colds
borough of naval fame.
The next morning Captain Booth
made rigid inspection Of the place,
which took all day, as an immense
amount of property had accumulated
for condemnation, and when evening
came, the papers, books, ETC., were
still untouched, aud this branch Of the
inspection was postponed until the
morning.
In the evening while sitting around
the campfire discussing the war, tell
ing stories, ETC., Captain Conkey said
to Booth:
Captain, it won't take more than
half an hour in the morning to ln-
spect the papers aud finish up what
you have got to do, why don't you
start your escort ont early, aud they
won't be obliged TO trot after the am
bulance, or you to poke along with
them, you can then move out briskly
and make time"
Acting upon this suggestion, Capt.
Booth went over the creek TO Lieut..
VanAntwep's camp, and told him he
need not wait for the ambulance in
the morning, but to march about halt
So at daylight the escort marched out,
agreeably to instructions, and Booth
continued his inspection.
1t was found, however, that either
Captain COnkey had misjudged the
amount Of work TO be done, or the
officers ability to do IL in
. certain time, aud nearly three hours
elapsed before the task was all CON-
pleted.
AT last everything was closed up.
much to the satisfaction of Lieutenant
Hallowell, who had been chatting uu-
der the delay ever since the troops de-
parted.
When all was in readiness, and the
ambulance drawn up in front of the
commanding officers tent, Lieutenant
Haliowell suggested to Booth the pro
priety OF taking a few of the men sta
toned there. with them, until they
overlook their own escort which must
now be several miles ON the trail to-
wards Fort Larned. So upon this.
Booth mentioned it to Capt. Conkey,
who said:
''Oh! there's no danger, there hasn't
an Indian been seen around here for
more than ten days."
Ii they had known so much about
Indians then, as they afterwards learn |
ed, Captain Coukey's response. in
stead OF assuring them would have
made them insist upon an escort, which |
Booth, in his official capacity, had the
power 10 orde~, but they were salts
fled aud concluded to push Oh. !
Jumping into their wagon. Lieuten-
ant Iallowell took the lines, and away
they went, rafting over the old log
bridge that used to span the Walnut,
as light of heart as il they were riding
10 dance.
1t was clear, cold morning, with a
stiff breeze blowing from the north
bat f,.. IA, Il s..l
some places, and was very rough, |
caused by the travel of heavy trains |
when il was wet.
Here | shall dispense with the third |
person, and let Captain Booth tell the
story, ia his own graphic way, which |
be improved upon by any effort |
of mine.
81 sat at the left side with the whip |
in my hand occasionally striking the |
mules 10 keep up the speed Hallow-
ell struck up tune-he was good |
singer-l joined in, aud we rolled |
along as Obl.vious of danger as though |
in our own quarters at Riley. After |
we had gone two or three milcs, Hal |
lowell remarked:
The buffalo are grazing long dis
lance from the road, a circ imstauce
think BODIES no good
He had been ON the plains the sum-
mer before and was better acquainted i
with Indians aud their pecuiiarities
than |. 1 said ! thought il was be-
cause our escort had passed along
ahead and had probably frightened
them away. There were no buffalo !
between tie road and the river. Moth
ing more was said relating thereto and |
we rolled rapidly along.
When about five or Fix miles from /
Zarah in CHANGING towards the river !
to our left and front, saw something
that looked like a drove Of turkeys. | l
them iDtently, and presently /
they rose up and | saw they were |
horsemen. | grasred Halioweii's left |
arm, aud directing his attention to /
them, said. what's that! lie cast a |
has,y glance in that direction. and said |
Indians, BY George' and Immediate
ly turned the mules aad started them
towards Zarah on a full salIop. Hold
on. said 1, maybe its part of our es-
cort-"
No." he said, Il know it's Indi-
ans"
"Well," | said, Il am going to sec,
and stepping out on the foot-board. |
aud locking back over the top Of the /
wagon. There WAS no doubt now that /
they were Indians. They had fully 1
emerged from the rayins ia which /
they had been hid, and when looked |
they we're slipping their buffalo robes
from their shou ders, taking ARROWS /
81 a.. a.