Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-15
A SOLDIERS DEATH.
How YOuHg Rucker GAlIantly Lost
Ills Life rs Related by Jack
Dunn, FrOntlersman.


New York World
PHILADELPHIA, August St
will be remembered that Lieut.. J. |
Anthony Rucker, of the Sixth
regiment of cavalry, U. S. A., was
drowned about three weeks since
in Arizona Territory,while attempt
ing to rescue a brother officer,
Lieutenant Henely, from drowning.
Young Rucker, a brother-in-law OF
Lieutenant General Sheridan,
though only a short while in the
service, made his mark on the from
tier and was always spoken of .as a
model cavalryman. His soldierly
qualities, however, were his by birth
right, for in the army to-day there
is not truer, brayer or more gem
erous man than his father, General
d. II. Rucker, a veteran who has
seen forty-one years of active SER
vice, having participated in two
wars in addition to the intermin-
able conflict with the Indians.
General Rucker, who is stationed
here, has just received from Jack
Dunn, one Of the best known from
tier scouts connected with the
army, letter containing an ac-
count of the accident and attempted
rescue by which young Rucker lost
his life. This letter l have tran
scribed for you {;
CAMP BOWIE. A. T., July l3.
My DEAR SIR:-We have Just
laid away a man-to you he was a
son, to me brother. | loved him
more than all the world besides,
and when the waters closed over
Tony's form | was robbed of a no
bic, generous, Self-sacrificing friend
NOT friend as the world goes, but
a friend in the most holy and ex-
alted sense.
The method of his noble death is
briefly told. Twas little before
seven o'clock on the evening of
July IL. A heavy rain had set in,
and the gulch which separated our
mess tent from the body of the
camp was temporarily the bed of a
seething, surging torrent, which ran
headlong down the gulch, carrying
with it stumps, roots and rocks
from the ravines above.
I Tony, Lieutenant Henely and
myself determined to swim this
stream in order to reach our mess
tent. / crossed first, Tony followed,
and we both arrived safely on the
opposite shore, On looking back
we saw that Lieutenant Henely had
started, but his horse became un-
manageable in the rushing torrent
aud in his efforts to control him the
horse fell over backward and both
horse and rider disappeared beneath
: the surface. 1t was during the
struggling which now took place
that Lieutenant Henely was
stunned by kick from his horse.
No quicker did | SEQ the lieulen.
, ants danger than l plunged into
the stream to his rescue. But nc
man could live in such torrent.
soon found that it was doubtful if
saved even myself. / had almost
, dcspairod Of life, when, Just as
was being swept past an oYer-hang
ing bush, / made one last effort fol
5 life. | caught the bush, and, weal
and exhausted, crawled ashore
opposite to the place had plunged
t in. Meanwhile Tony with grea
) presence of mind, had procured
G Iariats, and the Indians aud soldiers
r were keeping pace with Lieutenan
+ Henely as he fioated down thu
J, stream, offering him all the hell
). necessary to rescue him had he beef
c conscious. Rope after rope wa
J, thrown him, but he made no effor
: to save himself, showing beyond
I, doubt that his bruises had deprive,
/, him of consciousness. When thi
) fact had forced itself upon Tony
mind all the generosity of his ma
n ture came to the surface. In q trio
# he was barred tothe waist, in anothe
1t he had leaped on his horse, an,
: with one bound he cleared the ban
1t and was buAeting the angry food
Ic Once his horse went under, but re
l. appeared with Tony in the saddl,
st A second time he disappeared, an
IS this time he rose to the surfac
IS riderless. Tony was not seen agail