The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-08-22
ROMANCE.
Bloody kO.siniscenee Of the 7isss When
Custer aud His sereafh We're Sscfioned
There

There.
neayeuworth TimesI
Old residents. and those no; so very old
either. will no, fail to remember
the old Outfit House. which formerly
stood on north Seventh street, Just one
block south of the military reservation,
which fell a prev IN the inccRdiary torch a
few years ago II Ia al history. one chap
ter Of which was bloody one, the princi-
pal points therein beng love, jealousy and
murder. The time at which this event
which forms the chapter referred to took
place was during that p.riod when Custer
and his Seventh regiment were here; that
old and tried regiment, led by man who
feared nothing this side Of Hades. and who
was followed by men who feared nothing
even on the other side of that shadnwy
abode. and who. while not at all orthodox.
church going neither being among their
habits nor numbered with their peculiari-
ties, were as IDLY call of fellows as ever
lived. ready al all times for either a fight
or froiic. or both if convenient Con-
spicuous among his comrades for his reck-
lessness and daring as well as his social
qualities. was young bugler named Harry
Wightman. who fell on that fated day in
the dreary valley Of the Little Big Horn,
and who was as brave man rs ever put
bugle TO his lips or drew 'abre for charge.
He fell at the head of his company ON that
beautiful June day, and when found lying
dead with bullet through his bcdy, his
bugle was clasped tightly in his stiffened
hand, as if hc had been in the act Of raising
il 10 his lips when the unseen bullet Of the
treacherous enemy laid him low. Harry
fay lar,
good looking, manly, brave. daring and
| reckless. he was the envy Of the men and
the idol Of the ladies'; respected by his
| fellows for no one was quicker OF temper
| than he nor reader TO avengc an insult,
either with sabre or pistol. In the old
! Outfit House at that time lived family
named Harrison. a member Of that family
being Lille. a daughter aged about eigt-
teen years and as pretty as picture. Of
perfect form, black hair and eyes, grace
| full carriage and a piguant bearing, she did
| not long remain unnoticed by both the Of
| ficcrs and men If the Seventh, who eager
| ~ sought her acquaint ,ncc. She often
visi ted the Fort and saw the regimen; on
\ parade, and doubtless many bronZed and
bearded trooper who went into the charge
as light Of heart rs il sitting down 10
mess. felt a trepidation as he saw those
eyes fixed upon the regiment as it SWEET
past. In the course OF time Harry Wight
man and Lille Harrison met, and il was
but natural that they should have an At
| traction for each other, not an unnatural
! consequence. Harry became the acknow-
lodged lover, and one by one the luckless
suitors of the regiment dropped off, lcav-
| ing Harry in possession Of his prize. But
there was one applicant for Lilies favor
not so easily got rid Of, Ralph Harmon, q
tall, bearded cavalryman bearing decora-
| ton Ipon his breast won during the war
| for gallant conduct VI on the battle field,
| and who had quite Il reputation for daring
and bravery. OF dark and foreboding
| countenance, cold and uncongenlal man
ners, he was not favOrite in his regi uent,
and vet, being in Z certain measure feared.
his comrades dislike of him never went so
far as to he exposed openly. Up 10 the
| time when both men became acquainted
with Lille they were good friends enough.
but when it became evident that Harry was
the favored one IIarmon's jealousy rooted
out all feeling Of friendship and the two
became sworn enemies. Except when ne
cessiiy required il they never spoke, and
thus things went on until the fatal night
when the sabre decided the question and
| the grave forever covered up all the hatrcds
and dislikes which had ever existed betw
them. Harry called one nigh, upop the
girl and found Harmon there. Immedi-
ately upon his entrance the latter started
up as if to depart when Harr said some
thing to him which caused the angry blood
to mantle his cheek and deep curse to
| issue from his compressor lips. Harmon
| laid his hand upon his sabre. and seeing the
| danger he was in Harry did the same.
| Both bright blades flashed out at the same
instant. the ringing Steel clishins together
as the men advanced i'm mortal combat.
| The two men were about equally matched.
| Harmon, while being the taller and heavier
of the Two. hardly being so aiick as his
| 1.-THE and supple antagonist. who. possessed
of the auIckneSs and ABILITY of a cat had
nerves of iron and muscles ike the fibres
of an oak. Not long did the combat last.
| as, with rapid motion Of his wrist Harry
| parried blow aimed by II rmon AT his
| heart. AMI before Harmon could recover
himself, Harry's blade was sunk within
| living sheath, and without a word or groan
the trooper fell dead. During the enact
ment of this terrible scene Lille sat +. mo.
tionless spectator. fright roofing her to the
spot as immny.hIy as ,bough She vere a
statue and incanabIe Of moiion When the
tragedy was over her oyers,r,ined nerves
gave way and she tainted. She was soon
rest lred. and the 1ues,jon became. what To
do with the hodys Owing to the strict
discipline in the regiment Harry knew that
death would be the result if the crime be-
came known. and after deliIer.iioa. II was
decided to bury il upoo the reservation.
Accordingly. AT MIDNIGHT. Harry. assisted
by Lille. took the corpse between Them
and carryin il out upou the re.eryst,on.
consigned il To- the earth a, the head Of a
rayine. near where the Rock Island freight
Depot now stands. AT the head of sixth
street. and a, which place the skeleton OF
a man was .onnd while the worsmen were