The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-24


down with the plague except three; Of
the three De Rudio was one. The press
OF Europe raised storm Of Indignation
over Frances inhumanity TO her con-
victs and prisoners. The soldiers
guarding had suffered severely. The
report went TO France that all Of those
living were sick. An order returned for
their transport to Salutation Islands,
80 miles oil French Guiana. for conval.
escence. De Rudio was again in luck.
He went with the sick, although not
sick. He was not there 48 hours when
he confided TO fellow-prisoner his de-
termination to escape. He had noticed
fisherman's boat secretly moving up
under the rocks, and selling fish to the
prisoners when the opportunity offered.
With five others he went TO work, max
ing sail and preparing for q perilous
voyage. At the end Of five months they
were ready. The evening Of December
L 8, 1859, at 6 O'Clock they beckoned to
the fisherman Give Of them) to come
under certain rock for the purpose Of
trade. When they landed the DE Rudio
plotters were there with saber in one
hand and an AK in the other. They
leaped into the boat and threatened an
inhalation II any resistance was offered.
The fishermen were unarmed and SUBJ
missive. Rations, wine and water were
loaded on board. The fishermen were
then commanded to put out to sea. They
put. After dangerous and frequent
ly hopeless voyage Of six days,
the improvised sail and rowboat reached
English Guinea, landing at New Am
sterdam. On freedoms soil De Rudio
st last saw daylight. He engaged as
launchman on an English merchant
man. In England he was reunited with
his family February 20, 1860. January,
1868, he landed in New York. August,
1868, he joined the Union army rs
private. In 1864, he was appointed a
Second Lieutenant in regiment of col
ored troops. He served in that capacity
until 1866. He was then eight months
in the Quartermaster' Department at
Washington. In 1867, he was assigned
to the Seconed Infantry, and on the l4th
Of July, 1869, was appointed to CON-
mand in the Seventh Cavalry. From
that day to this ne has participated in
every movement Of his regiment. In
the South he was closely identified with
the suppression Of the Ku-klux operat-
ing in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana. He was prominent
witness before the Congressional Com
mittee in New Orleans in 1875. In
August, 1875, he brought the 81 miners
out of the Black Hills. In May, 1876,
he came to Fort A. Lincoln as First
Lieutenant, and commanding officer of
Company Z, the troop Of gray horses.
The next and last great episode in DE
Rudio's career thus far was his
part in the fatal Custer expe-
dtion of 1876. He was with the Reno
wing until he was cut off and
lost in the woods. He was then in the
highest place Of his life. He didn't an
ticipate any possible escape. Among
the many thrilling incidents Of his lone
experience with Sergt. O'Neil was q
three hours fight behind a stump. He
permitted the Indians once to come
within few yards Of him. He shot the
Iirst one down, and then treated the
second one with the same courtesy. The
enemy fell back, set fire to the wood,
and concluded there were no soldiers
here beyond single man or two, who
be routed at any other cost
han numerous Indians. Bullets dropped
ali around him, and the flames almost
scorched him. DE Rudio's luck! That
experience Is story in itself. omit to
pass on and note the fact that last year
De Rudio's company marched $500
miles, which he claims Is the greatest
Xix months march on record. He was
over Dakota, in Montana, Wyoming
md Idaho. His horses we're without
grain for three months. What has been
'aid in this article Is only an outline Of
De Rudio's history. With all the re-
incidents and exciting details,
IS he has written 1t or as he can tell 1t.
De Rudio's biography is one Of the rec
,rds Of the time.