The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-08-15
A Missing Trooper, an Abandoned
Girls Suicide, and Death in
the Little Big Horn.
A HISTORIC HOUSE.

| hdiiiitr, "Sie ~ JpAis a S.dSs Vi icliOWs
as ever lived, ready at all times fol
either
| A FIGHT or A FRoIIC,
| or both ii convenient. Conspicuous amo ne
his comrades for his -ecklessness and dar.
ing as we'll as his social qualities, was a
| young busler named Harry Wightman
who fell on that fated day in the drear val
ley of the Little Big Horn, and who was az
! brave man As ever put bugle to his lips
or drew sabre for charge. lie fell at the
head of his company on
THAT BEAUTIFUL JUNE DAY,
and when found lying dead with a bullet
through his body, his bug!e was clasped
ii htly IN his stifcned hand, As ii he had
been in the act Of raising it to his lips
when the unseen bullet Of The treacherous
enemy laid him low. Harry was favorite
in more senses than one; good looking,
manly, brave, daring and reckless, he was
the envy of the men and
THE IDOL CT THE LADIES; 20.
respected by his fellows. for 10 one was
quicker OF temper than he nor reader TO
avenge an insult, either with sabre or pis-
toll. In the old Outfit House at that time
lived family named Harrison, a member
OF that family being Lille, daughter
aged about eighteen years and
As PRETTY As A PICTURE. r. .
OF perfect form, black hair and eTes, a
graceful carriage and piquant bearing, she
did not long remain unnoticed by both the
officers and men OF the Seventh, who eager
ly sought her acquaintance. She often Wis
tied the Fort AMI saw the regiment on pa
rade, and doubtless many 4 bronzed and
bearded trooper who went into the CHI arge
As light Of heart IA If sitting down
70 mes, felt a trepidation as he saw those
eyes fixed upon the Iegimeat az Il swept
past. In the course of &c Harry Wight
man and Lille Harrison met, and it was
but natural that they should have an at
traction for each other. no. an unnat-
ural consequence. Harry became
THE ACKNOWLEDGED LOVER,
and one by one the luckless suitors of the
regiment dropped of, leaving Harry in
possession of his prize. But there was one
applicant for Lilies favor not go easily got
rid OF, Ralph Harmon, tall, beared cav
alryman, hearing decoration upon his
breast won during the war for
gallant conduct upon the bat
tie field, and who had quite reputation
for daring and bravery. OF dark aud
counteuance, cold and uncon-
genial manners, he was not a favorite in |
his regiment, and yet, being in a certain
him
NEVER WENT SO FAR
as to he exposed openly. Up TO the time
when both men became acquainted with |
Lille they were good friend. enough, but |
when it became evident that Harry was
The favored one Harmon's jealousy rooted |
put all feeling Of friendship and the two |
became sworn enemies. Except when ne
,esity required it 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 hatreds
and dislikes which had ever existed be-
tween them. Harry called one night upon
he girl and found Harmon there.
IMMEDIATELY UPON HIS ENTRANCE
he latter started up as ii TO depart when
Harry said something to him which caused
he angry blood to mantle his cheek and a
ieep curse to issue from his compressed |
lips. Harmon laid his hand upon his
sabre, and seeing the danger he was in
Harry did the same. Both bright blade.
dashed out 1t the same instant, the ringing !
steel clashing together rs the men advanced |
IN mortal combat. The two men were
about equally matched, Harmon, while be-
M the taller and heavier OF the two hardly |
,eing so quick as his 1.-THE and supple an
agonist, who, possessed of
THE QUICKSESs AND AGILITY
IF a cat had nerves of iron and muscles |
ike the fbres Of an oak Not long did The
combat last, as, with rapid motion OF his |
wrist Harry parried blow aimed by liar
non at his heart, and before Harmon could
recover himself, Harry's.. murderous blade
was sunk within living sheath, and with
,ut word or groan the trooper fell dead.
During the enactment OF this terrible scene |
Lille sat
MoTIoNLEss sP ECTAToR,
right roofing her TO the spot as immovably
Is though she were 4 statue and incapable |
Il motion. When the tragedy was over her
nerves gave way and she faint
d. She was soon restored, and the ques-
ion became, what TO do with the body
Owing 10 the strict discipline in the regi-
nent Harry knew that death would be the
esult if the crime became known, and after
it was decided TO bury it upon
he reservation. Accordingly, at midnight,
larry, assisted by Lille,
TOOK THE CORPSE
'etween them, and CARRYING il out upon the
consigned it to the earth at the
ead of a ravine, near where the Rock Is
and freight depot now stands, at the head
4 Sixth street, and at which place the
keleton Of man was found while the
rorkmen were grading for the railroad.
ong and persistent was the search
by Custer after the disappearance
Il Harmon, and the city of Leavenworth
vas searched high and low; every dance
louse, concert saloon and pleasure resort,
there he could have been likely TO frequent,
vas Investigated, but not 4 trace Of
THE MISSING MAN
ould be discovered. The fact that Harry
inferred with zest into the search. and that
{ never entered the heals of his compan-
ons that he could be guilty OF such q crime,
uspicion was not directed towards him, and
gain, rs il, at that time. was nothing I'M
lsual or out of the way for n man to dis
ppear suddenly and never be heard Of
gain,
THE MYSTERY WAS SOON FORGOTTEN.
Soon after that the regiment was order
d away, and Lille, utterly heart broken
It her lovers baseness and perfidy, aban-
Toned herself to life OF shame from which
The was freed by an early death,
THE RESULT OF POISON
by her own hand while be-
heath the sod, with no headstone to mark
his last resting place, in the sad and lonely
valley OF the Little Big Horn, made sacred
md historic BY the clustering memories of
he fearful holocaust which took plsce
here, lies Harry Wightman, the murderer
ii Ralph Haimon-forgotten. JeFiEaz