The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-08
MES. RUNDLErrs COURAGE
Seeking n sick Husband, Attacked by Next
can Hriaands, mud Escaping.

SANTA FE. New Mexico July Mrs. G..
NJ. Rundlctt Ia the wife of Charles Rundlett n
surveyor employed 10y the Denver and Rio
Grande Engineering Corps. She Is comedy.
dnrk-eyed woman. with rcsolutc mouth and
black hair. About 1--WE weeks ago Mr. Rundlett
left Denver. Col. for Alamosa n small but rap-
idly developing mining emp In the San Juan
district OF Colorado. lie was taken III. and Mrs.
Rundctt. without her husbands knowledge. de-
termincd to join him IL she could. She arrived
Mt Alnmosa a day after her husband had left.
and Notwithstanding II tedious four days ride
in stage conch she pushed ON amid the glens
and mountain passes after him. Hiring u
buggy and team. she WIS joined by Mr.. j. W.
Morris Of Aamosa. and both. armed with rcvol-
vrrs. started on the perilous journey along the
Mcsllln valley. which IL invested with Mexican
brgand- and half breed nssnssins.
They reached Conrjos the same evening. and
next day arrived at Dutch Hcnry's. n point ON
the border Of New Mexico. There they were
informed that the surveying party had left the
evening previous and the horses were urged
on to pvcrtakc them before they reached the
Rio Grande. On the day following. one Of the
horses fell sick owing 10 the luck Of watcr.
About dark they reached Swopcs camp. where
they found number Of miners boring for
water The mon said that they had hauled
what provisions and water they mad from n
place eight miles distant.
Mrs. Rundlctt WIS not disheartencd. although
her companion WIS. and she must have water
u thcy had to get out and climb Tho mountains
for IT, the horses were tied to n tree, md both
started for the search. They went through deep
rnvines. along crnggy peaks. anu up Horges.
/ holding on to the lgltcst shrubbcry Ia mnin-
tain n iouihold. Mra. Rundett returned 10 see
To- the horses, leaving her companion To ma
the supposed stream on the other side OF
the mountain. Hardly had she REACHED the
horses heads when II rifle hill VIII izz III past her
plppk. almost singing npf nuir Tine shot
from a clump of bushes lust above her head. II
was growing dark. and the moon il the tops OF
the small pine trees on the summit.
Mrs. Rundlctt clappcd one hand on the rcyol-
yer in her breast. and placed her other hand ON
the brides Of the horses to prevent them from
running away. She knew the motive OF the
nttack M though 10y instinct. and she dcterm med
e. hight for possession OF the horses and buggy,
Another revolver lay concealed in the lunch
bnsket, and this she seized also. ready for the
above her heard. and she turned denantly to
confront the mcI whom she knew were con-
ccnlnd behind the bushes.
" IL WIS 50 quiet" she said nftrrward, In re-
lnting the story 10 her friends that could
hear my heart beat aud besides these men and
my companion there was probably no person
within ten miles 81 whcre | stood
There was no further attack. but on exam ma
ton she saw that one OF the horses lay dead and
] bleeding on the ground. the bullet aimed NJ
/ her had struck him in the head. The only horse
remaining was unable to walk.
Mr. Morris returned and she related the nd-
venture. As she was describing the shooting
the voices OF the men could be distinctly heard
above them.
/ In answer to Mr.. Morrls's question ns to what
/ they should do. Mrs. Rundlct; sad rcsolut"ly
( There ia but one hing ~ do. II Is eight miles
| back To tho camp. We must walk. | am satis-
| fled that the men who attacked me nrr waiting
| ahead. Let us hitch the horse TO the hind
| wheels and we will return
In this manner the return march back was
| made over rough roads. fcllrd timber and
! brush, and often in dense darkness Mrs. kund-
/ lett held her revolver tightly in her right hand
expecting every moment 20 meet with some OF
! III" hnnd that await travellers on the road. In
the whole eight miles she never stoppcd once
! for rest. brnvrly walking on. astonishing her
| companion by her endurance ANA nerve.
! They reached the rnmp IN early morn and
! the miners nj Dutch Henry readily improviscd
/ u bed and shelter Tor the pucky woman. whil'
| her companion rotated the story ~ her advcn-
| iurc. A guard was placed outside the camp
/ thinking that the wOmld-b" Hasassins might fol-
| low the travellers To- their resting pnr". In the
day amessrnEtr with lett"rs To- Alnmosa stopprd
/ at the camp. and from him II WIS learned that
! Capt Rundlrit was nj the Junction ot tn" ri,
] Grnndr AMI ChHmn rivers on the Mexican Dor.
/ der. Mrs. Rundctt had the team turn back
| and on her arrival ut the place d"s ignat"d
| found that her husband had gun" To- Santa r.
whore she soon joined him. Here she wns
taken III from exposure On The trip. but soOt
/ recovered In her absence she WIS eight day.
/ on the rund. The only mark Of the eventiu
/ trip j. narrow streak of gray hair amid hcl
ut black curls. caused 10y the shock in the ATTACK
/ by the bandits