Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-31

oaSaClCy as al 4uuldu SCOUT, maze Dy LleuC.
De Rudio, in his testimony before the Reno
inquiry, Wednesday. In that testimony, it
will be remembered Lieut.. De Rudio reflected
upon Mr.. Gerard for separation that oc-
Cured at the ti.fe Of Reno's retreat. The
GLOBE, always ready to give the news, cheer
fully complied with Mr.. Gerard's desire to
get his statement of that affair before the
public, and here it is in his own Words
Statement Of the Scout f. F. Gerard.
The first T saw of Lieut.. De Rudio was
after Reno had left the timber and been gone
five to ten minutes. When discovered be
was stalking through the timber in
a STOPPING position, pistol in hand, and
as we met he Strengthened up, raised his
pistol, cooked, pointing it directly in my face.
I looked down the chambers and called his
attention to the fact that his pistol was not
loaded.
He replied, sob, yes, forgot that I fred
it off at the Sioux, but one barrel is still
loaded.''
De Radio and myself then went and seated
ourselves in the brush with private O'Neill
and scout VIM. Jackson. De Rudio asked
me where my horse was; told him tied in
the brush about twenty yards away. He
said, $50 turn him loose, he will be the
cause of our being discovered" I answered,
mo, propose that that horse shall carry
me into Lincoln again."
De Rudio then said, 81 will not stay with
you" l replied that did not care whether
he did or not; that this was desperate game
of Life and death, and that proposed play
ing it for all it was worth.
De Rudio then left us and was separated
from us some ten or fifteen minutes, when I
ain discovered him prowling through the
timber, and fearing he would lead to our dis
covery whistled, signaling him to come to
us. He rejoined US and remained with us.
then went to my horse, cut Off all his
trappings, the picket rope, boots, coat, etc,
and other little articles strapped to my saddle.
De Rudio asked me what / was going to
do.
told HIM was going to try and make a
dash through tho Sioux, rejoin the COM
mand and tell Ma jor Reno that you are cut
of here III the timber, and if he does not
send relief will come back tonight. Scout
Jackson said, '1f you go, Gerard, 60 tt"
De Rudio spoke up excitedly and said,
'Don't 60, you will be giving us away to the
Sioux. The Indians, seeing you coming
from the timber, will suspicion that more OF
US are concealed here, and hunt will be
made and We found"
At De Rudio's earnest solicitations aban-
doned my proposed attempt saying that
there was more danger in attempting to go
| through the Indians and joining the com
pand than in remaining 10 the timber.
We then remained in the timber until
about O'Clock in the evening, when we start.
ed, Jackson the scout and myself being
mounted. As we started, told Lieutenant
Do Rudio to hold on to the tail of my horse,
as that would assist him in keeping up with
US, and that if the horse walked too fast to
let me know when would check him up
slower.
About two or three hundred yards from the
timber we heard voices, which recognized
as Indians, coming in our direction. l told
our party we would turn aside and let the
Indians pass. The prairie being on fire all
around US we could see the Indians passing,
seventy-tive or hundred yards off.
AT this time we supposed the troops had
gone into camp where Reno had crossed
point. But the prairie being on fire, and
having been turned from our direction to
avoid the Indians, missed the ford was
aiming for and struck one lower down.
AS we came to the bank of
the stream, looking across I saw
flash of fire from lighting match and re-
marked, "There, they are just going into
camp" With that I shouted over "hallo
there" AS soon as halloed the match was
blown out, and then knew they were In
dams instead of soldiers, and said SIN
dians." wheeling my horse at the same time
we then followed the stream down to the
bluffs to where Major Reno had crossed on
his retreat. Not finding place to cross we
returned to the same ford. De Radio mount
ing behind me on my pony, and O'Neill be-
hlnd the scout, we crossed the river there.
The underground being so thick we
could not ride through it, we followed
the bank Of the stream, making circuit and
working into and through the timber as it
beca me more open. AS we came near the
edge l halted my horse, and looking through
discovered outlined on the horizon the tips
OF the spears and feathers of the Indians
head dress. At the same time could hear
them talk. STOPPING down said to De Rudio
indians" at the same time wheeling my
horse to the left, while jackson riding by my
side wheeled to the right. AS I wheeled
De Rudio let 60 the tail of my horse, and
as supposed dropped down into the under
brush for safety. Expecting every moment
volley from the Indians, swung myself as
~" III Cno StlfiupS dS i COulO Will Safely
while 1 worked away from the Indians
After getting twenty-f five or thirty yards
away, the Indians broke into a loud laugh,
they having mistaken us for some Of their
own party coming up to join them, and one
halloed out, 'Where are you going. what
areyou running away for, it is us, come back"
After had got out of hearing looked
about me for DaRudio, who, supposed, was
following; but after waiting awhile and he
not appearing, I turned my attention to
looking out for my own safety. Of my own
adventures until joined the command the
i.ext night, it is not necessary to speak, as
they have not been brought to public atten-
ton.
The above is true statement of my sep
aration from Lieut.. De Rudio, to which
stand ready to make oath.
(Signed) F. F. GERARD.
In some desultory conversation that en-
sued with the reporter, Mr.. Gerard said he
had nothing to say of Lieut.. De Rudio's
personal bearing in that affair, further than
that he saw nothing in it to specially con-
denim or praise. The Reno inquiry, he
thought, would continue about three weeks
lOnOsr. Init qs To tho rooul}o No xyoo oc o;lopk