Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-10-23
A Deserters Luck.

A few years ago young soldier,
fine, athletic, manly fellow belonging
to Company E, Infantry, United
States army, deserted from his regi-
ment. The cause of his action was
found in the fact that he had a quarrel
with his captain; he considered that the
officer had grossly wronged him, and,
being a man of generous impulses, he
scorned to resent the wrong. For some
days he bore under it; but at last, in a
moment of desperate he packed up a
few articles Of clothing in a pocket
handkerchief and quilted the camp.
Fearful lest he might be apprehended
and forced to undergo the degrading
punishment usually melted out to army
@deserters, he began a wild rowing career,
never remaining long in one place, and
very frequently concealing his name
and identity. When the rush began in
the Black Hills the deserter joined in
and short time after found him IN
that region of gold an impecunious
prospector. Still he did not despair, as
he thought more of bis safety from ar
rest than ofany gain of gold. One day,
few months after his arrival in the
Hills, he fancied he saw man whom he
knew. Unobserved he gathered his
worldly goods together and left. When
the I.cadville excitement broke out our
hero went thither. He had besome lit
tie better in worldly eyes than tramp,
and resolved, if possible, to make q
stake in order to at least maintain his
self-l spect. After time f 'une's ia
vors came in his way. From poor pros:
pector he became mine owner, and a
few months since one of his carbonate
claims: which had been before abandon
ed by former owners, became property OF
immense importance in the great camp.
From that time the mans fortune con-
tinued to increase, and he is to-day doing
as big business in the carbonate land
as any there. His old fear has, however,
been lowering over him like a pail, and
of late this has been source of intense
anxiety to him. Now that wealth and
position had come, he found the cares
increased, and the mere thought that he
was liable to arrest and imprisonment in
military prison for the odious crime of
desertion led him to begin making
plans to procure pardon. To be sure,
it was most delicate task. He knew
not whom to trust. He had married, and
bright and beautiful children had graced
his hearth. Great Heavens! if this hap
piness were to be dispellcd now, what
would he do9 The thought was terrible.
At last, by careful observation, he found
man of influence and standing whom
he believed to be his friend, and to whom
he could impart his vexatious secret with
some hope ofgetting relief from his oner-
GUS burden. The trust was we'll placed,
for less than three days ago a letter was
| sent to the chief executive Of the State,
saying that the man had become an up
| right and substantial citizen, and asking
that an influence be brought to bear up
on the war Office for bis pardon for the
military crime of years ago. So ends
the tale. It is true one, and, probably,
when the Secretary of War returns the
necessary documents, more will be given
concerning the M an and his affairs,
for they are now highly interest,"
| ing. There are not more than three
men in the world who know who he is,
to-day