The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-22
CHASED BY GREASERS.

-.-. CHASED BY GREASERS.
eyes, I've had number Of narrow
escapes during my career" remarked
the Lieutenant, as he pulled lazily at his
cigar, "and I think my last adventure
may tend to interest you. It was
pretty tight squeeze, and at one time I
thoug ht sure I should lose the number
of my mess, but touch and go is a
good pilot, you know, and here I am
to-day, as good as ever. will give you
the details, if you care to isten.''
It was the occasion Of dinner party,
given on board the vessel to which the
Lieutenant was attached. His immedi-
ate friends were on either side Of him,
and it is needless to state that the Off
GERS proposition for an after-dinner
yarn was eagerly accepted.
"Some of you remember-it is not SO
long ago-when I received orders to join
the gun-boat fitted out specially to pa
troll the Rio Grande, with view Of pro-
tecting the interests Of our citizens on
the Mexican frontier.
Ct never did like the racial Of their
characteristics are repugnant to our
broad and enlightened ideas Of civiliza-
ton. They are priest-ridden, supersti-
tious, ignorant, bigoted, treacherous,
addicted to gambling, lying and throat
cutting; and, gentleman, might con-
tinue the list to an indefinite degree
we're 1 not assured that you thoroughly
understood the characteristics which in
general predominant with the Greasers
''It was anything but pleasant pad
ding backward and forward in that con-
founded river, with clouds of miasma
rising every morning, heat sufficient to
scorch the boots off your feet, and no
amusement to break up the drear mo-
notony which had become well-nigh in
supportable. One day followed another
with the same dull routine there was
no society, no one to visit, and it was
the earnest wish of all hands that we
might either have a brush with the
yellow-bellies, or else receive orders for
more active and congenial duty.
FINALLY, tempted by the clouds of
wild duck, plover and other birds infest-
ing the reedy shores and lagoons, I re-
solved to have days sport. The OPP
portunity was good one, the engineers
having blowed down the boiler for a
general overhaul.
Accompanied by young Midship-
man, Harry Murdoch by name, with our
double-barreled guns in the stern-sheets,
we took possession Of the dingy, a light,
feet-pulling and sailing boat, and at
early daylight showed off from the Som.
brero's side. @@-
"The early mists of morning were
slowly rolling up as we pulled in shore.
The current was running swiftly against
us wild detours had to be made to avoid
rocks. sand-bars and shoals which
abounded on every side. Leaving the
river, we proceeded leisurely up tribu
tary, which was entirely new ground te
both of us. The waters, contracted by
the narrow channel, rushed. furiously
casting showers of spray in the air, com
polling us to exercise our utmost skill K
avoid the dangers which beset us on al
sides. was wet, tired and exhausted
with the long, fatiguing pull, and onl.
too gladly acceded to my companion
suggestion to tie the boat up to tall
overhanging trunk of tree, and IT,,
land tacks for while.
"The ground was sticky and treacher
Gus like the natives. Wild serge grass
grew in detached masses, with here ant
there clump of Spanish bayonet, ant
punches of coarse rushes, all growing
uxuriously in the wet, soggy ground.
eve had fine run of sport, bagglne
more game than we could carry and tn
sun was we'll up before we thought o
returning to the boat, where we had LET
a lunch, put up by the ward-room stew
| o,.l II a rnn
siderable distance inland, which fact wa
forced most disagreeably and forciby up
on me when I assembled slight emin
ence to obtain better view Of the SUI
rounding country.
GA party Of most vic1ous-lookin
scoundrels, swarthy and bearded lik
pirates, mounted upon wiry mustangs
galloping directly toward us, their arm
and accoutrements glancing brightly i
the rays of the morning sun, met m
vision. Htnf&a
"There was no installing their e.
rand, and, if the slightest doubt had e,
} listed, it was soon dissipated when til
party urged their steeds into roun
gallop, at the same time unslinging til
carbines which were strapped to the
backs. With a ferocious yell they can
swooping down upon us, and I, hast1
summoning Harry to follow in my wax
struck for the old trunk of the tre
which marked the spot where we ha
,, disembarked.
"Chnging to our guns, while gam
bags and contents were tossed aside, v
sought the hardest and d1yest grorn
a until a point was reached, as nearly
: we could Judge, that was abreast OF Il
i tree, which was hidden from us by II
f tall serge grass. The dry earth was le
t behind, and with a plunge we we
. ankle-deep into the mud and ooze. thr