South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-11-04
a HEAVY STARE.

not mean crazy man, observe, but
man mad with rage-it was our COM
mander, Colonel Rawle, when the
two hundred men he had sent out ON
a special expedition marched into the
fort. after an absence of two weeks,
without having accomplished their
mission.
lie stamped, he stormed, he swore;
no called the commanding officer n
dolt, an idiot, an incapable; but we
We're used TO the ways of our kind.
hearted yet irascible colonel, so the
captain held his peace till the storm
exhausted itself, and then quietly ex.
planned how, in spite of his forced
marches and strenuous efforts, the
tribe of Indians he was in search OF
had kept out of his way, so that lie
had had no opportunity even to speak
to or demand of them the surrender
OF their chief, who had Just laid him.
self open to the cXecration of every
heart with remnant of humanity in
1t, be it that OF Indian or pale.face.
The facts In the case were these:
Our regiment was stationed ut one Of
the forts that guard tho frontiers Of
the Indian reservation, and it was the
duty OF the commanding officer to act
when necessary, as Il sort of chief Of
police, TO keep order among the ma
tons, to seek out and arrest any In
dian who offended against the laws,
and hand him over to the civil au.
thorities. 1t was in case Of this lat
ter kind that the unsuccessful eXpedi-
ton had been sent to arrest one OF
tue kiowa chiefs, who had seen lit TO
seize an emigrant and his family, who
had ignorantly trespassed on his alot-
ted domains, scalp and burn them
alive.
LeapinG Panther was the name of
this wretch, and it was n significant
cognomen, for he was noted rs being
the iiercest and most b!oodthirsty of
all his fierce nation, and au iuveterae
hatcr OF the whites.
Long before this last outrage upon
humanity, Colonel Rawlc had wished
for pretcXt to seize upon him; for,
although he had till now been Gun.
ming enough to keep within the
bounds Of the law, yet he was known
to be the inciter Of many lawless act
on the part OF his less crafty brethren.
! In brief, he was one OF those mean,
contemplate creatures, so abundant
in civilized life, who use Others less
crafty to work out their own evil dc<
signs, keeping cautiously in the
back ground thcmselves-one Of the
'Fiedgely' race whom Dickens pen
has photographed so truly.
a man of Leaping Panthcr's unruly
} nature was like smouldering fire
brand in the midst of a brush-heap
r The government had certain infor>
nation that his one object IN life was
to incite and urge on the Indian tribes
III the nation TO make open war on
the whites; but as yet. although the
several commanders oil the forts along
tie frontiers had strict orders to ar
rest him on the first plausible pretext
no opportunity had been found
But now at last the evil passions
and brutal nature of the man had be-
trayed him into fearful violation OF
the laws under which he held bis life
and domains; yet still, as Colonel
Rawlc so bitterly depored, lie res
8 manned free and defiant.
: 'Gentlcmen,' spoke the colonel, tho
: evening of the return of the unsuc-
e cessful expedition, that brute must be
: taken-by force, if need be. Bnt /
r wish to avoid that, as itmight lead to
u general war-peaceable means must
be exhausted first. Therefore,
make you this proposition. | feel
my honor concerned in the capture OF
B this wretch. | am q rich man, IA YOU
] all know. and / will willingly give a
q reward of two thousand dollars for the
arrest Of this human monster without
b the shedding ofblood. II any of You
feel like undertaking the task Git Is q
! hazardous one, OF courso), | will give
him leave of absence, and detail TWEEN.
y ty men to accompany him, if he likes.
; / need hardly add that If any officer
] of mine succeeds in capturing this
t wretch | shall report his name for
. promotion Enough said, gentlemen,
C think it over
Enough saidr Aye truly, enough
d TO set my brain whirling and my
/ heart leaping with hopes that had
long beer dead. Two thousand dol
lars Why, that would suffice 20
commence life on a homestead Of my
swn-the only life | cared TO live
s with sweet Mary Welsh at my side.
n She loved me, that knew, but even
3 If had been selfish enough to urge
3 IT. she would never marry me without
b her fathers consent, and that he had
refused. because l was only a pouui.
/ less lieutenant, whose pay would
not support a wife.
IF Won possessed q cOnnla Of ihon.