Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-19
A HARD FIGHT WITH OUTLAWS.
Major Whipple's Story of His Battle
with Highwaymen.

A Fort Buford special to the st. Paul
Pioneer Press May II gives an interview
with Major Whipple, the Paymaster who
was attacked by road agents, and who has
just reached the garrison. He says: s'We
left Glendiye at 9 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing. Our party was composed of myself.
my clerk, Mr.. Such and Sergt. Conrad.
who was in command of the escort.
which was made up of three men. with
two drivers. Mr.. Such and | occupied
the ambulance with Sergt. Conrad, and
one driver on the front, while the
other rode in the wagon Immediately
behind. Contrary to my usual eau
ton, had placed my money in the am
bulance. At about $50 in the afternoon,
as we were driving through deep Tavine
road about four miles this side OF Barnes
ranch, l heard rapid firing. l looked out
and saw Sergt. Conrad firing to the left at
party of masked men, seven in number.
who had opened a murderOus fire upon us
without word of warning. Three of the
seven men were firing directly into our
ambulance, which fire was returned bv
the Sergeant in the bravest and most gal
liant manner. AT an early stage of the
action, however, he received two mortal
wounds, but continued to fire until the
loss OF blood so weakened HIM that he
could no longer hold his rifle. About this
time the driver received a scalp wound
and fell down from his wagon, when Mr..
Such and l jumped out. One of the mules
was wounded, and the team becoming
frightened ran away with the ambulance
winch contained my money. Mr.. Such and
L were kept under very heavy fire. and
our escape was most miraculous. Fear
ing that the highwaymen would capture
the ambulance l Immediately started in
pursuit and made the best record of nv
lie In running the mile l was Obliged to,
L was successful in OVertaking the mules
and climbing into the ambulance. The
Sergeant died in my arms about twenty
minutes after being shot. l reached
ScOtts ranch, about eight miles from the
scene OF the attack, safely. In the mean
Time Mr.. such and the ambulance driver
were covered by the rifles of the highway
men and forced to return to the escort
wagon. One of the men was badly
wounded in the arm in the act of raising
his carbIne for second shot. The vii
lalns, thinking that the escort wagon con-
tanned my safe, had paid little attention TO
my escort beyond a few shots. which
they sent unpleasantly near. They then
began to search the escort wagon, keeping
the men and Mr.. Such covered. Their
search, of course, was fruitless. They
seemed rather disappointed and began to
search the men and Mr.. Such. They
found little tobacco on one of the men
and from Mr.. Such they took about $40
and a watch, which, however, they re-
turned. After destroying the car6ines
they ordered the driver to his seat and
allowed the party to go on. Upon receipt
OF the intelligence Gen. Whistler ordered
MAJOR Bell, OF the Seventh Cavalry, to
start with his troops. He made forced
night march and reached us at 4 this
morning, greatly to our relief, we having
been on guard duty the entire night.
Major Bell has taken with him three In
dian escorts and an interpreter"