News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-12
THE STORY OF POOR JACK.
1t Is Toidby Trooper of His Regiment.

There were ten of us guarding the
horses as they grazed between the
Arkansas and the foothills. We were
scattered all along a distance of mile,
and some of the men were off their
horses when the Indians broke cover
from a raviue and came charging down
to stampede the herd. There were about
thirty of them, and they were ringing
bells, shaking blankets, and yelling to
split their throats. Fortunately for us
some of our old troop horses moved off
first, and toward camp, and all the
others followed. Before the redskins
could head them off we had got to-
gether and opened fire, and the volley,
followed by a charge, broke them mp
for the time being. We got safely into
camp just as body of warriors, num-
bering about 800, uncovered themselves.
There was little danger of their COM
ing near enough to camp to risk the
bullets of our carbines, and were set
tling ourselves down to watch their evo-
lutions on the broad plain before US,
when somebody cried out that Jack had
been left behind. This was the name of
a horse which our Colonel had pur-
chased year before of the man who had
captured him from wild drove. He
was grand, big black, feet as the wind,
ugly as tiger, and although the Colonel
persisted in riding him it was almost at
the peril of his life. He was never
II ounted without two men holding him
by the bit, and he would never
submit to his rider until the cruel spurs
and bit had freely bled him. He was
always hoppled when turned out, and
this being the case when we were stam-
peded the poor beast had no show to
come with the others. There he stood,
about the center of a grassy plain a
mile square, head up, eyes flashing, sides
heaving g, and all his old wild spirit re-
stored by the sight of the red men and
the din they were making.
The Indians did not seem to see him
at first, being so intent On ''rattling'
the camp, and Sergeant r. offered to
take ten men and go out and drive him
in. The risk was too great, Jack might
have made his way in by himself but he
never budged an inch until a score OF
Indians separated themselves from the
main body and galloped out to capture
him. Then, with grand effort, he
threw off the hopples so that his legs
were entirely clear, and the next minute
he was speeding away. Then took
place a contest such as few men have
ever witnessed or will ever see. A de-
tachment of Indians closed the way into
camp, and the other three sides were
shut in by the rugged hills and the
river. The object was to capture Jack
alive. How grand and noble he looked
as he stood there waiting for them tt
approach! How mean and contemptl
bic the rough haired and thin limbeo
DO les appeared as they skurried ovel
the grass to bring about his capture
The first ;ect of the redskins was tc
enclrcle him. He seemed to understand
it, and for half an hour he detied every
attempt. Then the number of his
enemies was increased to thirty,
and after a few minutes the cir
Gle was made complete 1t was thlr
line at first with a space twenty tee'
wide between the ponies, but as Jack
moved slowly forwards the center of the
| plain the circle gradually tightened. He
was not bit flurried over the trap
When they had penned him into an IN
closure of about a quarter of an acre ht
threw up his head, flattened his ears
and charged with a shrill neigh. 1t wa'
a thunderbolt striking a barrel. HI
/ struck and knocked one of the ponie!
and his rider fat to the earth, and wen
sailing away with his heels kicking thu
| air.
Then then the savages set out to ruI
| him down, relieving each other ever,
mile, but Jack had suddenly sto pee
and ia ed his pursuer and made sucl
! demonstrations that the warrior shiec
off. Another circle was made ano
broken, and then a consultation wa
held. Before it broke up we knew tha
poor Jack was doomed. Realizing tina
they could not capture him, the Indians
we've determined not to leave him alive
to us. There were seventy-five of us t.
500. If our Colonel would only Civ
the order we'd mount and charge to tht
rescue of Jack, but the order did no
come. 1t would have meant the sacri
fee of fifteen or twenty lives. At length
warrior rode out alone. Jack stoo(
facing him, head up, eyes flashing ant
one fore foot paving the ground. Th
bronzed-faced devil rode up to within
100 feet, elevated his rifle, and as tn
flash came poor Jack dropped dead il
his tracks. We uttered howls and shout
and cries of Indignation and contempt
and 100 bullets were wasted in hopes {
securing revenge. Perhaps the wretche
felt they deserved our disgust, for a
soon as the warrior reioined them the.
rode off the hills without shot o
shout in reply.