The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
TIE OFFICERS sToRY.
How the Comnnchcs Started n Fox Hunt,
with IA Man For tho Fox.

s'ta '"p ''s Nth
on the Northwestern frontier. l sought. ut the
same time. diversion OF mind and shelter from
tho raging storm in tho officers club room. 40
I closed the door, and pulled the visor OF my fur
cap from over my eyes, l could see indlstinctly
through tho tobacco smoke with which tho
room was filed a little group OF officers seated
around the almost rod-hot stove. A student OF
human nature could have found much to inter-
est him in tho faces OF these men varying in
years and experience in the service. from the
Gray-haired veteran OF two wars and innumer-
ablo Indian campaigns to the beardless neo-
phyte Just free from the leading strings OF his
| West Point alma mater; and l doubt not that,
II the stories OF varied experiences that those
old walls had listened to could be collected,
they would form u volume Of no small interest.
Did / ever servo against the Comanches ?
Well, somewhat. l was n prisoner Of theirs
for five days. ono OF tho older officers was re-
plying to n question asked by one of the
younsters, as l accepted an invitation to draw
up n chair and Join the circle around the stove.
His reply was followed by a silence that plainly
indicated that tho others awaited the story
that they knew must follow.
The speaker was a middle aged man, re-
markably well preserved for his years, and so
graphic was his narrative that one could al
most believe himself an eyewitness Of the
scenes that he described.
Yes" continued he. II was stationed down
in Indian Territory at the time. and we were
literally surrounded by Indians. whom our
presence alone prevented from going upon the
warpath. Tho kiowas and Comanchcs had
been for many years the bittcrest OF enemies.
but early IN tho spring rumors Of prospective
trouble from both Of them wero very prevalent.
According to these rumors the two formerly an
tagonistic tribes contemplated uniting against
their COMMON enemies, the whites. These re-
pcated rumors were promptly reported to de-
partmcnt headquarters, but as in every case
nothing came Of them, an order was issued to the
effect that the next officer making any such re-
port should be sont to investigate it and ascer-
tain tho facts before tho report was forwarded
TO the General commanding the department..
Il was stationed with my companyin II camp
some little distance from the post with instruc-
tions to watch tho Comanches and kiowas,
whose, camps were II few miles further on. At
tached TO my company wefc two Indian scouts,
both of them faithful fellows. in whom l could
trust, and when one morning one Of them came
ly going to be trouble. as tho Comanches
woro DOMINIC their war paint, and feathers and
their example. I could do nothing less than or
dor around my horse and ride up TO tho post to
report the matter.
Just speaking had been received. and when |
reported what my scout had told me l received
7 olucl " DIilE lily company INTO GnG pOSL, anu,
accompanied by only ono scout. to nct as in
terrnrefer. to yiSit the indian camps md find out
II HH possi fHs' prevent event i Il By Sr %erai s S" ! and'
1t was = ~rerilous. undertaking, l very we'll
knew i3r il my scout had spoken truly. there
was littlo probability of either OF us coming
back with our hair on. But orders had to 10
ohn,ncG; so: early in the afternoon, We set out.
The Indian was very dubious about the result
Of our trip, assuring me that what he had said
was true, and that the best fate that wo could
hope for was to be taken as prisoners, and
hplI nnill nnlrn n nnnN n on n Innln rad Vnsn
in tho evening We drew near to the Coman-
che camp. and long before We came in sight of
reached our ears.
The scout here stopped and urged our going
Dlck. saying that it was all our lives were worth
to, enter the camp Mt such II time. but when |
ahead, but that if he so desired he could 20
back and tell his comrades that he was afraid
to follow the white chief. and had run away. l
can see tho fellow yet. as he Strengthened UP on
'"'Spottod Dog would lie if he said that he WIS
afraid. He only wanted to save the white
G GnEas IS, seqp Ira and will follow him wherever he
For a few moments we rode along in silence.
until. upon, coming suddenly around the base
shall remember as long as ! live. II one could
look strniSht down into, the lowest compart-
scene would be q quiet iandscape compared to
whit We saw that night. On the side OF the
camp toward us n huge fire had been built.
near which Il post was planted in the ground.
Dancing around both was n horde of yelling,
bowling. half-nakcd demons, their barbarous
arms and ornaments shining, and the hideols
outlines %, their painted faces showing clearly
in the ruddy nrelight. They were having their
famous fame 81 W s,ri GGnsG ,h and n6 S9in e t Rb g ss the e sps:
rior abb TO bear arms and willing to go on the
warrath strikes his tomahaWk agpinst the post
to illustrate tho manner in which he will cleavo
the skulls OF his unfortunate enemies:
a soon as we were discovered by them. we
pulled from our horses. and in less time titan
it takes TO tell it were landed within the living
circle. The Indiansd danced around Us. brandish-
ing their tomuhaWks and spears. and seeing
how near they could come to us with them with
ont iniuring US. In vain | made the peace
our object was simply to pay n friendly visit. A
grand council was nj once ordered to decide II
it ", would a, mot np6ca be ur an "a aiipropriat9f and ,Hd,l fitting
pnign and show their contempt for tho mill
tary by burning n white officer ut tho stake
and turning the war dance into q scalp dance
III vas decidedly a case OF packed jury
raised in our behalf, the popular verdict
against US. and il was decided to hold the ut
u prisoner and TO torture me on the spot. The
busy preparations Of the Indians Informed me
Q! tho verdict ut the same time. and l spent tho
fcw moments that remained in instructinG the
scout to escape as soon as possible and report
at tho post AL that had happencd.
My recollection OF my sensations Mt that
timo is very vague. | was stunned ut the sud-
donness of the calamity that was about to over
whcim mo. and l remember a feeling Of anger
tk tlt' Wv va Vi thV lloNl DIpIl VII
which | was to die n horrible death for no other
reason than that Of having done my duty, 49,.
for rs soon MS all was ready, the two bucks act
ing as ny, guard caught hold Of me, and half
led, half drnsScl me toward the stake. Tho
evidence Of pleased anticipation. As thoy wero
about to bind mo to tho stake. and the last ray
of hopc seemed gone. Il powerful form made
for Itself IN opening through the crowd. and in
n moment ] saw standing, beside me BLACK Ket-
tie. tn" head chief of the kiowas. At his back
were 80 or 40 Of the NEST influential members
of his tribe. | had II short timo before per-
formed nm act Of kindness for this powerful
chief. and / now waited In breathless suspense
to see how he would return II. The Co
manchos paused for n momcnti and then. mad
dened mt the interruption Of their gentle pas
lime. their yclls bccnme more and more blood
curdling. while tonlahawks and spears fairly
rained about me.
Black Kettle sGid nothing; but, taking up
ono corner of his blanket, he held it ont to mo.
The grip with which the proverbinl rowning
man srisps ut II straw isn't q circumstance
compared to the way in which l chung to tho
dirty edge OF thar Indians greasy blanket. AS
long RS Black Kettle permitted me to thus. pro-
tect myself under the shadow of his wing l
that | was safe. for tho tomanches would
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