Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-22
lines so numerously as to amount to a

guerrilla behind tree, in woods full
of underbrush, would have been
matter of pure accident. Nor were
there any casualties among the soldiers
while they kept we'll to cover. But
sergeant, incautiously raising his head
above the barrier to take good OBJ
servation, received bullet in his brain,
and tumbled dead to the deck.
The victim was known and beloved
by all on board, and a cry of grief and
rage went up from his comrades.
These men had been toughened in doz-
en- battles, and were as hardy and reck-
less as the Western soldier ever became.
A common impulse now seized them to
capture the assassin, and avenge their
comrade.
sRun in, pilot-run in!" several
called out. "We'll catch that fellow!"
The Captain was below at the mo-
ment, out of the way of interference,
and the pilot was willing to humor
their mad whim. The bow of the boat
| was turned up to the bank, and q
dozen or fifteen soldiers, with their
muskets in hand, ran along the deck,
jumped ashore, and scattered through
the woods in pursuit.
| In any such case the chances would
be one hundred to one against them.
The lurking guerrillas knew all the
tracks through the woods, were feet
of foot, and would naturally distance
their pursuers in such race. On this
occasion the boldness and promptness
OF the pursuit took the assassin-for
he was no better-entirely by surprise.
The soldiers were going swiftly through
the forest when they saw man dart
out from behind a large tree thirty
yards ahead, and run. Some shouted
Haiti" and three or four rifles were
vainly fred at him. The chances were
still in his favor; but as he ran, his
foot caught in projecting root, and
he was hurled at full length on his
face. His pursuers were upon him be-
fore he could rise, and he was q
prisoner.
After very brief but stormy debate
as to whether the captive should be
killed there, or taken aboard the boat,
the latter course was adopted. He
was sullen, ferocious-looking fellow,
clad in faded homespun, and they took
from him the long hunters rifle with
which he had slain the poor sergeant.
He saw the body as they brought him
aboard, and looked with curiosity, but
with no other emotion, at the cruel
bullet-hole in the fair forehead.
There was no unnecessary delay in
the stern but just fate that these sol
diers unanimously resolved to visit
upon their prisoner. He was told tc
stand and have his eyes bandaged. He
obeyed without word, seeing that re-
sistance and entreaty were alike use
less. The Captain had now come on
deck, but had no wish to interfere
Some of the men observed that the
pilot looked from the window of his
house, and that just before the eyes O
the culprit were bandaged look of re-
cognition passed between them.
There was "ready, aim, fire! anc
the man fell dead, his breast torn by
half dozen bullets. The body wa!
unceremoniously pitched overheard
and the steamboat went on her way.
That afternoon some of the mel
climbed up into the pilot house, ben
on interviewing the pilot. He told
them frankly that the victim was hi
sisters husband. He said he had no
seen him before since the outbreak Q
! the war, when they took opposite side
! of the conflict.
The soldiers were impressed by thi
awful feature of the tragedy.
"You never asked us for his life, on
of them observed.
"No. What use would that be-? Yo1
wouldn't have spared him."
They looked down to the deck, wher
the body of their comrade rested on
bier of cracker-boxes, with the Cap
tain's flag draped over it for shroud
"No, I guess we wouldn't" one o
them replied.