Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-09-14

ground, so that the animals could b,
easily secured in case IL became noccs
sary TO dismount The party, with
rifles thrown across the horns OF thcil
saddles, then entered tho canyon, one
at time, allowing tho distance OF about
one hundred yards TO intervene between
tho riders. In this way the line
stretched out TO nearly n thousand
yards, making it impossible for tho In
dlans to fire upon more than one man
Mt II time. The party passed through
the canyon in safety, but when Geron.
imo surrendered, few months later, II
was learned from the Indians them.
selves that they were lying in wait in
the canyon, and saw the mon as they
passed. Had they taken no prccau.
tions, and started through in close or.
der, the whole party would undoubt-
edly have been killed.
All of the shrewdness and good judg-
ment of the scout is needed in selecting
place for camp overnight. The plan
which is generally pursued is to go into
camp several hours before dark, and
prepare the evening meal. II there
arc Indians in the vicinity they will
surely locate the camp for il they were
not already watching the troops, the
smoke from the fires would be very apt
TO attract attention. II Indians locate
n camp, in the evening, they will crawl
close to IL, and make an attack mt day
light the next morning. II is therefore
very necessary to deceive. or mt least to
confuse, them; so when the evening
meal has been finished the fires are put
out, and after darkness has set in the
command saddles up and moves off to
some other camping-ground several
miles distant, where the animals are
herdcd, guards posted, and no fires al
lowed. The position usually selected
for camp is just over the crest of n
hill, so that good view of the sur
rounding country can be had. Expcr-
fenced scouts never get out OF reach of
their guns under any circumstances. If
they dismount for II moment to rest
their horses, or stop to get drink of
water, the rifle Is always taken from its
scabbard and carried in one hand. In
dians find out very quickly when thcy
are being followed by good scouts, and
when this is the case thoy avoid fight
rs long ns ii is possible to do so.
Every scout is supposed to be II good
trailer, and to be expert in this line re-
quires certain natural qualifications as
well as careful practice. Keen eye
sight quick perception and retcntive
memory are the principal requisites,
and it is II wcll-known fact that some
men become good trailers in II remark
ably short space of time, while
others never learn, no matter what
their opportunities may lslvo been.
As n scout rides along the trail, his
eyes for an instant rcstupon the ground
beneath his feet, and then quickly
sweep over the rocks or plains around
him. In this way he notes any sign
along the trail or detects any movement
within the range of vision.
In travelling over n country where
there are no roads or beaten trails he
must carefully note each prominent
tree or rock, so he can pass
the same away again If it is necessary
to do so. In following the trail of
hostile band there is no guide but the
marks which have been left behind,
and these, when carefully studied, tell
story as plainly as if written in black
and white The tracks made by tho
M, 1r hot
horses, mules or burros. If the
are shod, it is easy to
tell by the impressions made on the |
ground to whom they belong, for the |
MeXicans use one kind of shoe, the
Americans another, and the regular
army has still another style which is
peculiarly its own. The relative posi-
tions of the tracks made by the four
feet of an animal show whether it was
going in walk, II trot, or run, and
the clcarness with which the feet are
lifted from the ground tells if it was
fresh or tired. A worn-out animal
makes Il mark by dragging the point of
the hoof against the ground, and also
stumbles and slides. IL is
the case that the trail of an
animal is found under circumstances
which make it uncertain as to whether
or not it carried rider; but short in
vestigation will alE,ys tell the story.
An animal left to itself will stop occa-
sionally to Craze, while one with
rider keeps straight on its way. The
manner in which the grass is cropped
of will show if the animal had bit in
its mouth, and the freshness of the trail
will show what time had elapsed since
ii had been made. An instance OF a
scouts astuteness in trailing came
under the observation OF the writer
n short while ago. A party of SOL
diers were passing through valley in
southern Arizona on their way to Fort
Bowie. They went into camp for the
night, and n heavy rain came up oblit-
Grating every sign of Il trail. The scout
along with the party struck bee-line
for the post, guided by tall peak
which was barely discerniblc in the
distance. In IL short while the party
came upon the newly-made trail OF two
mules running in the same direction in
which they were travelling. The tracks
Of the mules were side by side and they
were evidently going at II trot. Every
thing indicated that two persons were
making for the fort, as the animals had |
kept steadily on their way, and never
changed their position of going abreast.
After following the trail some distance
the scout remarked TO the officer in |
that the mules had no riders
on them, and when asked how he knew
it, replica that they were running too
close together to leave room for two
mems legs between them. Tho party |
finally overlook the mules, and 1t was
found that they had strayed from the
post, and were tied neck and neck with |
n stout rope, which kept them together
all the time and prevented their stop