The Grenada gazette., 1888-03-31
THE OFFICERS STORY.
An Indian Fox Hunt, With Q Man
tor the Fox.

Oae night recently, while TEN pora
ri!y within the limits of one Of cu
military posts on the Northwestern
frontier, | sought. at the same time
diversion Of mind and shelter from th.
raging storm in the officers club room
A closed the door, and pulled th,
visor Of my fur cap from over my
eyes, ! could see iniistinctly through
the tobacco smoke with which the
room was filed little group Of Off
GERS seated around the almost red.
hot stove. A student OF human natur e
could have found much to interest him
In the faces Of these men varying in
gears and experience in the service,
from the gray-haired veteran Of two
wars and innumerable Indian cam.
paigns to the beardless neophyte Just
free from the leading strings Of his
West Point alma mater; and doubt
not that. If the stories of varied expert
eDces that those old walls had listen.
ed to could be collected, they would
form a volume Of no small interest.
Did ever serve against the Co
manchcs' Well. somewhat. was A
prisoner Of theirs for five days. one Of
the older officers was replying to II
question asked By one Of the young
sters. as accepted an invitation to
draw up a chair and join the circle
around the stove. His reply was fol.
lowed by a silence that plainly indi.
Gated that the Others awaited the story
that they knew must follow.
The speaker was a middIe-aged man.
remarkably well preserved for his
years, and so graphic was his narrative
that one could almost believe himself
an eye witness Of the scenes that he de.
Scribed.
Yes continued he II was sta
toned down in Indian Territory at the
time. and we were literally surround :
ed by Indians. whom our presence
alone prevented from going upon the |
warpath. The Kiowas and Conan
ches had been for many years the BIZ
terest Of enemies. but early In the
spring rumors Of prospective trouble
from both OF them were very preva-
lent. According to these rumors, the
two formerly antagonistic tribes con-
templatcd uniting against their
common enemies, the whites.
These repeated runors were
promptly reported to depart
mcnt headquarters, but as in every
case nothing came Of them. on order
was issued TO the effect that the next
officer making any such report should
be sent to investigate it and ascertain
The facts before the report was for
warded to the General commanding
the department
Il was stationed with my company
IN camp some little distance from
the post with Instructions to watch the
Comanches and Kiowas. whose camps
we're few miles further on. At
Iached to my company were Two In
iian scouts. both Of them faithful fel-
ows. in whom ] could trust, and
when one morning one Of them came
o my tent and reported that there q
was certainly going to be trouble, as
he Comanches were donning their ,
var paint and feathers and endcavor-
ng TO induce tho Kiowas TO follow !
heir example, ! could do nothing less Z
han order around my horse and ride I
y to the post to report the matter. '
THAT very morning the order Of a
which was just speaking had been
cceved. and when reported what my e
cout had told me lreceived orders to
ring my company into the post. and, II
ccompanlcd by only one scout. 20 act s
8 interpreter 10 visit the Indian f
amps ano find out VIII at could about a
be projected outbreak. ard. il posi- II
lie. prevent it by moral suasion. &
ut was perilous undertaking, ] n
cry wei! knew; for IL my scout Ind
pokcn truly, there was little prob %
bility Of either Of us coming back X
it'll our hair Oh. But orders had to 81
g obeyed; 80, early in the afternoon. oi
o set ont. b.
"Thc Indian was very dubious about II
'e result II onr trip, assuring me IL
Iat what he had said was true. and aI
at tho best fate that we could hope III