Connecticut western news., 1888-03-21
THE OFFICERS STORY.

sought, Ut tne same tlmc, ulVeTSlOn or mind and shelter from the raging storm in the officers club room. As I closed the door, and pulled the visor of my fur cap from over my eyes, could see indistinctly through the tobacco smoke with which the room was filled, a little group of officers seated around the al- most red-hot stove.
 "Did I ever serve against the Co., manches2 Well, somewhat. was pris- oner of theirs for five days" one of the older officers was replying to question asked by one of the youngsters, as I ac- cepted an invitation to draw up chair and joln the circle around the stove. His reply was followed by silence that plainly indicated that the others awaited the story that they knew must follow.
 The speaker was a middle-aged man, remarkably we'll preserved for his years, and so graphic was his narrative that one could almost believe himself an eye witness of the scenes that he described.
 ''Yes," continued he, 'Iwas stationed Town in Indian territory at the time, and we were literally surrounded by Indians, whom our presence alone pre- vented from going upon the warpath. Tho Kiowas and Comanches had been for many years the bitterest enemies, but carly in the spring rumors of pro- spective trouble from both of them were very prevalent. According to these rumors, the two formerly antagonistic tribes contemplated uniting against their common enemies, the whites. Those repeated rumors were promptly reported to department headquarters, but as in every case nothing came of them, an 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 forwarded to the general command ing the department.
 q was stationed with my company in a camp some little distance from the | post with instructions to watch the | Comanches and Kiowas, whose camps were few miles further on. Attached to my company were two Indian scouts, both of them faithful fellows, in whom I could trust, and when one morning one of them came to my tent and re- ported that there was certainly going to be trouble, as .he Conan ches were donning their war paint and feathers and endeavoring to induce the Kiowas to follow their example, I could do nothing less than order around my horse and ride up to the post to report the matter.
 "That very morning tho order oi which Twas just speaking had been re ceived, and when Ireported what my scout had told me received orders te bring my company into the post, and accompanied by only one scout to act as interpreter, to visit tho Indian camps and find out what I could about tn,
 projected outbreak, and, if possible, prevent it by moral suasion.
 '1t was a perilous undertaking,
 very we'll knew; for if my scout hac
 spoken truly, there was little probabilit. of either of us coming back with ou
 hair on. But orders had to be obeyed
 so, early in the afternoon, we set out
 ''The Ind ian was very dubious abou
 the result of our trip, assuring me tha
 what he had said was true, and tha
 he best fate that we could hope fo
 was to be taken as prisoners, and hell
 until peace was onco again declared
 Late in the evening we drew near t.
 the Comanche camp, and long befor
 we came in sight of it, the sound C
 tom-tom and savage yells reached ou
 ears.
 "The scout here stopped and urge our going back, saying that it was a our lives were worth to enter the cam ,at such time, but I told hir that must obey my orders and g f ahead, and that if he so desired h s could go and tell his comrades that h was afraid to follow the white chief s and had run away. I can see the fello l yet, as he strengthened up on his pon
 and replied:
 "'Spotted Dog would lie if hc said ths he was afraid. He only wanted to say [ the white chiefs scalp, and will folio
 him wherever he darcs to lead'
 "For few moments we rode along , silence, until, upon coming suddenl 2 around the base of low hill, our ey' ' fell upon sight that I shall rememb' s as long as live. On the side of u camp towards us huge fire had bee o built, near which post was plan ted , the ground. Dancing around both Wi
 horde of yelling, bowling demons o their barbarous arms and ornamen e shining, and the hideous outlines of the panted faces showing clearly in u | ruddy firelight. They were having the r famous war dance, and gong throue f the ceremony of striking the post g which each warrior able to bear arr s and willing to go on the warpath strik f his tomahawk against tho post to ;llu 1. trate the manner in which he will clea okths skulls of his unfortunate ensmiss. -ss n ax = .1z = ,u6lu,na