Thomas County cat., 1888-04-05
THE OFFICERS STORY.
An Indian Fox Hunt, With q Man
tor the Fox.

One night recently, while tenn mpora-
rily within the limits of one Of our
military posts on the Northwestern
frontier, sought, at the same time.
diversion of 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 little group of Off
GERS seated around the almost red
hot stove. A student of human nature
could have found much to interest him
in the faces of these men varying in
years 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 1 doubt
not that. if the stories of varied expert.
ences that those old walls had listen
ed to could be collected. they would
form volume of no small interest
Did ] ever serve against the Co
manches? Well. somewhat. l was
prisoner of theirs for five days" one of
the older officers was replying to u
question asked by one of the young
sters. as l, accepted an invitation to
draw up chair and join the circle
around the stove. His reply was fol-
lowed by silence that plainly indi-
Gated that the others awaited the story
that they knew must follow.
The speaker was 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 de-
scribed.
YES" continued he. Il was sta
toned down in Indian Territory at the
time, and we were literally surround
cd by Indiana whom our presence
alone prevented from going upon the
warpatt. The Kiowas and Conan
ches had been for many years the bit
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-
templated uniting against their
common enemies. the whites.
These repeated rumors were
promptly reported to depart
ment 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 for
warded to the General commanding
the department.
Il 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. At
tached to my company were two In
lows, in whom I could trust and
when one morning one of them came
to my tent and reported that there
was certainly going to be trouble. as
the Comanchcs were donning their
war paint and feathers and ende avor-
ing to induce the Kiowas to follow
their example. could do nothing less
than order around my horse and ride
up to the post to report the matter.
THAT very morning the order of
which I was just speaking had been
received. and when reported what my
scout had told me / received orders to
bring my company into the post and.
accompanied By only one scout to act
as interpreter. to visit the Indian
camps and find out what could about
the projected outbreak. and, If rossi-
BILE, prevent il by moral suasion.
1T was . perilous undertaking. /
very wen knew; for II my scout had
spoken truly. there was little prob
ability of either of US coming back
with our hair on. But orders had to
be obeyed; 90. early in the afternoon.
we set out
Tho 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 we could hope