Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-11
FRONTIER ARMY LIE
How . Famous Indian Fighter Was
Robbed OF His wife by Redskins.

The routine OF army life ana the
monotonOus march through the will
derness does not prevent a soldier
making an interesting acquaintance
now and then with prominent charac-
ters. Thus the writer was SO FORUM
ate as to fall in with two well-known
frontiersmen who happened to meet
at MaxwelIs while we were all enjoy
ing that gentleman's hospitality. One
of them was the famous Indian fighter,
Kit Carson, who had come down from
his mountain home on a flying visit.
His personal appearance differed very
widely from the type usual among men
of his kind and surroundings. His
voice was quite mild, and whoever
looked at his smooth-shaven face and
his hair combed down close to his
head, would have taken him for a
minister of the gospel. rather than for
man who had many years been the
terror of the Indians all over the West
ern country, and on whom they looked
even then-about two years before his
death-with fear and awe. The other
maa was Lieutenant-Colonel Pfeiffer.
who had served in the regiment of
which Kit Carson was Colonel, and the
two old soldiers hugely enjoyed meet
ing again on that occasion.
Since the Indians were constantly on
the warpath at that time. it was only
natural that our conversation should
turn on that topic. Colonel Pfeiffer
was persuaded to relate an adventure
which he was rather averse to talk
about, because it awakened the sad
Renaissance of his wife's death.
There was a small military post by
the name of Fort McRae-now aban-
doned-on the banks of the Rio
Grande. It is Withholding spot and
very dangerous one, because the In
dams use it a great deal for driving
their stolen cattle across the river,
which is comparatively shallow and
free from quicksand just at that point.
The river describes a semicircle about
forty miles in diameter, and on &C
count of its banks being bordered by
rocks, thick bushes, and ravines, the
teams can not follow it's course in that
neighborhood, but have to go across
what is called the tornado del Muerte''
(Journey of Death). The road takes
its name because SO many horses and
stock, and even men, have persisted
there from want of water. The mill
tary and their trains used to take large,
transportable water tanks for the men
along with them, and to travel at night,
so as not to be affected by the heat.
The animals, however, had to be I'M
hitched while the soldiers were in
camp, and driven fourteen miles to the
vicinity of Fort McRae and back again,
merely in order to get drink of water
a; the Rio Grande, and thus be saved,
if possible, from a miserable death.
There are hot springs within nine
miles of Fort McRae, and thither
Colonel Pfeiffer went one day with his
wife and an escort of about twelve SOL
diers. While he was bathing, the men
were on the lookout for Indians at the
top of a rok about ten yards from the
springs. But the Indians outwitted
them, and captured the lady, while he
had just time to seize his rife, and
wade across the river without a stitch
of clothing on. Knowing the Indian
character. he calculated that they
would not kill his wife Immediately,
but take her to their hiding places,
and make her do mental work. He
therefore made for the fort to give the
alarm and send reinforcements. He
was followed by the Indians who sent
arrows after him. one of which
entered his back, with the end coming
out in front. In this condition and
with the arrow in his body, he ran
until he reached an Enclosure of rocks,
where he made halt and defended
himself for several hours, while the
burning sun shone on his bare body,
causing intense pain. He was known
by the Indians as an excellent marks
man, and when they found that they
could not get him out of his strong
hold without losing several of their
number they gave up the siege. They
had no sooner left than he ran for
dea1 life to the post, nine miles
away, and at last reached it more dead
than alive. When the surgeon ex-
tricated the arrow the entire skin
peeled off from his body from the eff
fects of the scalding sun; and he was
at the point of death for almost two
months. His escort, meanwhile, went
in pursuit of the Indians who had cap
tured his wife, and were almost within
reach of them when the savages. find
ing that the lady would be an incum-
brance to them in their fight, killed
her on the spot, and took to the bushes.
Whenever new troops arrive at tho
frontier, the savages make it rule to
test, if possible, the enemy's fighting
qualities and efficiency in their own
peculiar warfare. Since they have the
advantage of thorough knowledge of
the country. they are apt to get the
better of the soldiers, unless they are
commanded by officers who have ex-
perieuce in fighting the savages.-
Overland Monthly.