Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-06-01
FRONTIER ARMY LIFE.


How . Famous Indian Fights. w-i
Robbed of His wife by Redskins
The routine OF army life and the
monotonous march through the will :
derness does not prevent soldier
making an interesting acquaintance
now and then with prominent charae-
ters. Thus the writer was so FORUM
ate as to fall In with two well.known
frontiersmen who happened TO meet .
ut MaxweIl's while we were all eniov-
ing that gentleman's hospitality. One .
of them was the famous Indian fighter.
Kit Carson, who had come down from /
his mountain home on 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 ut his smooth-shaven face and
his hair combed down close to his
head. would have taken him for II
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
s&ven then-about two years before his
death-with fear and awe. The other
man was Lieutenant Colonel Pfeiffer.
who had served In the regiment OF
which Kit Carson was Colenel. and the
two old soldiers hugely enjoyed meet
ing again on that occasion.
Since the Indians were constantly on
the warpath ut that time. 1t was only
natural that our conversation should
turn on that topic. Colonel Pfelffer
was persuaded to relate an adventure
which he was rather averse TO talk
about, because II awakened the sad
"Reminiscences of his wife's death.
There was small military post by
the name OF Fort Mclsae-now aban-
doned-on the banks OF the Rio
Grande. II In a Withholding spot and
very dangerous one. because the ln-
dians use II q great deal for driving
their stolen cattle across the river.
which Is comparatively shallow and
free from quicksand just ut that point.
The river describes a semicircle abont
forty miles In diameter, and on sc-
count OF It's banks being bordered by
rocks. thick bushes, and ravines. the
I teams can not follow its course in that
nsighborhood. but have TO go across
what IL called the tornado del Muerte"
] Tourney OF Death). The road takes
It's name because 80 many horses and
stock. and even men, have perished
there from want OF water. The mill
tary and their trains used TO take large.
hla xwaHar fanlra To-. fbo mar,
along with them. and to travel at night,
so as not 10 be affected by the heat.
The animals, however. had to be un-
hitched while the soldiers were In
camp, and driven fourteen miles To the
vicinity of Fort Mcltae and back again,
merely In order to get drink OF water
at the Rio Grande. and thus be saved,
II ps ssible, 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 tbs
top OF rolS about ten yards from tn,
springs But the Indians outwitted
them, and captured the lady, while he
had just time 10 seize his rifle, and
wade across the river without stitcl
of clothing on. Knowing the In6iaI
character. he calculated that the,
i would not kill his wife Immediately
but take her 10 their hiding places
and make her do menial work. ii,
therefore made for the fort to give th'
al n1SfFN n r.. 4
was foiloUe - reI Indians who sen
arrows after him. one of whicl
entered his back. with the end coming
out In front In this condition an.
with the arrow in his body, he raj
until he reached an inclosure of rocks
where he made halt and defende'
himself for several hours, while tn
burning sun shone on his bare body
causing intense pain. He was know
lby the Indians AS an excellent marks
han, and when they found that the.
aot get him out OF his strong
surhecnt losing several of thei
,.2lJ,s hey gave up the. siege. The
-" ssooner left than he ran 10
RSiife TO the post. nine mile
Eay, and at last reached IL more dea
Than alive. When the surgeon es
trieated the arrow the entire ski
peeled OFF from his body from the ei
iects OF the scalding sun; and he wa
at the point OF death for almost tw
months. His escort. meanwhile, wen
In pursuit OF the Indians who had CAP
tured his wife. and were almost With
i reach OF them when the savages, find
ing that the lady would be an incun
branee to them In their fight. xille
hsr on the spot, and took to the bnshe.
] Whenever new troops arrive at tn
frontier, the sayages make II a rule I
test. II possible, the enemy's iightin
qualities and efficiency In their ow
peeuliar warfare. Since they have h
advantage OF thorough knowledge I
the country. they are apt TO get u
better Of the soldiers, unless they Al
commanded by officers who have e
perieuce In lighting the savages
Overland Monthly.
A log. cut lately on the line OF u
Nt...,h.rn Pacific railroad, In Was