Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-24

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THE THREE MEN srRASc To THEIR ARMS.
with detail Of twenty men, some from
other commands, some sent TO the quiet
little California post from the enistina,
depots, but all new To garrison duty in
the mountains. The Sierra Ncvadus
Northeastern California touches them
ENJOY long seasons of fair
weather, and winter did not fall
until December. Then one stormy
night, after Il heavy snow, the report
came into camp that three men had de-
serted. They left the day before.
mounted and armed, with official per.
mission To hunt in the mountains, and
had been seen by The mail carrier nearly
hundred miles across the valley making
for the railroad at Winncmucca. A de-
taii of ten men was instantly mounted
and sent III hot pursuit. 1t WAS lust nv
luck that these men should have ham
pencd to come i'll my first party. | had
slept and eaten with them, had borrowed
tobacco and shared money, had helped
and been helped by them in many WAYS.
and now must sit that saddle Till |
sighted them, and then arrest, even to
the taking of life. For that was the
| order.
The first night out we slept in 4 row
Of haystacks at Ce,larvillc, and started
next morning with the dawn. II WAS
still showing lightly, and there was little
hope OF ovcrlaulin@ the fu"itves, bu;
the evening Of the third day, as we saw
for the first time The trailing" line Of
smoke from IL Pacific Railroad train.
some sharp eye i'll the party discovered
the ccscrtcrs in canon. We turned,
rode toward them, and were seen. In an
instant the three men sprlny To their
arms. Arrest meant 10 20 to Alcatraz
Island for five years, in the constant COM
panionship of Il ball and Chain. Resist
ancc, however hopeless, was better than
That. The snow was 50 deep that we
could only go forward slowly, and they
could have shot every man Of us long be-
fore we reached them
$50 back, thcrc!n one Of them cried
eco back, Or we'll shoot" and three
army carb'ncs were leveled at our party.
| confess to allowing my horse 10 nave
ms own Way then, ard dropped u little
behind Il hcavy-sct lance corporal on Il
very strong mount
"fon fellows come out of there
yelled our Lieutenant. "put down your
guns and come out quick
| a rifle shot answered him.
Boys, make ready commanded he
calmly. "Comc OH, Take aim and
he leycled the gun that had lain at his
saddle bow-''lirc.'
His own weapon and two cr three 9th.
ers answered the command, but the d.
serters saw how serious matters were,
and resolved on q real fight, which at first
they had not thought would be necessary
They fired again, and the horse rode
groaned, trembled and fell heavily in the
snow. was ut the very rear of the line,
and had been riding forward simply be-
cause the rest were, but sitting in fright
that was aging me. And that ounce Of lead
travcrsed our column and endorsed me.
went forward on foot, for the fall
had not hurt me, and ! have q very con.
fused recollection of gunshots, oaths and
general turmoil. WhenI could take nv
bearings again We were on our way back to
camp, the three men mounted and riding
before. myself Oh the pack mule, and the
smell OF real burned gunpowder in nv
nostrils.
Two OF the men were returned to duty
along toward spring, but the third, Their
leader, was to 90 to the couft-martial and
take the sentence of an outraged military.
estill lay in the. guard house with a lame
shoulder, when / was ordered one day ia
take him 10 the blacksmith shop to have
irons put on him. opened the
old wooden door and told him my errand,
lie was spirited fellow, and the pros.
pect of standing by an anvil while red
hot bands were welded upon him smotc
HIM like blow. / saw him straiphten
up a moment, his eyes afire, his nostril.
wac, ms lace white. Then he came for.
Ward and walked before me and toward
the smithy, studying the valley, the hills
ana the clouds. Just above the shop ;
little bridge SPAWNED the stream of no,
spring water, and as we stepped upon il
he turned, wrestcd my carbine from me.
trlpped me into an almost scalding bath
ana was gone. The action was seen by
half the garrison, and a dozen men started
IN pursuit. drew the Remington pistol
the army carried then and, dripping but
angry, tried to wing my man. He was
my charge and j dared not let him 90
But he did go. Behind the forge Stood
nail a dozen horses. saddled, bridled, tied