Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-09
ANS aouDtIess was delightful reading

husband and lover-as he undoubtedly
vas-sped westward with the fast ex
press. But there was a great deal abou
the Chronicles account that would have
ELECTED something more than a broad
grin from officers who knew Noel well
An entire week had elapsed from the
time that the first tidings were received
to the moment when he finally and most
reluctantly left the Queen City. The
first intimation was enough to start
Capt. Lane, despite the fact that his
health was far from restored and that he
was yet by no means strong. He felt
confident that the Indians would be
Joined by some Of the Chiricahuas, and
that the campaign would be fierce and
stubborn. Telegraphing to the regi-
mental adjutant and the general COM
handing the department that he intend
ed to start at once, and asking to be
notified en- route where he could most
speedily join the troop, he was on his
way within six hours.
That very night, although no mention
was made of this in The Chronicle ac-
count, Capt. Noel received a dispatch
from the adjutant generals Office at
Washington briefly to this effect: "You
become captain of K company, vice Raw
Inns, murdered by Apaches. Hold your
self in readiness to turn over the rendez-
vous and join your regiment without de-
lay" No news could have been more
unwelcome. Despite his many faults
there was no question that Gordon Noel
was very much in love with his wife;
but be never had been in love with the
active part of his profession. That
night he telegraphed to relatives who
had stood by him in the past, and wrote
urgent and pleading letters informing
them that his wife's health was in so
delicate a state that if he were compelled
at this moment to leave her and go upon
perilcus duty in the Apache country
there was no telling what might be the
effect upon her. If possible thing, he
urged that there should be delay of a
fortnight. He calculated that by that
time the Indians would be either safe
across the Mexican border or whipped
back to the reservation; then he could
go ont and join with flourish of trum-
pets and no possible danger. But new
king reigned in the war department, who
kSew Joseph rather than knew him not.
In some way the honorable secretary
had become acquainted with the previ-
Gus history of Capt. Noels campaign
services, and, though the influential gen
tieman referred to made prompt and elo-
quent appeals, they We're met by courteous
but positive denial every man who
was worth his salt" said the secretary.
should be with his regiment now" An
officer was designated to proceed at once
10 the Queen City and take over NoeI's
rendezvous and property, and peremp-
tory orders were sent to him to start
without delay and to notify the depart
ment by telegraph of the date of his de-
parture-a most unusual and stringent
proceeding. This correspondence Noel
never mentioned to anybody at the time,
and it was known only to the official
records for some time afterward. AS
soon as he found that 90 he must, he die
tated to his clerk letter in which, gal |
liant soldier that he was, he informed the |
adjutant general that the news from Ari- |
Eona had now convinced him that an
outbreak of alarming dimensions had |
taken place, and he begged that he might |
be relieved as at his own request and |
permitted to join his comrades in the |
field. To this no reply was sent, as the |
order directing him to proceed had al |
ready been issued. Perhaps grim smile |
played about the mustached lips of that |
functionary when he read this spirited |
epistle.
Noel left the Queen City a hero in the
eyes of the populace. He was Just six
days behind Lane, of whose movements
the Queen City had no information /
whatever.
And now came an odd piece of luck
a slip in the fortunes of war. Tho czay
airy stationed in Arizona were So far
from the reservation at the timefthat |
they had long and difficult marches to
make. Only two or three troops that
happened to be along the line of the
railway reached the mountains neigh
boring San Carlos in time to quickly
take the trail of the h0stiles. Except
the one little troop of cavalzyy on duty
Rt the reservation mono OF tEF .horsemen
in Arizona had as vet cou,e.in actual
conhlct with the renegades, and oddly
enough 1T was the Eleventh that first
met and struck them. Old Riggs him.
self had not taken the field, bat the bat
talon from headquarters had been
whirled westward along the railway and
reached tho pass through the
Chncahua range before the Indians.
Expecting just such a possibility, these
wary campaigners had their scouts far
In advance of the main body and prompt
warning was given, so that only the
rear guard Of hafndans was reached by
the eager eaEafrymen; the bulk of the
Apaches turned eastward and swept
osSR hike ravening wolves upon the de-
renseless settlers in the San Simon val
ley, burning, numbering, piIlaging as
they went, full fifty miles a dav, while
their pursuers trailed helplessly behind.
When they had succeeded in crossing
the railway most Of their number were
mounted on fresh horses, sand the section
hands, who saw them from. afar off. tele-
graphed from the nearest station that
they had with them six or eight women
and children whose husbands and fathers
doubtless lay weltering in their blood
along the route, Fun seven DAYS now
had they been lodging through the
mountains and swooping down upon the
ranchmen, and so skillfully had thev
eluded their pursuers and defeated their
combinations that now they had a com.
handing lead and actually nothing be
tween them and the Mexican frontier
nothing In Arizona, that is to say. But t.