The morning call., 1890-11-16
A LIEUTENANT'S
COURAGE.
Account of a Terrible Encounter
With the Sioux Indians.
Rsscuing Child Frcm Murderous savages
The Difference Between Cold-Blcoded
stoicism and Real Nerve.

The Difference Between Coid-Bicoded
stoicism and Real Nerve.
HA T had been a day of great excitement at
Ea Fort Laramie. A train of emigrants had
70 been overtaken by the Indians just be-
yond Crows Nest. and the whole party,
with the exception CT one, boy Of years
of age, had been scalped by the savages.
Every thing belonging to the party had been
| seized.
The Indians had again and again eros sed
| the Platte from the reservation, making
raids on farms and ranches in the vicinity,
! and then recrossed with their plumber in
safety. To report them appeared to be use
| less. A lew weeks before party of Indians
! had broken from the reservation, had
| crossed the western line, scalped several
! transfers, taken their horses and made for
| the line. A band of troopers chased them
| to the reservation, but the agent was power
| less to make their arrest.
! The outbreak at Crows Nest threatened
| to be more serious than any before it, for
| according to the reports the Indians were
| swarming up the valley. and no one could
! tell what further depredations they would
| commit unless prompt action were taken.
A guard must be sent to the ford. the only
place below the fort where the river can be
| eros sed, 10 prevent the reDegades' return to
the reservation This would require all the
| force the fort could muster, for the garrison
| was in a pitiable condition. A part Oh the
| force had been sent to Fort Fetterman, and
| communication with that post was lmpossi-
| Bile, for the SavageS had cut the telegraph
| wires.-
| OF the men remaining at Fort Laramie a
large proportion were unfit for service.
| Sickness had broken out at the fort, due to
severe weather. g
fronted Major Merrill as he sat in council
| with his officers late in the afternoon. He
| himself had fallen victim TO that sc0urge
of soldiers, the rheumatism. and could move
| only with the aid of crutch. Active ser
| vice was out Of the question for him.
| A hurried rally revealed the fact that but
| fifteen troops were fit for duty. These the
| Major placed under the command oil Captain
| Lane and Lieutenant Selden, with much
misgiving. however, for Lane was hardly
| able to serve, and the Major had Lot much
| faith in
THE LIEUTENANT's BRAVERY.
| Some weeks previous one of the men had
| met with an accident which made the ampu-
| tation Of an arm necessary. Selden had
| been called upon to assist the surgeon IN Tho
| operation. He had made himself useful at
! through the flesh and he had begun 10 sever
| the bones Selden tainted.
| +" Just like girl" the Major remarked.
"What sort of soldier will he make?
| There can be no nerve IN such man. De II
get scared at the paint on the savage's faces
and faint. He'd better be sent home to his
| mother"
| In the Majors eyes such weakness was
| almost crime.
The story had been carried from mouth to
/ told ,xyith addpi pmhplli IN I'M
| until the Lieutenant became known as the
| young man who tainted at the sight OF
| blood, Irembled at the appearance OF saw
| age, and was altogether coward.
| So Seldep, who though he could not in
| cold blood see man cut and slashed, was
| very far from being coward, had. every
| reason to welcome this scout. He had been
| at Laramie but short time, and had as yet
| seen no active srrviee. Possibly when he
| came back they might have different optn-
| ion of him at the tort.
| Twilight found Captain Lane, Lieutenant
Selden and their little command at the ford
ready to dispute its passage, with the return
| ing Indians. The moon, rising presently.
| lighted dimly the slopes and swales along
| the river. In little valley beneath two
| ridges shadowy group OF horses cropped
| the thick punches of buffalo grass. A yard
| or two to the right their riders, dlSmounted
and in cavalry overcoatS, huddled together
| as if for warmth. Out on the ridge picket
| guard of three men lay on the ground.
An occasional stamp OF horses hoof or
| an impatient snort broke the silence, and now
| and then the coyotes set up their yell. An
other sound, soothing and ceaseless, was
| heard, too-tne rush of the swollen Platte
| over the rocks and gravel of the ford.
| The detachment had come down from the
| fort early in the evening, taking care to keep
under cover of the ridges as much as posi-
| Bile. With scrutiny OF the southern en-
! trance of the ford Captain Lane satisfied
/ himself that no Indian Tony Lad crossed
| since the morning. He posted his lookout
| on the ridge, hobbled and half-lariated his
| horses, and cautioned his men to rest on
| their arms and not throw Off belt or spur.
| Lieutenant Selden went up the ridge to
! join the outlying picket. The command
| knew him at least for keen eyed fellow and
| splendid shot
| The long night hours had dragged out
| their length, and the dawn gradually broad
| eued until the river could be seen rolling
| along in soft, misty CLEAN, when the Lieu
| tenant, lying gazing at the scene, was star
| tied BY the voice of Brown, the trooper by
| his side.
"LOoK, LIEUTENANT, LOOK"
Over to the southwest, dimly visible,
| three or four shadowy objects darted over
the distant ridge that spanned the horizon
| In that direction. For moment they were
| revealed against the sky. and then could be
| seen, faint and far away, sweeping down
| the valley and making for the river just
| dUOft tilc pOSiilOu VI INC Oubi'tSt.
| Indians beyond question the advance
| guard of the main body; but instead of ap-
| preaching the ford by the most direct line
these scouts were Looping northward of the
| point where the picket was lying. and were
| pushing for the stream Selden saw their
| object
| They've made dry camp durin' the
night" said the trooper. land are pintin'
| straight to git to water with their ponies"
Selden knew better. He knew well that
i To- fIr, -fr,nc fhnsr lf,.n <f
march there was plenty of water at that
\ season of the year. He knew that they
| would not approach the ford directly until
they had reconnotered. Both in front and
rear they were watching for cavalry. and
| we're now daShing over to the Platte to peer
across the skirting bluffs, then. to scurry
| down into the bottom to search for loot
| prints. If tLey found the well-known trail
| of shod horses in columns of two it would
| tell them that troops were already guarding
! the ford.
Run back, Brown, and warn the Cap
tain," Selden commanded. "Pll stay here
| and watch them"
The trooper erept swiftly down the Store.
AS they saw him coming the men led their
| horses into line. The Captain bad one foot
| in the stirrup when the trooper reached him.
| Browns hand went up in salute.
'Ieutenant'S compliments, SIR Three or
four bucks are galloping over the river
above us looking for our tracks"
"How far above us %
Nigh onto mile, sir.
MOUNT! FOLLOW MEw
| Captain Lane rode at full speed up the
| valley, heading close under the bluffs, with
| the troopers at his heels.
| Selden saw both parties in the gathering
| light; the Indians slowly and cautiously be-
| ginning the ascent to the bluffs, and the
| Captain and seven of the troopers riding
| hard to get first to the scene He saw Lane
and five of his men leap from their horses.
! toss the reins to the two who remained
| mounted, and, earbine in hand, come nimbly
| up the bluffs and throw themselves on the
! turf.
| Several hundred yards away from them
( four Sioux warriors, with a brilliant display
| of paint and glitter, were "opening out" as
they approached. and warily moving toward