Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-23


q dozen troopers and feel their way eau
tiously to the front and ascertain what
that new sound meant, the rest of the
men meanwhile to remain at ease, Noel
etfn sat there on the ground, as though
faint from loss Of blood. The bleeding,
however, had been too trifing to admit
Of any such suppositioR on the part of
those who had been looking on. The
cheering up the pass increased. The
firing rapidly died away. Soon 1t was
eeen that the first sergeant was signal
ing, and presently a man came riding
back. The sergeant and the others dis
appeared, going fearlessly into the pass,
and evidently indicating by their move
rnents that they anticipated no further
resistance. The arriving horseman dis
mounted, saluted the captain, and re-
ported substantially that the pass was
now in possession of Maj. Greene's men,
and that the Apaches were in full flight
towards the south, some Of the troops
pursuing.
Then at last it was that the mount"
was sounded by the trumpeter, and half
after they should have been there
Capt. Noel, with K troop, arrived at the
scene. Lane, faint from loss of blood,
was lying under a tree; four of his men
were killed; one of the helpless recap
tured women had been shot by an Indian
bullet; five more of the Devils own
DIS" were lying wounded around among
10 1,o1 no Il
tense; sore had been their need; safe,
thoroughly safe, they would have been
bad Noel got there in time, but it was
Greene's battalion that finally reached
them only at the last moment. And yet
tais was the thrilling announcement
that appeared in The Queen City ChrOn-
icle in its morning edition two days af-
forwards:
Gallant Noel! Rescue of the In5ian
Captives! Stirring Pursuit and Fierce
Battle with the Apaches!
"a dispatch received last night by
the Hon. Amos Withers announces the
return from the front of Capt. Noel, who
30 recently left our midst, with portion
Of his troop, bringing with him the wo-
men and children who had been run off
by the Apaches on their raid among the
ranches south of their reservation. The
captain reports a severe fight, in which
many Of the regiment were killed and
wounded, he himself, though making
Hight Of the matter, receiving a bullet
through the left arm.
while the rest of the command had
gone on in pursuit Of the Apaches the
captain was sent by the battalion COM
urander to escort the captives back to
the railway.
This dispatch, though of a private
character, is fully substantiated by the
official report of the general command
ing the department to the adjutant gen.
eral of the army. 1t reads as follows:
"'Capt. Noel, of the Eleventh cavalry,
has Just reached the railway, bringing
with him oil but one of the women and
children whom the Apaches had carried
of into captivity. The other was shot
by bullet in the desperate fight which
occurred in San Simon Pass between the
commands Of Capts. Lane and Noel and
the Apaches, whose retreat they were
endeavorng to head off. Greene's bat
talon Of the Eleventh arrived in time to
take part; but on their appearance the
Apaches fed through the mountains in
the widest confusion, leaving much of
their plumber behind them.
at is impossible as yet to give accu-
rate accounts Of the killed and wounded,
but our losses are reported to have been
heavy
"How thoroughly have the predictions
of The Chronicle with regard TO this gal
liant officer been fulfilled! To his rela-
tives and his many friends in our midst
The Chronicle extends its most hearty
congratulations. We predict that the
welcome which Capt. Noel will receive
viii be all that his fondest dreams could
possibly have cherished"