The Brookhaven leader., 1890-01-02
SLAIN BY HIS COMRADE.
To Keep him out of the Hands of the Muir
derous Apaches.

dcrOuS Apaches.
THE Posts story of the Heavenly
Tyre, said a gentleman yesterday, IRE.
minds me of the Blasted Pine saw
him in camp, tall, cold and dignified
having only official intercourse with any
one, living in isolated quarters of his
own choice, keeping house with soldier
servant and messing by himself, declin
ing all invitations, returning no socia
calls, yet with the highest reputation a.
soldier.
THE story is not long. There were
two young officers, bosom friends anc
chums, lieutenants in TIL cavalry, serv
ing in Arizona, during the Apache wars
1t should be underst stood that the Apachet
held no prisoners, but torture to death
at once all who fell into their crue
hands. With this knowledge fully i'm
pressed upon them. soldiers and officers
bound their comrades in the most solemn
manner not to leave each other alive
and wounded upon the battlefield. The
two Lieutenants had mutually agreed tc
this proposition.
SIN one fight with the Apaches the
troops were heavily outnumbered and
forced to retreat. 1t was a desperate
chance. Squirting for their lives through
sage-bruSh, over barren alkali plains,
down rocky declivities, never for a mo.
ment knowing what ledge might not
conceal an ambush, what canyon might
not give the fatal opportunity to the
merciless foe. The Indians, mounted
on tough, wiry ponies, chung tenaciously
to the TANKS and rear of the retreating
cavalry, only kept back by sleepless Wig.
lance and the superior craftsmanship
of the soldiers.
"a chance shot killed the horse of one
Of the Lieutenants, and falling, it broke
the officers thigh. His chum pulled
him into the saddle before him, and
spurred along under double weight. II
was plain that the animal would not
long keep up, and that both would fall
into the clutches of the Indians.
"The disabled officer suffered fearful
torture from his broken limb, and beg.
ged his comrade to end his sufferings
and save himself. The other sternly
set his lips and for an answer spurred
his horse to greater eXertiOns. The
sufferer appealed in vain to the other
officers and soldiers who were passing
them to shoot him and so save both from
the red fiends. Their tired horse soon
fell behind. For a few minutes they
were out of sight. Then the second Off
Ger came running on foot over the hill
alone.
'Re-infOrcementS were met within
half an hour, and thus strengthened the
cavalry turned and drove their pursuers
The disabled Lieutenant's corpse was
found near the body of his comrades
horse, frightfully disfgured, but the
surgeons examination showed that he
was dead before the Apaches had begun
their work. The other officer reached
the fort with the cavalry and for weeks
lay at deaths door with brain fever
Convalescing, he went abroad on sick
leave and was then promoted into an
other troop.
"But from gay and jovial man he
had become grave and taciturn. Sc
marked were these characteristics thai
the scouts called him the Blasted Pine
and the soubriquet chung.
"While he joined in no festivities he
always subscribed heavily. lie asked
that every subscription paper be SEN
him, and he gave more than any one
else. Respected by all who knew him
and fitted to grace any circle, he lived
| the days of hermit and recluse. The
memory of that fearful retreat had
clouded his life. Washington Pest.