Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-02


The Morning Chronicle, most valua-
bic sheet in its way, i'll It's Sunday edi-
ton contained the following interesting
item:
mo event in social circles has eclipsed
of late the banquet given at the club last
night in honor of Capt. Gordon Noel, Of
the Eleventh cavalry, on the eve of his
departure to take command of his troop,
now fastening to the scene of Indian hos
tilities in Arizona. As is we'll known to
our citizens, the news of the murderous
outbreak at the reservation was no
sooner received than this gallant officer
applied instantly to be relieved from his
present duties in our midst and ordered
to Join his comrades in the field, that he
might share with them the perils of this
savage warfare.
Covers were laid for forty. The table
was decorated with flowers and glistened
with plate and crystal. The most con-
spicuous device was the crossed sabers
of the cavalry, with the number IL and
the letter K, that being the designation
Of the captains company. His honor
Mayor Jenness presided, and the Hon.
Amos Withers faced him at the other
end of the banquet board. The speech
of the evening was made by Mayor Jen-
ness in toasting our gallant guest, which
was drunk standing and with all honors
We have room only for = brief summary
of his remarks. Abiding to the previous
DISTINGUISHED servic-5 of the cantnin no
said that In every territory of our broad
west his saber has flashed in the defense
of the weak against the strong, the poor
settler against the powerful and numer-
Gus savage tribes too often backed by
official influence az Washington. And
now, while cheeks were blanching and
hearts were still stricken by the dread
news of the butcheries and rspine which
marked the Indians fight, when others
shrank from such perilous work, where
was the man who could suppress the fer
vent admiration with which he heard
that there was one soldier who lost no
time in demanding relief from duty here,
that he might speed 70 the head of the
gallant fellows already in the field, who
had followed him in many a stirring
charge and through all the current of
many . heady fght;' whose hearts would
leap for joy at sight of their beloved
leaders face-the man whonever yet had
failed them, the man who never yet had
faltered in his duty, the man whose
sword was never drawn without reason,
never sheathed without honor-our SOL
dier guest, Capt. Gordon Noel?"
Much affected, it was some minutes
before the captain could respond. The
modesty of the true soldier restrained his
eloquence. He knew not how to thank
them for this most fattering testimony
of their confidence and regard; he far
from deserved the lavish praise of their
honored chairman. If in the past he
had succeeded in winning their esteem
all the more would he try to merit it
now. No soldier could remain in secur-
ity when such desperate deeds called his
comrades to the fray; and as he had
ever shared their dangers in the old days
so must he share them now. His heart,
liz home, his bride, TO part from whom
WIS bitter trial, lie left with them to
guard and cherish. Duty called him to
the front, an6 with tc mo=row's sun he
mid be " Lis way. Rns. if it pleased