Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-26
THE OFFICERS BABY
A Daughter of Ethiopia Uncomely to
Look Upon

Look Upon
It was an interesting story that one
of the "old boys" who asks TO be
namcless here, told at a G.. A. r.
gathering in Fairhaven last night.
where pipes and mugs of beer and
reminiscence went round, while the
gale OF the evening sang tcrcely and
whistled dolefully outside. He said:
The rear guard with its inevitable
procession of "contrabands Of war;
runaway slayes-had crossed Nermil-
lion bayou, and lined the opposite side
of the stream. The bridge, doomed to
destruction to delay the enemy's ad-
vance, had been saturated with tar
and grease, and prepared for burning.
| Numbers Of unfortunate negroes, ar
irving too late TO be allowed TO cross,
we're seeking shelter as best they might
from the fire Of the advancing confed-
crates. The staff officer charged with
the duty, was just on the point Of firing
the bridge, when negro woman, stag
gering under a load Of children, bun
dies and household truck, Drawing a
shower OF bullets in her desperate
efforts TO escape, entreated him TO let
her cross. Over she goes midst the
pattering fire Of the skirmishers; the
torch is applied and the officer closely
follows her footsteps, firing the bridge
i'm various directions as he retreats.
While still on the bridge the woman,
unknown TO herself, drops one Of
her numerous packages, which her
follower, in passing, kicks from his
path, and is startled by wall from a
bundle. The next moment he finds
, himself the unhappy pOssessOr Of an
infant daughter Of EthiOpia-dark
dirty and unCOmely to look upOn-fOI
the mother has disappeared, Firm
ground and comrades are soon reached
by the incumbcred officer: there is the
usual "hurry-skurTy" attending com
bat between skirmisheTs-the rebels
rush to save the bridge, but are driven
back by the fire from the opposite side
and the excitement gradually subsidies
The baby, however, keeps up the
racket, and her impromptu nurse is
getting anxious TO give up his charge
Unfortunate, misguided man. The
fugitives have dispersed or been driven
off from impeding the movements OF
the rear guard, and are scattered along
the line of retreat. In vain the EN-
barrassed officer rides around anC
among them seeking for the mother
No mother answers TO the Infants
call nor the frantic cry Of the man
r "Who owns this baby?" Search a.
keenly as he may and with all selfisf
zeal, yet no one claims possessiOn-tht
/ market is overstOckedl A "sadde
and a wiser man." he glOOmily ride
along with the child lin feed
4 bag on his saddle, while soldier
/ grin, officers laugh, and friends cyni
! cally congratulate him on his prize
= The long -wished-for nightan biyouat
came at last; "cOntraband" camp II
formed, and there the search Is re
newed, but without success. At length
substitute "auntie"-susceptible q
{ persuasion or bribery-is found, ant
: takes charge Of the undesirable waif
a 1t only remains TO be said that for
Z long time nothing could induce tn
4 officer TO go near any group OF negroe
for fear "auntie" would demant
+ further appropriations, under threa
a OF delivering back the unclaimet
D property. There we're rumors, how
. ever that the proper owner was sub
e sequently found.