The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-18
UNCLE SANS HEROES.
Brave Enlisted Men in the United
States Army Who Have Been
Rewarded.
Those Who Have Received Honor
able Mention This Year for
Deeds of Bravery.
Private John Coyle, Who Saved n Lndy's
Life in the Yellowstone Park
A Cslored Soldiers Act.

In the life of every mar in the service OF
the United States there comes once in a
while tho chance of earning distinction
other than by giving or taking hard knocks,
writes Barnet Phillips in Harper's Weekly.
Some months or more ago Major General
Scho6eld issued two general orders, pub
fishing the names of officers and enlisted
men who during the years 1888 and 1889 had
distinguished themselves by special meri-
torious conduct. In particularizing the
character of these special acts, Major Gen.
eral Soho6eld added that the honors be-
slowed ARE not strictly in the line of mill
tary duty, but include all acts worthy of
special mention"
Private John Coyle, of the hospital corps,
United States army, was a member of Com
panv b, Twenty-second infantry. on duty
with a mixed command, in camp near the
"Old Faithful" geyser, Yellowstone park.
in August, 1888. The specific duty of this
body of troops was to prevent acts of van
dalism by irresponsible persons, and pre-
serve, as fully as possible, the natural feat
ures of tho park. On the 9th of February,
Coyle observed a lady climbing the crater
of tho Reyser and warned her that she was
in danger, explaining to her that a gust of
wind was liable to blow the hot steam and
sufocatinR gases in her face. She had
succeeded in making the ascent, when
Coyle's prediction was verified, and the
ventursome lady, becoming. panic
stricken, jumped or fell into the hot water
ssr. Coyle at once sprung, with generous
impulse, into the pool and, at the cost of
much suffering to himself, lifted her out of
the water into a place of safety. he states
that he was unable to walk afterward for a
period of four weeks, owing to severe scalds
he received from the hot water. For this
courageous act he was complimentad in or
ders from the colonel of his regiment, was
awarded a silver medal by the treasury de-
partment and mentioned by General Soho
fold in general orders of Feb. 16, 1891.
Private Hugh Tobin, of Battery ri, Fifth
artillery, while in quarters at Fort Schuy-
Ter, Puget sound, heard cries from his COM
rades one day, and rushing out be discov.
cred two young men struggling in the rough
water some distance from the shore. Tobin
called for assistance and Private Hsbel and
Musician Chairman responded bravely. In
a leaky skiff. guided by Tobin, they saved
one of the boys. The other was picked up
by a sloop. For his bravery he was honor
ably mentioned in the general orders.
Private James Settlers, of Troop Z. Ninth
covalry-that splendid colored regiment
is a pleasant-faced, soldierly young man.
The army roll of honor is brief about James
Settlers, but tells the whole story. He
was distinguished for special meritogious
conduct, Saving. at the risk of his
life, his commanding officer from drowning
while crossing the Wind river, Wyoming
Lieut.-Col. Burt, whose life he saved,
writes: 81 have to say that as to Private
James Settlers it WAS my life he saved. l
do not know how to give you q statement
it, which would appear more like how ]
was drowned than how gallant Private Set
tiers, my orderly was. Moreover, it has
become one of my stock stories, and l
don't now how / could write out of thai
groove. At best it doesn't work into much
of an incident, except 80 far as it gives the
lie to the popular belief that there is I'M
kindly feeling between the enlisted man
and his officers. Men do not risk their
lives u,nhesitatingly for those who Cypress
Private Ozias D.. Hogue, of Troop X,
First cavalry, is an Indiana born man, who
left the army last year at the expiration of
his term of service. He did a handsome
thing, and stands, as he deserves, among
those who have earned distinction. 1t was
the saving of life Private Hogue was after,
and he showed such determination about it
that he was drowning himself when res
cued. In the Little Big Horn river, not far
from Fort Custer, he plunged into the water
after a drowning comrade, who seized him
by the leg. A fearful struggle ensued, and
A4Okuc Wdo uldAly ID iTOH buS wafer 0X-
hausted, though the man he sought to res
cue was drowned. His bravery called forth
honorable mention.
Sergt. Carl Rick, of Troop A. Third
cavalry, is Prussian born, and that is a
good reason for his being a capital soldier.
He enlisted in 1888, and it was hard for him
to speak English; but, as his commanding
officer says. being a mar "of superior intel
ligence and energy and great ambition he
Foon learned the duties of the American
soldier, which may not be quite 80 axacting
as in the German service, but require a
much higher order of intelligence and indi-
viduality in tho enlisted man."
While lathered in q barber's chair one
day he was startled by two shots in the
camp. A burglar had escaped from the
guard, and was flying toward the New
Mexico line. Rieck took in the situation
at a glance, and by his superior sprinting
powers captured the fugitive. In the same
year he captured another escaping desper-
ado after a hard fight, and for these brave
acts he was honorsbly mentioned with his
fortunate follow soldiers who had shown
GOODNESS and courage under trying circum-
stances.
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