The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-02
A Brave Nan.

his temple and sent his soul into eternity
that he might buy chance Of safety for
his comrades and friends.
1t was scene that no man can fittingly
describe, that no man who witnessed il
can ever forget. Fifteen brave and we'll.
armed men had started out from Baunock
City in the early days of April in search
for gold, and near the middle of May,
with their numbers sadly reduced by
death from the arrows and bullets Of
Indian foes, they had only thought-to
fight their way back to civilization OF
die as beftted the high code Of chivalry
recognized by the pioneers of the west.
They might have made dash for it
and cut their way out by very boldness,
but to have done that would have been
to abandon Henry Bell, who was fearfully
wounded, but for whom there yet remain.
ed q hope. So he was placed upon a
horse and the little cavalcade moved upon
it's forlorn way. The Indians were all
around them, waiting for chance to
rush in and give the finishing blow with
the least possible danger to themselves.
They had moved twenty miles since
day break, slowly picking their way over
the snow upon the mountains. At. 4 in
the afternoon, weary and cold, they halt.
ed to give Bell needed rest and to pre-.
pare supper. Pickets we're thrown out
and the other men had begun to unpack,
when one named York gave the alarm
that Indians were approaching Each
man sprang fof his gun, when suddenly a
shot was heard in their very midst.
A glance at Geery told the story.
With deadly pallor upon his face, but
with head erect, he stood leaning upon
his gun. BE said: "Boys, I have fool
ishly ended my life" In his haste he
had grasped his gun by the muzzle, the
hammer had caught in blanket and had
been drawn back, and the ball had struck
him in the breast, shattering his shoulder
and making mortal wound.
His comrades. helped him to sitting
posture. He then calmly opened his
shirt and pointing to the wound told
them that he could only have few
hours to live. "But that is too long for
you to remain here,".he added. 1.-THE
sun is going down and the Indians will
be upon you. It would be impossible to
defend yourselves in this place." Then
he turned his brave eyes to Captain
Stuart and said: "Jim, tell the boys Pm
fatally wounded"
His comrades saw what was in his
mind and begged him to take no thoughts
of them, except to let them make him as
comfortable as they might during his
final hours. But all the answer he made
was 10 reach for his pistol, hold it firmly
in his hand, and give them warning that
any endeavor to take it from him would
only hasten the inevitable end.
No one made the attempt; but with
tears in their eyes and forgetting the
dangers hedging them in, his comrades
attempted to reason with him, and to
persuade him that with help be might
pull through, as Bell was already doing.
But he knew as we'll as they that the end
was matter of a few hours at the most.
Turning again to Stuart, he urged him
to tell the boys how desperate was bis
case, and "Captain Jim," with tears in
his eyes and choking voice, could only
say, "Never mind, Geery, we will stay by
you; all the Indians in the world
couldn't drive US away"
The decision OF this plain frontiersman
was made, and nobody could shake his
heroic resolve. ri know you would all
stay by me-" he said, sand die for me,
and remember I am not committing
suicide. 1t is only for short time, in
any case. lam only shortening my OWL
life by few hours to prevent you losing
yours. God knowsI don't want to die
I fear death but I have hope beyond
it."
He held the muzzle of the weapon to
his breast.
Remember where I am buried-this
gorge in the mountains. Describe it to
my friends if you live to reach them
God bless you all I must die and in
time for you TO bury me and escape before
dark"
he was about to pull the trigger, when
the voice of Stuart came from the group
of pale.faced men who could have calmly
faced anything but this:
"For Gods sake, Geery don't-but il
you must, don't shoot yourself there. Il
will only proloDg your agony. Place
your pistol to your tomple."
The change was made. "God blesi
you all and take you safely out of this.
The men turned and walked away
none of them could face the final scene
The finger came down upon the trigger
the cap exploded but there was no shct
Sam 7. Hauser, afterward governor o
Montana, stepped forward aud said
"Geery, for Gods sake desist, this is {
warning" To this he merely made an
swer: IT don't know what to think of it
it never snapped before" Again cooking
the weapon he engaged moment il
silent prayer, again pressed his finger
and the deed was done.
The meh gathered around his desc
body. Tears were in the eyes of all. ant
some could not speak for the sobs tha
shook them. waiting some halfhour,
says Governor Hauser, "after he hat
drawn his last breath, we buried him a:
he desired in his soldier oyercoat w
had scarcely finished his burial wher
the pickets announced that the Indians
were within gunshot, yet there was nj
firing.
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