The Helena independent., 1892-11-25
A STORY OF ARMY LIFE.
A Jersey Boy Re-enlisted to Avenge
A Brother Killed at Wounded
Knee.
Deserted to Be Present at tho
Death of His Aged
Mother.
0utwitted Three Officers Who Discovered
His Whereabouts and Went to
Arrest Kim--At Liberty.

ORANGE, Nov. 24.-The two Schwenki
boys. Philip and Charles. left here about
seven years ago TO join the regular army.
They were fine. strapping young fellows,
uneasy in the quiet of Orange, and eager to
see something of life and adventure and
danger. AS long rs their mother was
widow. dependent upon them for support.
they stayed at home. but when Xavier Spear
married her they bade her good-by, and
were in the far west in n cavalry regiment
as quickly as they could make the arrange
ments. They enlisted for five years, and,
as the Indians were always doing something
or threatening to do something, they liked
the life we'll. Toward the end of their FIVE
years' enlistment came the campaign that
ended in the battle of Wounded Knee
creek. Philip and Charles fought side by
side, and when Philip fell with his death
wound, Charles took his body to place of
safety.
His colonel gave him leave of absence
to take his brother back home. Just after
he and his mother had laid Phillips body
away, Charles learned that his term in the
army was up and that he need not return
uHicbb "lbutu 10 ES-6Llibt. Illb
did not want him to go away again. but the
death of his brother, whom he loved with
double love of brother and comrade, had
filled him with such hatred that he wanted
to get back to the plains and revenge the
death. So he left home and joined his old
regiment. But the Indians had qaieted and
he found the old life tiresome with NO fight
ing and with his brother no longer there.
He talked good deal during the last few
months about cutting it al! without waiting
for his term to expire. About six week ago
his company was in Oklahoma-he got a
letter from his mother. saying that both
she and his stepfather were dying Of con-
sumption and that if he wanted to see her
again he would have to come quickly.
His mothe was all he had in the world.
He asked his captain to get him a furlouRh.
40 that he could 90 and tell her good
by and close her eyes, But the captain
had heard of his talk about deserving, and
thinking this was only scheme to get
| away, and not wishing to lose 80 good
soldier, refused to give him leave. Charles
waited few days for the chance to desert,
and when it came. fled with what money
! he could get together ID seems that this
was no great sum. He had to get other
clothing, and then there were the railroad
fares. He must have had pretty hard
|
night last that he reached Orange.
| He found his mother very near death.
and his stepfather also. He stayed closely
in the honse, SO closely that only one or
two of the neighbors knew he was there.
| On Monday evening his stepfather died,
and the next morning he held his mother
| in his arms nnd saw her die. He knew the
United States authorities would soon be
after him. bnt he decided to risk it and see
her LAID beside his brother before he went
AZ \, -
care much what became of him, as there
was none to care about him.
| On Wednesday afternoon two United
States marshals walked into the police sta
| tion and told the chief OF police that they
had come to arrest Charley Scnwenki as a
| deserter.
II didn't know he wes hete," said the
chief II know him well. and he must
| have keft pretty close at home"
Yes. he's here" said one of the mar
shals I'VE found it ont Just few hours
| ago. And the devil OF it is that his step
| father and his mother are dead in the
| house,
"You surely won't arrest him until after
the funeral" said the chief,
I've don't want to" said the marshal,
but when we found out about these
deaths we telegraphed for further instruo.
tons We got an answer that we must go
| ahead Mt once
AS there was nothing else to do, the chief
gave them the assistance they asked. SER
geant Isenberg who knew Sehwenki as
little boy, was detailed to 90 with them
Ihey got up to the house at 1880 O'Clock.
Marshal Titus went around 10 the back
door. while Sergeant Isenberg and Marshal
Brennan advanced to the front door. Isen-
berg Knocked, and i'll moment or two tho
door opened. 1t was Schwcnki himself who
stood III the stream of light. He recop-
nized Isenbere. and at once put out his
hand.
How are you, sergeant" he said. "It's
long time since
Marshal Brennan reachsd over Isenber,'s
shoulder and laid his hand on Schwenki.
Il arrest you rs Il aese' ter said he.
Sehwenki hesitated a second as if dn zsd.
Then he lodged low so as to shake off the
hand that held his shoulder. He turned
and dashed down the hallway that leads
straight through the house from front door
TO rear door. AS he ran the door oponed
and Schwenki saw the frame filled by the
form of Marshal Titus. lie gathered him
self together and sprang ut Iitus's throat.
Titus ieeled backward and schwenki fell
on top of him. Sch@enki WAS up straight
way and rushed hround the corner of tho
house toward the front lsenoerg and
Brennan appeared in the rear door lust ns
he was turning. Titus picked himself up
and the three ran through the hallway into
the front yard. Sehwenki had run down
the street IA few doors. and was Just rushing
down passageway between II house aud /,
fence, when Brennan drew hia revolver and
fired two shots.
Schwenki ran on unhurt, ieaped the rear
fence of that lot, and was bolting across
the open field. The marshals came dash
ing after him. But Schwenki knew the
ground and they did not and soon they
could no longer make him out. They turned
hack in no very good humor, but were re-
ceived quits eheerfully at the police station.
Tho story was soon known over Orange,
and everybody WAS glad that Schwenki got
away.
On Thursday afternoon Schwenki's
mother and his stepfather were buried be-
side his brother in the Rosedais cemetery,
but no was not there as the marshals took
good to see. They are still in Orange, it il
said but they have small chance of getting
the deserter a great many people know
where he Is. but no one will tell them.