The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-01-12
THE ACME OF SACRIFICE.
How q Brave NaA ShOt himself to Save
the Lives Of His Comrades.

A1"A C'O JuOOkL1OO III O[th INK Ills
" lifei Ask that question, a y a
Helena (Mont.) correspondent, Of the
lew brave men who are left of the
little band that went out upon the
tragic Yellowstone expedition Of 1868,
and then ask them if blood was ever
more nObly shed than when Henry T.
Geery placed a pistol to his temple
and sent his own soul into eternity
that he might buy a chance Of safety
for his comrades and friends.
1t was a scene that no man can
fttingly describe, that no man who
witnessed it a forget. Fifteen brave
and well armed men had started out
from Bannack City in the early days
of April to search for gold, and near
the middle of May, with their numbers
sadly reduced by death from the ar,
rows and bullets of Indian braves, they
had only one thOught-tO fight their
way back to civilization or die, as
betitted the high code Of chivalry
recognized by the pioneers Of the west.
They might have made a dash for it
and cut their way u by very bold
ness, but to have lone that would
have been to abandon Henry Bell,
who was f~earfully wounded, but for
whom there yet remained a hope. So
he was placed upon a horse and the
little cavalcade moved upon its forlOrn
way. The Indians were all around
them, waiting for a chance to rush
in and give the finishing blow with
the least possible danger to them
selves.
They had moved twenty miles since
daybreak, slowly picking their way
over the snow upon the mountains. At
four III the afternoon, weary and cold,
they halted 20 give Bell needed rest
and prepare supper. Pickets were
thrown out and the other men had
begun to unpack, when n named
York gave the alarm that Indians
were approaching. Each man sprang
for his rifle, when suddenly a shot was
heard in their very midst. A glance
/ ON NCCIi GOAA tI1C CGO1 1OA NGoNAJ
pallOr upon his face, but with head
erect, he stood leaning upon his gun.
He said: Boys. l have foolishly
ended my life" IN his haste he had
grasped his rifle by the muzzle, the
hammer had caught in a blanket and
had been drawn back, and the ball had
struck him in the breast, ~shattering
his shoulder and making a mortal
wound.
His comrades helped him to q sitting
posture. He then calmly opened his
shirt and, pointing to the wound, told
them that he could have only a 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. 1t would be
impossible to defend yourselves in this
place" Then he turned his brave eyes
to Capt. Stuart and said: Jim, tell
the boys I'm fatally wounded"
His comrades saw what was on his
mind and begged him to take no
thoughts Of them, except to make him
as comfortable as they might during
his final hours. But all the answer he
made was to reach for his pistol, hold
it firmly in his hand, and give them
warming that any endeavor to take it
from him would only hasten the newt
able 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 a matter of a few hours at the
most. Turning again to Stuart he
urged him to tell the boys how des
perate was his case, and Capt. Jim, y
with tears in his eyes and a choking
voice, could only say: Never mind,
Geery, we will stand by you; all the
Indians in the world couldn't drive us
away"
The decision of this plain frontiers.
man was made, and nobody could
shake his heroic resolve. Il know
you would all stand by me-" he said,
land die for me. And remember that
I am not committing suicide. It is
only for a short time, in any case.
am only shortening my life by a few
hours to prevent you losing yours. God
knows I don't want to die; [ fear
death, but I have a hope beyond it,"
He held the muzzle of the weapon tc
his breast.
Remember where l am buried
this gorge in the mountains. Describe