Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-09-25
THE DISPATCH BEARER

The sun ahnnc 80 heFrGi4 H@t CD the asth
Of August, ISL, that the leaves OF the
trr.s fotlosi themselves IN humble protest
and the birds cncpt pantingly under the
shade Of the brnshNood which lined the
banks 81 Otter creek In their endeavor TO
screen themselves from the fiery orb. But
the heat seemingly had no effect upon
man who stood upon An overturned wagon
which, formed part Of some brcastwork
that had been uprearcd upon a knoll about
five hundred yards from the creek. lie
was shading his eyes With his hand as he
looked earnestly along a trail which ran
away 10 the southeast
"Mo signs of the troops yet" he NUT
tered, as he rubbed his weary eyes, good
heavens anot her day like this and them
Bang, zipl rang out the report Of n rifle,
and a bullet buried itself In the wagon bed
"a miss is as good as "A mile my beau
ties, " said the soldier for such his dress
showed him 70 be-. though" he added
after n moments consideration, I'D prefer
the milc!"
Instantly from the hills that lay about
half a mile TO westward of the creek came
the report Of many rifles, aud shower of
bullets whistled unpleasantly close to the
foolhardy soldier, who now. yielding 70
the entreatics OF his comrades, slowly de.
scended from the brcastwork and entered
the corral. Inside the corral a harrow
ing sieht met his ewes. In pit
behind the hastily thrown mp plrapet
lay a number Of wounded niyn vain
" calling for water. water" the muir
muring Of which they cnuli almost
hear as they lay there suffering from
the agony Of thirst augmented 10y
the pain Of their wounds. Their faces
were pale and wan, their lips were crack ed
and dry, and rs the sweltering sun beat
upon their dying forms they moved their
heads uneasily from side to side moaning
feebly, water. watcri' II was truly a
heart-rcnding scene.
So thought old Jones, the soldier who
had just descended from the lookout; for
striding over to where the commanding
officer stood he requested Col Mack 10 al
low him to 20 TO the creek and obtain some
water for the wounded
DO you know that you will almost Ger
tainly sacrifice your life In so doingyn said
the colonel, for the approach To the creek
was swept by the enemy's fire.
why, sir, allow that thar is risk
but. sir, they re sufferin awful" Jones re
turned, jerking his thumb over his shout
der to indicate what he meant by they. ;
well, then, since you will go. my bray,
fellow, may God protect your the stcrr
old soldier returned, his gray eyes sur
fused with tears as he witnessed this touch
ing trait of true heroisn in the private
Catching up "A couple of buckets Jone,
clambered over the breastwork and wake
toward the creek cool and self POSSESSED
as II be were crossing a parade ground. Al
the eneny's bullets plowed up the groun,
in front and rear of him the hearts OF hi
comrades stood still. They held thei
breath and graspea more tightly their car
Dimes as they watched the progress Of thi
daring soldier who was willing to lay dow
his life II 10y 50 doing few wounded com
. rades might be benefited Reaching th
creek he filled his buckets and returned
When about half way TO the camp h
stopped and rested himself calmly direct
ing his gaze toward the enemy's lines. who
seemingly astonishcd hy his GOODNESS, with
held their FIRE and allowed him to pass uu
molested.
So tho day wore on. Twice the Indian
had striven to carry the camp and twic
had they been repnlsed But Col Mncl
knew full well that he could not possible
hold out another day; his garrison was he
coming weaker, his ammunition ana ra
lions were running low, and the Indinn,
having received a Reinforcement, were tx
coming bolder. The latter, Also takin
advantage Of TIE many washouts whic
lay between the hill, and the camp, ha
approached to within 400 yards aud wcr
subjecting IL tn a most CALLING fire. som
of the bullets even finding their way int
the pit where lay the wounded
some one must go and find the ger
eral," he muttered. And yet / do na
care to detail man upon this dangerou
service. I'll ask for n volunteer, and the
It will he hard To decide among 80 gallan
a command" and smile OF pride curle
mp the corners Of his mouth, for the colon,
thought-justly, perhaps-that no body q
men could equal his So resolving, b
walked over TO where the men were rneeiy
ing their rations of one cracker and a SINAI
alice of raw bacon.
My lads" began the colonel, in his usua
quiet tone. ''it is necessary that | shout,
tell yon the state OF affairs. Our ration
and ammunition cannot last nv anothe
twenty-fou hours. II relief does not com
before 2 o'clock tonight it will be impera
tive for some one to break through ia,
enemy's lines and try 10 reach the general
who believe is encamped somewhere OF
II Cache creek. Now, | want volunteer
Who'll go?' and as he finished, for an In
slant a stiffness fell upon the men. but va
almost Immediately broken 10y shrill
boyish voice, followed by the deep ba.s 0
old Jack Jones.
"I'll 80. colonel" they chorused. Here
again, the owner Of the falsetto voice spoki
up; Let me 20, colonel, Jones has fam
lily; ] hain't, " he concluded, as he rose /,
his feet and revealed the 1.-THE, slender
form Of Willie Scott, the trump@ier. and
1 life OF $500 troop
But, sir. broke in Jones, "he is only a
boy Let me 20, colonel
but. sir" again interrupted the boy,
with what he thought an all convincing
argument, II spoke first"
The colonel gazed at the two a little, the
one gray haired. bronzed faced old vet
eran, the other with his blue eyes wild with
excitement aud an eager expression on his
face that seemed to say, "Tll get there,
never fear" So it was that the colonel
decided upon tho latter.
"Come To me at half past s. hoy, he said,
and turning to old Jones he whispered,
Your chance may come yet, my brave fel.
low.n
Il hope so, replied the old soldier. and,
sFalkiug away from the spot. Jones threw
himself down by an upturned wagon utter
" inconsolable.
II was dark, hot oppressive night Not
star could be seen; the black heavy
louds stretched themselves like a pail over
he camp a tine trumpeter, leading his
horse, passed. through an opening in the
breastwork and set out upon his perilous
ide
Mind and write TO my mother, Petc. II