The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-03
SIOUX GRATITUDE.


United States cavalry. He had accepted
an invitation to meet some of the gentle
men of Mobile, who by request had Sc
1ected the cool, spacious quarter deck of
the white cruiser, snugly protected with
awnings, as suitable and comfortable
spot wherein to smoke a cigar, sip
glass of brandy and to spin yarn meath
the cheering influences of "Auld Lang
Syne."
Major Bob Crawford, of the Confed
crate veterans, had lodged the issue in
yo1ved in q request for a "Reminiscences,
but had compromised on an exhibition
of his occult powers, to the no small
wondermsnt and edification of the as
sembled group Of gentlemen. The last
round of applause had died away, and
found an answering echo in the clear,
ringing notes of the ships bugle, as the
notes trilled forth with the tap of the
bell, proclaiming o'clock p. M, and
Major Raymond, shipping the ashes from
his '.Concha, volunteered his portion Of
the entertainment by offering an incident
connected with brother officer:
It is somewhat singular withal how
gentlemen reared in the lap of luxury
and refinement and grounded in all the
scientific attachments Of West Point can
submit so easily to hardship and irksome
duties of which only those who have
served on the wild frontier can have but
the slightest conception.
Did you ever meet Lieutenant Colonel
Nat Ross of ours? Well, he is a splen-
did fellow, every inch soldier, and, at
the same time the incident occurred
which / am about to relate, was the
senior captain OF the regiment. He was
in command of a company at Old Mans
Gulch, where there was a miserable,
squalid town, boasting Of but one street,
along which the hastily constructed huts
and shanties of the inhabitants had been
erected An unusual crowd had congre-
gated in front Of a groggery, attracting
the officers attention, composed OF gam
blers, miners, desperadoes, greasers, sol
diers and sprinlling of camp follow
ers common to such localities.
The captain, who was in frontiersman
rig-slouched hat, flannel shirt and pants
tucked in his boots-forced his way
through the throng to ascertain what
was the occasion of the crowd.
Two half drunken cattle tenders,
armed with stout formidable bullthongs,
had edged into an angle of a building
the tall, 1.-the but masculine figure Of a
young Sioux Indian. He was barely
eighteen years Of age apparently, and,
from the eagles feather twisted in his
dark scalp lock, was evidently the son
of chief.
His blanket was drawn tightly around
him, Els eyes, black as a ravens wing,
blazed with excitement and suppressed
passion as, silent, erect and motionless,
he faced the two brutes who, with knives
and the keen, cutting thongs of bull
hide, had brought the Indian STRIPPING
to bay, much to the delight of the low,
depraved denizens Of the place, who were
eternally on the lookout either for rum
OF general row.
"What's the trouble here?" demanded
the captain as he strobe between the
DULLES and their chosen victim. "What
are you doing with the Indian lad?''
sfWhat's that to your muttered one
of them, who failed to recognize the
officer, so intent was he upon worrying
the 'sdurned redskin.'
SIT is this much to me-" replied the
soldier in clear, measured tones. 'Let
the lad alone. He is but one against you
all. And as for you, men, retire to your
quarters at once. Do you heart"
sect out of the way, you rawboned
tenderfoot, or I'll give you a taste of
this" and one of them fourished his
bullhide in swooping circles about the
officers head.
Now, Ross, at the academy and in the
regiment, was accounted one of the best
all around gymnasts and boxers belong
ing to the corps, and his training, with
muscles developed like springs of steel,
coupled with a stature Of six feet in his
socks, made him foeman worthy Of the
best borderer that ever handled pick or
rifle.
Like fash Of lightning the captains
arm shot out straight from the shoulder.
One, two and biff, bang, yell, and two
awkward, clumsy forms suddenly rolled
in the alkali dust. Selling one of the
bullthongs the irate soldier applied it
vigorously to the writing forms of the
two rufians, who howled and cursed
alternately as the lash stung their flesh.
The mob howled its approval. The cap
tain cast the bullthong from him, and,
motioning to the Indian to follow him.
strobe toward his quarters without once
glancing over his shoulder.
During the entire scene the young
Indian had not attempted to leave the
spot. He had watched keenly every
motion of his champion, and hisswarthy
cheek assumed brighter and more
vivid tinge
rendering the Sioux a silver dollar,
the soldier added few words of friendly
advice, bidding him leave the town,
which with its vices was no place for
him. But with a rapid gesture the In
dian swept tire coin aside and seized the