Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-06-14

plain into the SCARED and torn foot
hills that form the outer barriers of
the Tulerosa range a spur of the hills
pushes forward like an earthwork to
dominate the desolate valley. Crown
ing this spur was a tall pine tree,
grim and solitary sentinel standing in
the midst of crumbling powders.
From the shadow of the pine the full
sweep of the gray desolation of the
valley filed the eye, from the base of
the mountain below to the point afar
off where the sage-green thirsty earth
~commingled with the blue haze that
wrapped the cliffs and mesas in the
.enchantment of distance. From the
vantage and shelter of pine and bowl
der the struggling trail could be seen
creeping indecisively round the base of
the hill into the rough open pass, to
stop hesitatingly at the edge of pool
in the shadow of the cliff. This pool
was the temporary resting place of a
thin stream of clear cold water which
-dripped from crevice in the cliff,
where it took heart to continue its
Journey down between the blistered
rocks and thirsty sands, where it strug
igled feebly before it surrendered and
died.
This tiny stream was the rGiS0n detre
of the feeble trail, the oasis in that
sscorched and blistered desolation that
drew to the spot the feet of the men
land beasts that had worn the path; for
in New Mexico, as in Judea, the cup of
scold water has a value inconceivable
to those who dwell in lands blessed
with green pastures and murmuring
brooks.
From the pool, where the tracks of
shy deer and prowling wolf were in
evidence, a rough path led up the hill
side between the rocks to where the
tall pine kept its solitary vigil. At the
base of the pine, among the moulder-
ing needles, lay skull, white fro m
the washing of rains and bleac hing of
the sun. cracked as if with a Ratchet,
sand pierced with no lie as if made by
"A rifle ball, through which the slant
ing sun sent beam of gold to light up
the CHASTITY interior. Bes ide the skull
lay pile of bones, white and discol-
-ored and partially buried in dead
needles and cones. Closer scrutiny re-
-vealed fragments of faded blue cloth, a
few furnished brass buttons, and a
couple of rusty iron arrow heads.
Further apart were the bones of mans
thighs and ribs, half buried in the
Grafton by wolves and coyotes. The
carpet of pine droppings stirred with
the boot revealed the copper shells of
rifle cartridges black almost with YER
-digris.
These were the mute records of an
7Qprecorded tragedy, the relics of some
-entombed hero; the evidences of a
crime the lonely watcher on the hill
had witnessed; and for whose consum-
nation the keen-nosed buzzards had
waited, floating in the hot heavens
above the Sierras.
Poor untenemented bones! Bleach
ing in solitude and neglect, crumbling
slowly to the oblivion of dust, they
were the only mementos of the brave
-white-faced trooper who died in the
desert for duty; died and had been for
hgotten.
In the hot July of 1873 half dozen
troops of cavalry were in the field,
operating against Apaches, in that lit
tie known section of New Mexico that
lies between the Rio Grande and the
'sTulerosa. While * troop of the
Twelfth was camped at a spring in the
country, about midway between the
.Ojo Caliente and the Tulerosa valley,
it became military necessity to send
"a dispatch north to Fort Wingate.
Corporal Henry c. Franklin and Private
John Mcguire were selected to per-
form this hazardous duty. They were
experienced soldiers, seasoned horse
men, excellent marksmen, fairly ia
miliar with the country. and aecus-
toned to Indians and their methods.
They were directed to push forward to
their destination with all possible
speed, and were cautioned to be con-
stantly on the alert, for the Apaehes
were prowling in the Sierras in small
bodies, watching like hawks for an op
portunity to pounce on weak and care
less scouting parties
Tho two soldiers were well armed
mounted on hardy. tireless. CaGtornia