The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-01
CHAPTER XIV.

lowed Sunday night. The garrison woke
at Tuesdays reveille in much perturba-
tion Of spirit, as has been said, hut by
s o'clock and breakfast time one cause
OF perplexity was at an end. Relief had
come with Monday afternoon and Alice
Renwick's letter saying she would not
attend the german, and now still great
er relief in the news that sped from
mouth to mouth-Lieutenant Jerrold
was in close arrest. Armitage and
Chester had been again i'll consultation
Monday night, said the gossips, and
something new had been discovered
no one knew Just what-and the tolls
had settled upon Jerrold's handsome
head, and now he was to be tried. As
usual III such cases, the news came III
through the kitchen, and most officers
heard it at the breakfast table from the
lips Of their better halves, who could
hardly find words to express their senti-
ments as to the inability Of their lords
to explain the new phase Of the situa-
tion. When the first sergeant Of Com
pany B came around to Captain Armi
tage with the siCkbook soon after & in
the morning the captain briefly direct
ed him to transfer Lieutenant Jerrold
on the morning report from present for
duty to 'in arrest, and no sooner was
it known at the quarters Of Company B
than it began to work back to officers
row through the medium of the servants
and strikers.
1t was the sole topic Of talk for full
hour. Many ladies who had intended
going to town by the early train almost
periled their chances of catching the
same in their eagerness to hear further
details.
But the shrek Of the whistle far up
the valley broke up the group that was
SO busily chatting and speculating over
in tho quadrangle, and with shy yet
curious eyes the party of at least doz-
en-matrons and maids, wives or sisters
of the officeTs-scurTied past the dark
ened windows of Mr.. Jerrold's quarters.
and through the mysterious passage west
Of the colonels silent house, and down
the long stairs, just i'll time to catch
the train that whirled them away city
ward almost as soon as it had disgorged
the morning mail Chatting and laugh
ing and full Of blithe anticipation OF the
glories OF the coming german, i'll prepa-
ration for which most of their number
had found it necessary to run il for just
an hours shopping, they went jubilant
ly on their way. Shopping done, they
would all meet, take luncheon together
at the Woman's Exchange, return to
tie post by the afternoon train and have
plenty of time for u little nap before
dressing for the german. Perhaps the
most interesting question now up for
discussion was, Who would lead with
Mr.. Rollins? The train went putting
into the crowded depot, the ladies has
tened forth and in q moment were Oh
the street, cabs and carriages were pass
cd i'll disdaiD, a brisk walk of block
carried them to the main thoroughfare
and into the heart Of the shopping dis
trict, rush Of hOofs and wheels and pc
destrians there encountered them, and
the roar assailed their sensitive and un-
accustomed ears, yet high above it all
pierced and pealed the shrill voices of
the newsboys darting here and there
with their eagerly bought journals. But
women bent on germans and shopping
have time and ears for no such news
as that which demands the publication
of extras Some of them never hear or
heed the cry: Indian massacrer'
Here y'are! All about the KILN of
Major Thornton an his sojGrs!" "Ex-
try! Extry"
1t is not until they reach the broad
portals Of the great Stewart Of the west
that one Of their number, half incredu-
lousy, buys a copy and reads aloud:
Major Thornton, -th infantry, Cap
tain Langham and Lieutenant Bliss,
-th cavalry, and 80 men are killed
Captains Wright and Lane and Lieuten-
ants Willard and Brooks, ---th caval-
Ky and some 40 more men are seriously
wounded. The rest of the command is
corralled by an overwhelming force of
Indians and their only hope is to hold
out until help can reach them. All
troops along the line of the Union Pa
cific are already under orders"
''Oh, isn't it dreadful"
eyes, but aren't you glad it wasn't
ours? Oh, look! There's Nina Beaubien
over there in her carriage. Do let's find
out if she's going to lead with Rollins. I"
Vac victis! Far out in the glorious
park country in the heart of the Cen
tennial State little band of blue coats
sent to succor periled agent is max
ing desperate stand against fearful odds.
Less than 200 men has the exalted
wisdom Of the department sent forth
through the wilderness to find and, if
need be, fight its way through five
times its weight in we'll armed foes.
The officers and men have no special
quarrel with those Indians, nor the In
dians with them. Only two winters be-
fore, when those same Indians were sick
and starving, and their lying go be-
tweens, the bureau employees, would
give them neither food nor justice a
small band made their way to the rail-
way and were fed on soldier food and
their wrongs righted by soldier justice.
But another snarl has come now, and
this time the bureau people are in a
pickle, and the army-ever between two
fires at least, and thankful when it ism t
Skis ordered to send a little force and
60 out there and help the agent main
tain his authority. The very night be-
fore the column reaches the borders of
the reservation the leading chiefs come
in camp to interview the officers shake
hands, bSg tobacco and try on their
clothes, then go back to their braves and
laugh as they tell there are only hand
ful, and plan the morrow's ambuscade
and massacre. Vac victisl There are
women and children among the garri-