The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-11-10

indecision by giving the dog most OF
his supper but to his regret. found
that when the dog whined for water
he had none TO give. Myers had never
conceived the possibility OF dry
camp. and was sorry now that no had
not filled his canteen at the clear
sparkling stream, five miles back.
where other men OF his party had filled
theirs.
After crossing the San Francisco next
morning and entering the San Fran
cisco mountains, more CHASTITY dead
were met with. The appearance OF one
of these-Nat Luce (he could never for
get the name)-has ever been photo
graphed on Myers memory. Luce
and three companions left the town OF
Alma the evening before, Just about
the hour the troops were camping on
Alma mesa, fifteen miles distant.
Several miles out from town the small
party approached steep Hill. There
were pack mules along, and two OF the
party stopped behind TO tighten the
packs before trying the ascent OF the
hill Luce and the other man rode on
blowing from the rear OF the party.
No sound was heard by the packers.
but in about five minutes after Luce
and his comrade disappeared over the
hill Luce's horse came racing down
again, and the packers thought they
saw something wet and red staining
the saddle. The two packers retreat
ed hastily 70 Alma When Myers
saw Luce's dead body, lying on its
back, both arms were in the posture,
frozen there by death, OF man in the
act OF firing a rifle. Near by were the
dead body and dead horse of Luce's
comrade. The Indian scouts pointed
out the spots where the hostiles con-
cealed themselves, and where, with
guns on rest, they murdered the two
men from a distance OF not over ten
yards.
The succeeding morning, Friday,
dawned n glorious day. BY this time
Myers had become quite sensible that
scouting was not all galloping and
waving OF 'sabers, and was beginning
TO possess a reasonable doubt con-
corning the absolute correctness of
the famous illustration in the library
book of Custer and the Seventh cav
airy.
This days march was not over very
rough country in the beginning, but
the country became rougher as the
march grew longer. About noon,
probably for n incoming halt, horses
were unsaddled and dinners ordered
. Ia. ..1
the bottom OF n deep and narrow
canyon. The surrounding hills OF the
cany on--called Diablo canyon, in the
black mountains OF New Mexico--were
at lowest five hundred feet high and
the easterly hills. in which direction
the trail was running, were the
steepest in point OF incline, and the
toughest in point Of rocks Dividing
the narrow bottom of the canyon, which
was not more than one hundred and
fifty va rds i'm width, a clear, ice-cold
stream of water flowed, trending
southwesterly There was excellent
grass on the westerly hillsides.
Orders were given that, as soon as
they got little To eat, certain Indian
scouts should be sent mp the easterly
hills TO the summit towards the
hostile trail 90 guard against sur
prise, and the tired horses were scarce
" unsaddled aud herds scarcely out
before n few scouts, fed quickly, be-
gan 20 climb the steep eastcrly slopes
In the meantime troops and packers
cooks were busy preparing dinners,
and troopers, packers and officers
were scattered here and there Two
officers, one the squadron commander,
were tempted by the beautiful stream
20 seize the opportunity OF bath.
Everything looked peaceful, and no
one had reason TO believe that immin-
ent danger was lurking.
Suddenly, by the time the foremost
scout had scaled the easterly summit,
ilc shot was heard, followed by a
second, and Immediately by other
shots in rapid succession. The tall
Jersey lieut. enant, lying down at the
time on the east side of the stream,
towards the firing, was the senior Off
Ger present. The men were scattered,
mainly on the west side OF the brook
Getting on his feet, the Lieutenant
called out: Get your carbines, men;
come this way There was con
fused murmur among some OF the more
distant troopers about getting TO tho
horses. Let the horses alone."
shouted the lieutt nant. Get your
carbines; come this way" And, at
first all alone, he started up the east
erly hills toward the firing, and from
which bullets were now pouring down.
There was no chance 20 form any
thing like a line of battle. Troopers
leapcd across the stream and followed
as best they could their intrepid leader
Myers was among the more distant
troopers down stream, but he and old
Sergt. Atkinson. OF his troop. and sew
cral Others OF the same troop were
among the first To respond TO the call
IL was stiff and hard climbing. Start
ing at double time, men soon lost their
wind, and were painting and struggling
over the entire hillside. The lieuten-
ant, realizing this, shouted: Rush
from ledge 90 le dye OF the rocks. men!
80. Il