Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-09
FIGHT FOR AN INDIAN BRIDE.

company u -bu luldntEy, uau OSoh
tried for being of duty without leave,
the papers had been signed and sent to
Washington by the afternoon mail, and
Col. John Briefly, who had acted as
Judge advocate, and Maj. Thomson, the
soldier, who had appeared as witness
against Wilkins, were striding along
the board walk towards the colonePs
quarters when / met them and was In
Vited to have a glass OF something hot.
After the something hot had been de-
clared excellent by all the persons ln-
terested, the talk naturally was OF the
court martial.
"By the way. colonel" said Major
Thompson, ''if you will pardon my say
ing so, thought you were very ienient
toward wilkins in your examination.
Yes" said the colonel, 81 generally
am in such cases. "Hou know" he
said, turning to me, wilkins left his
quarters to go and see his sweetheart.
He is engaged to the girl"
But it was clear case OF neglect OF
duty" remarked the surgeon.
II know it," replied the Colonel, but
well, sympathized with him."
The Major said nothing more. The
Colonel regarded his glass for few
moments, tested the punch, and then,
looking up suddenly, he ssid:
"Ill tell you what will do. II you
men will give me your word Of honor
never to reveal to a soul what | have to
tell until am dead and gone l will give
you my reasons fer sympathizing with
this man."
We gave him our word Of honor and
we kept our word. The colonel has now
been dead for many years, the major, l
believe, is on the retired list and living
somewhere up in Maine, and so do not
feel that am wrOngng any man in
writing down the story told to us that
winter afternoon some ten or fifteen
years ago.
I'm the little old churchyard just out
side of the Mexican village OF San
Filipe, in Arizona" the colonel said, sis
grave of by itself in one corner. On
the modest headstone is the inscription:
Sacred to the memory OF the Wood
Dove, received into the church as Mer-
cedes Briefly, wits Of Colonel John
Brierly, U. S. A, died March 10, 1877,
aged twenty-SiX years"
The colonel was silent for some mo-
ments, aud then, in a grave voice, con-
tinued:-
Mercedes Briefly was my wife. /
am the John Briefly referred TO. She
was an Apache Indian, and when you
have heard what l did to win her hand,
knowing her heart was mine, you will
understand why did not put many Sc
we're questions to that poor young man
to-day.
~ first met the girl who was destined
to be my wife in the year 1876, when
was stationed on the frontier. The civil
war, in which l had won my ColonePs
commission, was just over, and the
Apache and other Indians were con-
stantly on the warpath. l was at that
time in command of the TIL cavalry
and had about 400 men with me.
1--WE were bncsmped near little
Mexican village, San something or 9TH
err, in the northwestern part Of New
Mexico. We had had no work to do for
about month, but the air OF my tent
was heavy with the reports brought to
me of large body of Apaches said to
be on the warpath and rapidly APP
preaching our neighborhood.
Zone afternoon-I remember the day
well-the reports were verified by the
capture Of an Apache girl by some OF
nv men. The girl was brought to my
tent by her captors. They had found
her riding by herself in the hills and
had only succeeded in making her a pris-
oner after she had severely wounded
one of them.
81 will not attempt to describe the
beauty of this girl. She was then about
nineteen years Of age, OF sublime figure,
with the most wonderfully beautiful
eyes. / will only say that fell in love
with her the very moment saw her.
1--WE held the girl a prisoner. She
efused to tell US anything about her
self or TO betray the whereabouts OF her
people. That they were near We knew,
however, and daily and nightly we ex-
pected an attack. We did not go out
al nd look for them, as it was my policy
always 10 let them fire the first shot.
That month was 10 many respects
the happiest month in my life. Love
was new to me. l hadn't known 1t since
my days at West Point. loved the girl
with all my heart, and, what was sweet
err, she soon grew to love me In return.
lone afternoon l told her OF my love
and asked her TO marry me. She told
me then that she loved me, and told
me that she would marry me. | left
her and that night the Apsches at
tackled US. Their victory was COM
plete. They found us unprepared.
Our loss was something fearful, and
my loss was greater still, for when the
morning came the girl was missing Her
people had recsptured her.
THE morning found US in adesperAte
mood. The men were mad, and / was
mad. We were all in then for first
class massacre, and l laid my plans
accordingly. Our scouts located the
enemy, and that afternoon we penned
them in aud had them at our mercy.
Our numbers were about even, but our
men were all old soldiers, thoroughly
disciplined, and so they fell easy VIC
tins TO our superiority.
1t was about FIVE O'Clock when the
fighting was At its worst, ] showed
flag of truce, and a few moments later
an Indian OF commanding stature rode
out from the little fort they had built
on the top Of the hill and advanced to
the centre of the diminutive plain
which stretches between where the two
armies were posted. Irode out alone to
meet him, for | could guess that be
was the chief Of the tribe.
1--WE saluted.
81 offer you peace said to him,
on two conditions; first; that you lay
down your arms and surrender; second.
that the girl you stole from US last night