The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-10-28
HE WON HIS SPURS
& MISSING WICHITA BOY TURNS
UP AN ARMY OFFICER.
Lieutenant Frank Cavenauga the
Same Boy Who Worked in a Brick
Yard Here-Story of How BE Made
His Way Through a Rugged Life
and Won His spurs.

Lieutenant Frank Cavenaush cf the
SIKH United States Cavalry. was in Nlch-
ita yesterday where ne bas many friends
1t was hard TO realize in the large. sol
diery man who was mere yesterd.v. mat
but eight years ago h. WAS an of 5rsrer 81
the brick yards OF Taylor Bros, west II
Chisholm creek. yet such was the case,
and in fact Lieutenant Cavanaugh spent
his early days in this city. which is at the
present time the home of his parents. Bis
father, Flank Cavausuyh. resides on East
Thirteenth street near Chisholm creek
At the time the gentleman left Wichita
be was but Il brardless boy aud was want
10 gather with the boys Of his age about
the men who at that time would sit upon
the goods boxes and tell or their
experience upon the frontiers. These mar
ratIons had their effect upon young Cava-
naugn, and he determined that he would
see sonnet hing of the world Tor himself.
lie mourned bis lot as au offbearer OF
bricks, and one Saturday, being rainy
day, he was sent by his fsther with the old
buggy TO the grocery store of j. II. Black
now secretary of the Wichita Wholesale
Grocery firn-for the purpose OF pnrchas-
ing supplies for the use of the family.
Here he met a companion of the brick
yard, who informed INN that he was going
TO Kansas City with some m"n who were
shipping cattle, and that if he. Cavanaugh,
would like to 90 he could ger an oppor-
tunity; that they could 20 TO the city al the
mouth of ;h- kaw, and return the next
week. Young Cavansugh said he would
like 10 go and if the party would wait
until he went home and told the folks.
he would go as the other hand. This
was impo~sI bic, as there was but fifteen
minutes uutil the train would leave. The
boy stopped aud reflected minute. He
thought IF home. but his great desire TO
travel overcame his filial duty TO his par
ents, aud entrreing the store he seen
Charley Hunter. WHO was clerking there
at the time aud told him to tell his father
that he had gone TO Kansas City and
would not return before Monday evening.
He went 10 the depot. took the train aud
made the trip to Kansas City. There he
fell in with some young men, who were
going to the Indian Territory, and he
secured a return pass ISSUED 10 persons
who came with stock and accompanied
the cattle men to their herds In the
Nation. He was going to be sure
enough cowboy aud he pictured bright
visions of the happv rowing life before
him. The first night with the herd he
was placed on guard. During the night
storm came up and as IA matter of course
the cattle stampedtd. He was eaught in
the midst of herd of 200 wild Texas
cattle and there was no other alternative
but to go with the terrified beasts. He
could neither turn to the left or right,
but for two of the longest hours be mad
ever experienced in his life, he was forced
over hollows, bitches, etc. The great
horns of the cattle scraped the side OF his
Il. T. l.e L1 a
nothing but the shining eye balls of the
wild cattle. excepting when there came
fash of lightning.
All the beauties of cattle herding were
gone with him, and during the night OF
terror he promised his God. so he says.
that if he would spare his life that time
be would never be caught in such pre-
dcam-nt again. Daylight finally came,
and, drenched to the skin, tired, hungry
and disgusted, he finally extrcated him
self from he herd and let them follow the
even t-nors Of their Way while he made
for camp. He had two objects in reaching
that camp. One was To release the gnaw
ing of hunger and the other to resign his
office as herder of bunch of cattle that
did not have sense enough to follow a good
road.
He resigned, and going to Fort Reno,
offered TO enlist in the regular army. The
enrolling officer questioned him, but he
told him be was an orphan, aud passing
tAe rigid examination be was assigned TO
Company Z of the Fourth United States
Iufautry. The company WAS soon sent 10
the frontier OF Mexico, where there was
general outbreak of Mexicsns aud Indians
at the time. Tais WAS during the period
when Editor Cuttings was held "A prisoner
in Mexico, and extrldition papers were bs-
ing negotiated between that government
and the United States. His company acted
as guard for Mr.. Cuttings and bis fellow
prisoners when they We're brought to the
Rio Grande river aud turned over to the
Uuited States authorities.
His company was then sent TO Arizona
where they had several active lad an Cam
paignes. He became q good soldier, aud
was promoted TO sergeant of bis company.
This was as high he could pass pro-
motion until the law passed by the r.
pu olican party which made soldiers elli
gable for promotion as commission officer,
During tue Indian campaign In Dakota
he distinguished himself for bravery as
commander of his squad OF scouts, aud
was recommended 10 General Miles
for promotion.
His first term OF entertainment having
expired he re enlisted and was assign o
the Sixth cavalry regiment, and at + ort
LeAvenworth on March 8, 1893, he was
promoted to Second lieutenant OF COM
pany X of that regiment.
He uas been in CORES pondence with his
family for a long time, but until this week
be has not visited the city OF his youth
since he left IL eight years ago. His CON-
panv has been sent 10 Fort Siii and he will
leave Monday morning TO join II. After
spending a pleasant week with his parents
and his mauy old friends.