The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-10

word quick as you cam said Rhett, as
the dusky little column went swinging
away out of camp. Give 'em a lick
for me, Mickey" called Private Toohey
to a chum in a luckier company than
his own. And that was the last heard
Of them for twenty-nine hours. Then
two of the lately-besieged troopers.
Fritz and Reuter-, came trotting in
among the travels just as the convoy
broke camp at the mouth Of Pawnee
gorge, twenty miles nearer home
Leaving the cove at dark the previous
evening, they had ridden all night
with the news Of the rescue, had rout-
ed out the telegraph operator at Ska
Bridge and sent away certain dispatches
with which they were charged had
mand had passed on about nine a. m.
and would be found somewhere to the
south along Pawnee Fork, and then
pushed ahead with the glad tidings.
Everybody, therefore, at Ransom knew
the main facts long before Rhett and
the wounded got home. Every
body mourned for Schultz, a
veteran of nearly twenty years
service in the regiment, and re-
joiced for Schramm, who had COW
cred himself with glory. Every body
was proud of Thornton's spirited be-
havior in his maiden fight, and full of
genuine distress over his wounds Ed
wards, badly shot and veteran Of
many tough cavalry campaign, wasn't
the object of one-tenth the sympathy
that was lavished on "Pretty Perry"
one of whose hurts--that slit along his
neck-was a mere scratch, that would
be an ornament to him all the rest of
his life, while the hole bored by the
little Winchester in his side was some
thing that would soon heal and seldom
hurt him. But who can paint the SEN
sation at the Thorntons' happy home?
Delight and dismay intermingled! Tel
egram followed telegram, that which
came from the general late in the day
binding Col. Thornton's eyes: 1.-The
regiment glories in your gallant boy.
Well send him east on leave at once.
Full report by mail
Then with what eagerness they waited
the coming of letters and particulars!
Y >
modest pencil scrawl, bidding them
ascribe all credit to LETTERS and give all
gratitude to Schramm! with what fut-
tering hearts, what fearful eyes, did
they strive to read Fenton's letter tell
ing the story of Perry's dash to the
rescue of the inperilled troopers, Of
his heroic effort to save poor Schultz's
body, Of the daring and devotion Of
Trooper Schramnl, of the enthusiastic
on their young lieutenant! Here at
least was Perry the hero of the Indian
campaign, the future leader in many
another. Stopping only long enough
to drop in upon a little coterie Of old
campaigners, receive their hearty con-
gratulations, and read them the dis
patches from the seat of war, the vet
eran colonel left by first train for the
far west to meet his boy and to bear to
that brave and devoted Prussian troop
er the blessings, the gratitude and the
assurance of the fervent prayers of
mother and sisters for his own happi-
ness and prosperity for all the years OF
his life-and beyond.
Four days and nights Of ceaseless
travel it took the colonel to reach Paw
nee. BY that time the general with
Tintop and the regiment was far to the
northenss: Strengthening out another
squabble. the army as usual acting as
buffer between the Indians and the
people and getting hard knocks on both
sides. BY that time Rhett with his
command was back at Ransom, and
Fenton with the wounded from
Slaughter cove was on the homeward
march. They were breaking camp in
Pawnee gorge, thirty miles north OF
the station, ;,,st :, hc,,+ tho time t''"t
No 8 went whlstling down the grade,
shooting sharp curves OF Antelope
Fork after leaving the colonel to be re-:
ceived by the quartermaster at Pawnee
station. His first question was for
news of his boy, who was doing splen--
didly. said the officer, when they passed
Ska Bridge yesterday. "Fenton's GO
ing to send him with one or two others
ahead in the ambulances this morning.
They'll be here before noon. Schramm
comes in at the same time, poor fellow.
He's got an ugly touch of fever, DR..
French wires, and they want to get
him to the hospital as soon as possible. .
The death Of his friend Schultz seems
to have been q hard blow"
81 wish they'd let me take him home
with u.s., said Col. Thornton, with glis-
tening eyes. 81 know a little woman
who followed the drum many long
year with me, and two pretty girls as
ever were born under the fag-if it is
their father who says it-who would
be only too happy to spend nights and
days for weeks to come nursing that
young gentleman back to life. Do you
know him at all?''
'Only by sight, Sir. He was quite
character at the post, owing to his de-
votion to Capt. Morgan, who helped
him out Of q close call last year just
after he enlisted. They all agree that
he is a 5gentleman by birth and breed
ing, whom some freak Of fortune has
landed on our shores. He'd get the
Iron Cross at home for this exploit.
'sWel, we'll show him here that i
we have no decorations to offer, we
Americans know how to appreciate he /