Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30


instances you could mention illustrat-
ing this peculiar gift?"
The general did not smile, but knit
his brow as he proceeded. l could
talk hours about experiences in which
Col. Cody figured with no less startling
success, during the years he served as
my chief of scouts. But there is an
other trailing feat that astonished me
even more than the one have just de-
scribed. | was in command OF the dis
trict of the Republican, with headquar-
ters at Fort Mcpherson, Neb. 1t was
in June, 1875. A messenger came in
from the agent of the Atchison road and
reported that the Sioux had attacked
his employees within three miles OF the
fort, on the north side Of the Platte.
There was only one bridge crossing the
river within 80 miles, with the excep-
ton of an old dilapidated affair which
had been abandoned. IL was built dur
ing the war of the rebellion. 1t was
considered unsafe except for foot pas
sengers. The water was so high that
there was no ford within available
distance. So you see the cunning ras-
Gals had calculated their chances we'll
knowing that before we could make a
ride of 30 miles they would be safe and
far away, after committing their depre-
dations.
Il suggested to Cody that possibly
we might get some horses over by
crossing single file at long interYalsf
the men leading the horses. This
bridge was less than half mile from
Headquarters. 1t was now about 10 p,
m. and as dark as Egypt-no moon, and
not even a star in sight. / was at the
southern terminus of the bridge. Cody
crossed with his horse, feeling his way
along. He returned and assured me
that he had broken through only once,
l then ordered the men, Cody and my
self leading, to follow in single file at
intervals, and in a short time we had
800 cayalrymen safely over. By this
dangerous feat we were on the trail Of
the redskins in less than two hours
after the murders and depredations had
, been committed. Now when l tell you
that this band Of Indians was unmount-
ed you can imagine how much more
difficult Cody's task was to strike their
trail on that inky night than If they
had ridden horses. On discovering
that we were after them, the Indians
separated into three or four bands, two
of which we encountered and punished
severely, killing several and dispers-
ing the rest so that they were never
heard of in that section again"
Il have often thought Of this later
feat of Cody's legerdemain in tracking
Indians. You see, we had lost the trail
about six miles from the crossing, al
ter the Indians had separated into
small parties. Take the elements that
entered into the problem to be solved
a black waste-darkness thick enough
to cut with a knife-only moccasin
tracks to follow, and then branching
in several directions. But Cody led us
straight up to the numbering sayages,
and saved us weeks, if not months OF
weary hunting and campaigning on
these hot desolate plains, where our
men would have suffered untold mis-
cries. If the people OF the west feel
grateful to the generals who were in
strumental to putting a stop to Indian
atrocities, they should and do, l think.
feel no less grateful to Col Cody, for
he was the strong right arm Of every
the far west. Truly, he was conspicu-
ously instrumental I'm bringing about
the present pacific state OF anairs,
saving thousands Of lives and millions
of dollars by the exercise Of his match-
less genius.
q have given these incidents simply
as a sample of what he was doing ALI
the time, and under every general with
whom he served. No wonder the most
conspicuous and brainy officers Of the
army are eager to testify to the ster-
ling worth Of this man. They know
what he did for his country, and 1t Is
only Justice to him that the whole peo-
pie should understand how much they
are indebted to him. Just look there"
and the general pointing TO large
picture in an oak frame on the library
wall. Perhaps Autographs are not ex-
actly high art or wholly 'esthetlc,'
but l thought enough of this one to
have it framed, and it has hung there
for the past dozen years. There Is CO.
dy, surrounded by his old commanders.
Every countenance there brings to my
mind a food of "reminiscences. and [
my calling, once in a while, and I like
to look into the faces Of my old COM
rades, many of whom are dead.
Cody was as brave as julius Caesar,
and all men knew it. He had, too,
genius for command. and that ac-
counts largely for the success with
which he could deal with the most tur-
bulent spirits on the western plains,
and first and last he has commanded a
good many of them.
He never made pretensions to being
what you would call a polished gem
tleman, but he was always a gentle
man, fact to which every one in the
army will testify. You know he acted
as guide on many notable hunting ex-
petitions for generals of the army, the
grandsduke Alexis and many English
noblemen. I attribute a good. deal Of
the attention he received from the
highest classes of society while in LonI
don to the favorable impression he had
made while plotting the members Of
the nobility among the western wilds.
| English of all classes admire manli-
ness and its accompanying qualities,
and circumstances point to the fact
that they recognized them in Col. Co
dy's makeup in very marked de-
gree.
There" said the general, rising, Il
reckon I have said enough. I will go
out and look to my flowers" and the
veteran and sturdy Indian fighter dis
appeared from view "in a bower OF
roses. Boston Globe.
A LONG DISTANCE PHONE AT
CLARKSBURQ.