Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-03-07


cred himself with glory. Everybody
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 a 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 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 disInay inter1ningled! Tel
egram followed telegram, that which
came from the general late in the day
binding Col. Thornton's eyes: ''The
regiment g1ories 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!
with what emotion did they read Perry's
modest pencil scraw1, bidding them
ascribe all credit to letters and give all
gratitude to Schramm! with what fiut-
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 imperilled troopers, Of
his heroic effort to save poor Schultz's
body, of the daring and devotion Of
Trooper Schramm, of the enthusiastic
praise the little detachment lavished
on their young lieutenant! Here at
least was Perry the hero of the Indian
| campaign, the future leader in many
or10 y,
| to drop in upon a little coterie OF old
campaigners, receive their hearty con-
CALCULATIONS, 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 Jife-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
northeast, Strengthening out another
scuabole, 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, just about the time that
No. went wh1stling down the grade,
shooting sharp curves of Antelope
Fork after leaving the colonel to be re-
ceived by the quartermastera at Pawnee
station. His first question was for
news of his boy, who was doing splen,
did1y, 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. Schramn
comes in at the same time, poor fellow
He's got an ugly touch of fever, DIR
French wires, and they want to get
him to the hospital as soon as possible
The death OF his friend Schultz seem:
to have been hard blow"
ST wish they'd let me take him home
with u.s. said Col. Thornton, with g1is
tening eyes. 81 know a little woman
who followed the drum many long
year with me, and two pretty girls a!
ever were born under the fag-if it i
their father who says it-who would
be only too happy to spend nights and
days for weeks to come nursing tina
young gentleman back to life. Do yol
know him at aJl?''
!, ''Only by sight, sir. He was quite
|. . character at the post, owing to his de
|, votion to Capt. Morgan, who helped
r + + i