Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-02-16
WON A COMMISSION.

mating the sandy plain around the fort as
only the moon in Arizona can illuminate.
The officers, soldiers and their families
were peacefully sleeping Not sound
was heard, except the occasional cry Of q
coyote.
Three O'Clock struck, and the sentinel
on post No. started the CALI
mo. /, o'clock, and all's we'll"
A slight pause, and No. responded:
''No. 2, o'clock, and all's welll'
Then came long pause
The sergeant of the guard stepped out Of
the guardroom and listened.
1.-The sentinel on No. 3must be asleep"
he remarked. bad business for sentinel
guarding tho corral"
Turning to No. 1, he commanded:
Start the call again"
No. obeyed. No. 2 took it up. But
there again it ended.
The sergeant turned out patrol and
marched to the corral.
AS he approached the sentinel's post in
the moonlight he saw the figure of No. 8
stretched out on the ground. The position
did not look like that of sleeping man.
Double time!' commanded tho SER
geant.
And the patrol came down tho post at q
run.
AS the men came closer to the figure
sight met their eyes that froze the blood
in their veins.
Lying face down in the sand, his hand
still grasping his rifle, was their comrade,
stiff and cold in death, an Apache arrow
buried deep in his body.
Three sharp cracks Of the rifle, the rat
tie Of the long roll of the drum, soon
brought the startled garrison to the spot.
Scouts were instantly sent out and the
plain thoroughly secured, but no Indian
signs could be found.
The next day, with muffled drums, the
members of the garrison followed the body
Of their comrade to its last resting place.
With uncovered heads, sorrowfully and
reverently, they listened while the post
chaplain read the burial service. The mill
tary escort fired three rounds over the
grave, and the bugler played the sweetest
of all calls, "Taps-lights out-sleep."
Naturally gloom was thrown over tho
whole post
The soldiers gathered in small groups
and discussed the perplexed question,
'How could it have been doneS" The
moon had been shining brightly, and there
was no cover behind which an Indian
could conceal himself.
The searching parties came In after
fruitless hunts
The corral was in an exposed place, but
the animals had to be guarded.
Night came. There would be no lack
Of vigilance on the part Of the sentinel on
post No. 8. The moon was even brighter
than on the preceding night, and the OBJ
jects on the plain could DO seen almost as
distinctly as in the daytime.
Each half hour the call Of No. was
promptly answered by the other sentinels
Few expected repetition Of the proceed
ing nights cowardly attack Gradually
the garrison became silent, and one by
one the lights went out.
Some of the more nervous awoke every
half hour, listened until all the sentinels
had responded to the call, then dropped
asleep again.
Morning came, and nothing had happen |
ed to disturb the peace Of the little fort.
Several days passed, and the post settled
down into it's old ways, and the memory
Of the dreadful event was beginning to
fade.
The officer Of the day was making the
inspection of the sentinels after midnight,
and was approaching post No. 8, when the
moon, which had been hidden behind
the very feet of the officer the body of the |
sentinel, as before, completely pierced by
an Indian arrow.
The alarm was quickly given, but in
spite Of the most careful search no trace Of
the assassin could be found
A horror settled over the post No one
dreaded an enemy they knew and could
fight openly, but against such ghostly at
tacks no one could defend himself.
At officers call the next morning ths |
affair was earnestly discussed. 1t was evil |
IDENTIFY wrong to require q sentinel to walk |
post in such IN exposed and dangerous |
place, and yet, with the corral where it |
was, no one could see how it could be |
avoided.
While discussing tho problem an orderly
appeared and reported:
Private Rogers would like to speak to
the commanding officer"
The commanding officer went into his |
private office, and after the interview re-
turned to the room where the officers were
assembled and announced:
Young Rogers has asked permission to |
take charge of post No. 8 at night until he |
solves the mystery, and have granted his
request. /"
The faces Of the officers showed plainly
the anxiety they felt.
Young Rogers was the son Of brother |
captain in their regiment, who, at that T
time, was stationed in an eastern city on
recruiting service
The young man had enlisted six months
previously with the object of obtaining an
officers commission, which may be won
by worthy and capable man.
The young fellow had gained the esteem
and respect Of every one by his manly
qualities and strict obedience to orders.
Many Of the officers had known him from
his childhood. He had been the playmate
Of their children and great favorite with
all.
Later on many tried to persuade him to
withdraw his request.
Take the post II II falls to your lot, but
don't volunteer" they pleaded.
1t was no use. The young man had Z
theory, and If he proved 1t and discovered
the assassin he knew that he would get
his coveted commission.
He was excused from all duties during |
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