Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-05
AS WARRIORS DIE.


 file toward an elevation on tho prairie near the agency. They were condemned to die, and 1t was the hour for the execution. They had been in rebellion against the government When the grass was long and the streams were full, their savage natures could not bear restraint. They left the agency, and blood and fire marked their course The rebellion was suppressed. The leaders sulzed briefly incaptiyity, and when the sentence of death was pro nounced they had but one request to make. They asked no mercy of the white man. They did not seek to avoid the death sen tence They asked only to die in their own way-not as criminals, with manacled hands and blinded eyes, but astride their ponies, with warpaint on their cheeks and hrows, guns in their hands and tho warcry of the Sioux on their lips--to die as warriors die.
 The commanding officer saw a grim humor in the request and told them 1t was granted. To each was given his horse, his gun and blank charge of ammunition.
 Around the base of the rising ground were the United States troops-veterans in savage warfare. There were no holiday soldiers in these ranks. The helmet of parade and the fatigue cap of the garrison life had given place to tho white slouch hat of field duty now soiled and battered. Their uniforms were faded and worn and stained by the earth and the clements. Sun and wind had burned their faces al- most to blaokness. The scared mark of tho bullet was on many cheeks. The scar of the knife and blue powder burns on others told of conflict at short range.
 Nothing of the pride and pomp of war was seen. The only brightness of their arms was from usage. Near the battle scared and weather stained dismounted troopers of the Seventh cavalry were tho black fighters of the Ninth-the Buffalo soldiers,' as they are called by the Apa- ohes, with whom they have had to cope on deserts of Arizona, plains and canyons of New Mexico, and in the recesses of the Mo gollon mountains. No outward sign indi- cated the impatience of the troops, but hate burned in their hearts and flashed from their eyes. Comrades were missing from their ranks. Thoughts of them cleared their vision and steeled their nerves as they watched the ponies of the Indians move forward on a slow walk.
 The sun blazed in tho sky but faint breeze, cooled by the snows on the noun tain range, modified the intensity of his rays, waved the prairie grass into a re- semblanoe of ocean nipples and called forth nodding welcome from the blood red loco flower. hawk circled high in tho air as the doomed trio moved forward. A coyote leaped into view from behind a sage brush. The gaunt, gray vagrant of tho plains-the renegade of beasts-stared but a moment at the renegades of human. ity who had disturbed his slumber and trotted away toward the mountain, lick ing his chops and casting hungry and frightened looks behind
 The Indians have reached the summit and dismounted. They seem to be holding a consultation. Their ponies are grazing beside them
 Softly, gradually the death song of tho Sioux is borne by that snow cooled breezo to the ears of the soldiers They watch tho swaying forms of the Indians as the wall rises higher. There is solemnity as well as ferceness in the scene. There is pathos, despite tho bitter hatred on both sides. The chant of tho braves swells into a vol ume of sound and then sinks into sigh.
 For a second there is absolute silence. 4'
 A yell, terrible in It's shrillness, oleaves the stiffness. Itis the warcry of tho Sioux.
 The death song has ended in the battle shout. As the lightning leaps from cloud the Sioux leap to their horses and face the troops Again that savage cry goes up, and the three Brules dash in mad fury down the hill straight toward the gleaming rifles of thousand men in blue.
 Tho line is apparently motionfess. Tbe Indians ponies are stretched to full speed. They, too, know the meaning of that yell of defiance, and they spring toward the troops as if they could trample them under their unshod feet and carry their red riders to safety beyond.
 Tho Sioux are coming within range. They braDdish their guns. Then one of them fires The discharge of tho blank cartridge Is scarcely heard above the war cry. The long lines of blue seem to move.
 Mako readyP'
 The command is in a cool, calm voice It is repeated down the line until the last man has heard and obeyed.
 Tho Sioux come rushing on. The brides dangle on the ponies necks. With their guns swinging in the air, the Indians are shouting maledictioDs.
 sTake aimp' comes the cold, methodical command.
 Tho Sioux see the barrier of steel. A thousand rifle muzzles are directed at their breasts. Two puffs of smoke tell that the last of the blank cartridges has been dis. charged. With renewed yclls the three Brulcs urge their ponies to their utmost burst of speed. They are now within easy range. Tho great daubs of paint on their faces can be plainly seen by the troops Their eyes flash with excitement and defi ance their long coils of black hair float backward as the ponies leap forward. It is superb picture and the commander of the forces feels for moment it's wild, tragic effect. It is only for a moment.
 tFirel''
 A sheet of flame, cloud of white, slow ly rising smoke, and three riderless ponies, one of them lame, gallop wildly about with their heads high in the air and then pause to crop tho luxuriant grass.
 A great nation is avenged. d.-Richard Linthicum in Short Stories.
 Dr. Barrow and Lord Rochester.
 Dr. Barrow and tho profigate Lord Rochester meeting one day at court while