Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-11-04
THE MAKING Of A HERO.
How Private Won Promotion With q
Very Hot Ham.

How Private Won Promotion With 4
Very Hot Ham.
A Polish officer, now dead, who came to
the United States soon after the Russians
suppressed the Polish instruction under
General Chlopicki, in 1884, used to tell
with much zest the story of his promotion
from the ranks. He was private of cav
airy when Chlopicki's retreat began. The
troops mad made weary night march and
acre in bivouac for breakfast when scouts
brought word that they We're almost sur
rounded by a Russian force Instantly the
Poles hurried to their saddles, mounted
and sought way of escape.
The young cavalryman had been boiling
some pieces of ham for himself in a camp
kettle. Anxious to ''save his bacon" he
dumped the half boiled meat into his sad
dlebags and joined his companions. Two
minutes later his horse became FESTIVE at
a most inopportune moment, for on sur
mounting ridge the Poles had found
themselves confronted by Russian force
of infantry.
There was but one thing to be done-the
Russian line must be broken through at
once 1t was being rapidly REINFORCED. If
the Poles should fail to cut their way out
at the first charge they must all be cap
tured. On they rushed at the order to
charge, and now our young troopers horse
had become fairly frantic and quite uncon
trollable. He sprang away far in advance
Of the charging line. The rider, determin-
ing to make the best fight he could, swung
his saber, took stronger grip with his
knees, and gazed hard at the face Of the
hn 70 ha Jol
against.
just then volley hurtled into the charg-
ing line, but the foremost horse and rider
escaped unframed. A few moments and
they were upon the enemy. Usually a
horse refuses to leap at bayonets, but this
one jumped furiously at the kneeling front
rank, and such was the momentum and
fury Of the beast that the Russians just in
his front lost nerve broke and gave him
entrance.
Through the gap thus made other Poles
sprang moment later. Striking right
and left, they widened the breach, and in
ten seconds the Russian infantry was de-
moralized. The Poles escaped with slight
loss, and it was not long before the young
leader quieted his steed, dismounted and
found chance to examine his half cooled
ham.
A few hours later the Polish general of
cavalry rode up to the captain of the troop
that had so distinguished itself, compli-
mented him and said, BY the way, cap
tain, who was that splendid young officer
that led you all in2''
He wasn't an officer. That was only
one of my boys
"Not an officer! May the bullets strike
me If don't make him onel Call him out
here at once"
The general shook hands with the youth,
promoted him to a lieutenancy then and
there and gave him place on his staff.
Some days later, when the captain called
at headquarters, he sought out the new
lieutenant, whom he found dolefully con-
templating his unsaddled horse, which
had huge, raw sore on each side.
what on earth is the matter with your
horsep" asked the captain.
ooh, nothing much!'
"But what made those terrible sores?"
"The same thing that made me lieu.
tenant" said the hero. "a big chunk Of
hot ham In each saddlebag But, for the
love of the saints, don't tell the general OF
the boys YOUTHS Companion
Vindictive.
The father Of large family had been
looking over his handbook and making
calculations with summer hotel bills as the
principal data.
There's one pleasant thought that
comes at this time Of year anyhow, I" he re-
marked, with malevolent chuckle
''What Is that9" asked his wife.
"The summer resorts'll soon be entirely
deserted.
Eyes"
"And then there won't be anybody fol
the mosquitoes to devour but the land.
lord Washington Star.