The morning times., 1896-05-17

copyrighted, SS6, by W a Gurus
When the news arrived that 400 con-
yicts had broken out from the stockade
at the ClarksOn mine and Were marching
toward the academy to seize its 90
Springfield rifles. moi one OF the faculty
was on the grounds and the responsibility
of the necessary immediate action fell
upon the senior cadet captain. AL tut three
of the stockade guards had been killed
or wounded and one Of these had ridden
Oh to The academy parade ground just
as the sergeant OF the guard was dismis-
sing the punishment squad at hair pas,
five.
In a moment the drummers Were beat
ing the long roll and the buglcs sounded
"to arms q call which the battalion
had never heard before and did not un-
derstand. save that it's frantic blares
could be nothing else than notes OF dire
alarm, and from every part of the school
domain cadets came running at the top
of their speed, and in five minutes all OF
the hundred We're in line and the cXCit-
ing roar Of the drums was still.
Within fifteen minutes from the arrival
of the messenger the cannon had been
spiked and the battalion bearing Tie
muskets and followed by the school de
livery wagon loaded with Sabres and
swords was cn route for the country town.
The adjutaut and tcnot hers upon the horses
that constituted the mounts of The cavalry
squad Of the school were to serve as 4 rear
guard. They We're To- rae a mule or 20
behiud the column. ready 10 give warming
OF the approach Of the ConviCts. The
cadets started out briSkly. though il was
the supper hour, and had covered three
miles before one of the rear guard came
gaIoping with the news that the conviCts
had Just reached the school.
When mile on the road, it had occurred
to the adjutaut that the ammunition
should have been destroyed before the
retreat began. Indeed, il the ammunition
had been destroyed. the arms might have
been left with no fear that The c0nvictS
would use them. SO the rear guard hurried
hack Ia see the COuyicts drawn up before
the armory with their leaders distributing
the 1900 cartridges OF the school among
them.
There Were only two mounted men with
them for tie messengers sent out by the
surviving sto, kade guards had particularly
warned the fGrners to take their horses
with them in their Tight. As soon rs the
ammunition was distributed the cOnyicts
were IN motion again and on the trail of
the cadets. for the marks OF 20O feet were
easily disccrnhlc in the road.
A DESPERATE CHANCE.
Five miles of the seventeen had been
covered and the supperIeSs boys began
to flag. The bad boys, accustomed 10 end
less tramping on the punishment squad,
We're marching Well, but the good boys,
especially the good small boys, We're shu W
ing Signs OF Iaugue. The occasional mes
6eiigcIs between tue Fear guard and main
DOuy observed JudJ the COnvICUs We're
gaming rapidly. MouIu they overJake
the boys before the alarm could reach the
country town ana DrIHg aII 10 meet Lneiu?
Something must be done.
The rear guard tore up the boards OF
CuiNcrJ, Dut tue ConNICIs WaIkeu around
it ANA merc III DO wise delayed. They
attempted 10 destroy the bridge over Il
IUUir creek, bat a lew bullets whistling
arGuau lueIr ears caused them TO retire
abruptly. EIgnL miles had been nIaTcned
and the long summer twilight has deep
ened InJo mgnt. The battalion was but
han mile ahead of The rear guard now,
the ConvICLs but d mile behind. Ii The
cadets could make another three miles be-
lore beng overJaken Iney ought to meet
succor from the country town, but they
would soon be OYerLaken unless something
was done TO delay the neighing and tramp
ling oI many horses. The rear guard naited
The convicts would seize these horses and
speedily oyertake the cadets
Halo. the houseI'' shouted the adiu-
tant.
Halo, yourself!'' responded a voice.
We re tie rear guard OF the military
academy running away from the convicts
with the academy arms
This is Major CaTringtons stock farm
and i'iu JOHN Darlington. Everybody was
away when the news came and they sent
noe back to drive the Eorses away. I'm
getting ready TO turn them into the road
ana SShu them flying TO keep the ConyiCtS
from getting them"
Don't do 1T. You'll run our BOYS down
and the borscs VIII turn back and the con.
VIcts SStmost or them manyway. Howmany
are thcre?''
lone hundred and ten. ! was going to
turn Them loose and ride behind them and
Iarrup them AT = great rate and boy ol
seventeen rode up TO the rear guard.
Il say. said the scrgeant-na ior, whats
the matter With driving them the other way
and run the convicts down We've. go,
Go do something TO stop them, or they'll
overtake u.s."
II tell you what. they'll think it's cav
airy attacking them,'' said the bugler
The y'rc on the lookout for the militia. and
it's too dark 10 see anything. and Wen ride
behind shouting and bugling, and they'll
think the troops are down on them sure"
I'VE could drive them through that cut
nc the top of the hill there just when the
convicts were at the foot on the other side
and the y'd come out four abreast in q solid
column and break right through the con