The Meeker herald., 1896-12-19
Aa ms.oLuMTARY HERO.
Two fieces Of Hot Ham Won an OGcer'
pnnu,ottou.


Two fieces Of Hot Ham Won an OGcer's
Promotion.
4 Polish officer, now dead, who came
to the United States soon after the
Eusgians suppressed the Polish insur-
rcction under Gen. Chlopicki, in 1851,
used to tell with much zest the story OF
his promotion from the ranks. He was
q private OF cavalry when Chlopicki's
retreat bcGar- The troops had made
weary night march, and were in
biyouac for breakfast when scouts
brought word that they were almost
surrounded by Russian force. In
stantly the Poles hurried to their sad
dies, mounted and sought way of es-
cape.
TIE young cavalryman had been bull
ing some pieces of ham for himself in
camp kettle. Anxious to save his
haccn." he dumped the half-hollcd
incat into his saddle bags and Joircd
his companions. Two minutes later his
horse became restive, at q most mop
FORTUNE moment, for on surmountlng q
ridge the Poles had found themselves
confronted by Russian force of in.
fantry.
There was but one thing to be done.
The Russian line must be broken
through at once. 1t was being rapidly
reinforced. II the Poles should fail to
cut their way out at the first charge
they must he all captured.
On they rushed at the order TO charge,
and now our young troopers horse hal
| become fairly frantic and quite uncon-
trollable. He sprang away far in ad-
vance of the charging line. The rider
determining to make the best fight he
could, swung his saber, took stronger
grin with his knees and gazed hard at
the face of the Russian he expected 10
be launched against.
Just then volley hurled into the
charging line, but the foremost horse
and rider escaped unharmcd. A few
moments and they were upon the
enemy. Usually horse refuses to
leap at bayonets, but this one jumped
furiously at the kneeling front rank,
and such was the momentum ana fury
of the beast that the Russians just in
his front lost their nerve, broke and
gave him entrance.
Through the gap thus made other
Poles sprang moment later. Striki'S =
right and left, they widencd the breach
and in ten seconds the Russian infantry
was denoralized. The Poles escaped
with slight loss. and it was not long be-
fore their young leader Guieted his
stced, dismounted and found chance
10 cNuuinr uaIr-cooIcu ni:uI.
A few hours later the Polish general
of cavalry rode up to the captnin OF the
troop that had so distinguished itself
mplincnted him and said: "Dy tie
way, captain. who was that splendid
young officer who led you ~ ;u?"
He wasn't an officer; that was only
one of my l;7ys."
"No. an officer! May the bullets
strike me if don't make him one! Call
him out here at once"
Tho general shook hands with the
youik. promoted him to the lieutenant
cy then and there and gave him n place
on lis steff.
Some days Inter, when the captain
called at headquarters, he sought out
the new lieutenant, whom he found
doicfully contemplating his unsaddled
horse. which had huge, raw sore on
each side.
What on earth is the matter with
your horsc?" asked the captain.
"oh, nothing much!"
"But what made these terrible
sores?'
"Tbc same thing that made me q
lieutenant" said the hero. "a big chunk
Of hot ham in eaclrsaddle bag; but 70,
the love OF the saints, don't tell the
general or the boys."-Youth's Com.
panion.