Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-24
STORY OF A PILE OF ROCKS.
From the Now York sun.

From the New York Sun.
"There is q pile Of rocks probably
tlfty feet in length about nine miles
from Fort Laramie, In Wyoming,
which marks the last resting place OF
a detachment OF cavalry" said a re-
tired army officer the other day. ''In
passing IL many times ] have always
experienced peculiar sengatien, for
the poor fellows who lie buried there
came to their death through the over
Jealous ideas OF young West Point
office, Inc. peri,nced in Indian fight
ing. You know il was only the other
day that young ofhcer In western
Colorado came in conflict with some
game wardens while engaged in run
ming the Uintah Utos back to their
reservation In Utah. Caution comes
with age as much in the army as in
civil life.
"It was in 1853 that old Fort Lara
mie held a garrison Of two companies
entirely too small for the post in those
lively days, when the Cheyennes and
Arapahoes, Sioux and Pawnecs were
rowing around the country at war
among themselves, and occasionally
pitching into the whites who we're
crossing the plains. 1t was the year
when Brigham Young with his band
Of Mormans was travelling out to Salt
Lake from Nauvoo, Ill. They camped
one night about nine miles from Fort
Laramie, near where a band Of Indi-
ans had established their village dur
ing the hunting season. The next day
they marched into the fort and re-
ported that the Indians had killed one
OF their cows. The commandant at
the post promptly sent young lieu
tenant out for an inspection, giving
him thirty cavalrymen.
lit was the lietenants first commits
sion for active duty, and he felt the
great Importance of the mission. He
determined Ia discover who killed
that COW or perish in the attempt.
Entering the Indian village, he rode
at the head OF his detachment up to
the chiefs tepee and began his invest
igation. Turkey Feather, the chief,
declared that no COW had been killed.
The lieutenant insisted that the Nor
mans were one cow short and de-
manded that the guilty Indian be
brought out. Several sub-chiefs were
called up and they likewise diSclaimed
any knowledge Of the COW.
"The young lieutenant insisted up
on having scapegoat delivered ever
TO him, and, pulling out his watch, he
dramatically announced to Turkey
Feather that he would give him just
nve minutes in which to deliver up
the guilty Indian, at the expiration Of
which time he would fire upon the viii
lage. This made Turkey Feather in
dign1nt, and he retired to his tent in
disgust. Without thinking Of the
consequences, the young lieutenant,
having given his word, felt himself
bound to carry it out, and, according
ly, when the 1vo minutes were up, he
gave the order 10 Ore. The Indians
greatly outnumbered the little de-
tachment, and in their auger it was
the work of few minutes to lay low
every man in that small band, includ-
ing the young lieutenant.
During the night succeeding this
massacre one surviving wounded SOL
dier picked himself up and managed
to make his way to the camp, nine
miles distant, where the story was
told. The commandant at the pest
at frat was inclined to flee from the
country with his limited force, believ-
Ing that the Indians would surround
the garrison in the morAing to obtain
revenge. While the commandant was
planning way OF escape, an Irish
private named HcGrath approached
the captain and roundly swore that he
had never run from an Indian in his
life and he did not propose to do II at
this time. His display OF grit had
such an efIect on the captain Jnab ne
decided to stay and give the Indians a
warm reception should they approach
the post. The entire garrison went on
picket duty that night, the women
taking arms also and going out to the
picket line. About neon the next day,
the Indians not appearing, the cap
tain sent trooper toward the scene
only to discover that the Indians,
frightened at what they had done, had
packed up and disappeared over the
plains. The victims Of this unfortu-
nate massacre were buried where they
fell, and that mound of rocks, visible
to this day, was erected over their
common grave"
YOS Can Believe