, 1897-10-06
SAVED BY THE MULE.
THE LlEUTeNANT'S STORY OF A
FIGHT WITH INDIANS.

Frisky Had Learned by Experience. and
He Knew When There Was DanEcr-Fla-
herty Took Command, ani He and the
Mule Paid on an Old score.
About 90 years ago, when there were
but few railways in the western states and
territories, the United States mail was car.
ried in saddlebags on what We're called
pack mules. The riders were young men.
carefully selected for their bravery, fear
lessncss and activity. The animals were
changed Mt stations about 25 miles apart,
so that they were always in good condition
to run If necessity required it, which was
often the case. as the country was swarm
ing with MexicaHs and lndinns.
Bentrcn, u brave young lrishmnn with
Indinn blood in his veins, was chosen for
the road between Camp v. Arizona, and
n town on the border of New Mexico, and
for more than II year escaped the snares
II trcacherous traps that were laid for
him. One cold day in February, 1875,
when n heavy mist not only made things
cheerless and gloomy, hut threw such IL
veil over the eifrth that it WAS impossible
to SEQ any object more than u few feet
away, Benteen started on his customary
long ride. When or how the Indians sur
prised him was never known. His body
was found in the entrance of Sunset pass
by II squad of cavalry sent from Camr Y
riddlea with bullets and arrows, and near
it lny three dead Indians, showing that he
had sold his life dearly. The mule gal
Hoped into Camp V. two days later and
fell exhausted in front of the barracks,
with mailbags untouched save by the
blood that had flowed from the bullet hole
in his side. He was put In II comfortable
stall in tho cavalry stables, ana. owing to
the skill OF the veterinary surgeon, in ad-
dition to the best of food and care. he soon
grew strong and fit for light work. During
his sickness the soldiers became so attached
to him that the post quartcrmastcr made
All effort and succeeded in buying him.
Ono year later l had the good fortune to
be ordered east On temporary duty in
Washington. Though | had bcon in Ari-
IONA but six months. | was heartily tired
of that dcsolatc country and fully deter.
mined to let no obstacle delay mo in the
trip That was taking me to my native cit.
We left Camp v. in an ambulance drawn
by four mules. Soon after starting found
that one of the leaders WIS the pack male
l have mentioned. He had fully recovered,
and had been named Frisky by the soldiers
on account Of his exubCrunt spirits.
In tho ambulance with me was the driv-
er ard un old soldier whose name was
Flahorty. Behind US was an army wagon
packed with our luggage, raglons and for
age for the mules. 1t was guarded by an
escort Of eight rrivntcs, with sergonnt and
corporal. risky was as lively us u young
kitten and seemed none the worse for the
hole in his side. On the fourth days
travel, soon after starting, FriSky began
to sniff, prick W his ears and tremble.
Flaherty turned toward me, snluted and
said in n half apologize voice: Beg par
don for throublin yc, lootinint, but think
it will be wise to halt II bit and take n
look ut the country. Frisky scints the
red men, and you niver can dec,iye him
on thin"
The driver slackencd the speed OF his
team and looked ut mo for an order to
stop. l had been but one year and II hal.
from West Point. l had quite an opinion
of my sell and my Judgment, and | thought
l knew far more OF Indians thnn old Flah-
erty, who had been In the service nearly 80
years. Tho mule continued to net like II
frightened child, and about noon refused
to go by throwing himself on the ground
regardless OF harness and brnying in the
loEdcst tones. Tho men tried cDaxiug,
then the whip, but all to no avail. "He
Spikes the thruth in his way, lnotinint
said Flalierty in what seemed tn me n pat
ronizing tono. Wed better prepare for
an attack. I'm an old soldier, sir, and !
know phwat an Indian surprise is. 1t
names throuhle. Pardon mo, loDtinint,
for tryin to give me comInandin uif'cCr
orders"
l felt very foolish and angry when l
found myself obeyins Flahcrty and stop
ping my command for the rrrnks Of u
Inulo. l ordered the men TO make u bar
ricadc Of sand md s%agebush branches
and corrallcd our mules behind Il: IN
front Of them wo pnt the ambulance am
waaon for lis to hid behind, so ms to k.Cl
from the enemy the fact hat we numic,,
only 10 all told. Wo remained in It
wnrlikc attitude for nearly an hour. Then,
disguised with what I thought my folly, |
Rave orders for tho mules to be larnessci
and our command to move on. The words
wero scarcely out of my mouth when,
CHANGING toward the road leading to our
left, | saw Il cloud of sand. l turned to
Flnhertr, who stood by my side eying ne
reproachfully and sullenly. whats tini?"
l asked. ITS the red men that Trisky
and said were coming, sir. 'Tis the be-
ginnin Nv the circus"
| In II few moments we were surrounded
by about SO %hidouusiy painted Indians on
their ponies, gallnping around us ana Civ
ing us the full benefit Of their wnrliisr
yclls. Fortunately they were not ms web
armed as wo were. If they had been, on,
time in this world would have 'ren short
AS 1t was, our men had to1ipht hLr tIpsrs.
The struggle lnsteu "a little less than III
hour. During tint time ! lived through
days. 1t was nll so new. strange and lurri-
klN m ,.c ,-,, I,,e 60 and ,..,- ,.,.al 81
u boy ut that. My youth and in,xTcri,ncc
seemed strangely out of keeping with n:
attempts to give riders to men who Int
| spent more than half their lives fighting
Indians. So, aft.r giving Ii few, l turned
the plan Of iattery over to the sergeant
and Flahcrty, The latter WINS In his ,lr.
ment md showed the greatest courage,
GOODNESS and clear headodncsS ! have ever
seen. After every shot he fired he would
| call out In slow tones: Faith, nm Is it me
red scalp ye wan to ~illcwminntc yer wig:
wamsf Well, take n pace Of cowld lead in
sthead." "Coom u littEle closer, yc rcd
snakes. Frisky an me want to pay n debt
we owe e." And he would fire away dclib.
erntely, with sure and deadly aim. Owing
to his bravery and that of the other MN
we came out conquerors.
The men lost no time in Harvesting the
mules, packing the Wagon and moving
on. After the last Indian had disappeared
Friaky regninctl his customary spirits and
activity and was the hero Of the hour, for
we all appreciated the fact that had 1t not
been for his warning We would have been
inassacred In the wagons. That night We
put % miles between us and the bpttle-
field. and save for n slight flesh wound on
my nrm and a Rrazed spot underneath
T kInhHPfC'n rod hair we wpra mona tho