The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-10
SERGT. WIN. WILSON.
A BRAVE INDIAN FIGHTER WHO
DIED RECENTLY AT PREsTDIo.
One of His Exciting Scouting Cam
pafgns I'm Arizona. when He cap
fured an Entire Indian Camp ana
Wa. Given q Medal fer Hi. Ser
vices.

BY the death OF Sergt- William ~AstA'
which occurred recently AZ Lhs rEssi@ao
Aarrscks. OF san francisco. the United
stat@s loeE ore Of It's bravest ana most
fearless soldiers. ard the ssTsIce pToIal-
rrnt and peculiar character. wilson was
known 70 every man IN the army. Ills
history formed an important part o. TIE
history Of the famous FOURTH as re
nad woven about = the daring ann gar
lsntxy that nad formed his adventurous
earssr In tbs saddle. Besides, ne enjoyed
tie distinction OF being the only man In
the United States army TO whom congress
had voted Two medals OF honor. Enleh
were awarded 20 Wilson for notable gar
gartry displayed on Two occasions curing
-he Indian campaigns. To tn4s the sex
e~ant owed much, a. it was a password
v7ach ne could Utilize 20 good effect Hash-
ever el-~~,rn. noes demanded. Ills faults
were invariably overlooked BY tns CON-
xuardkng aGlcsr, and his oaenses-sucn as
would have assured many another o.
good term In the guard house, Win Pc
lice duty thrown in-weEe passed a.
trivial whers the chevrons OF another
would have individuality have fallen. VIZ
son was allowed 20 retain mis-, without
having 20 undergo even the modification
NJ 4 reorfEaand This was due 20 the Isct
that his past was so closely conneetra
with that OF the regiment that, were ne
iurnillA ed. 70 the officers. II seemed TOO
r1gch Ike bringing upon the untaihtea
records Of the Fourth a disgrace that
could as vel De avoided by allowing the
customary slrsctness Of discipline 70 SUI
Ter slight relaxation
wilson's career as a soldier began snort
IL after the suppression OF the reoe4aloh'
vaen ne became private Of Troop 10
rcurtb cavalry. IN which he remained up
20 me time Of his death Being apt, ana
early displaying a thorough knowledge or
an "A
stoned officer, he was not long IN winning
the cneyr0ns Of "a corporal Ia that ca
taeltg he remained until the opening or
tho Indian campaigns. when ne was pro-
melted 70 skin sergeant, from which posi-
ton b. rose rapidly. and ere me cainpalsh
vas well on ne had had The diamond OF
The first sergeant added 10 his cheVFons.
Having secured the confidence of Gen.
Mckenzie. under the command OF whom
the Fourth cavalry operated. Wilson vas
often intrusted with important nndertak-
tngs and he WAS not long IN demonstrate
ing that the trusts were placed IN EN-
Client hands. When the devilish Apache
kia. and his Tight-hand chief, the tacncAl
Geronimo, were terTorizing the southwest.
when the Klowas and the COmanches
were in the midst OF their terrible depre-
dstions and when the murderous Red
Eagle and his bloodthirsty followers were
leading the cavalry a merry chase over
the entire South, Wilson was in the held
Ills nerve was remarkable in the heat o.
action. and his unerring Judgment in fol-
lowing a tran and his GOODNESS and intre-
ridlty often proved OF great value to the
officers, among whom he was considered
Is the best scout Ia the entire South.
During the summer OF 1870 the Fourth
cavalry and two regiments OF infantry,
under the command of Gen. Mckenzie
were stationed at Fort Grant, Ariz,
awaiting ordera to take the field. Rumors
OF fresh depredations committed by Red
Eagle and his murderous band OF ktowas
and comanches reached the fort every
day. Late In July, when these rumors
had attained an alarming significance
Gen Mckenzie sent on; two troops or
cavalry in the hope that they might en-
counter the redskins, but a week later the
4roops returned without having 50 much
as found an old trail. Finally Il was de-
eieed TO send out a scouting party, wen
provlsioned and ACQUIRED. which should
remain In the field until they had learned
something definite as 20 the whereabouts
OF the Indian stronghold. which was
thought to be somewhere in the Cochise
country, then almost unknown 10 the
white man There the Indians could
hide In almost perfect safety when press
"a too closely By the troops.
Accordingly a detail was made up OF
sixty picked scouts and placed under the
command Of Sergt. Wilson
Sergeant" said Gen. Mckenzie. when
the detail had been named, Il rely on
,cur experience anS ability 10 locate the
indians and on your judgment 10 refrain
from engaging IN any skirmishes. In fact
your orders are to avoid firing a shot IL II
ia possible without endangering the lives OF
your men"
yes. str" replied Wilson. as no saluted
and left headquarters.
The next morning before "reveille" had
rcruded over The quarters the scouts had
Left the fort. and, urging their horses 10 a
STEADY galop, started over the trail that
winds iis sinuous course into southeast
ern Arizona, on an expedition that, ere II
had come 10 A close. demonstrated the
remarkable nerve and the wonderful pre-
vlglon of Wilson and won FOR him the first
uecdal OF honor
The third day ont fortune favored the
scouts and shey came upon a fresh tran
l,aalng into the West. Everything indl-
Gated rat q had been made couple -
oayS previous. Eagerly the troopers took
81 up They needed not the oppressive
noon-dsy sun that beat down upon the
Stunning waste az Sand spreading away &c
che south and 20 the west as FAR as the
eye could reach Miles ahead OF them
the soldiers could discern no living thing
Tho sane rolling. uu3uiattuE desert, save
where stra ggiluE bun0heS OF Cactl arose
here ard there 20 vary the psrchinE mo-
rctnuy. was revealed 70 the field glasses.
over the hc8t-crusted sand the horses
censeyca The muffed beat % their hoofs
and The claukinE ~ the swinging sabers
arstnst the aauszles OF the slunE carblues
was al that might serve 70 indicate the
gtcsance OF living beings where but Ilttie
- -matioa could ind existence. FOR 20 vas
100 hot for conversation The troopers
bad Invested themselves OF all their cloth
inE except their chin shirts and Right
trousers. About their uecks were tied the
trc big "handanas" while their faces
we're shaded by the rolling sonYhrcro that
bad given place 20 the regulation cam
T. xs raJ as she latter had proved only
TO Inadequate 20 protect the men from
I t0s roasted alive Covered from head
& soat by the parchinE sand dust that
srsse in q stationary cioud enveiopiug az
g. fhe horses passed over q. the cavalry
men pr--ctrd farlorn appearance
}evgy aow aod eheu trooper wet hts lips
{ an the caat~rn thar hung on The saddle
SchlBd alm wale Aslt had 20 D. made
every hsur % allow the ho~sc~z a breath
fuE spea fFut1 tAs officiating dust Yet
g. was piasu t1at g water VAS nor soon
discovered 81 Eca teii ar The horses ana
10cn. IS 1ne~e Nos b4t il.s1e lser ln tne
barrel Ga TIE haraNce wagon. Than. TOO
before tha afternoon w9s more thaa haIf
advanced. CHE stems esg1gue more IRE
oueat and the gatJgH1e % the horses -ro-r
apparent
The sun wss iuss Disappearing rr,7, ere
horizon. when after an inteat survey o.
tet.r environments. Wilson G-s-s-rs.s ,r
she distance otEnS % vcrfure that ~ra,f
49, pes a3y exist weTe 81 aas in ace lsnrae-
& .e Vteal-y - water oaee ware 5Ae