The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-10

military axad~my be was Acconn4ed the
finest hosseman 81 q gr5ss, CT good riders
he Wits horse perfectly and Nheshe-
moving CARLY about his sarTn yS6tng ~
the head sf 4 s4~f pvceeri0r IL tae caps-
TAI Or III New York city. ar sesssing Ms
men in the srsrsersdosss swing and sweep
Of q e.aEAi.y charge &c 81 Ike centAgr.
l rsrsensher seeing him eaae~ during fire
horseback campaign wlsea j thought az
the us0rsenEs and have felt ever siae@. that
his picsEye would have served 81 an image
OF The god OF war IL WIS al the little
village Of Eythevigle- For days We had
been On the march through that me sec
item Of Virginia where everything Is thor
oaznbred. from the cock that crows IN the
basnyard 70 the horse that nefghs In the
paddock. AZ we progressed from one
point - another the people took delight In
*esGcsIng the finest mount possible for
Lee. lie had just been presented with q
handsome black stallion and was riding
him that day. Horse and rider were well
matched. Not . drop Of Adultesated
blood ran in the veins os either. Neither
Was what the Virginia darkies expressive
~ term a 'straIuer-' Each was thor
oughbred. AS We rode into Wythevfiis
thunder shower came up. and by the time
we reached the public place where the
crowd had gathered the rain Was pouring
down. The crowd stood out In the rain.
mos; OF them without umbrellas. Gen. Lee
was urged 10 20 In on the veraIdA OF the
hotel and speak from under shelter. He
refused. Taking OF his si0uen hat, while
the rain ssrcamed down his flowing hair
and beard ard his black charger Was
praacing under him like a fiery spirit that
seemed glad to recognize the mastery
touch on the bit. with thousands Of voices
crying Lee. Lee. Lee.' the leader said.
No, / with not go IN. / will do ~ / used
10 do Ia eamp-snare the lot OF my men.
And sitting there he made his speech Is
1t any wonder that the voice OF such q man
found its way TO the hearts OF the people
and won for him and the cause he repre-
scented a majority oe 3.o0o votes?
There is one incident OF Lees life
which I am quite sure has never been
published. As / had IL from his own lips
while we were travelling together / think
II may be regarded as absolutely anthem
tic. He Is not given to Boosting or his
achievements. ard IL II only In moments
OF rare confidence that he would tell even
a story Ike this. which in tbs lives OF
most other men would Tong ago have
found It's way into the magazines OF the
pyrss dispatches. II was back In the so =.
while Lee was serving his premiership
as second lieutenant In the Secopd cavalry.
That regiment saw some rough lighting
among the Indians In the West. and a re-
port OF Is doings could doubtless furnish
some thrilling experiences. none perhaps
more thrilling than this adventure OF Lee.
His company was pursuing a band OF hos
tile Indians through a wild and mountain
Gus country. Lee singled out an Indian
chief, spiendidly mounted. and after "a hot
exchange or civiilties gave chase to him
whip and spur. Lees fine torsemanship
told Ia his favor. though the Indians
knowledge OF the country and daredevil
riding taxed his resources TO the utmost.
Seeing himself gradually being overhauled
by his pursuer. the Indian rode abruptly
TO the side OF a sheer cliff and, TO Lees
amazemeni. leaped over the mountain
side TO apparent death. Lee followed,
ard refining in his horse. iismounted and
peered over the cliff, expecting to see the
mangled remains Of his daring foe on the
rocks below. Instead. he saw q narrow
ledge some fifteen or twenty feet down,
and 1t was 20 this last refuge that the red
chief had leaped. Lee hesitated not mo-
menf. Throwing the reins over his horses
head. he jumped and landed safely on the
narrow. rocky platform beside the Indian.
Then followed a battle worthy to be chron-
icied along with those OF McGregor Hor-
atias or Leondas At 1t they went, the
red msn and the white. II was battle
with knife and pistol. hand-to-hand fight.
n hgh, to the death. Lee would not give
the details. but when looked up and saw
him riding quietly by my side knew what
had become OF the Indian"