The evening times., 1898-09-26

a COW puncher in the lot. OF course, they
done fine work at Santiago, but / wish't
we'd bin there But we didn't have no
pull
AS matter of fact, Grigsby's men were
picked lot of fne-riding, hard-fighting,
deep-drinking, lOud-swearing chaps. They
had ridden the Western cattle ranges and
fought Indians and cattle rustlers. and a
good many of them had been" shot up
more than once In the ranks were sew
eral men of large means, who had enlist
ed out of pure adventure, expecting TO
get chance 10 fight. These chafed at
camp life, and didn't enjoy their soldier
ing very much. Many OF the officers were
mine owners in the Black Hills or the
proprietors of large cattle ranges in Mon
tana and the Dakotas. Among the off,
GERS were several men who had led ex-
tremely adventurous lives, and whose his
tories would rival the most lurid of dime
novels.
Col. Grigsby is q lawyer and was not
much of a rider, rough or otherwise. He
used 20 be attorney general of South Da-
kota, and when the volunteer army be-
gan enlisting he went to Washington and
was given permission to raise a regiment
OF Western rough riders. He was prom
ised that they should go to Cuba at an
early date, so he telegraphed to men he
knew in Montana, the Dakotas Nebras-
ka and Wyoming to raise troops The
men he chose were those whom he knew
to have influence and who had had a
good deal of rough border experience AS
result he got together just what was
wanted, a lot of cow men" or COW
punchers, as they call themselves.
The senior major of the regiment is
man with picturesque early Western
career, but who is now, at thirty-five
years of age, successful surgeon in the
city of Washington. His name is Lehigh
H. French.
Major French is one of the Apollos of
the army. He is two inches over six feet
tall, and he rides like a centaur. His
stable at Camp Thomas contained num-
Der of valuable thoroughbred horses,
which he brought from Washington with
him Here is a story of Major French's
early career, which he seldom mentions:
Twelve years ago newspaper CORES
pondent-the one who is writing this
story-was in Lincoln, Neb. Across the
street from the hotel at which he was
stopping was. a small circus, camped on
a vacant lot. After supper one evening
he strolled across the street to the show
paid the 10 cents admission and went in.
Near the entrance stood tall and eX-
tremely handsome and snowy young
man. His golden brown hair hung on
his shoulders in curls. His mustache
and imperial rivalIed Buffalo Bilrs in
his palmiest youth. He was a hand
somer and shower man than the IA
nous Cody ever was. His dress was
as gorgeous as his person.
On his head he wore a faring SON.
brero. His black velvet coat, white doe
skin breeches and high vanished boots
were perfect of their kind. The news
paper man and this fascinating person,
! who introduced himself as Mr. French
| the manager of the show soon struck
up an acquaintance. The show itself
| was in the last throes of dissolution 1t
had just returned from Mexico, where
all the ring horses had died of mys-
terious disease. The show left for
Omaha that night. and the newspaper
man went with il. The owner of the
circus was Billy Monroe, and his wife, a
/ handsome woman of more than thirty
years, was the bareback rider Monroe
| was very Ill. and died soon afterward.
| French married his widow, who was
! thirteen years his senior.