The age-herald., 1898-08-02
THE HEROTSM OF
 CAPT. CAPRON

Rough Riders, who was killed in the battle of La Quasina, in Cuba. the other day,
 was very we'll known in San Francisco. The captain was thorough soldier and fighter who descended rom a family of l fighters Capron stood feet Il inches weighed 190 pounds, and was an excellent boxer. While he was out at the Presido he defeated every man who made any see- tensions of being boxer
 When we were up in Covelo, in Round Valley few years ago. saw Caron take the fire out of fresh cowboy in a style that was positively artistic" said Corporal Ratchford of Troop C, of the Fourth CaY- airy, at the Preside. Ratchford was in Troop when Capron was a non-commis- stoned officer in that command, and was a bosom friend of the Santiago hero during the early part of their military service
 Tt happened this way. Capron and I went into O'Reilleys hotel, in Covelo. and ordered a drink at the bar. A number of George Whites vaqueros were in the place and one of them made a guess that he had chance for an entertainment at the ex. pense of Capron. It was the custom uo there whenever stranger showed eimself in saloon to ask him to dance, with the alternative of stopping the contents of q six-shooter.
 "Get out there and let's see you dancs.' half-drunken cowboy shouted to Capror, rather complacently twirling a six shooter on his finger.
 "Capron turned saw the cowboy and his gun and then resumed the conversation with me- The cowboy didn't like his and he shouted again, this time lending little emphasis to the command by clicking the hammer of the revolver, Capron heard the click and evidently thought it was time to do something. He took off his belt and his campaign hat and laid them on the pa.. Then he walked quietly over to the va quero and without a word snatched the pistol and tossed it over to me. thought that might end it, but it didn't. Capron waited until he heard one or two epithcts and then he sailed into the cowboy. For a few minutes it looked as if there wol Id surely be an increase in the mortality os Covelo The last l saw of the fellow was when Capron lifted him from the floor, raised him in the air and actually pitched him through the swinging doors. The cow boy came back after while, pretty much damaged He shook hands with Capron and apologized.
 ' l thought a bronco was pretty tough he said, but some things are tougher and he looked regretfuny at Capron. 'Barkeep, gimme some whisky and a sur geon."
 Private Fisher of Troop B, who is now at the Preside, was with Captain Capron in Mendieio county in 1892, during the troubles between the Indians and cattle men. Fisher had enlisted with Capron at Fort Myer, Va, couple of years before, and the two were warm friends. "Capron was a quiet, gentlemanly sort of fellow ordinarily" Fisher said, "but he was worse than package ot cyclones when his anger rose. 1 saw q good sample of 1t in Mendicino and the incident shows also how little Capron cared about danger. He seemed to have been born without fear. and many of his actions in the quiet pest routine showed long ago that he had the making of a hero in him.
 "One day as we were 1ouneiag outside of our tents a hurley cattleman walked up near the place where Capron was sitting. He had a pistol in his belt and enough liquor aboard to make him in the mood to use 1t. Capron, who was a sergeant at that time, was in his shirt sleeves and was unarmed. The cattleman began to abuse every one within hearing, denounc d the army, and took special pains to insult Ca- pron.
 "He was invited to move on but he re- fused, Capron rose from his stool and the cattleman immediately drew his six shooter, cooked it and aimed it at the ser geant. Most men would have been a bit nervous but, even unarmed as he was. 1t didn't seem to bother capron in the least. He started toward the man, and we ex- pected every instant to see the flash of that revolver. Capron's boldness must have taken all the nerve out of the cattle man, for Capren managed to get close enough to snatch the weapon Then he mixed with his would-be murderer, and no one ever had a higher regard for the pugi- listic prowess of a United States soldier than that unfortunate cattieman when he staggered off to Coveio to count up his injuries
 Army officers and national guardsmen have not forgotten a notable incident on the Presidio grounds in the early part of 1893, when the courage and superb horse manship of Capron saved the lives of d woman and her two children. It was on morning when the First troop of Califor- nit cavalry, then under the command of Captain Blumenberg, was at drill on the large parade ground. Sergeant Capron was interested in the drill of the troopers and sat on his horse on the main road watching the evolutions. A light carriage. drawn by two spirited horses entered at the Lombard gate and proceeded in the direction of the post buildings. In the vehicle were an elderly woman and two little girls. The carriage passed Capron and when about hundred wards west of his position something scared the horses and they bolted along the drive at ter rife pace turning Into a side road and racing furiously on a broken half grade.
 Capron kicked the spurs into his horse in an instant and dashed around the slope to intercept the team. When he reached the road again the team was approaching on a mad galop. The officer saw no time could be lost if the lives of the woman and children were to be saved. At the risk of his own life he trotted into the center of the road and waited for the collision with the team. The two carriage horses con- tinued their wild run, and in a few mo- ments crashed against the troop horse of Capron. He dropped his own reins, and, leaning over his horses head, caught both runaways by the bridle. The three horses reared and fought. Capron was lifted out of the saddle, but he held the bridle reins and compelled the nfuriated animals to stop The carriage was badly danaeed.