The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-12
ToI.e ON Fit Hurb Lee.

few days ago. when the Second Texas
Regiment of Volunteers was about TO
leave Jacksonville, the wives Of the officers
were congregated at the Windsor Hotel,
says the New Orleans Pieayune. Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee had been quite indisposed.
and was also forced to seek the comforts
of a dwelling. The day the Texas sol
diers departed the general strolled into
the breakfast room and babe farewell to
the fair Texas ladies. Hearing thew were
10 start soon for Dallas, he related the
experiences he encountered on his first
visit there.
1t was during the spring, away back near
the SOS: The troops had been having a
hard time chasing Indians. and was resi-
ing up, about 100 miles away. At this
time ten troopers were missing, with their
horses and Lieut.. Lee was placed in
charge of a detail and ordered to cap
Iure the deserters. At once the party
started, following the trail, across the
prairie, toward the eastward and Dallas.
For hours the riding was hard and at
night the little band was still in the open.
and no sign had been seen of the fugi-
tlVes-only the footprints where the
horses had passed hours before. The party
was allowed to rest just long enough to
renew life in the horse, when they re-
sumed the journey.
II Was HlEnl NHtu tlGy IGdCACu tue III
tie frontier town, but their efforts were
rewarded. The ten deserters were all
found in one of those canteens for which
the West was then famous.
They were promptly turned over to the
town marshal and locked In jail. 1t so
happened that a strolling circus had stop
ped in Dallas that night, and Lieut.. Lee
was one among those who crowded the
board seats in the big tent. The indispen-
sable clown was naturally the center OF
attraction, and years afterward this per
former became one of the best-knoWn men
in the circus ring. A number of local jokes
were of course included in his evening
entertainment. Later the young off1cer
was presented to the performer, and be-
hind the canvas separation between the
big amphitheatre and the dressing room
the two men, so differently situated, be-
came quite friendly. They strolled back
to the hotel-such as 1t was in those days
and before morning they We're sworn al
lies.
During the exchange of condolences
Lieut.. Lee promised to send on his horse
with the prisoners to a point some fifteen
miles further west where the roads divl-
ed, and there the party would wait for
the officer, he having agreed to drive out
with the clown. The circus was also NOV
ing west at daylight, and the men expect7
ed to overtake their respective travelling
Morning came, and about o'clock the
officer and clown breakfasted. A little
later the clown announced the arrival OF
his carriage. Lieut.. Lee had noticed with
surprise the number Of men and women
who had congregated on the street, but he
never suspected The cause for such a con-
gregation.
The clown had excused himself some
time before, and called from the vehicle
to the officer that arrangements were COM
plete The lieutenant strolled out Of the
rough building which enjoyed the name OF
hotel and was speechless with amusement
to see his circus friend fully equipped for
the ring, seated on the high seat of a Gu
rious red and blue vehicle which was
drawn by half dozen ponies. Then Lieut..
Lee realized that he had been caught In
trap, and would have to submit to this
practical joke. He climbed up to the high
seat and perched by the side of the paint
ed clown, who Immediately began a comic
song and did everything in his power to
attract attention. The town turned out to
see the sight, and the departure was a
memorable one. The clown was not salts
fed. but drove the officer across the miles
of rolling prairie to where the sunburned
troopers had hated. Here Lieut.. Lee was
practically turned over to his men with
fitting pomp and ceremony.
The roads divided. the clown faded away
In the blue line of the horizon, and the
young officer galloped beyond the reach OF
eye to the cavalry camp.
This was Gen. Lees first visit TO Dallas
Tex, and he has never since that day
years ago, ventured into the streets of that
little city.