Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-04-15
water was so bad that the hardship Of

hot plain, covered with cactus and sage
brush and choking with alkai dust.
The wagons occasionally stuck in the
sand, and the assistance of the troop
was required to pull them out. The
men were cross and sullen. and blamed
their young COMMUNICATIVE was try
ing hard to be cheerful and improve
their temper-for every mishap.
They camped that night at one of the
holes of bad water. 1t was very bad
water indeed-brown in color, and it's
surface so swarming with sheep-hce
that neither men nor horses could
drink it with any relish.
BY the lieutenant's reckoning they
were then about G5 miles from Bolin's
ranch, where there was good we'll;
so he resolved to try to reach the ranch
by the next night. He ordered reveille
to be blown at three in the morning,
and "boots and saddles an hour later.
OF course there were more growls
when this was announced. Grumbling
was favorite pastime with the mob; ="
if there was nothing to find fault with
they were most unhappy.
trumpeter Of the troop, a mere boy, to
whom Dust had shown more than or
binary kindness, came and scratched
at the tent door. The lieutenant I'M
tied the fly. The lad saluted, looked
down at the ground a little abashed,
and finally stammered out:
''Please, lieutenant, there is an awful
hard crowd in the troop-a wicked lot,
sir. There are some that were stage
robbers and deserters, and heap of
them have been in jails. They are up
to anything, sir! If we should happen
to get jumped by Patches, the lieu
tenant would do well'-here he stopped
short and at last blurted Quito keep
back of the men, SIR
Before the young officer could reply,
the boy had saluted again and disap-
peared in the dark.
When the trumpet sounded reveille
in the morning, the lieutenant awoke
to find the camp in disorder. In some
unknown manner liquor had been OBJ
tanned, and most of the men were under
it's influence. It was nearly two hours
before tents came down, wagons were
packed and the command under way.
The officer rode far ahead of the men,
who followed in a disorderly column
across the plain. When the sun came
up it was broiling hot. There was not a
full of fine white alllali dust. Cactus,
sage-brush and sand underfoot sent
back the rays of the sun with redoubled
force. The men, heated with liquor,
suffered intensely. Horses, their
tongues lolling out, had to be goaded
to keep up the regulation gait, and the
troopers lounged and swayed in their
saddles.
The day wore painfully on. Toward
evening the troop passed small bunch
of cattle. One of the soldiers, Pat
Leary, pulled out of the ranks without
permission, and riding up to fat steer
drew his pistol and shot the beast
through the head.
Fresh beef is Il luxury in an Arizona
desert, and the men gave cheer of de-
light. The lieutenant heard the shot
and refined back. 1t was strictly against
orders to kill any stray cattle.
ne OIueIeu l4GGiy ullueT arrest
There was a murmur of disapproval
among the soldiers, and Leary himself
shouted:
''Sure I'm not going to be put in ar
rest by any shave-tail lootinant for try
ing to get dacint feed for the boys!
The lieutenant raised his voice to or
der the man to take his arms away.
i
around the officer, threatening and
protesting. He tried to draw his pistol.
but one rufiian dealt him a crushing
blow from behind, and when the lieu
tenant awoke to consciousness he was
bound with lariats to the tail OF one
OF the escort wagons.
The worst element in the troop had
cowed the non-commissioned officers,
and, with Leary at their head, the pri-
Yates were running things to suit them
selves. The steer had been CHARTERED
and thrown into wagon, and the whole
disorderly rabble started again for
Boiin's ranch, which was now but a
short distance off.
Lashed to the tail-piece of one of the
wagons, the lieutenant WAS jolted over
the prairie, filled with Indignation at
the wretched mutiny, but powerless to
qucll it. No one dared to come to his re-
lief. for the leaders rode behind him and
threatened to shoot any man who
should attempt to free him.
In this manner the mob arrived at
Bolin's ruined and deserted ranch.
They rode into an adobe corral, dis
mounted, and made rush for the well,
fighting like madmen for the water.
One after anotler-all but the little
trumpeter, who was lodging about the
wagon looking for a chance to cut the
lieutenant free-all drank their fill
eagerly Of the cold, clear water. Then
the horses were unsaddled and led out
side to water at the bad-water hole in
the prairie near the ranch.
After tying their horses to an i'm
provised picket-line, the men built a
fire and sat down to cook the steer
Leary had shot. The lieutenant re-