The herald., 1898-09-18
KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH SLIM
Apache Sent tor Make Treaty With >
Chorus of Hymn

Just at present the men most talked
about in Cincinnati are the officers of
the Sixth infantry, who went down be-
fore the awful rain of Spanish bullets
at Santiago, and to many of their friends
who are accustomed to meet them at the
Gibson House, which was the headquar
ters Of the officers when on this side Of
the river, 1t seems hard to realize that
several of the best ones are dead. Lieu
tenant Ords death has occasioned par
ticular regret. He was the son Of Cen
eral Ord of the regular army, and wished
to adopt the profession of arms, but was
unable to get an appointment to West
Point. He enlisted in the ranks and won
his commission in that way. As cav
alryman he had a great many adven-
lures, serving in a number Of Indian
campaigns.
1t was when he was a sergeant and
was with General Miles in the campaign
against Geronimo that he was detailed
to carry dispatches from Miles to one
of the officers commanding a body of
troops that had been stationed miles
away to head off the Indians retreat.
The assignment meant that he must ride
miles and miles across the desert and
run chance of being caught by the
Apaches, but he seemed delighted when
he was selected. Just as sundown came
he mounted his horse and started on his
dangerous mission. On, on he rode until
midnight, over that seemingly endless,
arid track. Suddenly he heard what he
thought was a human voice; then he
thought 1t was only the crunching of
the sand as his horses hoofs sank into
it. Then he rode on little further, and
still he thought he could hear the voice.
Stopping his horse, he dismounted and
listened.
Sure enough, it was voice. Taking
off the blue army shirt which he WORE
he tore it into four strips. with which
he wrapped the hoofs of his horse, in
order that the sand would not crunch
when the animal walked, and started
cautiously toward the sound, which was
barely audible and nearly a mile away
Leading his horse, and with his carbine
ready for action, he started ahead, and
as he came nearer he could understand
that the owner of the voice was singing.
Working nearer and nearer, he was able
to distinguish the words, and imagine
his surprise when his ear caught the
words. "Oh, How 1 Love Jesus" Out
in the middle of the desert, miles and
miles away from any white man, the
words of the song fioated to him clear
and strong. At first he thought he had
the fever which comes to men when they
ride too far without taking rest over the
sand, but there could be no mistaking
the song. 1t was no delusion; it was
real. Ord at once suspected some Apache
ruse, and, hobbling his horse. started to
crawl towards the spot where the song
came from. Throwing himself fiat on
his stomach, he worked his way along
behind cactus and other bushes until he
was within a short distance of the spot.
All the time the singing kept up, but
it was evident that the singer was not
familiar with the song. All that he
sang We're the few words of the chorus,
"Oh, How 1 Love Jesus continually
repeating them.
After crawling for more than an hour,
Ord came to where he could see that
the singer was an Apache sitting in
the middle of some cactus bushes. For
a long time Ord watched him. and for a
long time the Indian kept repeating at
the top of his voice, "Oh, How Love
Jesus" Finally, when he became sat
isfed that the Indian was alone, Ord
covered him with his carbine and rushed
at him, ordering him to surrender. The
Indian threw up both hands and made
the sign of peace, continuing to sing
"Oh, How I Love Jesus"
The lieutenant took the Indian back
to General Miles camp, where it was
learned, through an interpreter, that he
had been sent out by some of the Apache
chiefs to say that the Indians were ready
to treat for peace. He was the only In
dian in that party who could speak a
word Of English, and all he could say
was "Oh. How Love Jesus" which he
had learned from missionary. Hence
he was sent out to meet the white man,
and, seating himself in the desert,
growled out the. few words he knew
until Ord came along.-Cincinnati En-
Quirer.