The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-11

1910 w A6u asked IOf the |
Keys, they said the boss" had them
In his pocket. We also learned from
the cooks that the women working in
the fields were compelled to take their
dinners with them, and that they had
to work until dark. On hearing this
we sent one Of the cooks to the fields
to tell the women to come to GUAR
ters" at once.
II was not long until the dusky dam,
sells began to come in, some of them
badly scared, while others were in
good humor and seemed to look upon
the affair as a joke.
The gathering about the cookhouse
had excited the appetites of the boys,
and 1t was determined to have some
food cooked. Accordingly 1 was APP
pointed a committee of one to get the
smokehouse key from the overseer.
approached that individual, and
with mock ceremony made my request.
l said: IF you give me the key we
VIII not want much, but, if you refuse,
we VIII go into the house anyway, and
take all the contents"
Truth compels me to say that, in
spite OF my politeness, the old rascal
mad the nerve to say, you can't have
the key.
AS L started back to report to the
boys l saw them looking at me, and
shook my head. They had already
found some axes, and it was not long
until the door to the smokehouse was
thing of the past. We found enough
meat to supply regiment for a week.
Our officers, of course, were unaware
OIL what was transpiring, nor was it
necessary to inform them. 1t was a
matter which we felt ourselves ca
pable of attending to ourselves, while
they were resting.
When the overseer discovered what
we were doing he came at us again in
great rage, waving his cane as be-
fore, and threatening terrible things,
He did not pull his revolver, although
he wore one, for there were too many
dangling from the belts of the soldiers.
At this the boys began to call out
Put him under arrest, sergeant"
NO man can do that" he answered
back.
But 1t was not long till he had sur.
rendered, and led him to good seat,
which l supposed he had often occu-
pied before. "Sit there" I said, 'Gun-
til l release you" 1 then demanded
his revolver, which he gave up. 1t
was poor thing; old-fashioned and
almost worthless. I told him that if
he behaved himself while we were
there I would return the weapon to
him when we left. "How long will
you stay?" he asked. "Three days."
I answered. This he took very hard.
The boys had the women cooking
bacon and cabbage, and big feast was
in contemplation. All went well, and
when everything was ready a good
dinner was sent to the officers, who
sent back word that we would march
in one hour. 1 offered food to my pris-
oner, but he declined. I then released
him. AS soon as he was free he has
tened to the cookhouse and told the
women to drop everything and return
W I4SA4 WO4h III I4O hC4hDs AL III
slant later had him by the arm and
shoulder, and conducted him in no
gentle manner back to his seat. "If
you give any more orders to these
women while we are here, 1 will hang
you" I then broke his old revolver
over a stone and threw the pieces at
his feet
Our hour had now expired and
boots and saddles" was sounded by
the everlasting bugler. Reluctantly
we obeyed, for it was a good place to
stay. However, before I took my
leave of the mad overseer told him
to pay strict heed to my parting re-
marks, in order that he might clearly
understand and not forget them. Then
I said: "If you abuse any of these
women, within six months after we
are gone, by whipping or any other
way, we will come back and hang you
higher than Hannah. And if you don't
know anything about Hannah, hunt up
a Bible, turn to the Old Testament
and read the book of Esther, and you
will learn something of the terrible
fate that came to him because Of his
evil deeds. The Third Indiana cavalry
is in the employ of Uncle Sam, and it
is our special duty to take care Of
these poor black people, and we are
going to make them free. Don't for
get, old man, we will be back again. !"
Then we rode away.