The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-09
REVENGE Is SWEET.
How Jack Carroll, of Topeka, Got
Even With General Shafter

J. c. Carroll, better known as Jack
Carroll. who lives a 1910 Lincoln street
his stories of army life he tells how
he got even with Gen. Shafter
He was stationed in Arizona at the
time of the story. He waited to get
even with Shafter and his chance came
Shafter was compelled to walk II miles
down hot dusty mountain trail while
Carroll followed him on horseback
Carroll tells the story as follows:
-'One day during a difference of opin-
ion between myself and the officer Of
the day over a trivial affair the officer
so far forgot himself as to strike me
across the face with the fiat of his
sword after calling me several vile
names. No sooner had the blow fallen
then 1 drew back my fist and with all
the strength in my right arm struck
the officer between the eyes. He fell
about ten feet from me and in my pas
sion I ran to him and kicked him sew
eraI times before he could rise.
The affair was the sensation Of the
garrison for about two weeks and was
supposed to have blown over when
Col Shafter heard of it. He sent word
for me to come TO his office Here he
informed me that he had heard the
story and asked me if I realized the
enormity of my offense in striking my
superior officer 1 told him that 1 did,
but would strike any officer who would
subject me to the indignity which the
officer of the dav + Il.
-'Shafter became angry at this reply
and said with a sueer, You would
strike me, I SUPPOSE
Il quietly answered, Yes, sir
D." What, with these on2 Would you
strike 4 man wearing these? Do you
dare to tell me that you would strike
me?'
Il smiled at his anger and told him
that I certainly would He was literal
Iy uncomfortable in his passion at this
reply. He called an orderly and in
voice heavy with emotion ordered me
? int In fayy
minutes afterward he sent another or
derby with instructions TO the guard
to rivet q ball and chain on my ankle
I was left in this condition for five
weeks without a chance TO change my
clothing and no opportunity for a hear
ing of my case Finally Gen Miles
heard of the affair and ordered me re-
leased without a trial.
From that time until the close of my
term of enlistment Col Shafter was
my bitterest enemy and he let no OPP
portunity slip to hUmiliate me I re-
FUSED. on account of this enmity, to re-
enlist when my term had expired and
went down to the little town near the
fort and stayed there several weeks
"One morning a private from the
regiment came into the village and told
me that the colonel and a party of Of
ficers had gone to the mountain on
deer hunt.
I saw that my time for revenge on
the colonel had arrived and hunted up
the sheriff I told him that 1 would
give him s. If he would deputize me to
arrest the colonel if I caught him viO-
lating the game law
I took another man and went up the
mountain. When We sighted him he
had just shot large buck I sprang
forward and pulling my revolver, in
formed him that he was under arrest
for violating the game law and ordered
him TO drop his rife My assistant
started forward with the handouts, but
1 wanted all the fun to be gotten out
snapped them on the wrists of the pro-
testing and indignant colonel
The deputy and I mounted and I
told the colonel to commence his march
to the town
What he exclaimed. you don't in
tend to march me II miles through
this scorching sun, do YOU?
I informed him that We intended to
do Just that and that he had better
start unless he wanted US to lead him.
He turned at this and marched off
down the trail. He had hopes that the
party would miss him and follow the
trail but we reached the town without
seeing any Of his friends. I entertain
ed the colonel with a discussion of his
ability to march in such a sun He
frequently interrupted me to swear
vengeance, always closing with a
choice lot Of epithets-
We reached the town just at sun
set and the habitants, all of whom
knew the story of my wrongs at the
hands of the colonel, had assembled 10
witness the procession The colonel
evinced a desire to take the sidewalk
through town. but I marched him
through the streets to the Jail
Here he easily secured his release.
as I knew he would, by executing
small bond for his appearance. He
cooled down after a time and went to
his headquarters He realized that IN
revenging myself on him I had kept
within the letter of the law and was
safe I was very well satisfied with the
way accounts stood between US
xrr,- v1r, 0-Jo-