The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-01
SAVED ny THE nULE.
he Lieutenant's Story Of . Fight
With Indians.

Frisky Had Learned by Experience, and
He Knew When There Was Daneer-FIa-
herty Took Command, and He and the
Mule raid on IN Old Score.
About 30 years ago, when there were
hut few railways In the western states and
territories, the United States mail was oar
ried In saddlebags on what were called
pack mules. The riders were young men.
carefully selected for their bravery, fear
lessness and activity. The animals were
changed Mt stations abodt 60 miles apart,
so that thoy were always In good condition
to run IL necessity required IL, which was
often the case, as the country was swarm
ing with Mexicans and Indians.
Benteen, a brave young Irishmsp with
Indian blood In his veins, WAS chosen for
the road between Camp ", Arizonn, ana
n town on tho border Of New Mexico, and
for more than year escaped the sDares
and treacherous traps that were laid for
him. One Guild day In February, 1875,
when a heavy mist not only made things
cheerless and gloomy, but threw such q
veil over the earth that 1t WAS impossible
to see any object more than few feet
away, Benteen started on his customary
long ride When or how the Indians sur
prised him was never known. His body
was found In the entrance Of Sunset pass
BY n squad of cavalry sent from Camp V.
riddled with bullets and arrows, and near
1t lay three dead Indians, showing that he
had sold his life dearly. The mule gal.
Hoped into Camp v. two days later and
fell exhausted In front Of the barracks,
with mailbags untouched save by the
blood that had flowed from the bullet hole
in his side. He was put in a comforta BILE
stall In tho cavalry stables, and, owing to
I the skill Of the veterinary surgeon, in ad
dition to the best of food and care, he soon
grew strong and fit for light work. During
his sickness the soldiers became so attached
to him that the post Quartermaster made
an effort and succeeded In buying him.
One year later had the good fortune to
l be ordered east on temporary duty in
Washington. Though I had been In Ari-
zona but si1 months, was heartily tired
Of that desolate country and fully deter
mined to let no obstacle delay me In the
trip that was taking me TO my native city
We left Camp Y. in an ambulance drawn
by four mules. Soon after starting found
that one of the leaders was the pack mule
| / have mentioned. He bad fully recovered,
and had been named risky by the soldiers
on account of his exuberant spirits.
In the ambulance with me was the driv-
er and an old soldier whose name was
Flaherty. Behind us was an army wagon
packed with our luggage, rations and for
! age for the mules. 1t was guarded by an
escort Of eight privates, with sergeant and
I corporal Frisky was as lively as young
kitten and seemed none the worse for the
hole in his side. On the fourth days
travel, soon after starting, Frisky began
TO sniff, prick up his ears and tremble.
Flaherty turned toward me, saluted and
said in half apologetio voice: beg par
don for tbroubiin ye, lootipint, but think
/ IL will be wise 10 halt bit and take q
4 look at the country. Frisky scints the
red men, and you niyer can decaive him
on Thin"
J The driver slackeped the speed Of his
/ team and looked at me for an order to
STOP had been but one year and half
from West Point had quite An opinion
\ of myself and my Judgment, and thought
/ knew far more of Indians than old Flah-
| erty, who had been In the service nearly 30
years. The mule continued to act like q
frightened child, and about noon refused
to go by throwing himself on the ground
regardless Of harness and braying in the
loudest tones. The men tried ooaxing,
then the whip, but all to no avail. HE
spakes the thruth in his way, lootinint, I"
said Flaherty in what seemed to me pat
ronizing tone. "We'd better prepare for
an attack. I'm an old soldier. sir, and
know phwat an Indian surprise Is. 1t
for tryin to give me oommandin of Ger
ORDERS
1 felt very foolish and angry when
found myself obeying Flaherty and stop
ping my command for the FRANKS Of a
mule. 1 ordered the men to make bar
ricade of sand and sagebush branches
and corralled our mules behind IL. In
front of them wo put the ambulance and
wagon for us to hide behind, SO as to keep
from the enemy the fact that we mum bered
only 10 all told. We remained in this
warlike attitude for nearly an hour. Then,
disguised with what thought my folly,
gave orders for the mules to be haPnessed
ind our command to move on. The words
were scarcely out of my mouth when,
glancing toward the road leading to our
left, saw a cloud of sand. I turned to
Flaherty, who stood by my side eyins me
reproachfully and sullenly. whats that"
1 asked. '1t's the red men that Frisky
and said were coming, sir. IT'S the be-
ginnin av the circus."
In Few moments we we're surrounueo
by about 30 hideously painted Indians on
their ponies, gallopiDg around Us and CIV
ing us the full benefit of their warlike
yells. Fortunately they were not as we'll
armed as We were. II they had been, our
time In this world would have been short
AS it was, our men had to fight like tigers
The struggle lasted little less than an
hour. During that time I lived through
days Ii was all SO new, strange and horri-
Bile to me. / was bus 80 and very much Of
boy at that. My youth and inexperiencs
seemed strangely out Of keeping with my
attempts to give orders 10 men who had
spent more than half their lives fighting
Indians. So, after giving a few, turned
the plan OF battery over to the sergeant
and Flaheyty. The latter was in his ele-
ment and showed the greatest courage,
GOODNESS and clear headedness have ever
seen. After every shot he fred he would
| call ont in slow tomas. HEaith an is q m