The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-07

| oho warning 10 GuSernment tatti'
Herders of Raid of the Redskins
Over a. Annandale. in Fairfax County
| Va. lives a man whom his sedaje East
ern friends respectfully call Mr.. f. "
| Wakefield. At another time in anOthe
part OF the United States ne had anOthe
/ name. He is the famous cold Wate
John or the ffties when the Mormon
war was on. when the strife OF tn
! border ruffians" reused mems blood L
/ q passion heat. when the deSp8lriBS red
/ skin. slowly and Suiieniy retiring befor'
! the march OF his white brother. left {
/ crimson stain upon the trail. then the
/ name Of Cold Water John VAS a house
/ hold word upon the frontier. He ha:
saved the lives of over nfty men, pasSet
/ through many a drama of death. under
| gone hardships that would have killet
| ten ordinary men. yet, with the eXcep-
| ton Of one or two troublesome wounds
| he IS as young and strong as ever. He
walks from his home TO Washington and
return, a distance Of at least twenty-five
miles, several times a week and is not in
the least tired by it,
| In appearance he Is picturesque. His
keen, bright eye long. wayy hair, and
1.-THE, straight figure bespeak a man wao
has paid more homage to nature than TO
an enervatinE civilization. In character
he IS something of puzzle. In spite OF
the fact that his life has been largely
spent among the toughest characters he
is profoundly religious. His nickname
was given because he was absolutely 40
stemious when it came to liquor. He is
as gentle and singIe-hearted as a child,
Yet there are men still alive who can tell
how his rifle has sung the death song Of
many a painted warrior and sent It's mes
sage Of destruction TO the still more
dreaded white desperate
In conversation Mr.. Wakefield is modest
and simple, yet the poetry in his nature
tinges his language al times wish an elO-
quence that cannot fail 10 thrill his hear
ers.
a man whose life has been eventful
cannot tell what is the most exciting ad-
venture he has had" h. said the last
time he was in Washington. TO some it
will appear that one incident was the
most thrilling, to others another will ap-
peal most strongly. A brave man doesn't
often think OF danger till he has passed
through it.
Saved Uncle Sans Reef
This discussion about army beef re-
minds me of aOw / saved eighteen nun
dred head Of cattle for Uncle Sam in 81.
and incidentally the lives Of three men
/ was then employed Jc the peny express
between Fort Ledvenworth and Fort
kearney. The trouble with the Mormcns
had not then died ou,, and We heard from
them through occasional Indian outbreaks
melted by the followers of Joe Smith.
Il had made my ride from Fort Leaven-
worth 10 Fort Eearney, and was staying
ct the latter place three or four days pc
fore riding back. Fort kearney, as you
know, vas situated on the south side of
the Platte River. On the north SIDE OF
the river was a herd of about eighteen
hundred head of cattle. tended by thra.
men, Mexican, a haIf-breed and an In
dian 1t was in the early spring, and the
ice was breaking up in the Platte. The
river was rising, the current was strong
er, and you could hear the crash and
grind of the fee cakes rs they were whi.I-
I'd along to the Missouri. The treacher-
Gus, changing stream Fad three channels
AT the time. Iou know how unsafe the
Platte is. The quicksaEds along its course
have engulfed many a luckless forty
miner and his travel-wOrn prairie schoon-
eT. The river at that point was ABOUT
three-Cuarters If a nile wide, and about
two hundred yards from the northern
shore lay ST. Johns Island, a wooded bit
Of land about forty acres in extent.
We had q lot of horses and mu.es on
the south side near the fort Il was the
duty Of the messengers 10 help take care
OF them when they came in from the
rides. | was out tending them one morn !
ing when BlackfOOt Indian came 10 the
fort and asked for the Colonel. The OIL
Ter III command was Gel. Huffman. as
brave man as ever faced u foe He /
came and asked the Blackfoot what ne
wanted. The Indian, who could talk a
lttle English, pot on an important air 1
and waded in: 1 came 10 tell the great /
chief that | love the Great White Father J
who watches over his red children. | am /
sad that l must tell you that the other !
brothers in my tribe hate the Great White 1
Father and those who serve him To- 1
night three hundred OF them viii come I
Town on the other side of the river. KIN |
he herdmen. and drive of the cattle. I 1
;ome TO warn you thar you may save the
Zen and cattle If you can
Looking for Volunteer.
col Huffman Immediately CLAIMED the
8lackfoot under guard, and tried TO de-
Use some way Of saving the cattle. Fin
lily, he said; Those cattle will haze. tn
20. | wouldn't cross that river for 4 mil
ion cattle; and what I won't do myself
won't ask my men to do Thea he
Questioned the Indian again. thinking il
night be Il trick to draw OF part Of his
garrison and tten attack the for:. Eu1
he Blackfoot stubbOrnly persisted thar
us warning was given in good faith
\one OF the men volunteered to cross
he river, and the Colonel would aot or-
Ter them. 50 it was about agreed TO give
- the matter
At last a fellow who was known IS
Ncisy Tom spoke mp. Colonel he said.
know man who VIII cross the river
nd warn The herders' Who is E.g'
sked the Colonel.
Cold Water John, OF the pony ex-
ress. He won't mind il in the least
" Send for him. said the CaIone!
i ~as out amClg the mules and horses
ghtn rlan came L. NE saying thar the
'oiOnel wanted ~ see NE. / Went u and
aluted.
Did you want to see me. CoIonel?' I !
SIZED.
" What is your name?' came the gruf
question
" 'Nakefield-E. w. Wakefield
No ] wanted = man by the name Of
Ohn-COld water John
That Is my name. They call me that
ecause ! never drink anything but cold
s@t-r.
The Colonel looked AZ me-. and could
- ne Vas not very much impressed.
hen be told ne what ne wanted. Mind
0w' DC said, i don't command vou IA
rnss the river. But II YOU Will do IL
here viii be nothing TOO good for YOU
OF course l will 20. Colonel. / said. i
merely want 10 b. allowed % choose ny
orse. II / can DO that III undertake m.
% gladly
He agreed 10 that, and called 4 man
Rope any horse Cold Water John t4,is
Gu TO-
Picking Hi. Horse