The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1900-07-21
Col. Brodie's Two Wounds
Issssssssssssssssssssssss
HIrwAs astrange .eolneldenee.e
Fan -. Rough Riders stary Of Two Thrilling
Episodes IN lila Esssifai Career.

the other day, as be with few OF thai
scattered band of famous fighters were
waiting for a train to Williams. "It's
astrange coincidence that was wound
ed when | was lieutenant. Just fresh
from West Point, on the gath day oi
June. by Apaches out here, and IL was
the cath day OF June, over 20 years
later, | was wounded at Los Guaymas
In Cuba. and nearly In the same place.
~ was nothing but kid then. and
was stationed at Fort Grant. A short
time afterwsrd ] was sent to Fort
Apache during the outbreak in Ia
built up the place, and was helping to
keep the red cusses in shape there with
a few men. rode into the country on
horseback, over 700 miles, and you'd
have To ride T50 more miles TO get to
the nearest point on the railroad to
the north.
ave had been cooped up at Fort
Apache for over four months without
any mail: the men were getting rest.
less--guesa IL was enough TO make
them restless, too. for we expected the
whole herd Of Apaches down on us
at any time, You never could tell
what old Geronimo would do. One day
the captain gave me detail Of 10 men
and told me to go to Fort Grant for
mail and few supplies. II was over
100 miles and through the Indian
country all the way. hills and desert
where a jaekrabbit would have trouble
to keep on trail. About half way out.
eight of my troopers deserted. There
was no use In my trying to get them
back again. for you couldn't find them
in the first place 10 get them back
again, and couldn't have took EN-
back with me II had found them. be.
cause I didn't have enough men to
do IL.
ave had been lodging hostile bands
OF Indians for some time before We
had a brush with them. Coming up
through long draw we jumped up
band Of about 10 or 20 and the music
commenced, There was no way of get.
ting in any fancy moves on them, I'VE
were in the bottom of long draw or
canyon, just about wide enough. for
an ordinary road. II was either go
ahead. retreat or climb a side Of the
canyon. There wasn't much to hesi-
tate over. we would have had a long
retreat down that draw and been potted
II we attempted 10 climb the sides Of
the canyon. Ny sergeant was an old
timer. rs were u number OF my little
band. They knew as well as | did that
the only thing that would save us
was quick dash right into them
something that the Indian can't stand
a little bit unless they ouinumber you
ten 10 one. We gave them a yoiley 60
stir them up, and let them know we
were coming. and had the satisfaction
of seeing three or four Of them drop.
then, yelling like a lot OF hyenas. We
started down the draw on a dead run.
headed straight Into them. Each
trooper swung out his siN-shooter
ready for a snapshot at the frat la,
dian he could reach. The old sergeant
was close NJ my heels, with every fell
low huFging down close TO the saddle.
] turned half around In my saddle Just
RfA1AR Wv HAAh&A tNERtt ANU NV 4 wv NJ
a bullet broke through my saddle horn
and another cut through my vest aud
ripped me across the stomach about
haltineh deep.
"rhe 'Paehes couldn't stand the rush.
We run them up the canyon about
mile before they could find any side
breaks 60 get out of and scatter. We
lost three troopers In the Aght, After
IL was over we went back 10 where they
were, rolled them In their blankets aud
buried them among the rocks as best
we eeald There wasn't much ceremony
or tears for che poor fellows---we hadn't
time for it; we all expected the same
thing all the time; besides there was
a splendid possibility OF the whole
bunch OF us going the same way before
we got through. without anyone left
90 roll us In a blanket II the poor In.
dian gathered In band OF hlue.coats.
he also gathered mp their hair. aud lie 4,
n flock Of buxsards TO DO the rest,
AFTER hurying the troopers we
struck q trail up the canyon side and
eampcd in clearing where we could
command q view OF the country sur
rounding, and doCtored up our wounds
as best we could. mine was painful
but only tirsh wound think was
korer over my ruined new coat aud vest
than from the wound.
''rhe band Of Indians cirrled around
our camp again that afternoon, aud
we exchanged long shots with them.
without doing any damage TO either
aide. As soon ~ night came we struck
out for For, Grant as fast as we could
make II through the night. and rluded
them. An Indian won't fight at night.
anyway, nnlesa you force him To.
I've reached the fort late the nvNt
day. The closer We came to IL the less
danger there WAS, for troops from the
fortkeptthe country round pretty we'll
cleaned up and quiet,
ave stayed At the fort for several
DAYS. until our Wounds healed, before
making return trip. The colonel In
command nf the fort Insisted ON my
STAYING there for time. as there We're
over 80 hostile Indians on the warpash
scattered all over that country. He
told me that II was foolish 10 make the
attempt, and never expected to see me
alive again. bat was young. aud had
told the eaptain ia be back az soon