The evening times., 1900-03-03
A HoosIER HERo's RIDE.
IL Was a Mere Incident. Hut saved
His Comrades Life.

His Comrades Life.
From the indianapolis Press.)
II was carly in the autumn Of 1872 that
the main body Of the army engaged against
the British and Indians in the Northwest
was encamped on the Maumee River. lot
far from the present city Of Fort Wayne
The whole country was infested with hos
tile tribes Of the Delaware the PottawaJo-
mics and the Miami Indians. Tney die not
fight like the soldiers OF civilized nations.
but like assassins and brigands. The In
disns would lie in wait and massacre
small deJachments Of soldiers or COM
pany OF emigrants passing through the
country
Il was at this time that a small detach
ment OF an army was encamped twenty-five
or thirty miles north OF Greenvllle. Ohio.
There were less than one hundred officers
and men here surrounded by d large force
OF these hostile tribes acting under orders
OF the British officers. This detachment OF
United States soldiers found itself cut of
from the main army; in fact. surrounded
by the Indians. The men knew their cap
ture would result in torture and massacre,
and that they must suffer this or break
up into small bodies and. so far as possi-
BILE escape through the lines Of the enemy.
OF get a despatch 20 the main army fully
thirty miles away.
The oficer IN command drew I'D the little
force IN line and explained the dangerous
situation. He then called for a volunteer
10 attempt the hazardous task Of carrying
d despatch to the headquarters Of the army.
IF ] have a man in my command hat IS
willing 10 take the risk" ne said let
him step forward" As he stood waiting,
the silence OF death seemed to peTyade the
camp. but not a soldier responded. The
officer saw standing within q few steps
Of him a young teamster. not more than
twenty years old small and delicate He
was clad IN the usual homespun and had
his wagon whip under his arm. The young
man removed his bat, bowed respectfully,
and said; Captain, give NE good hoss
and I will make the attempt.
II was William Crist who spoke There
was the glitter OF steel in his cold. grey
eyes as be stood facing the little band OF
soldiers. The captain extended his hand
10 the boy and said. 'God bless you, my
brave fellow"
The soldiers attempted TO cheer the gal
LIANT young boy but the officer suppressed
/ all demonstrations OF approval and sent
the men to their quarters. He at once
took young Crist 10 his tent and carefully
talked over the dangerous task he was
about 70 undertake. The young man did
Lot falJer. He was the embodiment Of
courage, bravery. heroism- Coolly and de-
iberately he discussed the chances of life
L
! peep o. day as he said. he was ready for
the journey
The captain had a spirited young horse
] active and accustomed to ira a=eling through
( brush an swamps. over logs and creeks,
/ and ne placed this horse in charge Of the
| boy The teamster declined the use OF a
/ saddle. but asked for a belt. a brace OF
! pistols. a knife, and musket. When he
4 mounted the horse and took leave Of the
/ officer the soldiers stood silently watch
ing him. His lips were compressed, his
/ look determined and his spirit undaunted.
Great tears stood on the brOnZed cheeks
| Of many OF the men who had couragcously
! faced death on the battlefield. They con-
( sidered that the intrepid young hero was
simply riding into the Jaws OF death.
I There was no passable road, no marks
! Of civilization on the line that he mast
4 travel The country was a strange one
TO him With a cloudless sky above him
| and unbroken forest in front. he fearlessly
| took the risk The Indian trails were
guarded and the forests beyond these
! trails impenetrable. There was. possibly.
I OnC chance in a dozen for him TO reach
/ the main body OF troops. and he took that
/ chance II was thought that il he got a
I few miles out from the camp from which
| he started the danger would be serious
until he approached the point OF destina-
1 ton.
For a force to accompany him through
I the lines of the enemy would have been
but 20 invite an attack He moved of in
the grey dawn OF early morning. hoping
to pass the lines Of his dangerous foe Tn
! noticed This he succeeded in doing. and
took the trail for the Maumee country.
The DAYS Journey was unsventful until he
came within Eve miles of the Outp0sts of
the army.
II was about o'clock in the afternoon
when. riding rapidly along the trail. his
| eye caught sight OF a small band of braves
Immediately in front OF him. and effec-
tually blocking his way. Their faces were
painted red and yellow indicating that
they were on the warpath. They were all
mounted and armed with muskets, and,
as the young messenger well knew, had IN
their belts the scalpinR knife and in their
hearts relentless, cruel murder. He knew
that 70 continue along the beaten trail
was 10 court Capture. torture and death
Accordingly. he guided his horse into the
thick woods, and as rapidly as possible
made his way out from the trail. The
savages soon reached the point where Ne
had turned aside. and there discovered tht
fresh tracks Of the young mans horse
An unearthly warwhoOp greeted the boys
ears. and he knew wLst would be thS
course pursued by the Indians. They woult
track his horse and follow him He urgeC
the faithful animal on, but it was not Ions
before he heard his savage foes behind
him. He then turned 20 make his way
back, II possible. TO the trail, believing
that his horse could, by its better speed
and better power of endurance, enable hin
to escape but his keen-sighted foe haC
anticipated this movement and had guard
ed the trail against It, Shots began tC
sing about him. and he now determined
10 make his way through the forest. II,
knew that his horse would jump logs anC
streams that the ponies would not at
tempt He lay first on the horses bacl
and urged him to his greatest speed. H