Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-23
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.
How Cruise Saved the Trooper.

ter's department, United
States army, got another step
the other day and once more
changed the little image in his shoul-
DER strap. Colonel Cruise has been a
long time in the staff department
which has to do with army mules,
tents, canteens and haversacks. When
he first left the line for the staff friends
said he couldn't stand it, but when a
man has fought more than most and
licked all that he fought, it's not over
nard to urge him to take the soft side
OF pillow. They say in the army to-
day that Tom Cruise can't pick up a
sample shovel that some contractor
has submitted for inspection without
coming to an advance carbine" with
1t and later trying to cock the thing.
Cruise for years was an officer in the
Sixth Cavalry. Out at Fort Sheridan
the other day a retired enlisted man
who had served under Cruise some
years ago told the story of how the
quartermaster officer won the little bit
OF bronze which on certain occasions
he wears pinned to his blouse.
was second lieutenant in tx" Troop
OF the Sixth Cavalry. He was out
scouting after Apaches down in the
very hottest part Of Arizona. The
command had trailed along till it came
to the rocky basin known as thu Big
Dry Wash. Cruise had something less
than corporafs guard with him. The
little band had not seen a sign of 81
indian since it set out, but then
Apaches are not given to making signs,
nor do they wait for formal introduc-
tions before extending warm greetings
to those who would cross the thresh-
old of their rock desert Businesses. Be
yond the basin of the Big Dry Wash
was natural fortification of rocks.
cruise sent man to the right flank to
take peep behind the powders before
crossing. The trooper returned and
reported there was nothing there. Then
the little command pushed down into
the basin and fury opened from behind
the rocks to their front. The fire was
concentrated and terrific. Two of the
six saddles were emptied and the
mounted command gave way and
sought the shelter of the rocks to the
rear. Under the humping hail of bull
lets Cruise lifted wounded trooper to
his saddle and bore him back to shell
ter, where the men dismounted and
took what count they could of their
hidden enemy across the basin.
1t was supposed that the second
trooper who had fallen in the open was
dead. While looking out across tie
waste between him and the ambushed
savageS Cruise saw the fallen trooper
move. Then there happened one Of
those things which a single line in the
medal of honor list tells about, but to
which whole volume cannot do jus
tice. Cruise, carbne in hand stood
straight up, fair and easy mark for
a bullet. A tawny face showed beyond
and an eye glanced along rifle bar
rel. Before the weapon spoke Cruse's
carbine sent bullet straight through
the Apache's head. Then he rounded
the rock in front and strobe across the
open toward the wounded soldier. At
every third stride he fired. He was
one of the crack shots of the army,
and the bullets Scared the rocks close
to the heads of the lurking reds. TIL y
had seen their comrades bead split
clean at $50 yards. They dared not
expose themselves enough to take care
full aim, but they answered the officers
carbne challenge with a scattering
volley. He reached the moaning troop
er. Behind him had come two of his
men. "Pick him up, boys" and I'll
cover the retreat" He stood there
facing the enemy's lurking place. A
savage braver than the rest stood up
and fired. The bullet scratched
Cruse's arm, but an ounce of lead
crashed into the Apache's head. Cruise
walked backward, while behind him
his two devoted men bore their strick-
en- fellow. Bullets tore up the sand
but the magnificent nerve and courage
of the soldier who sent back true
shot for every volley palsled the
Apaches' aim.
Back to their breastworks the sol |
diers went with their burden, Cruise
standing erect and sending one last
shot before sinking to cover. Then re-
endorsements came and eighteen saw
ages were put to flight. To-day it is
nothing but two cents worth Of bronze
and q bit of ribbon that reminds ore
of the gallantry on that July day il
the basin of the Big Dry Wash.-Ed-
ward 3. Clark, in the Chicago Record
stIerald. -. =ar,
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