The times., 1901-05-19
HOW A TROOPER WAS SAVED.
A Gallant Deed in Fight With
Apnches.
From The Chicago Record Hcrald)

From the Chicago Record -Hcrald)
Thomas Cruise. Quartermasters Depart
! ment. United States Army. got another
step the other day ana once more changed
! the little image in his shoulder strap.
| Colonel Cruise has been long time in the
san department which has to do with
army mules. tents. canteens. and haVer-
sacks When he first left the line for the
! StaH friends said he couldn't stand II,
/ bt when man has fought more than
most and licked all that he fought, II $
not overheard to urge him to take the
J soft side of pillow They say in the ar
my today 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
qnartermaster officer won the little bit of
bronze which on certain occasions he
wears pinned to his blouse.
In the early summer of 1882 Cruise was a
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
the Big Dry Wash Cruise had something
less than corporals guard with him. The
little band had not seen a sign of an In
dian since 1t set out, but then Apaches are
not given to making signs, did they
wait for formal introductions before ex-
tending warm greetings to those who
would cross the threshold of their rocky
desert Businesses. Beyond the basin of the
Big Dry Wash was a natural fortificatiOn
OF rocks. Cruise sent a man by the right
flank to take a peep behind the boulders
before crossing. The trooper returned and
reported there was nothing there. Then
the little command pushed down into the
basin and hell opened from behind the
rocks to their front. The fire was concen-
trated 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 of
bullets, Cruise lifted a wounded trooper to
his saddle and bore him back to shelter
where the men dismOunted and took what
count they could of their hidden enemy
across the basin.
it was supposed that the second trooper
who had fallen in the open was dead
While looking out across the waste be-
tween him and the ambushed savages
cruise saw the fallen trooper move Then
there happened one of those things which
& single line in the medal of honor list
tells about, but TO which whole volume
cannot do justice. Cruise. carbine in
hand. stood straight up, fair and easy
mark for a bullet. A tawny face showed
beyond and an eye glanced along a rife
barrel. Before the weapon spoke Cruse's
carbine sent bullet straight through the
Apache's head. Then he rounded the rock
IN front and strode across the open to-
ward the wounded soldier. At every third
stride he fired. He was one of the crack
the rocks close to the heads of the lurking
Reds. They had seen their comrades
head split clean at $50 yards.
They dared not expose themselves
enough to take careful aim. but they an
swered the officers carbine's challenge
with a scattering yolley. He reached the
moaning trooper. Behind him had come
two of his men. 'Pick him up boys
Cruise, and III cover the retreat" He
stood there facing the enemys lurking
place. savage, bTaver than the rest
stood up and fired. The bullet scratched
Cruse's arm. but an ounce of lead crashed
into the Aoache's head. Cruise walked
backward. while behind him his two de
voted men bore their stricken fellow
Bullets tore ~ the sand, bat the mag
niiicent nerve and courage of the soldier
who sent back true a shot for every vol
ley palsied the Apaches' aim.
Back TO their breastworks the soldiers
went with their burden, Cruise standing
erect and sending one last shot before
sinking to cover. Then re-euforcements
came and eighteen savages were put to
flight. Today It is nothing but 2 cents
worth of bronze and a bit of ribbon that
reminds one of the gaIantry on that July
day in the basin of the Big Dry Wash.