The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-11

10 w hIlNtf sat III llOhAf anu bNHH was
shy and happy, for LOOMS had plainly
lost his heart TO his comrades pretty
sister. Marshall had now been gone
nine days and could soon be expected
home, said everybody, for with a big
force going up there the Indians would
scatter and 1.-THE boys" would have no
trouble coming back. And so this love-
ly summer afternoon everyone seemed
bright and joyous at the fort. listening
to the band and wondering, some of
the party, at least, how much longer
II would be before they could hope to
hear from the absent, when there arose
sudden sounds of suppressed commo-
tion in the camp of &C" troop. A cou-
rier was coming like mad on the road
from Frayne--a courier whose painting
horse refined up minute, with heaving
TANKS, in the midst of the thronging
men, and all the troop turned white
and still at the news the rider briefly
told-three companies at Warrior Gap
were massacred by the Sioux. 10 men
in ALL including Sergt. Bruce and all
&C" troops men but Conroy and Gar
ret, who had cut their way through
with Lieut. Dean and were safe inside
the stockade, though painfully wound
ed. This appalling story the girls
heard with faces blanched with horror.
Passionate weeping came to Jessie's re-
lief, but Pappoose shed never tear
The courier's dispatches were taken in
to the colonel, and Folsom. trembling
with mingled weakness and excite
ment, followed.
1t was an impressive scene as the
old soldier read the sad details to the
rapidly growing group of weeping
women, for that was Emory's garri-
son now, while the official reports
were hurried on to catch the general
on his way to Cheyenne. Some one
warned the band leader. and the
musicians marched away to quarters.
Some one bore the news to town.
where the flags over the hotel and
| the one newspaper Office were at
once lowered to half staff, although
that at Emory, true to official ETH
| quette and tradition, remained until
| further orders ut the peak. despite
the fact that two of the annihilated
companies were from that very post.
! Some one bore the news to Burleigh's
quarters at the depot, and, despite
| assertions that the major could see
no one and must not be agitated or
disturbed, disturbed and agitated he
was beyond peradventure. EXcitedly
the sick man sprang from his bed at
the tidings of the massacre and be-
gan penning letter. Then he sum
moned a young clerk from his office
and told him he had determined to
get up at once, as now every energy
of the government would doubtless be
put forth to bring the Sioux to terms.
1t was the young clerk who a few
weeks back had remarked to fellow
employee how ratified" the old man
was getting. The majors doctor was
not about. The major began dictat-
| ing letters TO various officials as he
rapidly dressed, and what happened
can best be told in the clerks own
words: For man too sick to see
anyone two hours before" said he,
"the major had wonderful recupera-
| tive powers, but they didn't last. He
was in the midst of letter to the
chief quartermaster. and had got as
far as to say; The deplorable and
tragic fate of Lieut.. Dean points, of
course, to the loss of the large sum
| intrusted to him. when | looked up
and said: why, Lieut.. Dean amt
dead, major; he got in all right and
he stared at me minute as if
had stabbed him. His face turned
yellow-white and down he went like
log-had fit | s'pose. Then
ran for help, and then the doctor
came and hustled everybody out"
But not till late that night did
these details reach "Old Pecksniff' ut
| the post. \ solemn time was that
veteran having, for many of the woin-
en- were almost in Mysteries and all
were in deep G,.'rc-F. Two of their
number, wives OF officers, were wild
owed by the cdtasID ,he, and one lay
scnseleSs for hours. 1t was almost
dark when Mr.. Folsom and the girls
! drove homeward. and his face was
lined and haggard. Pappoose nestled
fondly, silently at his side, holding
/ ulH manu- anu NlOSNlN NNssilHfIE MS
features, as though striving to read
his thoughts. Jessie, comfortcd now
by the knowledge that Marshall was
rapidly recovering, and the words of
praise bestowed upon him in the
colonels letters, was nevertheless in
deep anxiety as to the future. The
assurance that the Sioux, even in
their overwhelming numbers, would
not attack a stockade, was not suf-
ficient. Marshall would he on duty
again within very few days. the
colonel said. His wounds would heal
within the week, and il was only loss
of so much blood that had Frustrated
him. Within few days, then, her
loved brother would be in saddle and
in the field against the Indians. Who
could assure her they would not have
another pitched battle? Who could
say that the fate that befell the gar.
rison at Warrior Gap might not await
/ hn tsTfla nN3f