The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-11
GOSSIP FOR HOME PEOPLE

Quantrelle began their foraging ard rob
hing n the border counties Of Missouri
/ But a few months before the breaking
! out of the var OF the rebellion QuantreIIe
/ had a row with sorle Of his men. and thu
fight ended with the leader leaving his
band.
] Colonel Ralston was living at Independ-
/ ence. No, at that time. and had q stable
1 OF horses famous for their running quail
I tiles and also g large number of fine Mis-
souri, mules. QuantreHe and his band had
/ planned to make a raid on this stable and
/ take the horses and mules. 4 short time
before the guerilla leader had the falling
/ OUT with mis- men After the fight Guam
/ trelle went TO Colonel Ralston and told
him Of The plans Of the men and in
/ formed him 10 be ready for their attack.
The colonel was ready and several Of the
raiders were killed and some captured.
| After such 4 trick IS this. Quantrelle
could never gain the confidence OF the
free state men and never went back to
their SIDE Of the fight, but organized a
band Of the worst men IN the western
part Of Missouri and he and his men
fought hard for the continuation Of
slavery IL the United States. although
his heart was always with the other side.
WHEN FINLAY WAS N COMMAND.
Ex-Mayor Finlay Ross had the good
fortune Of having Giles Smith and a re-
porter for The Eagle for an audience one
hot day last week when he was in
REMINISCENT mood. he told them some
thing he has always been modest about
his career as a commanding officer in
time Of Indian troubles.
Mr.. Ross was clerk at the agency at
Auadarko about thirty years ago. when
all civilians were called out TO repel a
threatened Indian attack on the agency.
The mayor doesn't admit that he wasn't
brave enough 10 stand on guard during
the night TO be shot at from ambush. but
he wasn't very handy in the art OF using
fire arms 70 take a shot in return How
to get out OF IL caused him 10 study much
over the problem. Finally he hit on a
plan He knew that commanders didn't
have TO stand guard. so he went to the
regular military commander and. after
giving a very complimentary salute. said:
colonel, We have as brave a body OF
civilians as ever cooked a gun. but they
lack one important thing, and that is
some one 10 command them"
Thank you. sir. viii find them
commander among my leutenants."
But. colonel" said Mr.. Ross, 7 be-
Heve it would be better to place a civilian
in charge Of them. You are an exper-
fenced commander, however. and ought
70 know"
BY jove, believe you are right, and
since you have the good sense TO sug-
gest 1t. I'll appoint YOU
That was pie for Mr. Ross. He placed
his sentries and then went TO bed with a
strong guard at his door.
During the night sentry knocked and
said he was sick. Mr.. Ross examined
him and allowed him 70 90 70 bed. He
took his place, which was at his own
door.
Along about midnight he thought he
saw Indians crawling UP towards him,
and called another sentry 10 consult with
him. He, too. thought he saw Indians.
Here is where Mr.. Ross would ike the
story TO end properly with q few fancy
trimmings TO make the curtain fail right, |
but Giles Smith heard the story once be I
fore. He says that Finlay and the other
sentry took shot at the supposed In {
dams. and 70 their great amazement I
found that they didn't move-that, in 1
fact they were only plum bushes.