The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-01-16

by was pipe-dreaming when he brought
the rumor of reds In this vicinity into
camp, but you may have chance TO
see trouble, and il you do. please
stick"
That was a pretty tough thing TO
have to say to soldier with Uncle
Sans uniform on his back. Stick!
Meuller's face went almost white un-
der realization that the true signitl-
canoe of that admonition was that the
Sergeant had a pretty strong fear In
his heart that his trumpet tooter was
a coward. Stick He would show
them if he was only given chance.
Sergeant Peter Nelson was an old
and tried calnpaigner, indeed, but that
day he made a mistake. He led his
three men straight into an ambush.
There was score of painted Ne5
Perces straight across their track. The
Indians had very little cover, but they
used it so artfully that the old soldier
Sergeant had actually thought that the
bit of embankment and the few scat
tered powders did not offer cover
enough to conceal a jack rabbit.
The first intimation of the Indians
presence was volley. Sergeant Nell
son went to the ground with wound
in his side. One Of the privates, shot
through the shoulder and leg fell with
him. The two men crawled behind a
couple Of rocks and secured temporary
shelter. At the savage volley Hans
Meuller's heart went TO his throat
With the other private, who, like Hans
was unhit, he fell back about forty
yards and behind an adequate cover.
There for FIVE minutes they exchanged
shots with the reds, who, in accord
ance with Indian custom, would not
charge across the open, but depended
rather upon being able TO pick off the
soldiers and then 20 forward without
danger and take the scalps. Hans
/ Meuller found that he could use his
carbine. His heart went down out OF
his throat. He looked around him and
saw that there was some chance Of
holding the savages off for hours Out
beyond he saw his two stricken COM
rades. They were not dead. He knew
that because he saw them move and
occasionally weakly raise themselves
and send a shot in the direction of the
red foes. Hans said to himself; Those
men must be brought back here" Then
ne handed his carbine to his comr0de
and with it his belt and ammunition.
You may need these" he said, "if
those fellows hit me" Then he jumped
over the rock in front OF him, and
with his long. shambling, ungainly
stride he made for the side of Sergeant
Nelson. The Indians pumped at him.
The balls whizzed by his head, cut
his clothes in three places and spat
spitefully into the dust at his feet.
Telling Nelson to grab his carbne,
Meuller raised the Sergeant in his arms
and made back for cover, his track
all the way marked out for him by
the shots of The sayages. He dropped
the Sergeant under the shadow OF the
rock and then stood on his feet.
"Where are you going, Meuller:' said
Nelson, feebly
I'm going after Dodds,' said Meul-
ler, and he cleared the little rock to
, the front once more.
GOD bless you, Meuller," was what
, he heard above the cracking Of the
? rifles to his front He reached the side
2 of the wounded Doods, raised him and
started back with him across the striI
Of hell. Twice he staggered, as VolleyS
rang out, but he reached the sides OF
his comrades, ana placed Dodds be
tween Nelson and the unwounded trap
per.
Then Hans Meuller fell dead.
Relief came to the three surviving
cayal1ymen. The two wounded lived.
In the little cemetery at post in the
far Northwest there is a headstcne
which is inscribed thus:
.....,..,.. .......-... - - e
HANS MEULLER,
TRUNIPETER AND SOLDIER.
HIS COURAGE WAS BULLET
, ] nnhnIN