The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-29


Staked Plains. Only few days befol
we left the fort, large squad of recruit
arrived, and we took them with us, 8
such a trip would serve to break them il
We saw the paymaster only once Will
we were out, and when we got home b
was waiting to pay us off; some of u
had four, some six months pay due III
/ looked for many assertions, most G
which would be among these recruits. A
every roll call thereafter some man wOul
be missing; man is not q deserter unit
he has missed three roll calls. He ca
miss these three in a day, though, if b
starts early enough. l was glad to sc
that none in our troop had been reporte
absent. We had a good Captain, though
and that sometimes makes difference.
When about dozen had been reported
missing, the officers began to look TO
them. Late one afternoon a large detail
was made TO hunt deserterS. There wer'
q Sergeant, a Corporal, and two men on
of our troop, and about II more from tn,
other five troops. l was the Corporal
We reported to Lieut.. Carter, of TroOI
Il. and l was glad TO see him with us
He was one of our rough-and-ready Off
GERS, of the kind that does not run much
to cuffs and collars, and when out this
way he Jared just as his men Jared.
Fort Richardson was then lit has beer
abandoned long since, just outside OF
Jacksboro. Jack County, and was the
headquarters of the 4th L. :. Cav. with
X. S. Mackenzie, our Colonel, in command.
JackSboro was a frontier town in every
Out-Of-doOrS. There waS not even q
ranch beyond, and the nearest railroad
was 100 miles or more east; it would be
toward this railroad that the deSerters
would go.
We started toward this railroad with
a 'nOrther' to keep us company, and il
was blowing up very cold. Eight miles
Ranch" Carter halted there, had us put
our horses in the stable and feed them;
then ordered supper for us. We carried
no forage or rations; we We're not hunt
ing deserters with pack mules or army
wagons. There was large room with a
good fire, and one bed in it, which we gave
to the Lieutenant while we took the floor;
but this was better than bed out on the
prairi IS with nothing but saddle-blanket
over us.
Next morning we started again, and
found that the ''norther" had blown itself
out. After riding eight miles, we reached
the Sixteen Mile Ranch" where we stop
ped, and Carter inquired for the deserters.
The man at the Eight Mile Ranch" had
seen more; they would pass him in the
night, having left after dark. The man
at the Sixteen Mile Ranch" said he had
seen no deserters. Lieut.. Carter pretend
ed to believe his story; l did not.
There were two classes of ranch-men in
this country, when it came to seeing de
serters. Most of them would help de-
serter to escape; few would arrest him
deserter. l put this man down as belong
ing to the class that would help them
when it paid him to do SO.
We kept on to Weatherford. the Coun-
ty-seat of Parker County, and there
heard from our deserters for the first time.
The man at the Sixteen Mile Ranch had
brought in eight Of them a few days be-
fore, and finding wagon there that was
going to the railroad the next day, seven
had gone on in it. The eighth had not
stopped, but had kept on out of town on
foot.
III attend to that man when 1 go
back Carter said, referring to the owner
of the Sixteen Mile Ranch" I'm tine
meantime lie will keep; we will know
where to find him when we want him.
We left Weatherford and made forced
march to Clebourne, the next town, ar
irving before dark; and now good many
of our horses were played out; they had
been cut all Summer, and were run down
and poor. We stopped at the hotel that
night. Next morning Lieut.. Carter in
spected the horses, and found four good
ones, beside the one the Sergeant rode;
then looked at mine. l was riding a lit
tie sorrel, that nothing could kill, and l
said: This horse will kill the best horse
you have here, sir, and then be able to
continue the Wheel" This was a by
word among US, meaning to keep going,
and Carter understood.
Very good" he said; '.if you want
to keep on l want you; have none too
many men,"
Six of us started forward, the rest stop
ping at the tavern.
Hilisboro, Hill County, was the next
town on this road, and when within two
miles of it We saw the deserters for the
first time. There were seven of them a
mile ahead of us, riding in a two-horse
wagon.
They saw US, and piling out of the
wagon took to the brush, while we closed
in at gallop. l had seen two run into
a clump of bushes away down the road,
and / went in after them and found them
lying fiat on their faces. They had no
arms, but l did not know that; so riding
in as far as | could. drew pistol and
then called, Climb out, now; it is all
up. L don't want to fire on you"
They came out and held up their hands,
and L saw now that they had no arms; so
putting my pistol up marched them back
TO the wagon, and by this time all the
rest had been caught.
Just then another wagon came in sight
on different road that led to town
across the prairie. This wagon was two
miles away when we first noticed it.
Take one man, 90 and stop that
wagon, the Lieutenant commanded. land
arrest any man in it that you think we
want"
l called a man, and we started. Half
way across the prairie we ran into
swamp mile or more in length. but not
very wide. Our horses baked, but
forced mine across, while my companion
started to go around, and was of no more
use to me, as he did not arrive until after
had captured the deserters.
was still quarter OF a mile away
from the wagon when the driver saw me
and began to whip up his horses. | then
fired, taking care not to hit him. and he
stopped. Coming up to him / asked:
have you any men in this wagonw He
had four-horse wagon with cover on
IT. and had both ends OF the cover closed
tight
mo, SIR" he replied; 81 have none"
Wei, get down." l said, land hold your
horses heads until l fire a shot through
the wagon. l want to see if you have
men in it or not
l had no intention of firing into the
wagon, but thought if there were men in
II l would hear from them. | was not
mistaken. A man now stuck his head
from under the cover and said: Don't |
shoot! There are two of us in here."'
Inc two climbed out, and / rode closer |
TO the wagon and ordered the driver 10
strip OF the cover. He did so, and saw
that he had no more.
What do you want us for?" the smaller
OF the two men asked.
Il arrest you a. deserters" reDlied