Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-08-29
A SoIdie
ReparatioT1
BY EDWARD b. CLAIR.

F. { i
A T the time when the. United States
"A and the Mexican governments
made that temporary treaty which 4 Il
lowed the troops of either to invade
the territory of the other when in
pursuit of hostile Indians fleeing
across the border. James Tracy was
second lieutenant in the NineteentA
cavalry. It was during the height Of
the Geronimo trouble, and Tracy,
with his troop. dismounted, and after
soul and body wearying march on
the trail Of the willy Apache, found
himself in the heart of one of the
tdreariest, most God forsaken mourn
tain countries In the whole range of
the southern country.
The troop was exhausted and prac-
tieally without water, the men hav-
ing not a drop to drink save what
was in their canteens, They had cut
loose from a river in the early morn
ing; expecting to find another when
the day was done, but not as much as
q, rivulet had they found. There was
no coffee that night and there wasn't
light heart in the outfit
Tracy was unhappy. Itwasn't Who'll
~ his suffering condition and that of
his men which weighed on him. Just
before leaving the Arizona post he had
received news that his younger broth
er, John, had been committed to states
prison in far northeastern state.
The officer had seen his home only
once since his graduation. He had
stayed away purPosely. His brother
fxI1 "a 3. r. ar 1lcx
Then came suspicion, then conviction
and a sentence. John Tracy protested
his innocence of the crime charged
against him, and his family, knowing
the Lad, believed him, but the circum-
stantial evidence was oyerwhel lining,
and in spite of the efforts of the aged
father, who spent his time and his
money in the lads defense, he went
to prison.
Before the troop had left Fort Banks
with its nose to the hot red trail of GEE
ronimo there had Joined as an en-
listed man strapping young fellow
who said that he came from ST. Louis
His name was Barlow, and he was
assigned to the troop Of which Tracy
was the junior officer, and he went
after the Apache chieftain,
Barlow ON every occasion possible
attached himself to Tracy's person.
Whenever there was a scouting party
detached from the main body and put
under the second Hentenant's COM
mand Barlow asked that he might be
assigned to it to share in the scout
ing duty He was q reserved fellow,
and apparently of superior education.
There was no camp jokes for him.
He was grave and taciturnb to Al de-
gree. Tracy had noticed the evident
attachment of the man to him, and
as he was capable soldier and will
ing to dare and do anything he was
glad to hare him a part Of his outfit
when on detached and dangerous serv-
ice.
On the morning following the night
that the troop was practically without
water and in country as devoid of
green things, save the forbidding cac-
tus, as Is the Staked Plain of Texas,
/ the troop commander told Tracy that
he had better make a short recon-
noisance, feel out the country for the
enemy and above all try to locate wa
! ter. To attempt march under that
hot Mexican sun with the men, and
with any idea of effective service, was
lfoolhardy. They must first strike wa-
ter.
Tracy told his captain that he would
! take but one man with him; that they
would strike southwest, where it was
thought a better prospect Of water
lay. and that they would return as
soon as find was made. He selected
Barlow for his companion. and the
| two struck Out through the black. SUM
aesred country,
They went on fer three hours, Not