Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-09-20

but only flesh wound. I think was
sorer over my ruined new coat and
vest than from the wound.
The same band came oirclinQ
around again that afternoon and we
exchanged few long shots at them
As soon as night came we broke camp
and struck out for Fort Grant as fast
as we could make 1t through the dark
ness and eluded them. An Indian
won't fight much at night, anyhow.
We reached the fort next day. The
closer we came to II the less danger
there was, for troopers from the fort
kept the country around pretty well
cleaned up and quiet.
I'VE stayed at the fort several days
until our wounds healed up before
making the return trip. The colonel
In command at the fort insisted on my
| staying there, as there were over 1000
hostile Indians on the warpath and
scattered all over that part of the
country; he told me how foolish II
was to try to get back. but was only
FL and had told the captain I'd be back
with the mail and supplies, SO 1
couldn't stay.
Il didn't know It at tbs time, but
found out afterward, that the Indians
l had the fight with belonged to a sub
chief, and a relative of old Geronimo.
We hadn't been out but two days when
we sighted them. They had gathered
up some more braves ard came In
sight about sundown-luelily for US.
They took few shots at US
! end then went into camp tust
We could hear them holding pow
vows and singing while making
ready to dangle our scalps IN their
belts in the morning. remember L
sat looking into the campfire that
night, wishing was back home, and
wondering what in thunder to DO,
when the old sergeant came over to me
and asked:
Lieutenant, you don't think we kin
lick that hull outfit over there, do
you?'
No, sergeant, 1 don't. What do
you think we'd better do9'
"'Well. think we had batter build
up big campfire so they kin see it,
then drift and drift like hell over the
hills and out OF this
and followed it all night. About day
light we found ourselves on a hilltop
and right in the center of an old de
serted village. 1t was that nights
trip that gave me my high apprecia-
ton OF the government mule. Every
mule in that paolttrain seemed to un-
derstand the situation. and there
! wasn't whimper or bray from any
one of the lot until we has put a good
nights travel between us and the In
dams. We didn't have any more
tronole in getting into the fort,
/ though We crossed number OF warm
, Indian trails on the way.
Afterwards l met the old sub-chief
, when he came into the fort 10 make
peace, and he told me how many
! times he had shot at me on that trip.
and couldn't seem to understand why
it was that he never got me.
"rhe wound got at Las Guasimas,
in Cuba, was another lucky thing, too.
A and b troops were lining up at the
/ foot Of the hill, and we were getting
/ 1t from the trenches I'D on the hill. /
was walking up and down before NV
battalion and had orders TO hold them
fast TO protect our flank from an en-
hlade fire on the right. l had lust
waved my glove at the boys to hold
fast and dropped my hand to my side
| again when a Mauser struck me in the
arm. II l hadn't dropped my arm the
ball would have out me right through
the center. 1t turned me around and
knocked me down. went to the rear
70 see how badly was hit and found
that the ball had splintered the bono
pretty bad. 1t was three DAYS before
had IL fixed up. There was a lurnp
on the inside Of my arm, and when
the surgeon examined il, he said
there was a piece OF bone sticking out
that he would have to cut out. He
made a cut across the lump, and out
popped that bullet, wrong end fore
most Fit had come straight, az most
OF them do, it neveP would have
stopped.
The following day ! wandered
around back OF the firing trying TO
help the poor fellows who were worse
OH that was, and remember seeing
one or the Arizona boys coming down
the road, with tears running down his
cheeks, and / thought hs was badly
wounded He saw me and yelled;
Hello, major; where s. the FIRING
Hne% 1 told him it was away on ahead.
bat the tight was over. he seemed to
feel worse than ever, and broke Oat
with as choice lot OF cuss words as
ever heard mule driver get nd OF.
and wound mp by saying: Tt's tHst my
blamed luck; como all the way down
here to fight, then git Knocked ous by
the climate In few yards from the
fight Los Angeles Herald
Inadequate.
| 81 Euppoke" said thu laa g.