Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-07

views of the authorities, and they were
sent there, with the result that jeering
kilograms came back to the magnates,
the marshals and the military authori-
ties called into action. All of sudden
people woke up to the realization that
Brentwood was q railroad town and
the whole community practically in
sympathy with the operatives. All Of
sudden the news came flashing over
the wires that Captain Nathan with
100 men from Fort Pawnee, had been
stoned and compelled to retire when
his command was detrained at Gunni-
son, and, though officers and men de-
clared their readiness to push ahead
afoot, their cautious captain forbade
any man to push foot ahead until he
could again communicate by Wire with
department headquarters.
What did 1 tell you?" growled the
veteran Indian fighter, now taking his
first turn of any consequence against
the mob. You've heard the old say
ing AN army of sheep led by a lion
can whip an army of lions led by
sheep and that's what's side tracked
now at Gunnison."
And at the very moment that Nathan
was holding back there. alarmed and
irrcsolute, with 100 fighting men ready
for any duty and chatting at their COM
mander's inaction, another troop train
came steaming into the station. Two
alert, clear eyed, sturdy men in civilian
dress sprang from the engine cab, and
at sight of the foremost the men who
had so easily daunted the commanding
officer of the first train seemed to stink
away He dived into the telegraph Of
fee, spent few minutes in sending
and receiving dispatches, and in that
few minutes the platform swarmed
with laughing, shouting, showing, al
together hilarious crowd Of young fell
lows in loose, Tapping blue blouses and
greatcoats, eagerly seeking something
anything to eat or drink. Aboard
the first train, far up ahead was grim
silence. Not soldier showed himself
outside the cars. Orders were orders.
Around this second train it seemed as
though, officers and men in a bunch.
the battalion Of militia had turned out
for n frolic. 1t didn't last long. A
grizzled, sharp featured little man in q
majors uniform swung off the rear
most car and came up the track three
ties to the stride, his eyes swapping. So
were his words when he got to the plat
form. He wasted none till within hail.
Captain Clark, get your men aboard
your car instantly. Captain Geisenhei-
mer, this is the second time I've spoken
to you. Go to the rear car in arrest!
Lieutenant Meinecke, take command
of the company and the company to
the car. l told you supper would be
ready for all hands at 5 o'clock. It's
only 1. Back to the train, every moth
er's son of you! Back" And, some.
what crestfailen, somewhat awed and
abashed. yet realizing that the little
major meant business" back they
, went, still keeping up the semblance
Of jocularity by horseplay and racing
Then out came the first of the newly
ger, silent man.
"All serene for ten miles anyhow
, major, but you might put four Of you
, best men on the pilot and tender. W.
will be there too. All right, Mac" III
! sang out to the engineer. 1--WE pusl
/ ahead as soon as we get this ganl
! aboard Look at the regulars train III
: the track. They're not struggling al
i over creation!"
: "No, and they amt gittin ahead an.
I too fast either" snickered the station
: agent. Its taken 'em two hours t
e come 20 miles, and now the caps wait
i in for orders"
! "Then, by CAD. that gives us tn
e right Of way and the lead" was til
r gleeful answer. eve go on at once
r How's that for high. major? Bette
J. come forward to the baggage car"
/ Then pandemonium broke loose o
|. the rear troop train. The words wen
e from car to car like wildfire that til
f regulars were side tracked ahead, an
l. "the boys" as they called themselve!
il would have the lead. From every doc
o and window one head at least an
d sometimes two protruded as the engin
o gathered way and presently rolled pas
o the heavier but shorter train at til
e water tank. A chorus of yells of r,
t. joicing, chaff and fun arose from til
r Threats of 800 lively young westernel
8 on their first campaign. Silent, sombe
o faces looked out at them from the oil
/, err windows, though occasionally SON
o light hearted Irishman would fin
t, back a laughing answer. Three officer
d stood on the rear platform of the reg,
IL lar train intently eying the oneon
f. Ing engine. The guardsmen on the p
II lot were hanging to their rifles wit
d one hand and the rail with the othe
l. The tender seemed bristling with blu
d coats. The keen, bright eyed face {
n the railway official was peering fort
J" from the fireman's side of the cab, al
is he waved his hand to the trio. MOI
re knew him, but all looked and say
t peering over his shoulder another fac
n 1t was only an instant's glimpse, but
lie flash of recognition leaped into II
Il eyes of the nearmost. He leaned 70
a. ward from the step and gazed aft,
y them as they rushed by, regardless {
4. Al. 1, Ii