Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-28
FRONTIER SKETCH.
Incidents Related OF a False Alarm
in the Night,
TROOPS FROM FORT WlNeATE.

TWO troops of infantry were once or
dered from Fort Wingate, n. NJ, to
scout in the direction of the Arizona
line, entering that territory if neces-
sary in search of some Indians who
had been reported by ranchers as be-
ing off their reservation without leave.
The orders were not particularly bind
lng-Simply to scout in such direction
as the battalion commander saw fit
and gather information from the set
tiers that might prove useful at dis
trict headquarters, says the Denver
Field and Farm in its Frontier
Sketches" Captain Wilson recalls the
incidents of the trip as follows: After
we had been out some days and had
left New Mexico, we struck a beautiful
camp in the pine woods after a long
march of thirty miles through the dust
and heat of an Arizona day. The men
and horses were completely tired out
and there was general exclamation Of
delight and surprise when we reached
this place and the order to unsaddle
was given.
TENTS were pitched, horses fed, wa
tered and lariated out to get such
grass as they could find and then be-
gan that pleasant part of field life
getting supper. Coffee, bacon and
bareback does not sound very tempt
ing, but when n has been in the sad
die since sun-up and only a few hard
tack and lukewarm water have consti-
tuted the entire dinner. the coffee and
bacon seem like dainties. When the
sun had gone to rest behind the hills
and the large, bright came smil-
ing through the skies, groups of men
cot around fhn m i roc oDnnLinp a md
telling stories.
Later on the fires s%moldered and
died o Il and the regular, steady tramp
of the sentinel and now and then the
neigh or whinny of some troop horse,
were the only sounds that broke the
deep, solemn silence. | was sergeant
of the main guard that night and |
think it was about haif-past n or two
that the sentinel suddenly called out:
Who m there?' and the neXt mo-
ment a wild-eyed boy of 10 came dash
ing toward the tent on horseback. The
Indians, The Indians,' was all he
could say. A few moments later he
was in the presence of Il command
ing officer and told him that the In
dians had attacked a surveyors camp
to which he belonged, ten miles away.
Horses we're saddled in an incredibly
short time and we were on the road.
When a faint suspicion of lawn
was seen off in the east, it was evident
from the actions of our guide that we
were approaching the camp. Present
ly the command halted and the major
had an earnest conversation with his
adjutant. Then we turned sharply TO
the lett toward a little patch of timber,
and after riding about 200 yards in the
new direction, the tents of the sur
veyoI's camp were plainly in sight.
The horses We're tied to the wagon at
the rear of one of the tents ald there
were no signs of disorder or pillage.
A few men dismounted and led by me
of the lieutenants advanced slowly and
cautiously toward the nearest tent.
The lieutenant held up his hands and
we all advanced expecting TO see man
gled and mutilated bodies, but instead
we beheld four healthy-looking young
men asleep, The noise awoke the &C.
Cupants and after a hearty laugh they
confessed that the scare had been got
ter up solely to brighten the tender
foot guide. who had been 4 regular
Falstaff in Boosting"