The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1902-04-25
Had LfJeIY Career
Lieutenant Harris the Hero Of Many Exciting AdveI

II there are any embryo romantic
noyellsts who are in search OF plot or
who are looking Tor character TO
emhody into a thrilling romance u the
western plains and wild Indians, or OF
the Arctic regions. or OF war or travel
In the tropics or Of most anything In
the line OF blood curdllng adventure, or
hair-breadth escape, Il might be well
for them 20 call on Frank Lafayette
Harris. lieutenant U. s, n, retired. who
is passing the closing days OF a very
lively career in the city Of Boston.
Lieut. Harris has done most every
thing that a man can do in an ordinary
life and live to talk about Il TO his own
grandchildren. and other peoples
grandchildren at the age or so years.
lie has had adventures from Green
lands icy mountains TO midas coral
strand" and at all the intervening
points from the SOth parallel Of north
latitude to Cape Horn and around
about the world several times over.
lie Is the only surviving member OF
the Hayes Arctic expedition, which
created a sennatlon In the early COS by
penetrating farthost north and by dis
covering an open polar sea. He is a
veteran OF the Mexican war. the civil
war, and an Indian war on the plains,
he is an ex-forty-niner, a retired lieu
tenant OF the navy OF the early days,
and has been round the world many
times. He has fought duel single
handed with three fierce Indians and
killed them all. lie has been recon-
mended for bravery at Malvern Hlll,
and smoked his first cigar with Gen.
Mcclellan in the latter's tent after that
memorable engagement.
Stevenson would have found In him
tale as absorbing as Treasure Is
land" and a character more striking
than any OF those that speak from the
pages OF romance.
Lieut.. Harris made his FIRST voyage
In the U. s. s, 81. Louis round the
world. and was stationed in the Pa
rlhc squadron, OF which at that time
tho frlgate Constitution was the flag
chip.
On this ship he took part In the war
with Mexico. when peace was declared
Harris resigned from the navy. went
uast and met young Louis Dent and
his brother. who were about TO start on
prospecting tour TO the west. where
gold had been discovered. and where
men were supposed 10 make fortunes
In night They went to West river
and began to hunt aud opened up
small trading depot at which all the
Indian tribes ~ the nelghborhood soon
began 20 purchase their suppliBs.
Here Harris had n dispute with a
powerful Indian chief, Trankilcna, and
gave him a sound thrashlng. The
news spread in all directions and Il
was soon rumored that the Indian and
two OF his comrades were going 70
murder Harris the very first chance
they got Harris was Informed and
armed himself.
He started out one day slngle-hand-
cd to surprise the braves in a place
which they had chosen as an ambush.
He came upon them worry much gooner
than he expected to and had barely
time to step behind a tree when they
opened Gre. He awaited his chance.
and on his first shot brought down his
chief enemy with a broken leg.
The three kept up the battle for
over an hour. and Harris was hit In
the shoulder; not a very serious. but a
painful wound. that bled profusely. He
changed his position from a standing
TO a kneellng one, and managed 10 get
IN a good shot that laid out one OF his
enemies and left the odds two to one
with the leader OF the opposition badly
the SGD parallel, and Harris. as the lit
tie boat In which the party came
ashore touched the beach. leAp,l out
and ran as fast as he could ahead OF
the rest and assembled a slight hill upon
which he planted an is-starred flag IN
the name Of Abraham Lincoln, the
President OF the United States. and OF
the union"
The party had been abseut since the
preceding July. and none OF them knew