The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-03-11

lay was pipe-dreaming when he brought
the rumor of reds I'm this vicinity into
camp, but you may have chance to
see trouble, and If you do. please
stick"
That was n pretty tough thing to
have to say to soldier with Uncle
Sans uniform on his back. Stick!
Meuuer's face went almost white un-
der realization that the true signih-
canoe of that admonition was that the
Sergeant had a pretty strong fear I'm
his heart that his trumpet tooter was
coward. Stick He would show
them If he was only given chance.
Sergeant Peter Nelson was an old
and tried campaigner indeed. but that
day he made a mistake He led his
three men straight into an ambush.
There was n score OF painted Nez
Perces straight across their track. The
Indians had very little cover, but they
used it so artfully that the old soldier
Sergeant had actually thought that the
bit OF embankment and the few scat
tered powders did not offer cover
enough to conceal a jack rabbit.
The first intimation of the Indians
presence was a vollcy. Sergeant Mel
son went TO the ground with Il wound
in his side. one of the privates. shot
through the shoulder and leg, fell with
him. The two men Crawled behind a
| couple OF rocks and secured temporary
shelter. At the savage volley Hans
Meullers heart went to his throat
With the other private, who. like Hans,
| lfF L., con nj fnrstxr
yards and behind an adequate cover.
There for five minutes they exchanged
shots with the reds, who, in accord
ance with Indian custom, would not
| charge across the open, but depended
rather upon being able TO pick off the
soldiers and then go forward without
! danger and take the ScalpS. Hans
| AIeuller found that he could use his
| carbine. His heart went down out of
| his throat. He looked around him and
saw that there was some chance Of
| holding the savages off for hours. Out
| beyond he saw his two stricken com
rades They were not dead. he knew
| that because he saw them move and
occasionally weakly raise themselves
and send shot in the direction of the
|
| men must be brought back here" Then
! he handed his carbine TO his comrade
! and with 1t his belt and ammunition.
You may need these" he said, IF
| those fellows hit me-" Then he jumped
| over the rock in front of him, and
with his long, stumbling. ungainly
| stride he made for the side of Sergeant
! Nelson. The Indians pumped at him.
| The balls whizzed by his head, cut
| his clothes in three places and spat
! spitefuuy into the dust at his feet.
! Telling Nelson to grab his carbine,
! Meuller raised the Sergeant in his arms
and made back for cover, his track
all the way marked out for him by
the shots of the savages. He dropped
the Sergeant under the shadow of the
rock and then stood on his feet.
Where are you going, MeullerY said
| Nelson, feebly.
I'm going after Dodds," said Meul-
| Ter, and he cleared the little rock to
the front once more.
God bless you, Meuller,' was what
he heard above the cracking of the
rifles to his front He reached the side
of the wounded Doods, raised him and
started back with him across the strip
OF hell. Twice he staggered, as volleys
rang out, but he reached the sides of
his comrades, and placed Dodds be-
tween Nelson and the unwounded trap
per.
Then Hans Meuller fell dead
Relief came 10 the three surviving
! cavalrymen. The two wounded lived.
In the little cemetery at a post in the
far Northwest there is a headstone
which is inscribed thus:
| ......... ..'...- $3.50. o
! HANS MUELLER,
! TRUNIPETER AND SOLDIER.
! HIS COURAGE WAS BULLET :
| PROOF.