The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-07-11
In i'hrce chapters -chapter !.

On the no.niug of the Sfst Of De.
c,nser. 1854 Lieut.. Col cos;o told
re TO take my :uiapbrv sud 20 to
Ci-iDlania % = and relieve the ,direr
with his command on duty there. !
started from my camp about ? u. m.
with about sixty men and reached the
ford about four o'clock It had grown
very cold. and by seven O'Clock the
mud had frozen hard enough to bear
up the horses. when the seven o'clock
relief came in, stood at the entrance
Of the cams l saw some OF the men
were very cold. had another relief
sent out as knew no man could sit
on his horse two hours without great
danger Of being badly frost bitten
IN the morning had my horse sad
died up. and taking my orderly start
ed to ride the line, beginning at the
ford. After riding about half mile,
found that the river took a long bend
to the south, and returning again, con.
tinued on its course nearly west. The
bend was like an oxbow. and was
about half mile each way.
In looking over the neck, saw there
was a ho,a about the middle, being
a quarter ct mile from the line.
rode back and aotiiel each Of tho
picket nho had view of the house
that / was going out there and to keep
sharp lookout for me, and II they
saw anything suspicious, to frs off
their guns and alarm the camp. /
then rode out to the house. and com
ing up the rear of IL, putting my horse
in the woodshed out OF the wind.
knocked at the back door. Ny knock
was the first intimation the inmates
had that there was any person nearer
than the ticket line. l heard quite
a rustl;ng within. My irst thought
was thai ] was trapped always car
ried big navy revolver IN my right
bootleg ! reached down and drew It
out with my thumb on the hammer.
Just at this time a girl about twelve
years old opened the door. I saw
TINT she was crying. This reassured
me, and | dropped my revolver back
In my boot, the movement being I'M
seen by her. ! glanced hurriedly
Arcund the room. that could be seen
through the open door Just behind
the girl was boy, nine or ten years
old. 70 the left was lady sitting,
leaning over a few Goals in a large
fireplace, with shawl over her should
ers. and little babe in her lap. Her
back was towards me. The girl said
WIN you walk in, sir2" Stepping in.
side, glanced over the room hurried
ly to assure myself there we're 40 rebs
about.
The girl set chair by the fireplace
to the left Of her mother and asked me
10 have seat AS was sitting down
said to the lady, who had not yet
turned her face TO me; Good morn.
ing. madam" She turned her face to
ward me and said, Good morning,
captain ! saw she was crying very
hard and that she was not over thirty
fve years old, yet she had a careworn
but could see that she was a refined
and educated woman. ! said to her.
Madam, you seem TO be in trouble
here. II you viii tell me what it is. |
may be able to help YOU" She burst
ovt crying and could say nothing for
a moment. Then. looking toward me.
she said Captain, we are starving.
have not had a mouthml 70 eat for
twenty-four hours. We had one haro.
tack apiece yesterday had two left;
this morning I broke them in two and
gave half Of one to each of my four
children"
She had five children, one being a
babe less than one year old Upon
hearing this I jumped up and said
Madam, did not come down here TO
fight women and children and won't
see you starye to death on my line
You viii hear from me very soon"
strode ont OF the house with my ten
pound cavalry boots with big spurs.
a navy revolver sticking out OF the
Tight bootleg and my big sabre drag.
ging on the floor. ! likely made as
much noise as a drove q cattle. Clap,
ping spurs into my horse was soon
At MY camp. Just before l came up,
the ration wagons arrived and were
unloading George NJ. Richmond. a
trusty couoral, stood near. called
10 him 10 report 20 NE there as soon as
possible with three good men, mount
ed. ordered some other men stand.
ing near ty to dump three oat sacks
tan cat sack held four bushelsl and
"a an one ~ fhe hrin, ,vitb h.rdta.k