The daily morning Alaskan., 1904-01-17
THE MAN WHO
 TALKED OF DEATH
nrnaLl


 A number of us were sitting m a restaurant The dinner was over. and we were enjoying co-ce and cigars We fell to talking about death and from that to joking about our own probable exits from the world Sud denly man sitting at neigh0or'ng table. with his hacs to us turned and faced us. ! shall never forget his face or Che expression it-worc. It was the oldest face ! ever saw and looked terrible roproof at our leylty on such a solemn subject
 "Gentlemen." be said, rising and coming toward us. "h0w different would be your conduct should ] an- uouuce to you that before the clock strikes 12 tonight one of yorT number would pass to another existence.
 Had be really announced the fact the effect could scarcely have been greater A cold chill passed over ey- 1 cry one of us.
 'Let me tell you Of an incident, the ! stranger continued seating himself "that happened just before the battle of Bueua Vista. We were expecting to meet the enemy
 "Were you theref' interrupted one of our party.
 "Was l thereT' The stranger laugh ed. a low singular laugh. unlike any ] had ever heard before a laugh that had ] given way to my feelings would have set my teeth to cuattering. "Nes; l was on hand" be went on. "I was standing near a party of young officers who were talking upon Che very sub feet you have been discussing. They were an boys nothing but boys, to whom death looked farther or than the starry Armament They were l Lieutenant Brice of the cavalry, Pierce of the artillery and Skiduore ot the . stan They were making @ pool to be | divided between the survivors or sur viyor after the bulr. The fools didn't believe any of them would be killed, ! Were there not old generals and colo nels in the service who had fought battles uuseaihsdt They forgot the many who had fallen. they forgot that under the doctrine of probabilities one OF more Of them would be killed or at ! least wounded; they forgo, that Death is on every battlefield and does not like to be laughed a-
 GA shot. followed by @ voIley, roar, shouts. opened thc fight The three of- l Gcers dashed away Co their respective posts. In ten minutes Pierce. who was in command Of couple Of field guns. was shot in tle breast was stand Ing by him at the lime The bullet l struck hlm on the left side and turned him round The last image be saw was-myselt
 "An order was sent to the cavalry to ] charge. Seeing them making ready. ] joined them and rode directly behind ! Brice. We were met by a terrific lire of what in those days they called ] grape and canister but we rode on ! right over them. our slbers giistening In the afr and coming down on the ! skulls of such NcN.cals as were not ! ramp.cI under our horses feet l tell you it was splendid.
 "I was following Br.ce and, seeing him waver under a blyouet thrust. ! rode up behind him and called to him. i He turned his head and at that mo- meut Mexican officer ran him through the heart with his sword
 "Uerc were two or these young gam blers with death who were already worsted. The third Skidmore, re- ceived an order t0 ride from left to right Of Che line Of battle to carry an order DisdainIng to go behind, he went between the opposing forces. lt was hot lre he was riding through, ! but he seemed to cffe little for it Men had gone through just such dangers be- fore. and SO would be. His horse, wild ! ly frightened. was piung.ug and stum- ! bling it fcIL Sbidmore was thrown, l but rising pulled the horse to its feet by tue bride reius. mounted and was about Co ride on when ] touched him on the shoulder A cannon ball shriek- ed by and took him with it. mutilated mass We'll laughed.
 "Iaueacdr' exclaimed every horror stricken man.
 "Yes. gentlemen Why uot3 Had not ! these foolish fellows laughed at Deathf Had they not sported with the an pow erful spccter. and that on the very verge oG one of his carnivulsT
 There was something SO terrible In the speakers wrath that every one of us-every one except Baxter the old man of our pJrty -slrank back,
 "Who Is this Death. said Baxter contemptuousIy. "of whom we must all speak so glnrerly2 The very certainty of his coming takes away from our ter TOT or him. and f we do fear him we surely do not respect him. He comes Into families and separates husband and wife. parents and children If he does not come early. he will surely come late. when we have exhausted Ilfe's pleasures, comforts. attachments, hopes. Then we must live on waiting for him. A dg for your Death, ] say!
 The stranger. who had been so lip pant. suddenly qu.eted. He cast look at Baxter. wno returned his glance calmly. and, rising from bis seat, said;
 Pardon me. gentlemen, for interrupt ing your amusement Death loves to ,et his clutches on those who fear him.