The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-07-08

I 4 other step the other day
HoN and once more changed
the lItue image in his shoulder strap.
Colonel Cruise has been a long time In
the staff department which has 10 do
with army mules. tents, canteens<and
haversacks. When he first left the
line for the stan friends said he
couldn't stand it. but when a man has
fought more than most and licked all
that he fought it's not overheard 10
urge him TO take the soft side OF
pillow. They say In the army today
that Tom Cruise can't pick up sample
shovel that some contractor has sub
mltted for inspection without coming
10 an advance carbine" with IL. and
later trying 10 cock the thing. Cruise
for years was an officer in the Sixth
Cavalry. Out at Fort Sheridan the
other day a retired enlisted man who
had served under Cruise some years
ago. told the story Of how the quarter
master officer won the little bit Of
bronze which Oh certain occasions he
wears pinned to his blouse
In the early summer OF 1892 Cruise
was a second lieutenant in TX" Troop
Of the Sixth Cavalry. He was out
scouting after Apaches down In the
very hottest part Of Arizona. The
command had trailed along till il came
10 the rocky basin known as the Big
Dry Wash. Cruise had something less
than corporars guard with him.
The little band had not seen sign Of
an Indian since IL set out. but then
ADaches are not given to making
signs, nor do they wait for formal in
PRODUCTION before extending warm
greetings TO those who would cross
the threshold OF their rocky desert
Businesses.
Beyond the basin OF the Big Dry
Wash was n natural fOrtificatiOn Of
rocks Cruise sent a man by the right
flank to take a peep behind the bowl
ders before crossing The trooper re-
turned and reported there was nothing
there. Then the little command
rushed down into the basin, and hades
opened from behind the rocks 70 their
front. The fire was concentrated and
terrific. Two Of the six saddles were
cmpticd and the mounted command
gave way and sought the shelter Of
the rocks 10 the rear. Under the
trumping hail Of bullets. Cruise lifted
wounded trooper to his saddle and
bore him back TO shelter. where the
men dismounted and took what count
they could OF their hidden enemy
across the basin.
Il was supposed that the second
was dead While looking out across
the waste between him and the am
bushed savagcs Cruise saw the fallen
trooper move. Then there happened
one Of those things which single line
I'm the medal of honor list tells about
but 10 which whole volume can not
do justice. Cruise, carbine in hand
stood straight up. n fair and easy
mark for bullet. A tSwny face
showed beyond and an eye glanced
along n rifle barrel. Before the weap-
on spoke, Crusc's carbine sent bullet
straight through the Apache's head.
Then he rounded the rock in front and
strobe across the open towards the
wounded soldier. At every stride he
fred. He was one Of the crack shots
of the army and the bullets scared the
rocks close to the heads OF the lurk-
ing reds.
They had seen their comrades head
split clean at 100 yards. They dared
not expose themselves enough to take
Al nj, NJ An
officers challenge with scattering
volley. He reached the moaning
trooper. Behind him had come two
of his men.
Pick him up, boys" said Cruise,
"and I'll cover the retroat."
He stood there facing the cnemy's
lurking place. A savage braver than
the rest stood up and fred. The bull
let scratched Cruse's arm, but an ounce
OF lead crashed into the Apache's
head Cruise walked backward. while
behind him his two devoted men
bore their stricken fellow. Bullets
tore up the sand but the magnificent
nerve and courage of the soslier who
sent back true n shot FOR every volley
ralsied the Apaches' aim.
Back to their brea astworks the sol
diers went with their burden. Cruise
standing erect and sending one last
shot before sinking 10 cover. Then
rc-enforcements came and eighteen
savages were put 20 flight To-day IL
is nothing but two cents worth OF
bronze and a bit OF ribbon that re-
minds one of the gallantry on that July
day in the basin of the Big Dry Wash.
Edward Il. Clark. in Chicago Record
Herald