Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-02-20

called. he would retreat; if moi, h.
would die on the firing line.
Tie rush came Fifty Indian war
riorS with devils faces and tiendiSh
yclls rose up and dashed forward in
body The hos did not lose his nerve
altogether. but he WAS the only one Of
the seven or eight living mon who was
not captured and dragged back into the
Indian lines for torture. II WAS with
something like fright in his eyes and
his face rs white rs u dead mans that
he rejoined his company.
while temporarily under the com
mand of Second Lieutenant Warner
fifteen men were killed or captured.
The officer himself escaped 10y flight.
Such was the wording Of the cap
tain's report and of the dispatch sent
broadcast for publication, and the Cub
found himself ostracized. Some of his
brother officers nodded stiflly 10 him.
while others turned their backs. The
boy felt that he had been put in false
position for Il purpose. but he could
prove nothing nor advance any salts
factory explanations. He had obeyed
orders. but the act of obedience had
ruined his career. There was no court
Of inquiry. no charges. no court mar
tial. He was simply oStraciZed by the
officers and looked ut askance by the
privates. There were two remedies. res
ignation and suicide. II seemed to him
that 10 send in his resignation after n
months service and with campaign
still on smacked of cowardice. and he
was no coward. As 10 the other rem
edy-well.
The Twenty second had not rested
thirty days after its fight on the Kaw
before White Bird had gathered his
warriors and come sweeping up the
valley again The regiment must take
the field again. One morning rs the
men were rushing 10 and fro while
making their preparations the Cub
rode away from the fort alone. and
only sentry or two saw him 90. He
rode straight down the valley nj a mad
gallop for seven miles and then drew
rein under the trees surrounding a
edy left. and he was going TO accept it.
He had galloped away from all human
life TO he alone with his last thoughts
and TO die by his own hand
You see II was this way" said one
of three or four pioneers who Galloped
into the fort that afternoon with mo-
mentous news. I'VE got word that
White Bird was in the valley burnin'
and KILN. and we set out To bring the
news. but ut the Rig Rock crossin'
band of redskins headed us off. and we
had TO take cover. We had been stand
in them of for two hours. and they
were gettin' ready for rush when
that boy officer Of yours came chargin'
down like Il thundcrbolt He had only
his revolver and sabcr. and after he
had cmptied his revolver he used his
steel Say. now. hut he must have
wanted To he killed He rode among
the redskins. Shootin' ana Slashin' and
cheerin. and he got up such panic
among 'cm that we had n chance TO
make sneak II was no use 10 think
Of hrlpin' him out. for they were sixty
10 five. Every one of his bullets
brought down Il buck. and he must
have slashcd half II dozen more. but
we had got ont of hcarin' when we
heard the reds yrllin' and knowcd that
the boy had gone down. Yes. he was
only kid Of a hoy. but I'm tcllin' You.
kurnel, that he had heart of n lion
and that we are ready to sell our
claims 10 build him monument fifty
feet high