The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-01

called. he would retreat; II not, he
would die on the firing line.
The rush came. Fifty Indian war
rlors with devils faces and fiendisb
yells rose up and dashed forward In 9
body. The bny did not lose his nerve
altogether, but he was the only one of
the seven or eight living men who was
not captured and dragged back into the
Indian lines for torture. 1t was with
something like fright in his eyes and
his face as white as 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 by 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 stifIly to him.
while others turned their backs. The
boy felt that he had been put in false
position for a purpose. but he could
prove nothing nor advance any salts
factory explanations. He had obeyed
ruined his career. There was no court
of inquiry, no charges. no court mar
tial. He was simply ostraciZed by the
officers and looked at askance by the
privates. There were two remedies. res
ignation and suicide. 1t seemed to him
that to send In his resignation after a
months service and with a campaign
still on smacked Of cowardice. and he
was no coward. As to 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 end come sweeping up the
valley again. The regiment must take
the field again. One morning as the
men were rushing TO and fro while
making their preparations the Cub
rode away from the fort alone. and
only a sentry or two saw him go. He
/ rode straight down the valley at a mad
| gallop for seven miles and then drew
rein under the trees surrounding a
spring. There was but the other rem
edy left. and he was going to accept it.
He had galloped away from all human
life to be alone with his last thoughts
and to die by his own hand.
You see. It was this way" said one
| of three or four pioneers who galloped
into the fort that afternoon with mo-
mentous news. 1--WE got word that
White Bird was in the valley burnin'
and killin'. and we set out to bring the
news. but at the Big Rock crossin' o
band Of redskins headed US of. and we
had to take cover. We had been stand.
In them or for two hours. and they
were gettin' ready for a rush when
that boy officer of yours came chargin
down like a thunderbolt He had only
his revolver and saber. and after ht
had emptied his revolver he used his
steel. Say. now. but he must have
wanted to be killed. He rode among
the redskins. shootin' and slashin' and
cheerin', and he got up such a panic
among 'em that we had a chance t.
make a sneak. 1t was no use to think
Of helpin' him out. for they were sixty
to five. Every one of his bullet:
brought down a buck. and he mus
have slashed half q dozen more, buf
we had got out OF hearin' when we
heard the reds yeIlin' and knowed thai
the boy had gone down. Yes. be wa:
only kid of a boy. but I'm tellin' you
kurnel. that he had a heart of lior
and that we are ready to sell oul
claims to build him a monument fifty
feet high"