The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-08
Wanted, Land Warrants.

old-time Texas cowboys. with some
greasers, or Mexicans-no college dudes
| with big hats.
1t really was grand sight but can't
say that | enjoyed it, for / pitied the cat
tie and felt sorry for the herdsmen. After
| the cattle got clear of the soft ground
| they were soon out of sight, over the high
prairie.
We were yet firing when massive
Texan rode up and inquired what in (the
locality We were shooting them things
at"
The Lieutenant explained, and the
Texan said: Il started with 1000 head:
they are scattered everywhere now. and
a large number has been killed; but /
reckoned that I'll have 5000 again by
the time / reach Kansas City"
When the minute guns had all been
fired. three of the cannon. with their crews,
were sent back to the fort. Gun No. 1.
with its details, emaining-Sammy Big
FOOT McWay being one of this detail.
Now. McWay was a large man. He
could dispose of as much Government
grub as any other two men i'm the COM
pany, and was therefore big. clumsy, and
fat-but it seemed that his feet had out
grown the rest of him: and, then, his
great toes-for great they surely were
extended about an inch ahead of his other
toes. He wore the largest shoes furnished
by the II. s. Government-Nos. IL or Is.
of these he had to cut holes to let those
big toes 60 through: and they were al
ways sore and bruised from being trampled
on, accidently or otherwise. He was the
most awkward man on his feet ever saw,
and to save his life he could not double
quick 200 yards without going down fat.
After the noon gun We went 10 dinner.
Somehow the boys had procured a canteen
of Indian firewater. and one of Texas
lightning. and two of water: all of which
were taken back to the gun. With the
inspira ton to patriotism acquired from the
canteens it was decided that mere powder,
with nothing to push. did not make noise
enough for an American Fourth of July
roar. Therefore, at 3 o'clock the gun was
given two charges of powder, on top OK
which was rammed to solidity-half way
10 the muzzle, greasy old gunnysack bacon
covers.
McWay by this time had on first
class shine and asked Corpl Turner to
let him fire the gun, and Turner agreed.
Sammy was unsteady on his pins but he
braced himself, his right foot well TO the
front. There was a deafening report
the old greasy sacks made a black streak
through the air-and the gun carriage
shot back about 80 feet. and through the
smoke. where the gun had stood. we saw
McWay lying on his back-that No. ID
shoe stirring the air. The language he
used I am sure he did not learn at Sun
day school! We took off his shoe and saw
that his big toe was badly crushed. The
wheel had passed over it. Richards
wanted TO amputate the toe at the second
joint so as to make it resemble a white
mans. as he put it. Hess came with a
canteeu that had no water in IL. and
poured a little hot stuff on the sore toe,
then gave him the canteen and said Take
a good one. or you will surely faint and
McWay did not hesitate. He was on sick
report for three weeks. and we of that
detail had to do his guard duty, police
duty and so on.
The only man now living that | know
of belonging to nv company. * First
Duty Sergeant w. H. LaGow. of Nebraska
City, Neb.-A. STEPP, Co. f. 9th L. s. Inf.