The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1904-11-09
The Reparation
of a Soldier


and the Mexican governments made
that temporary treaty which allowed
the troops of either to invade the ter
ritory Of the other when i'm pursuit
Of hostile Indians fleeing across the
border. James Tracy was a second
lieutenant in the Nineteenth cavalry.
It was during the height of the Zero
troops, dismourted, and after a soul
and body wearying march on the trail
of tho willy Apache, found himself in
the heart Of one of the drcariest, most
God.fOrsakcn mountain countries In
the whole range of the southern coun.
try.
The troop was exhausted and prac.
ideally without water, the men having
not a drop to drink save what was in
their Canteens. They had cut loose
from river in the early morning, ex.
pectiHG TO find another when the day
was done, but not as much as a rivu'
let had they found. There was no cof'
fee that night and there wasn't light
heart In the outfit.
Tracy was unhappy. 1t wasn't
wholly his suffering condition and
that OF his men which weighed on
him Just before leaving the Arizona
post he had received news that his
younger brother. John, had been com.
United to states prison in a far north.
eastern state The officer had seen
his homo only once since his gradua-
ton. He had stayed away purposely.
His brother had been a trusted bank
employe. Then came suspicion, then
Tracy protested his innocence Of the
crime charged against him, ard his
family, knowing the lad, believed him,
but the cirCumstantial evidence was
overwhelming and in spite of the
efforts of the aged father, who spent
his time and his money in the lads
defense he went to prison.
Before the troops had left Fort
Banks with its nose to the hot red
trail of Geronimo there had Joined as
an enlisted man strapping young
fellow who said that he came from
st. Louis. His name was Barlow,
and he was assigned to the troop Of
which Tracy was the junior officer,
and he went with 1t on its chase across
the border after the Apache Chieftain.
Barlow on every occasion possible
attached himself to TraCey's person.
Whenever there was a scouting party
detached from the main body and put
hn nj
mand Barlow asked that he might be
assigned to It to share in the scout.
ing duty. He was a reserved fellow,
and apparently of superior education.
There were no camp jokes for him.
He was grave and tSCiturn to a degree
Tracy had noticed the evident attach,
ment Of the man TO him, and as he
was a capable soldier and willing to
dare and do anything he was glad
to have him a part of his outfit when
on detached and dangerous service.
On the morning following the night
that the troops were practically with
out water and in county as devoid
Of green things, save the forbidding
cactus, as is the Staked Plain OF
Texas, the troop commander told
Tracy that he had better make short
reconnaissance, feel out the country
for the enemy and above all try to 10
cate water. To attempt march un
de that hot Mexican sun with the
men, and with an idea of effective
service. was fooIhardy. They mus
FIRST strike water.
Tracy told his CaptaiL that he woult
take but one man with him; that they
would strike southwest, where II wal
thought a better prospect Of waite
lay, and that they would return a
soon as q find was made. He sclcCtcl
Barlow for his companion, and tn
two struck out through the black, sun
scared country.
They went on for three hours No
drop OF the element of which the
were in search. Their tongues wer
bllstered They drank sparingly o
the water in their canteens, prcsse
on for another hour and then kneN
that they must return.
Back they started. They followe
tnelf own onward llall as well as the
could, but at times it was lost, an
thsn circling was necessary to tax
Il up again. At noon they lost 1t, an
could not find it again. There was
great jagged rock rising to the ives
ward which neither recognized.
Lieutenant" said Barlow, "we'r
going wrong. We never came tn
way. The sun doesn't sit right.
should bear more to our right |
lIeve that We are going almost direc
iy at right angles to the camp"
They clrcled again and again, but !
trace OF the trail. Then the concl
sion forced itself on Tracy that tn
we're lost. They wandered on un
the sun went down beyond the bIa
rocks. Then they each drank sparir
ly of the precious contents OF t
conteens, and lay down on the or
desert TO sleep.
The sun came up like a red.h
cound rlAt. Tracy and Barlow q
me last of their single ration, and TO
one swallow Of water apiece. Tn
on they went again. Twenty-four hot