The National tribune., 1904-09-29

hauSted from the nervous strain, hard
riding and exposure that she was totally
unused to. She Immediately dispatched
a message to Capt. Thomas, at Fort Glib
SON, to notify him of her safety. Tom
Atkins had already told him of her start
from the field of massacre. As may be
imagined, the old gentleman was in a
fever of anxiety-until he heard of her
safe arrival at Fort Scott. Taking the
next opportunity going north, the Cap
tain went to Fort Scott to meet her; but
she had experienced enough of war, and
returned to the comfort and safety of her
home in Topeka, instead of going on to
Fort Gibson with Capt. Thomas.
AS characteristic of my eccentric old
boss, l will relate as l afterward heard
Col. Shorty" tell it, how the Captain i'm
parted TO him the news of the direful
tragedy at Baxter Springs, before he had
heard of her safe arrival at Fort Scott.
CAPT. THoMAs's GRIEF.
Coming hurriedly into "Shorty's" quar-
tiers at Fort Gibson, soon after Tom
Atkins had brought the sad news, taking
his quid of tobacco out of his mouth and
rolling it between his thumb and fingers
(his usual way when worried, he began:
"Mornin', Shorty And without wait
ing for reply. dispose you've heerd of
this Blunt affair at Baxter Sad affair
Sdiu dnaiI. VI! WHe was III lnat. LeIt
the field while the KILN was goin' on,
mounted on dead soldiers horse, a-strad-
die of an old Mcclellan saddle, to ride
90 miles. to Fort Scott, guided by Bridges,
of the Fort Scott Monitor God knows
what's become of 'em."
Although blunt of speech and by no
means choice of language, the old Cap
tain was kind and generous-hearted
man, end a real friend to his friends.
as he had heard from his wife the story
of her thrilling escape, the Captain
hunted up Bridges to thank him for his
manly services. On finding the newspa-
per man. who modestly declined being
made hero of for so simple an act of
duty, the old man grasped him warmly
by the hand and exclaimed as his eyes
filled with tears Of gratitude:
Bridges. you're a man! You're a gen.
every word of it. Yes, sir, you're a per-
feet gentleman, every inch of you-my
wife says So" Then, by way of ex-
PLANTATION to friend who was standing
by he continued. Instead Of skedaddlin'
an sayin' himself, as everybody else was
doin', he thought Of the only woman in
the outft-a stranger to him-got. horse
an brought her away from that field of
hell. They had to camp out without food
or fire that night-Bridges, you're a per-
feet gentleman-my wife says so. An,
Bridges, if it ever happens that old
Chester Thomas can do you a favor an
you don't let me know it, I'll be mad at
you"
And the old man fairly Rugged Bridges
in his over1owing gratitude.
STARTING BACK FOR FORT GIBSON.
In detailing these incidents Of the
blunt affair."" l have drifted away from
my own story, and will now return to
Fort Scott, where l had arrived from
Leavenworth with my little family in a
six-mule wagon ready to fall in with the
next train going to Fort Gibson.
/ found that Blunt and the few sur
vivors of the massacre had returned to
Fort Scott, where the General was max
ing up q large train and command to 20
to Fort Smith, where he was to assume
command of the Department of the
Frontier: and as Fort Gibson was but
little out Of the way, q supply train was
also going with him for that post
At Fort Scott l reported to Capt. John
G. Haskell, Blunt's Chief Quartermaster,
for rations. forage and other supplies for
the trip: after receiving which l was or
dered to roll out for Dry Wood Creek,
IL miles south. where the trains and sol
diers were to rendezvous before starting.
This time we were to 60 down the old
cline road near the west boundary of
Missouri and Arkansas, as the fOraging
is better on that route than along the
military road" via Baxter Springs, far
Their west through the Indian Nation.
On reaching Dry Wood / reported to