The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-08-04


and orphans.
TIE KILLING OF BRICE MAYFIELD.
One day a company of Sd Wis. Cav, on
returning from a foraging trip down in
Missouri, came into Fort Scott accom-
panied by Bill Tuft, Gen. Blunts Chief
of Scouts, who was riding fine bloOded,
fiea-bltten gray mare, that had formerly
been owned and ridden by Brice Mayfield,
notorious rebel bushwhacker, who had
been killed on this trip. in desperate
! rough and-tumble fight, by German sol
der of the Sd Wis. Cav. Tuft had bought
the mare for trif1e from the soldier, who
did not realize her value; and with that
| immaculate gall for which he was famous,
took great pride in riding her about the
streets of Fort Scott, giving out-and even
having an item published in the Fort Scott
Monitor that he had acquired the fine
mare by killing Brice Mayfeld.
The facts concerning the killing of May
field, which | heard from one of the SOL
diers, as near as I can remember them,
The company of Sd Wis. Cav. while
on fOraging expedition, had camped
near NeoshO, Mo-, and German trooper,
accompanied by comrade, started out on
their horses to do little scouting on their
own account. They had ridden up to a
farm house, hitched their horses to the
fence and gone inside to try to buy some
butter. The women of the house being
rebels, detained and delayed the soldiers by
pretending to send little girl after the
desired butter to- neighbours house near
by, where they knew that AIayfied and
another rebel were in hiding; but in reality
the errand of the girl was to inform the
bushwhackers of the presence at the other
house of the two soldiers.
While our two troopers were sitting in
the house waiting for the girls return, aud
the women by pleasant conversation were
60 10 fIa. ,se,< IL tLn
German CHANGED to step to the window in
| front of the house, and was astonished to
notice two more horses hitched to the
fence, near his and his comrades, and at
| the same moment he saw two men in but
| ternut clothes Ga sure sign of rebel APP
| preaching the door.
| Instantly compromising the situation,
the German soldier, who was a powerful,
| big fellow, informed his comrade, and
drawing their revolvers they both sprang
to the door, opened it quickly and fired,
| at the same instant receiving the fire of
| the rebels At the first shots the Germans
comrade fell dead, and Mayfield's compan-
| ion was also killed.
| AS Mayfield made a rush to come in,
the German quickly stepped behind the
door. both firing at the same time, the sol
dier hitting the rebel. but not wounding
him seriously, while Mayfield's ball struck
the door and glanced off. The bush
| whacker was also a strong, active man,
and as he sprang into the house they Crap
pied. each trying to wrench the other S
pistol from him, and in the struggle they
| fell to the floor, where, after several mo-
ments of desperate strife, the Dutchman
succeeded in disengaging his pistol, placed
the muzze to the rebels head and fired
killing him.
The women and children had fed out of
the back door at the first shot. and on dis
| engaging himself from the dead rebel and
rising, the plucky Dutchman found he was
| the sole surviving tenant of the house.
Fearing that the women had gone to
bring other rebels to take him in, he hasti-
~ examined his late comrade, and find
ing him dead, and then making sure that
the two rebels were safely converted" he
| stripped each of his belt and pistol, hung
them on their respective saddles, and rode
off to camp, leading the three riderless
horses.
detachment of soldiers was imme.
diately sent out from our mems camp to
bring in and bury the body of the brave
Germans cOmrade, and while they were
at the house-the women and children
being still absent-a spark Of fire some
how got started in some cumbustible ma
terial, and the house and outbuildings
with their contents, were soon heap OF
ashes.
Tuft was in the soldiers camp when the
German returned with his captured stock
and being good judge Of horse, he saw
| lhdl tue Hed-DItleH kTdy mare was an ex'
traordinarily fine animal, and succeeded
in buying her from the soldier before the
man had found out her good points.
j And that is how Bill Tuft killed Brice
Mayfield and captured his fine thorough
bred.
/ afterwards passed by the ruins of the
house where Mayfeld was killed, which
| was near the bank Of Shoal Greek, little
way north of the town OF Neosho, Mo.
POST TEAMS
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