Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-10-17
A HERO In SPITE
OF HIMSELF.
A CAVALRY LEGEND.
By CHARLES A. IANTHEAUMr

/
morale of our menu
Thus, inpetulant tones, observed
Lieut.. James II. Wilde, of the
Twenty-ninth United States cav
airy, as the post commander casu
allyinspected TroopM's stables at
Fort Dubois, then situate near the
turbulent Indian country.
"My dear lieutenant, l fully
agree with YOU" replied Mai. AL
bert De Kannard, of the Twenty
ninth. "In this matter of re-
mounts we appear sadly neglect
ed could almost say ignored
for while some regiments obtain
young Kentucky thoroughbreds
upon mere demand, we here must
retain our almost superannuated
animals, and chase hostiles as
best we may"
Major, it is insupportable,"
calculated Wilde, with a mild GEES
ture of impotence. cat this very
instant could we pursue a band of
fleeing hOstiles without dropping
our aged horses en- route-even as
thickly as exhausted infantrymen
during a forced march? Why, sir,
half of my horses are only fit for
condemnation"
"Oh, we won't run down as bad
~ as that" observed the major.
owe are now promised measure
Of relief-though a relief that may
bring us a sore infiction-perhaps
problem to test the temper of
our officers and men,"
Major, you speak in riddles"
rejOined Wilde. Surely they
don't intend to remount us upon
drOmedaries or African zebras? ?"
almost worse" cried the post
commander. 'It transpires that
our cavalry board cares to purvey
in new market, likewise to en-
cumber us with a select herd of
kicking and bucking California
bronchos."
"This caps the climaxy' cried
the indignant lieutenant. "NOw
in all candOr l would ask: What
is our efficient cavalry com
ing to?"
ITO grass, / suppose" laughed
the major, with a sardinia express
sior "Ah, we deserve better
treatment, but what could we in
this instance do, save to accept
these Californian terrOrs with
due grace and submissive resig-
nation? But realizing that your
troop contains our best 'bocaros,'
or BUSTERS I've decided to re-
mount your men upon the most
intractable of these soon expect
ed terrOrs."
One week later the broncho re-
mounts designed for the Twenty
ninth cavalry arrived. True to
his announcement, the major or
dered the friskiest of them for
immediate use to Wilde's troop
to displace and retire the worn out
animals.
ThereupOn followed much
growing and some "cussing" in
the then dissatisfied ranks of the
favored troop; while yet the at
mosphere around NJ troops sta
bles appeared mildly sulphurous.
With refractory grace the boys
now tackled a difficult task, an ar
bitrary task which the then much
condemned De Kannard so resO-
lutely had imposed upon them.
"At this rate We'll not break
these miserable bronchos in sea-
son for a possible Indian out
break" later muttered Lieut..
Wilde, as with alarm he saw his
greenest recruits kicked, bit, even
endorsed in rapid succession.
"Great Scott! These 'bronks' bid
fair to utterly demOralize my new
men,"
At this moment recruit Edward
Bunker approached, saluted and
said:
"Lieutenant, this bay acts in a
very ugly manner. He bucks like
young zebra, and l believe that
he'd croak rather than submit"
'Let him croak, then! Put the
bronx through, cost what it may"
cried the exasperated officer.
AS forecasted by the perceptive
| Wilde in thp late Snrin0 an Tndian