Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-07-20
The Colonel's|
| Story Of Flad y
BY JOHN H. RAFrERY

ITTING by the camp fre one even
y ing the talk had turned upon the
striking performances Of some Of the
tenderfoot desperadoss who had out
shot and outshone some of the old
timers. Capt. Crews mentioned Ger
aid Flad and his brief but brilliant
career as ranger. and then everybody
had something to say about the dash
ing Canadian-Irishmsn who flashed
like a meteor across the border firma-
ment some ten years ago. Col. Hutch
inson. who was the dean Of the party
and had seen bloody service In two
wars. threw lot of unexpected light
upon the personality Of the vanished
bravo. and as a finale 10 the evenings
talk told this story:
His father was one of that fast fad
ing race Of Irish gentlemen who chose
arms as n profession and found neither
sorrow nor disappointment in the scat
tered and cruel rewards Of his adven-
turous life. Roger Flsd, the father
was in every uprising that gave prom
ise Of hard knocks. When he couldn't
hnd work for his sword in the cause
Of his own suffering island he bought
q commission in the British army. and
afterward wandered round the world
like n knight errnnt Of old. seeking
chances for chivalrous adva ncement. I
think he married a Cestilian girl. hut
at all events Gerald was his only child
and he reared him as gentle -blooded
son of rowing soldier Of fortune. You
know the boy spoke French. italian.
Spanish and German as well as he
spoke English. and he was devil with
broadsword. cutlass OF rapier before
he was Of age. He had been expelled
from Heidelberg before he WINS rs. and
when he first showed up at the head
quarters Of Coppinger's California ex-
pedition he had more scars across his
boyish countsnance than half of US
veterans.
think the old mamie was only a
lieutenant when the Brule Sioux got
him-was half sorry at the training Of
his son. for the youngsters early life
was fierce exaggeration Of all the
fathers passion for war and adventure
OF all kinds. Well. everybody liked
him-I've heard Phil Sheridan swear
that the lad was the hest wild turkey
shot that ever came into the Indian
oountry--but he couldn't get things
hot enough for him. He secuted for
two months in the Sierras on that Cal.
ifornie expedition. disappeared. and
the next we heard he was distinguish
ing himself In the Matahele wars Ms n
hushwhacker and guerrilla was
down In Old Mexico when 0choa was
starting things"-never mind what
was there for-end who should | see
one day. drilling troop Of the most
rascally outlaws that ever crossed the
Rio Grande. but Gerald himself. as
brown as an Arab and as iaunty as the
rowdiest rurale that ever wore spurs
| didn't get In right with these revolu
tionists. but | was In III paso-they
called it Paso del Norte then-when
met Gerald. thin aud yellow as march.
ment. sauntering along in the Plaza
| hailed him. and found out all about
the failure OF his ambitious plans. He
was TO have been governor or some
thing II the rebellion had succeeded
He had been hit at the Arroyo fight.
crawled "a miles 60 the river and was
now recuperatinC at Hotel Dieu,
skeleton Of himself. but as fun ~ devil.
m.nt ~ ever. He said very frankly
that he was In . terrible frame Of
mind about . youa9 woman Of Chihua-
hua--~ high caste Mexican Of Cortio-
van descent-vhom he meant to marry,
even though he had to carry her OF.
singular isn't II. how the fathers pre-
dnections appeared in the boy,
"The trouble u.s." said Gerald. sitting
uu a tt'H. nch Go .hc shade. "the
Elf 1850 eu.as t.ag rap
-c1H. Madrid who has been
down HNNg the republic. struttfuc
uud ,ou N,rg Till the womcu are all
,,ilf 'h'p, hm. The worst of I'D ishe',
coming up here, and | suppose tile
Alh.I H.I N..N'co will semi NJ. .rst ust-
plr io cheer md lion don