The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-06-28
HOta, He GOT His
Com m iSSion
[Original.1

his orderly to tell Sergeant Willard
Farnum to report at headquarters
equipped for days ride. When Far
attention while the major went to the
door, closed it and. returning to his
seat, said in low tone:
Sergeant. the paymaster has been
here today and left money to pay B
company. which is out, as you know,
at the forks of the rivers. don't like
keeping other mems money. Besides,
some of them want their funds, though
l don't see any way to spend 1t out
there. l can't spare guard, so have
concluded to send you with it. hope
you'll get it through safely"
Sergeant Farnum was one of those
few educated young men who at that
time entered the ranks for commits
sion. There are more of them now
that commissions are more plentiful.
The major gave him the money in a
leather belt, which he strapped about
his waist. His cavalry jacket did not
reach low enough to hide it, and as he
walked across the parade it occurred
to him that he was exposing it danger
ously to view, so he unstrapped it and
put it in his pocket. Mounting, he rode
out, only halting to ask a scout named
McKenna the way to the forks. The
full moon was rising as the sun set,
and the messenger had prospect for a
fine nights ride. He must go through
a hostile Indian country, but scouts
had reported that no Indians were
there. 1t did not take him long to find
out that either he had mistaken Nc
Kenna's instructions or he had been
purpOsely put on the wrong road. He
could see no object In being misdirect-
ed, so he inferred the former. He had
when he should have gone to the west
Of them. Retracing his steps, he turned
at point not half a mile from the fort
and took the western course.
He had not ridden another mile be-
fore, while passing through some low
fore him. Farnum brought his carbine
to an aim and called on the redskin to
surrender Meanwhile the sergeant
felt grip from behind and was drag
ged from his horse by another redskin.
The first came up. and the two went
through his clothes, finding the money
belt in his pocket. They danced about
joyfully. one of them chattering to the
other in their native tongue. Then, TAX
ing Farnum's carbine and pistol. they
made off.
When Farnum considered his posi-
one chance in dozen that any one
would believe that he had been robbed
by Indians. In the first place, it was
not supposed there were any Indians
80 near the fort, and, in the second,
Indians would have been more inter-
ested in his scalp than his money.
Surely his story would be regarded as
decidedly thin.
There was nothing to be done except
ride back, report the loss and take the
consequences. Major Wharton listened
to his story in amazement. then ordered
he had nothing to do but think, and the
result of his thinking was to send,
through the sergeant of the guard,
a request for an interview with Major
Wharton. What passed at the meet
ing was known to no one, for the
major talked with Farnum in his pri-
vate apartment.
Shortly after this Major Wharton
sent for the scout who had directed
Farnum and said to him:
Il consider myself responsible for
the loss Of B company's pay and shall
send all l receive from the paymaster
to reimburse them. want you to take
it. I'm going to send my orderly with
you. so that If anything happens one
can confirm the others story"
The two men left about dusk. intend
ing to go through, as Farnum had in
tended, by night. When they arrived
at the identical spot where the SER
geant had been set upon they were sur
rounded by Indians and robbed. They
started back to the fort, but when the
Indians were out of sight turned and
moved southwark. They had not gone
far before they ran into half dozen
cavaIrymen from the fort. Reporting
the loss, they went back with the troop
ers. On arriving they were making
their way to the commandments head
quarters when they were arrested and
taken to the guardhOuse. In the morn
ing they were sent to Major Wharton
and there found Farnum. The major
addressed them:
"You two are guilty Of the worst
piece of rascality that has ever come
under my personal notice. Last night
you were robbed by Indians, who
found on you not only the money l
sent by you, but that sent by Sergeant
Farnum. He suspected that you, or
derby, had seen his money belt and that
you, McKenna. knowing of the pay
masters visit, had suspected he car
ried fundA to B company. You sent
him astray to gain time, and you two.
disguised as Indians, robbed him, Nc
Kenna carrying out the deception with
what he knows of the Indian tongue.
To you, Farnum, / am indebted for
thinking the matter out and concocting
this plan for proving the facts and re-
gaining the money. You have made an
efficient Indian chief and acquitted
Yourself so well that recommend you