The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-01-02

War-How He Won Nickname of
'Pecos BILL"
The late Major General William Ru-
fus Shafter. the Santiago chieftain,
thoroughly enjoyed a good story and
did not object to telling one even If
the Joke was on himself. He had q
faithful servant whose name vas
George.
One day the general, contemplating
q trip to Santa Barbara, CAL, sent
George to the ticket Office to buy a
sleeping berth. To make sure that
the old man would make no mistake
the general called after him in an en-
phatic manner:
George, tell them l want a section
and a lower"
An hour later George returned, and
the general asked:
"Did you get itT
Eyes, sir" answered George.
"What did you get?" asked shafter.
"a section and a little over"
"Great Lord, George" exclaimed the
general. You don't mean to tell me
that you went down to that ticket
Office and asked for a section and a
little over, do your"
Eyes, sir" said George.
"a section and a little Overt" re-
peated the general. "Hang 1t, George,
you don't think I'm that big, do you?
I know l I'M a big man, but hereto
fore I've always found n section in a
sleeping car roomy enough to stow
away In"
General Shafter, who was tall and
slender In youth, gained much flesh
while living In tho far west, and before
the Spanish American war he weighed
over 300 pounds. The story is told Of
him that me day when he was on the
Pacific coast he was sitting in his par
lor, overlooking the parade ground.
Some soldiers were playing football on
the campus. One of them, Il muscular
man, sent the football flying through
the parlor window. The soldiers We're
frightened, and visions of the guard
house doomed before them. The gen
eral presently appeared ut his door
with the football under his arm. Toss
Ing 1t into the air, he made n desperate
kick at the sphere. The ball dropped
harmless at his feet and the generals
body spun around twice. He tried it
again, and again missed. Five times
he kicked and missed, and in the fifth
experiment he lost his balance and
tumbled head over heels down the
steps to the ground. The soldiers
quickly went to his assistance. The
general was not hurt, but the football
conquered him and he surrendered.
Captain George II. Henderson Of La.
peer, who served In the civil war with
General Shafter, at that time Il lieu
tenant Of n company of the Seventh
Michigan volunteer infantry, when ask
ed If he knew General Shafter replied
"Know him! OF course l did. He
was a lieutenant In the Seventh the
same time l was, and we were chum,
together. He was a mighty good Off
Ger and n mighty good fellow. HI
once told me a funny story about hi
father. Bill worked with his fathe,
on the farm In Kalamazoo county, ant
I guess the old man did not exactl,
like to have him 90 to the war. TIL.
citizens turned out to see the boy!
take the train at Galesburg. and Mr.
Shafter was among them. 'Goodby
BILL said he rs the train was start
ing. I expect to hear soon that 70,
got shot in the seat Of your trousers
"yell, pretty soon Bill got to be ad
jutant, and in ono Of tho first fight
he was wheeling his horse around an,
a rife ball just grazed his saddle a
went into his flesh. Oh. he swore lik'
a pirate. You could have heard hin
half II mile Off. Then, after he go
3 cooled down n little, no said to som
Of those near him, What will my fc
Their say now?'"
"lIl tell you how I came to receiv
that designation" said General Shaftc
to a group Of friends one night afte
having been addressed as "Pecos Bill.
1T was out in that arid part Of tn
Z southwest country where water Is
real luxury. W. had been trayelin
for several days without water. an
finally a captain Of one Of our compa
q nies. with tears In his eyes, said:
. "'Colonel, we arc lost and begge
that VIC turn back. Well 60 stralgh
) ahead I replied. The Pecos river lie
6ver there somewhere. and I intend &
lp6 on until We meet 1t II we have
clfeumnavigate the globe to do It,
I'VE reached the river that nigh
The water was muddy, but it was ",
ter. We simply had to 60 ahead. ]
sc bad turned back. we'd have starve
to DEATH"
I Mrs. Mary McKittrick. General Sha,
8 tey's only daughter, ~passionately love
s her father. On his return from SAINT
ASo she Travelled over half Of the co,
tpent to meet and welcome him.
1t <QAcourse Of people had assembled
. Witness the affecting meeting betwee