The state herald., 1907-01-04


ginger and an ardent patriot. When
Lincoln made his call for $4,000 volun-
teers Cheney threw his position to the
winds, wended his way to Pittsburg
and enlisted in the famous Duquesne
Grays. Nature had favored this lad
to a degree. He was about five feet
ten, straight rs an arrow, weighed las
pounds. had brownish red hair, blue
eyes. which under excitement or emo
tion became steely gray, and his face
eternally wore faint suggestion Of
smile.
He came of a military family, many
of his ancestors having written their
names high on the country's roll OF
y honor. For the first three months
Cheney was assiduous in his attention
to duty and when his time was out
Che was an original 80 day mani he
was discharged corporal. The next
day he reenlisted in another regiment
and was quickly appointed sergeant.
then 1ISt sergeant, and a short time
later Gov. Curtin commissioned him
second Lieutenant. In the Peninsula
he was a caItain, at Charlottesville
major. and lat,r lieutenant colonel. In
the Wilderness lights his conduct was
so distinguished that he was commits
stoned colonel and as such commanded
his regiment until mustered out in
1865 Several times during the war
he had been on detached duty and rem
dered good account of himself In
connection with Pinkerton's secret
service. He had been twice wounded
and numerous times face to face with
the old man with the scythe." Four
years and six months OF actual soldier
Ing made him unfit for the quiet hum
drum life In small Pennsylvania
town and when he was offered n
chance 10 enter the United States
secret service he did so.
At this time the duties of a secret
service man were numerous and oner-
Gus. and Col. Cheney had enough ex-
citing adventures to I'LL several vol
umes. Thievery, graft and crime were
rampant from one end OF the country
TO the other and life was one continu-
Gus roaad OF pleasure for Col Cheney,
II being understood that pleasure In
his case meant the solving of an
lntdcats problem or running some
crook to earth.
Shortly after the great transconti-
mental Pacific road was completed
Cheney was operating In the West Cen
trail department with headquarters at
St Louis. Things had been somewhat
quiet fer few weeks and he became
restless. when one morning he found a
note in his mail directing him person
ally 10 assume charge Of II paymaster
case In Nebraska. II seems that a
major and paymaster OF the army en-
route to pay the troops Mt some of the
frontier posts and camps had been
robbed u $75. 900 In current coin OF the
realm. Most OF the troops at this time
were busy keeping hostile Indians In
check aad protecting the overland
trains and could not well be spared to
run dowa the gang. The robbery had
occurred near Smedburg. Neb. n
stopping point between Grand Island
and North Platte. Cheney was In
formed that certain gang headed by
one Buck Ewing was supposed TO be
Implicated In the AFFAIR. but conclusive
proof WAS not Mt hand. lie was to go
there with n couple OF good men. fer
ret out the case and when the time
was ripo call for troops TO make the
arrests. He left ST. Louis the same
evening taking with him Sid Guthrie
and Ed LoEeryan. two faithful opera
tors on whom he could depend In any
emerscacy. Before leaving he called
ON Gcs. u. II. Grlcrson. commanding
the cavalry depot at Jefferson bar
racks. aad obtained letter of intro
dr itioa 10 Gen. J. J. Reynolds. who
was Ia command Of Fort Niobrara. the
largest post In Nebraska. This letter
was the only piece OF writing Cheney
had on his person. II merely spoke OF
chency's being In the government
service. not stating the branch. and
commended him to Cen. Reynolds
good oaiess.
The trip To Omaha and from there
TO NORTH Platte wns uncventfui. Stop
ping jsst long enough To get wagon
transportation Cheney and his two
men oostinucd on TO smcdburg. reach
Ing thcse thht night about dusk.
snedburg was n typical frontier
town. every other building being a sa-
loon. dance hall and gambling house
combined. Tho inhabitants were those
usually found In such places. no bet.
tef. no vorrc. There was. M n rule,
quiet = tsnnnIcnt population duo 10
overland caravans stopping TO rest be.
forc coetinuing further towards tho
land u the setting sun.
chossy. Guthrie and LonerEan werc
dfcssr1 u rough western style; they
were esist. we'll behaved and did
nothisg 10 attract amy special nj.
Sirnuos. They walked around the
town. aaing things up. looked In
one a. two places and saw tho
games ssiag on. Incidentally. they
saw ~. Buck Ewing and few
rompestsas haif.seas over "bucking
the ueer.- They were all we'll heeied