The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-16
A PAYMASTER'S Flight.
BY ALEXANDER ELY.

Wnen L was sergeant in the Uni
ted States cavalry in the Far West
was detailed one day TO command
eight men acting as guard to Major
B.. who had paid off the force at our
post and was going TO pay those al
the next. He was a small. baldhead-
ed, lean man, except a round stomach,
which begins to protrude upon some
people after they pass forty, with a
crafty eye and a silent tongue. The
only words he spoke were directions
as to handling his safe, a small af-
fair that could easily be lifted by two
men and for which a place was ar
ranged on blackboard wagon which
the major always used TO transport
the treasure. His clerk drove the
horse, while the paymaster sat be-
side him, the safe between his legs.
The country through which we es-
corted the paymaster contained a
wild and lawless people. | thought
at the time that eight men. though
drilled soldiers and well armed, were
a small guard for such a purpose.
Whether the major thought so or not
/ didn't know at the time. for he
said nothing about it. | learned af-
terward that the colonel commanding
wouldn't give him any more. and the
paymaster entered on the trip under
protest.
We were crossing a part of what is
called the Great American desert or
alkali plains, with nothing there
higher than a mans waist. I rode
couple of hundred yards in advance.
keeping a sharp lookout in every di-
rection. For more than half a day
not a living thing except the men,
bers OF our party and gophers was
In sight. But ddenly in turning TO
look to our right and rear | saw on a
rise far in the distance a mounted
figure looking at us. / Judged from
the general outline Of horse and man
that he was an Indian. After what
appeared to be careful survey of us
he disappeared on the other side of
the rise.
/ felt bit uneasy. Turning, di-
Tected each man to see that his arms
and ammunition were in order and
notified the paymaster of what had
seen. 1t didn't seem to trouble him
much. We joggeu on for few miles
and when emerging from low ground
suddenly heard a mingling of yells
and saw on our right motley crew
several times as large as our own
coming down on us. They were evil
IDENTIFY a mixture of road agents and
cowboys, with a sprinkling of Indi-
ans. Their leader rode in advance. a
revolver in each hand, the only one
or the lot who was not yelling.
had just time to draw my men up
In line between the oncomers and the
blackboard before they came within
close range. and | told each man to
pick one in front of him as nearly as
he could estimate. My men were
armed with repeating rifles, while the
attacking party had some guns, but
mostly revolvers. / waited till they
came within 800 yards before gave
the order to fire. Nearly every one
Of my troops brought down his man.
The gang hesitated, and / gave Sec
ond order to fire. This halted them;
but rallied by their leader, they came
on, bringing us within range of their
revolvers, and my men began TO get
hurt. For some minutes there was a
continued firing on both sides, several
OF my men being put out of the fight,
though but one was killed My eff
fective force was reduced 10 four
men besides myself, Major b., and his
clerk. 1t began to look as though
the robbers were going to get the
safe.
Suddenly was astonished TO see
Major B., who had stood in the buck
board using a rife, Jump down from
the wagon, cut the traces, spring on
the horses back, and away he went
like an arrow. The act aemoralized
my force so that they broke. failed
10 rally them. and we were all soon
tumbling after the paymaster. His
clerk mounted the horse of the man
who had been killed and joined in
the fight.
Never have been so incensed in
my life. The paymaster. a commits
stoned officer, by his cowardly act had
cast discredit on me and my men. /
had the modification TO see the ban
dts ride down on the safe and caper
joyfully about II. All / could do was
to help the wounded men of my COM
mand along. supporting them by turn
in their saddles.
But what surprised me was the
feetness Of the majors horse. am
no Judge OF horsefesh. and I had mis-
taken the animal that drew the buck
board for a mere beast OF burden.
Looking ahead ! could see the pay
master miles In advance. fleeing as
for dear life. and In time he disap-
peared altogether. For once in my
life I placed money before human