The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-07-30
A PAYMASTER'S
FLIGHT.

| IOriginal.l
When I was sergeant in the til
United 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 ut
the next. He was small, baldhe0d-
ed, lean man, except round stomach,
which begins to protrude upon some
people after they pass forty. with a
crafty eye aud silent tongue The
only words he spoke were directions
IS to handling his safe. spall affair
That could easily be lifted by two men
and for which place was arranged
OH blackboard wagon which the major
always used to transport the treasure.
His clerk drove the horse, while the
paymaster sat beside him, the safe be-
tween his legs.
The country through which We es.
corted the paymaster contained wild
and lawless people. thought at the
time that eight men. though drilled
soldiers and we'll armed, We're 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 afterward that the
colonel commanding wouldn't give him
any more. and the paymaster entered
on the trip under protest.
We were crossing part of what Is
called the Great American desert or
alkali plains, with nothing there higher
than mans waist. l rode q couple
Of hundred yards in advance, keeping
a sharp lookout in every direction.
For more than half day not living
thing except the members of our party
and gophers was in sight. But sud:
denly in turning to look to our right
and rear saw on rise far in the
distance a mounted figure looking at
us. l judged from the general outline
Of horse and man that he was an In
dian. After what appeared to be a
careful survey Of us he disappeared
on the other side of the rise"
felt bit uneasy. Turning, d.
rected each man to see that his arms
and ammunition were in order and no.
tilted the raymaster of what had
seen. 1t didn't seem to trouble him
much. We logged on for few miles
and when emerging from low ground
suddenly heard q mingling Of yells and
saw on our right motley crew sew.
eral times as large as our own coming
down on US. They were evidently q
mixture of road agents and cowboys,
with q sprinkling Of Indians. Their
leader rode in advance, a revolver in
each hand, the only one of 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 ths attack
Ing party had some guns, But mostly
revolvers. waited till they came
within 200 yards before gave the
order to fire. Nearly every one Of my
troopers brought down his man. The
gang hesitated, and I gave second
order to fire. This halted them; but,
rallied by their leader, they came on.
bringing us within range of their re-
volvers, and my men began to get hurt.
For some minutes there was contin-
ued firing Oh both sides. several of my
men being put out Of the fight, though
but one was killed. My effective force
was reduced to four men besides N.Y.
self. Major B. and his clerk. 1t began
to look as though the robbers were 90.
ing to get the safe.
Suddenly was astonished to see
Major B., who had stood in the buck
board using rifle, jump down from
the wagon, cut the traces, spring on
the horses back, and away he went
like an arrow. The act demoralized
my force go that they broke. l failed
to rally them, and we were all soon
tumbling after the paymaster. Ills
clerk mounted the horse of the man
who had been killed and Joined in the
flight.
Never have I been so incensed in nv
life. The paymaster, a commissioned
officer, by his cowardly act had cast
discredit on me and my men. l had
the modification to see the bandits
ride down on the safe and caper joy.
fully about it. All I could do was to
help the wounded men Of nv com.
mand along, supporting them by turn
in their saddles. -
But what surprised me was the fleet
ness 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 disappeared
altogether. For once In my life I
placed money before human life and
wished he were in the safe and the
funds were on his horse. thought
. with some satisfaction how I would
prefer charges of cowardice against
I him as soon MS we reached the post we
were making for.
The bandits, having secured the safe,
paid no further attention to us, and we
rode on to our destination. What was
my establishment on riding into the