Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06

in by the attacking. fleeing hordes. Once
near the bank of Powder river a giant
Indian confronted him, but Murphy, with
no ammunition, raised his shattered gun,
and when the redskn ducked Murphy
made wild leap over the bank. He
landed in a deep snowdrift. Burrowing
down, he lay we'll hidden until the tide
of the battle swept on above him; then
emerging, he caught an Indian pony
standing riderless on the plain. With
nothing to guide the pony but the pressure
of his gun barrel, he rode through the
early morning to rejoin his column, which,
with ammunition nearly spent, was re-
treating a few yards. lying down in open
order and firing volleys to cover the re-
treat of the other half of the column.
Our next encounter" said Sergeant
Murphy. speaking of the campaign few
days ago. was with Sitting Bull. These
hiated Gen. Clusters command on the
Little Big Horn river, June %, 1876. The
engagement lasted from s O'Clock in the
mornings until shutdown, and if the fight
had lasted another half hour, it would
have been in favor of the Indians, for we
had four rounds of ammunition to a man
left
I'VE met that willy chief American
Horse next on September 8, 1876. at Slim
Buttes, Dakota"
Saved Officers Life.
1t was at the beginning of this engage
ment that Lieut.. H. Won Luitwitz was
seriously wounded and was about to fall
into the hands of the Indians. when Ser
geant Murphy and two comrades placed
him in a buffalo robe and started for a
place of safety. One of Murphy's COM
rades was shot while on the way.
For this, Sergeant Murphy was recon-
mended by Gen. Arson Mills.
The sergeant declares that he is an
IriShm1n hIIt nv
choice Born in the County Cork. Ireland
he enlisted in Boston in 1875 and served
for five years. He was appointed to the
police force in 1883 and three years later
was promoted to mounted service. With
In the last six months the sergeant has
captured two accused murderers. the first
negro. Henry Bond, for the killing of
Will Johnson on Brightwood avenue and
Fairmont street March H. and the sec
ond. Walter Brown, also negro, for the
killing of. his sweetheart. Pinkey VIII
liams, in the village of WOODBURY. July IL
Sergeant G. H. Carlssen won his medal
not on field of battle. but on treacher-
Gus, rotten ice in the Potomac river jan
uary - 1891 while he was boatSWain' s
mate of the United States steamer Des-
patch and in the face of almost certain
defeat won victory and saved the life of
a lunatic who had escaped from ST. Eliza
beth's Asylum. BY this action of conspic-
uous bravery the sergeant was made a
,
of which King Edward of England is a
member. The letter transmitting his
medal to him, and accounting the deed, is
as follows:
Treasury Department
April "A. 1891.
&C. Fl. Carlssen,
Chief Boatswain's Mate.
United States Steamer Despatch.
Sir: l trasmit herewith silver life
saving medal awarded to you under the
provisions of the acts of Congress, ap-
proved June 30. 1874. and May L. 1882 in
recognition of your heroic conduct in res
cuing an escaped patient of the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane from drown
ing In the Anacostia river, District of CO.
lumbia, on January g. 1891.
An Heroic Rescue.
1T appears from the evidence filed in
TINS department that shortly after noon
of the day above named a man was seen
from the Despatch, then lying at the
Washington navy yard. making his way
over the ice on the Anacostia river from