The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-07-09
A pAYMASTERS
FLIGHT.


b.. WHO nau PAID on the FORCE at our
post and was going to pay those at
the next. He was small, baldhead-
which begins to protrude upon some
people after they pass forty, with a
crafty eye and silent tongue The
only words he spoke were directions
as to handling his safe, small affair
that could easily he lifted by two men
and for which a place was arranged
on 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 a wild
and lawless people. l thought at the
time that eight men. though drilled
soldiers and well armed. were a small
guard for such purpose. Whether
the major thought so or not 1 didn't
know at the time, for he said nothing
about it. l learned afterward that the
colonel commanding wouldn't give him
any more, and the paymaster entered
on the trip under protest
"a We were crossing d part Of what is
called the Great American desert or
alkali plains. with nothing there higher
than mans waist. + rode a couple
Of hundred yards in advance. keeping
sharp lookout in every direction.
For more than half a 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 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 In
dian. After what appeared to be a
careful survey OF us he disappeared
on the other side of the rise"
l felt a bit uneasy. Turning, di-
rected each man to see that his arms
and ammunition were in order and no.
titled the paymaster Of what I had
seen. 1t didn't seem to trouble him
much. We logged on for few miles
and when emerging from low ground
suddenly heard 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 a sprinkling Of Indians Their
leader rode in advance, a revolver in
each hand, the only one Of the lot who
was not yelling
l had just time to draw my men w
in line between the oncomers and the
blackboard before they came within
close range, and l told each man to
pick one in front Of him as nearly as
he could estimate. My men were armed
with repeating rides. while the attack
Ing party had some guns but mostly
reVolvers. + waited till they came
within 200 yards before l gave the
order to fire. Nearly every one Of my
troopers brought down his man. The
gang hesitated. and 1 gave a 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 q cOntin-
ued firing Oh both sides. several OF my
men being put out of the fight, though
but one was killed. Ny effective force
was reduced to four men besides my
self, Major B. aud his clerk 1t began
to look as though the robbers were 60
ing to get the safe
Suddenly / was astonished to see
Major B., who had stood in the buck
board using rife, 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 SO that they broke | failed
to rally them. and we were all soon
tunbling after the paymaster His
clerk mounted the horse Of the man
who had been killed and joined in the
flight.
Never have l been SO incensed in my
life. The paymaster, commissioned
officer. by his cowardly act had cast
dfscredit on me and my men. I had
the modification TO see the bandits
ride down on the safe and caper. joy
fully about 1t. All ! could do was to
AElQ tie WOuuOeu lieu OF NV CON-
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 horsedesh. and l had mis-
taken the animal that drew the buck
board for a mere beast Of burden.
Looking ahead. l could see the pay
master miles in advance, fleeing as for
dear life, and in time he disappeared
altogether. For once in my life l
placed money before human life and
wished he were in the safe and the
funds were Oh his horse. I thought
with. some satisfaction how I would
prefer charges Of cowardice against
him as soon as We reached the post we
We're 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
garrison to see Major B. sitting coolly
smoking before an extemporized desk
with heaps of bills before him paving