The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-06-04
A PAYMASTER.S
FLIGHT.

When was sergeant in the til
United States cavalry in the far west
I was detailed one day to command
eight men acting as guard to Major
B.. who had paid of the force at our
post and was going to pay those at
the next. He was small, baldhead-
ed. lean man. except q round stomach,
which begins to protrude upon some
people after they pass forty. with q
crafty eye and silent tongue. The
only words lie spoke were directions
to handling his sAfe, small affair
Eat could easily be lifted by two men
and for which place was arranged
on a 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 q wild
and lawless people. thought at the
time that eight men, though drilled
soldiers and we'll armed, were a small
guard for such a purpose. Whether
the major thought SO or not l 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 We're crossing 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 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 l saw on a rise far in the
distance mounted figure looking at
us. judged from the general outline
OF horse and man that lie was an In
dian. After what appeared to be a
careful survey of us lie disappeared
OH the other side of the rise"
l felt a bit uneasy. Turning, / d.
rected each man to see that his arms
and ammunition We're in order and no.
titled the Eaymastcr 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 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 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 the 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 l gave Il second
order to fire. This halted them: but,
rallied 10y 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 Il contin.
ueu firing OF 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 nv.
III ole
to look as though the robbers were go.
ing to get the safe.
Suddenly l 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 so that they broke. failed
to rally them, and we were oil 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 NV
life. The paymaster, 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 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 fleet
ness of the majors horse. am no
Judge Of horsefesh, and had mis-
taken the animal that drew the buck
board for 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 We're in the safe and the
funds were on his horse. I thought
with some satisfaction how I would
prefer charges Of cowardice against
him as soon as 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