The daily tribune., 1908-11-06
FRONTIER ouet.


airy commanded by Kit Carson start
ed for the Indian country. While
encamped near the Turkey mountains
north of Las Vegas they were visited
by q party Of Indians, headed by their
chief, Manuelito who said they de-
sired to be good Indians and did not
want to fight the whites. They were
given provisions and promised not to
molest the settlers They started for
their village while the soldiers camp
ed In the mountains and were not
troubled that night The netx morn
ing Captain Graydon took dozen or
80 of his men and started on the trail
of the friendly Manuelito. He over
took the Indians and battle ensued
in which fifteen Of their number
we're killed while Graydon's s men all
got off without scratch
Grnydon returned and reported
that the Indians had jumped him and
that he had great difficulty in stand
ing them off. The captured Indians
and some of his own men subsequent
ly testified that Graydon fired into
the Indians without provocation
while they were making for their
village incumbered with their women
and children aud that the bucks W ere
too surprised to resist and fell like
sheep. This story became noised
about the camp and caused criticisms
of Captain Graydon s conduct which
led to direst results. For several
days the soldiers were too busy to
take any notice of the rumors. Hos.
tile Apaches surrounded them on all
sides and they also had to frequently
fight detachments of Teaxs confeder.
ates.
1t was November before the COM
mand returned to Fort Stanton which
had been burned during their absence.
The boys bivouacked within tho walls
of the ruined fort and as the nights
were cold number of camp fires
were cleaning. Colonel Carson and
DR.. Whitlock. a regimental contract
surgeon stood by one of these fires.
1t had been common talk in camp
that DR.. Whitlock had severely
criticised Captain Grsydon for follow.
ing the Indians into the Turkey
mountains and firing into them after
they had made promises of friendli
ness. DR.. Whitlock had character riz-
ed the act as oowardly deed and
said that Captain Graydon had killed
the Indians in pure wantonness.
Colonel Carson went into his quarters
and Captain Graydon approached the
camp fire. He handed DR.. Whitlock
folded note. Everybody present
knew that it WAS q challenge.
Captain Graydon appeared to be
nervous and excited. He had two
big sixshooters at his hips on which
he clapped his hands as he backed
slowly away from DR.. Whitlock. The
doctor WAS calm and collected. He
cody opened and read the note.
Then he walked away twenty PAGES
turned ard drew his revolver from
its holster. Captain Graydon was
the first to attempt to fire but his
revolver snapped. With AL oath he
threw 1t from him and drew the 9th.
er weapon, At that instant DR..
Whitiook fred twice, one bullet strik
ing the captain In his pistol hant
and the other irHicting q morts
wound in the chest. Instantly tn,
whole camp WAS in an uproar. Lieut.
enAnt Phil Morris Of Captain Gray
don's company called for men to fol
low him and aveDge their captain
murder. The whois company re
sponded. They were mostly Mexi
cans.
III
Headed by Lieutenant Morris, VIII
WAS armed with q double. barrel shot
gun. they ran DR.. Whitlook out O
the suffers store. where he bad TAX
en- refuge. pursued him across tn
parade ground and litera lily rif,ed hi
body with bullets. He fell into
ditch behind earthen rnmparts an
W