Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-14
A MAJORS ROBBER BATTLE
stirring Experience OF Paymaster
wham and the Gaifantry Of
Negro Soldiers.

The death in Washington of Major Joseph
W. Wham, retired. recalls to many Of the
older officers the desperate encounter that
the major had with a band OF robbers
In Arizona in 1889. and the gsllantry OF
several OF the negro soldiers. of the Tenth
cavalry and Twenty-fourth infantry, who
served as Major wham's escort. In May
of that year Major wham and the escort
were en- the way from Wilcox, Aria, to
pay off the troops at Fort Thomas. When
near Cedar Springs Major wham and his
guard OF eleven men were attacked by the
robbers. The place where the attack was
made had been at one time an Apache
stronghold. The robbers succeeded in car
rying away $4,000. While the party was
riding along a road which wound down a
long hill a large rock was found in their
path. They stopped to remove the OBJ
struction. Suddenly a volley of shots was
fired from the brow Of the hill. None OF
the robbers could be seen from where the
paymaster's party was stationed. The
shots OF the robbers were returned by the
soldiers. The attacking party had placed
men further up the hill, and also sent men
along the bill to get in a cross fire from
the left. The soldiers made a break for a
t 1hN v NCI0 WOu1OoQ IN CTOSHlnK
1t. Paymaster wham. from behind the
ledge. thinking the cross fire had been ST.
fenced, made q brave effort to rally his
men, but they were compelled to seek other
shelter, being exposed to a terrible fire.
The paymaster. his clerk and a corporal
were the only men who reached the last
shelter ~unwounded.
While some OF the robbers kept up the
fire from NhA hua a.
for the others to go down and secure the
ooo'y' which was I'm a strong. iron-bound
box on the boot OF the ambulance. The box
was opened with an axe, and the s2s, 900
carried away. The robbers then escaped 10
the mountains. Six Of the wounded soldiers
were conveyed in an ambulance TO the
hosp'tsl at Tucson, and a surgeon and
wagons were sent for the others. Several
OF the soldiers afterwards died from their
wounds. For the gallantry on that occa-
sion Sergeant Benjamin Brown. Company
c, Twenty-fourth infantry, was given a
medal OF honor. Although attacked by the
robbers. he held his ground. He was shot
through the abdomen. but he did not quit
the field until he was again wounded
through the arms. Several soldiers received
certincates OF merit for their bravery.
FeNo oohJhtnlu purge, Omp0ny ~,
Twenty-fourth infantry; Private Thornton
Hams. Troop c, Tenth cavalry; Private
Joseph Harrison, general service recruit.
and Private Squire williams, Company b.
Twenty-fourth infantry. each received one,
Private Burge was wounded In the hand.
but he held his ground. using his forearm
in place OF his disabled hand until he was
shot through the thigh. Privates Hams and
Harrison, though badly wounded. bravely
held their ground. Private williams was
shot through the leg. but the wound did no,
prevent him from continuing firing. This
Is a signal instance OF the bravery Of Amer.
lean colored troops.
Major Wham was born in Illinois January
ls' lS4o, and was a private in the Twenty
first Illinois volunteer infantry from June,
1861, until June. 1855. when he was appointed
a first lieutenant In that regiment. He
become a second lieutenant In the Thirty.
fifth infantry in 1867. and was honorably
discharged four years later. He was APP
pointed a paymaster. with the rank OF
major. in 1877, and was retired, at his
own request, in lS01.-New York Post.