The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-01-11

we had TO kill him. and she tore 'ne
clothes all off of darky who trleo "
feed her one day; but 1t got 10 DC un o'u
story after bile, and we dion pay
much attention.
Nobody will ever forget the first time
she was seen in fight. You'd nave
,houpbt she was human, from the sense
she showed. and fend incarnate from
the way she fought.
Our company had been out on a sor-
tie and we we're on our way home, every
body giving Jeb and Blazes vice
berth, for she'd kick and bite every
thing in reach on the road as well as ID
the stable, when we came upon ce-
tachment OF rebel cavalry between US
and home. They had more men 'han
we did, but there was only one thlng 10
do, and that was TO charge-and we did
it.
I was abreast Of Jeb when we got the
word, and | never saw anything mace
of flesh and blood do what Blazes dId
then. Jeb couldn't hold her any more
than you could hold cyclone, and she
ran like streak of lightning. In the 80
or 40 rods between us and the confed-
crates she got more than two RODS
ahead of the rest OF us. so she struck the
line first. III bet she covered 80 feet at
every jump, and finally she took an ad-
mighty plunge into the air. and landed
plump on top OF confederate sergeant
and his horse, knocking them both
down as easily as she would blade OF
grass.
She reared and plunged, struck with
her forefeet, kicked with her bind ones,
and she used her teeth like tiger.
She'd grab a rebel horse by the throat
and tear out chunk Of flesh; she'd
seize man by the leg or the arm, and
pull him out of the saddle and trample
upon him quicker than you could knock
him out with a saber, and every time
she had a chance she'd jump into the air
and land right on top OF horse and
rider, and then bite and tear and strike
her way through or past the next one
she met.
don't see how Jeb ever stayed on her
back, but be did, and he came out with
out a scratch. too. Nobody ever made
fun of Blazes after that brush. but her
greatest fight was her last one.
We'd been out on a scouting and for
aging expedition and were on our way
back when we had that set-to. There
were only ten of us, and we thought we
had got past the point where we were
likely 10 fall in with any rebs. when
we saw full company of confederate
cavalry come over the top OF a knoll
not a quarter Of "A mile away.
There was no use for us to try to run.
for we would only have run into their
lines, and there wasn't a man there
who wanted to surrender. so we yelled
back and started to meet them.
We came together, and in a second
We were all mixed up. They surround
ed us like flies around honey pot. We
were 80 few that we could not keep
together, and every man fought for
himself regardless OF the others. Still,
everybody could tell where Rlazes was
all the time, by the commotion she
kicked up; and when in fight like that
one thing kicks up enough extra com
motion to be noticed, you can bet it's
moving.
/ got bullet through my right shout
der and another one in my left arm. and
l was helpless; and just then my horse
got saber clip on the side of his head
which sent him crazy. and somehow, he
managed to kick himself out of the
melee before he dropped. which he did
with one OF my legs under him; but
] was where could,see the fight, and
kept my eyes on Blazes.
just as | discovered her, saw Jeb
Smith pitch head first out of his saddle.
and l knew that the parson was done
for.
Blazes seemed to know 1t, too. She
had been wild before. but she became
perfect demon then. She must have
known that she had no rider, and most
horses quit fighting when the man is
gone off from their backs; but she
didn't. She only got wilder and,went In
for vengeance.
She no longer paid any attention to
the horses, but she went for the men.
and whenever she grabbed one she liter
ally tore him apart. Hundreds OF shots
were fired at her, and her BODY was
covered with blood from the saber cu,s
she had received. but she paved ana
Kicked and tore with her boots and
teeth. turning like cat, and bounding
ABOUT with the ease and grace of a
panther.
Then. when most OF our men had pone
down. and when practically all that
tnere was left for the rebs to fight was
mat wild mare. there was another veil
from the top OF the hill, and sow
three companies of our own men COM
ing to the rescue.
The Johannes saw them, too. andthev
broke and ran, and as sure as live
blazes started after them.
She overlook the last man and se;,od
MIN by the shoulder. dragging him
from his horse to the ground. As ha
1ell be fired his pistol, and the sbot
went through her heart, but she clnno
10 her prey and her body fell upcn ,he
man who killed her.
1here were only three of us left 1.-Two
out OF the ten who went into that fnh,
and we felt almost as badly anon,
biazes as we did about our comrades