Charlevoix county herald., 1910-08-06


mette a mile away Gambler Hunt placed
in the new county jail under the courthouse on
the plaza, In charge OF the county sheriff. And
the town of Willamette went its way but with
difference. No gamblers summed themselves and
trimmed their finger nails in front of the Main
street saloons. No soldiers travelled to and
from the fort the dusty fiat. The Tween.
tieth United States cavalry deserted the town
and attended strictly to its affairs the
military reservation.
Stiffness hung over the town. the tense still
ness that spells danger and waits for an event.
No crowds gathered. Citizens talked of the shoot
ing with unspoken question in their eyes as
they looked out toward the fort. The sheriff was
uneasy IF that man Hoeg dies" he said. and
shook his head
Out at the fort military routine ground along
without rippe-stables, guardmount, drill, pa
rade-apd II the men were dangerously angry
they gave not hint of it. The post commander
who also colonel of the Twentieth, eyed
them proudly. "They are taking 1t WELL" he
said to his officers. II know them. They are
veterans. and obey orders The law will take
of that man Hunt" The officers agreed.
Not threatening or angry murmur reached Off
GERS row from the barracks. AS a matter of pre-
caution all passes were stopped and orders issued
that no enlisted man should leave the reservation
except on duty.
1t all that could be done The men meant
no mischief, but suppose they did? The strongest
guard would be a rope Of sand around the cluster
of frame buildings called fort" The one only
way to prevent any possible trouble would be
to take the troops out on a "hike'-practise
march, it called then-somewhere away from
the place for time. But the colonel would have
had to ask orders from the department to
do this. And when the department heard
the reason for the request 1t would have thrown
official fit. and probably have convened
board of doctors to inquire into the sanity of
the post commander at Fort Willamette. 1t is
oloI1Ia foat
tered the veteran colones head. He knew his
men. They veterans. proud of the flag they
served and the cloth they wore.
Next day word came to the town that Ser
geant Hoeg was dead. The sheriff went to see
the prosecuting attorney THAT Hoeg mans
dead. / don't like this business heap" he told
the prosecutor.
whats the matter? The towns quiet"
SOS the fort. Too plenty much quiet. If the
soldiers was buckin round in town. or even out
at the fort there, wouldn't miSd. But they're
quet-fghtin' quiet. They're keepin' away
from town. and when they do come" The sher-
IN wagged his head dismaly.
Very WE'LL" said the prosecuting attorney.
We'll go out to the post commander and ask
him to put extra guard on and keep his men
away from the town until things quiet down."
The prosecuting attorney young but he
should have known better. He had been a sol.
dier himself, had studied law while wearing a
civil authority to give or suggest orders to an
officer in the regular army is to invite fiat snub-
bling He should have known, but he hustled con-
identy out to the fort The sheriff followed, pro-
testing. Were goin to the snubbin' post" he
said.
The old fort smiled peacefully in the after
noon Blueshirted troopers ounged in the
shade of barrack porches and corras. The
guard dozed on the benches in the guardhouse
sallyport. casual officer sauntered along the
board walk down officers row. The canteen was
deserted. "Too plenty much quiet" commented
the sheriff.
At headquarters the colonel received them
courteously
What can do for you, gentlemen" he
asked.
I'VE are afraid your men will lynch Hunt"
MY men have been forbidden to leave the
reservation until further orders. They obey or
ders"
I'VE have heard rumors. You must put
strong guard around"
Il command this post, gentlemen. Good after
noon"
Civil authority went back to town in hurry,
the prosecutor angry, the sheriff apprehensiye
For the sheriff felt that he knew the situation
better than did the colonel. The Twentieth cav
airy had not been stationed long at Fort VILLA
mette. They had come fresh from scouting and
Indian chasing in the southwest in joyous antci-
patton of the comforts OF quiet post and OF
civilized "sure enough" real town, not group
OF 'dobe shacks In desert The enlisted men
found state Of things they weren't used to and
didn't like. Willamette had long since forgotten
the days when tho fort a protection, and
looked on IL mainly q source of revenue. while
the enlisted men we're merely more or less of
nuisance. Like all other western towns In the
SOS and COS Willamette wide Open"
Gamblers and gambling were strong element In
| its life. From the suave and solid man of fam
fly who owned his home and business property.
and dealt parental discipline by day and faro at
night, to the casual "tin horn,' the sporting fra
'ternity was always in evidence. The Eighteenth
cavalry which had preceded the Twentieth at