Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-11-17

what pale, but entirely placid occupied
a char TO the left Of that table. with
Captain sumter. as his troop command
cr and counsel, by his side Captain
Snaii!e was III support of the post
commander to cross question if he saw
| lit. Barker the adjutant, was present.
| as matter of course Sergeant Fitz-
roy, with trouble In his eyes and wrath
in his heart, was hitting uneasily
| about
! IF you are ready, Colonel Button"
| began Riggs with elaborate courtesy,
| Il am. and let me briefly say that I
have seen Trooper rafferty, at the hos
| pital, also certain other men named
| by Captain Snaitle, bat in order that
all parties may be given opportunity
| to hear aud to examine and at the re-
| quest of Lieutenant l4anier, who de-
| sires the fullest investigation and pub
| Lefty. ! have invited You and the cap.
| tain to hear what consider the really
| valuable evidence. Win you call in
| Trooper Rawdon."
Snaille's face was sight when the
door opened and there entered a very
| self posse ssed YOUNG IAN.
"What he mean b. coming here in
'cits% Mid Suadlp
Yes Colonel RIGGS, if this mans
| soldct why iSn't he il uniform?"
With perfect respect al a nod from
Riggs, tho newuotlpg replied. My
uniforms aud other III aagin@s Of mine
were taken from ry trunk in town
| during my absence"
You could have borrowed one" said
Snatlle trucuently
Il told him he Hnva not" retorted
| Riggs MT RaWd0l, YOU were
duly enlisted trooper, believe Take
| that chair"
"And am still, sir"
but your discharge is ordered
at was applied fer and recommend
cd, and General Mhipple told me In
Chicago few days ago ii was set
tied. but that would have made no
difference, sir. | should have been
proud TO wear the uniform until Of
~~-Htts si-a.'"~s--
Riggs wheeled in his chair "Colo-
mel Button, 1t has been fully explained
to this man and TO the next that what
they tell us here is to be Just what
they would swear to before a court.
You can decide for your SELF on hearing
II whether YOU wish Z M TO swear TO
1t or not. Now. RawG u. tell us how
you came to enlist"
"As the represents I've of three
newspapers in Chicago and the east.
They were anxious TO Lave an Indian
campaign and the life Of an enlisted
| man described as ii really was.
| joined a squad of recruits for this
regiment right after the news of the
Crazy Horse battle on Powder river"
"Do you still hold that job?"
mo, sir" And there was twitch of
the muscles about the corners Of the
mouth suggestive of amusement.
"Why?"
Il failed to-give satisfaction. Only
scraps of my letters were published
What did they want2'
Criticism principally and confirma-
ton o.. the stories of abuse and i'll
j treatment of soldiers by their officers
Were your letters never published!
1
! campaign, In the New York Morning
I Mail"
Whereupon Riggs spun in his chair
anu rejoicefully surveyed Button. who
sat like a man in a daza staring opea
eyed at the witness.
'Then as | understand 1t. you were
fayorably impressed with the life and
conditions?"
'ln spite of hardship and privation.
yes sir, and because | found complete
refutation of the stories about the off
GERS, both as regarded their dealing
! with the Indians and with their own
men,"
Were there any persons with the
command who knew you and your
missiony' --...~-~~--es4Ac
1.-Two, sir, as it turned out Trooper
Cary, who enlisted at the same time
did, and civilian. Mr. Lowndes,
who recognized us at Fort Frayne.
We We're at college together. He and
Cary became very intimate toward the
last, and yet l think they kept my
secret In spite of our falling out"
"Do you care to tell us why you fell
out?"
81 prefer that Mr. Lowndes should
do that. He and Cary had been chums
In college days. and. though we were
in the same society. l did not know
them then as do now"
"You had trouble with Sergeant
Fitzroy at first. We have heard his
version. What is yours?'
Rawdon's eyes never flinched.
ut was partly on account of the
lady who is now my wife and partly
on account of-money. Fitzroy is an
out and out Insurer and has a dozen
sergeants in the regiment in his debt
and under his thumb. Captain Snaffie's