Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-02-24

Three times the Indians were driven off, only 10
return again. They had lost heavily, but seemed to be
reused to a maddened pitch that made them needless OF
caution. For the fourth time they were sent HURTING
backward and then there came the awful necessity OF
sending instructions to the men in the outlying pits.
The captain commanding was just about to give over
all idea of attempting messenger communication be-
cause of the deadly nature Of the errand, when Private
Henry Johnson came up to him, saluted, and said that
he would like to volunteer to make the round OF the
guards.
"You can't do it. Johnson" said his commanding Off
Ger. tits DEATH"
Eyes, l can, sab; I'm a Splinter. When they shoots
at me running sideways round the ring they cant 90
nothing but cut daylight behind my back I've beat
everything in the regiment running and l beat every
thing in my state before | listed"
The result of this dialogue and some thought on the
captains part was that a moment afterWard a plue-ciao
figure was darling in 2igzag lines straight away from
the barricade toward the first rifle pit. How that negro
did run, Notwithstanding the fact that he took a course
like the flight of a snipe when it is first flushed. lie
simply tore. He had not gone 80 yards before a hundred
feathered heads were seen raised and the faces below
showing doubtless in sheer amazement at the sight OF
that flying figure. Then rifle after rifle spoke visiously,
but Johnson, the Splinter, sped on. He reached the frst
pit unscathed and fell into 1t by the side of the guard.
There he stayed long enough to breathe" himself and
to turn over his orders.
No one thought in the strain of that awful time to
'hold a watch" on the sprinter. There never has been
a doubt since that the worlds records before and after
were smashed. There were eight of the guard pits, and
the race between each was but a repetition of the last,
the Indians popping away all the while at the devoted
messenger. Johnson left the seventh pit and started
for the eighth. His pace showed no sign Of abating.
Some of the Indians, in following the circling course Of
the black, had closed in from left to right along the cir
conference Of their own circle in order to mark the mes
sengers course more perfectly with their sights and
shots. The result was a concentration Of fire and John
son, while speeding like a scared jack rabbit, suddenly
stumbled and went to earth. He was up again like a
fash and on he passed, but his step was tagging a little
now. Once more he went down, then up again and once
mora haltinQlVH and e1Ow1v for tan varda thpn doun
again with his face in the sand, and then on for ten
yards more, this time on his hands and knees. and then
he rolled into the last rifle pit.
Everyone knows of the outcome Of the Milk River Ute
campaign. How the beleaguered men were relieved
and Of the march that was necessary to relieve them.
Before those men, almost dying of thirst, would one Of
them go from the barracks to the sparkling river, they
went in a mass to rifle pit eight and there picked UP John
son and carried him to the water. Henry johnson, col
ored private Of Troop X, had only three holes in him, but
his sprinting days have been over for a quarter Of a
century. It is because the soldiers who saw Johnson run
forgot to hold a watch on him that another man now
claims the worlds s~prhnting record.