Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-02-09
Private Brainard's
Ruse
By DOROTHY r. MURRAY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By DOROTHY r. MI

the mischief done ut school, and when
he was at college got into so many
scrapes that at the end of his sopho-
more year the president informed him
he needn't come back the next term
Toms father put him into business
concern. but the boy soon proved that
he was as unfit for business as for
study. Sitting on high stool all day
adding columns of figures was not to
Toms taste He soon got discharged
for inattention to his work. and len
his father was at his wits end to know
what to do with him Tom said he'd
like TO be soldier. so his father went
to Washington TO try to get him com
mission. but was told there That if Ills
son wanted Il commission he had bet
ter enlist and work his way up from
the ranks
Tom enlisted and though he took to
soldering better than anything else,
was constantly transgressing the army
regulations and consequently getting
himself into trouble, He enlisted in
the cavalry and was sent out with his
regiment to a two company post in the
west The only people to fight were
Indians, and ut the time Of Toms ar
rival they were peaceful
Fort b.. where Toms company was
stationed was near u hamlet that
has since become large town The
fort was intended as point OF obser-
walton for tribe Of Indians whose
reservation was but a few miles away
Tom served a year nj the fort, one
third Of which was spent In the guard
house He was known by the officers
to be a gentleman and his offenses
were not serious; indeed he was
rather an annoyance than otherwise.
SO finally bis captain told him that II
he would leave the army he would
guarantee his discharge But Tom de-
cined He said he had come into the
service for commission and intended
to stay there till he got one
Soon after this the Indians broke
about numbering settlers wherever
they could find them. The savages
numbered several thousand warriors,
and the troops in the fort numbered
sixty-two The great father had
put force down near the Indians just
big enough for them to eat up when
they got ready.
One day there was CONSERVATION in
the fort. The Indians were coming to
attack ii. and if they did they would
doubtless take ii and kill everybody in
it, including women and children Be
sides. many of the people from the
little town or settlement near by had
come in. the merchants bringing their
stocks of goods and all bringing their
household belongings.
AS the Indians approached the sol
diers went out TO meet them. the major
in command hoping to pacify rather
than to fight them Six hundred In
dams attacked him, and after a scrim-
mage several redskins including their
chief. were killed When the chief
fell the Indians drew Off though it
was known that they would renew the
fight with redoubled fierceness. After
dark the troops withdrew TO the fort
ana shut themselves in.
That night was a fearful one in the
Enclosure, death staring every one IN
the face. 1t was known that re-en-
forcements had been sent from Leav-
enworth, but it would require several
days for them to make the march.
Tom Rrainard told his captain that he
had a plan He was conducted to the
major commanding and proposed it.
The major had no confidence in ii, but
permitted Tom to try it
A stock of cigars and tobacco bad
been brought into the fort. including
wooden Indian that an enterprising
tobacconist had brought from St Louis,
The Indian was sitting with a calumet
in his mouth Tom bored hole
through the back of the neck aud put
a real pipe in the Indians mouth Then
he introduced a tubc into the hole he
had bored. so that hy sucking on the
tube the Indian would appear to smoke
Tom told his commander what his
plan was and asked him as soon as It
was light thr nest morning to convene
all the officers al the fort on the par
apet put the wooden Indian in the
circle aud have some one concealed
pun on the tuhe NJ the back Of his
head, the pipe having been lighted lie
wished them all 10 appear to be in
council
This being understood, Tom rode ont
with an escort and a white flag The
Indians met him. and ne told them
that the spirit OF their chief had come
into the fort and made peace The
Indians were incredulous They had
the chiefs body Tom offered 10 show
him to them ut the fort smoking with
the officers They rode with min to
the fort arriving early in the morn
Ing Tom would not permit them o
come within quarter OF Il mile Of
the post, but this was near enough for
them TO see the wooden Indian sitting
on the rampant in circle OF officers
blowing clouds OF smoke The In
dians. astonished rode away aud
spread The news to an the tribe
That was the end OF the UPRISING
soon after Toms ruSe the nov chief