The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-26
DEATH RACED WITH HIN.
But Young HOisingtOn Used Fist
on "Gun'' Men.
Snow Storm Finally Saves Life
of Young officer.

| II IS story told in the Officers clut
at Fort William Henry Harrison, Mont
by his brother officers.
Lieutenant Hoisington who was grad
! uated at West Point last year. ard is
1 the junior officer of the regiment, is the
hero of the story, he is a son of Col. P.
| M Hoisington of Kansas. Last fall he
was assigned to the battalion of the
Fourteenth infantry, stationed at Fort
| William Henry Harrison. After the
middle of November, instructions were
received from the war department by
Colonel r. H. Wilson, to detail an Off
1 Ger to proceed to Fort AssinnibOine, up
near the Canadian boundary, to remove
the cattle, sheep and horses that Were
trespassing on the reservation
This order was a large one; the reSer-
walton contained 250 square miles Of
rolling plain and Jagged hill, much of
it so rough it had never been surveyed
Lieutenant Hoisington was detailed to
perform the duty, but his commanding
officer merely expected him to serve no.
tice on the stockmen to cease trespass-
ing. The lieutenant, however, did not
so understand his orders. He intended
to carry them out literally.
Arriving at Assinniboine Lieutenant
IIoisingtOn found enc man there, q care
taker. Neither a horse nor a mule was
available for him to ride, so the fol-
lowing morning he set out on foot to
execute his orders. Soon he encounter
ed a herder in charge of a flock of
To him Hosington explained his mis-
sion, and directed him to move the
sheep Immediately. The herder laughed
at him. The officer proceeded to drive
the sheep himself, and when the herIer
interfered- administered a rhrashing
to him, although ne was a man half
a head smaller than the herder. He had
the satisfaction of seeing the sheep,
camp, and tender across the line before
nightfall-
Boxing Lessons Were Useful.
Many miles Lieutenant Hoisington
tramped each day, and the occasions
were frequent when he had cause to
congratulate himself on the boxing les
sons he had taken at West Point. He
was not dictatOrial in carrying out his
orders, but he neved wasted any time
in arguing the matter. When the sheep
herder or the cowboy refused to drive
the sheep or cattle across the boundary
line, the lieutenant undertook the job
himself, which Immediately precipita-
ted a physical encounter And when
his fists were of no avail the officer
did not scruple to use the butt of his
revolver.
After running his legs off for few
days. in the course of which he was
forced to sidestep the mad 'rushes of u
dozen Montana steers which had never
before seen a man on foot. Hoisingtol
realized it was a physical impossibiIity
to carry out his orders unless he was
mounted. He went to Havre to rent a
y
do business with him, and when he
went to the ranches he was run off the
premises.
Then he telegraphed Fort Harrison
for a mount, and failing to receive salts |
factory reply, telegraphed to Fort yell
lowstone, where a battalion of cav
airy is stationed. A horse was ship |
ped to him, but no saddle, so he rested |
a few days until finally a saddle came |
Tried to Use Pistol on Soldier.
ont o11nfpd this !
time, and full of determination. After |
putting off the reservation a few /
small bands of sheep, he met a squat
ter who for thirty years had been il
on the reservation. When told to
he made an effort to draw
a pistol, but never reached it. When
he regained consciousness he found
himself a prisoner, bound with cords,
Foisingtons horse grazing near by
while the lieutenant was going over
the hill, escorting the sheep across
the line.
turned, boosted the bound squatter
upon his saddle and took him to the
deserted post, where he kept him in
the guardhouse for three days. He
was then released to look after his
The fame of the determined young
officer preceded him and while the
number of personal encounters dimin-
Warnings and threats
y ere made that if he did not cease his
work, he would die with his boots on.
Jndeterred Hoisington proceeded to
would he drive the stock off of one
part of the reservation, than some
would drift across the line at another
place.
Kansan Had His Orders.
After several attempts to assassin
70 T. hr-e Oh of n inn :
-ange had failed young Hoisington
ent word he would reta-liate and tele-
sraphed to his home station for
file. Colonel Wilson. mystified by the
equest, declined to honor it, Fort I
Iellowstone also declined, but perse-
-ering. he secured a rifle at last from
Adjutant General Phil Greenon, of the J
1Ontana militia.
It was fortunate that a binding
now storm set in the day Hoisington /
gain started on his roundup. The
blizzard drove him to seek shelter IN
camp of cowboys just acress the res
rvation boundary. They had heard 4
f his courage and Immediately adopt
d him. For three days the storm {
aged and the COW men tried to dis {
made Lieutenant Hoisin gton from his {
ask. He would be killed before he I
eft the reservation they insisted
Il have my orders he told them 8
nd on the morning Of the fourth day
hev babe him a sorrOwfu1 farewell
When Hoisington returned to the 6
,ost that evening there was message }
waiting him. Tt was from Colonel
wilson recalling him to Fort Harrison {
because the war department had re-
inquished authority over the Fort 9
reservation and turned it {
ver to the interior department to be J
pened to settlement |
A $4,000 High school Building.
Lindsborg, Kan, Feb. 26.-The I
school board met recently g
nd let q contract for the erection of / 2