The Red Cloud chief., 1913-04-17

I'll appoint you q deacon IN the
church"
But somehow I felt was being
'joshed," for the twinkle In Ross eyes
belied his words. But ever after he
called me Deacon" often wonder
whether he told his bride about his
Mormon proclivities. rather fancy
he would. for he was not q man to
hide a joke. nor to hide truth.
After leaving the northwest mount
ed police. Ross came back to the
States and enlisted, after naturaliz-
ing. for some Indian campaign. He
also fought through the Red River
war. His career was varied to
marked degree until the South Afri-
can war broke out.
Ross Joined the Canadian mounted
rifles and went out to South Africa
with them as trooper. He saw con.
siderable service with them. but event
ually got into trouble through an ex-
ceslve fondness for looting. He was
dropped from the force and i'm.
mediately went to Pretoria and Joined
another irregular corps as lieuten.
ant. His wonderful scouting and dar.
ing earned for him the notice OF
Lord Kitchener. As a result Of an
interview with the great British gen.
eral. Ross was empowered to raise an
irregular corps of cavalry. He call
ed the Canadian Mounted Scouts. So
was born little corps which wrote
Its name big In the annals Of the
greatest war OF modern times.
Ross gathered together q number
OF kindred spirits and soon had q reg
iment Of scouts which would be hard
to equal, let alone beat. They were all
men who had travelled the world In
search OF adventure, men who faced
death daily with unfiinching eyes, and
who knew no hardship too difficult to
endure or overcome. With such ma
terlal is 1t to be wondered at that the
Canadian Mounted Scouts we're soon
heard Of?
They fought In every part OF the
Transvaal, Orange River Colony. and
Cape Colony. The Beers trembled at
the mere mention of the name OF
Ross. 1t would take book to write
the history OF their deeds OF marvel.
Gus daring They used no kid gloves
In their warfare, either.
Perhaps the most famous episode in
their adventurous exploits was the
shooting OF 15 Boer prisoners, whom
they had captured when wearing the
British uniform. This act was against
all usages Of modern warfare, and in
defiance Of the acts of The Hague and
Geneva: the Beers were liable for
their breach Of law to be tried by
drumhead court-martial. with death az
the penalty II found guilty.
Ross Is q man OF quick action. He
had caught the men in the act OF
crime and wearing the uniforms. Tha,
was enough. He dispensed with the
drumhead court.martial and sentenced
them to death by shooting. He Sc
lected three Of his most trusted fol
lowers to assist him In the execution
OF the Beers. Then he sent in the
remainder Of his regiment. warning
them to take no notice of any shootinl
they might hear in the course Of the
next few minutes. He waited unit
they were out of sight and then turned
to the covering Beers.
I wish that could reproduce tn,
story Of the subsequent events will
the vivid detail and quaint phraseol
ogy used by Ross when telling me tn,
story. He speaks with a drawl an,
pronounced American accent.
Say. you goldurned dogs" Ros
said to them, I've caught you witt
! the goods on you. and you got to ant
up. I'll give you just five minutes t
r make your peace with your Creator
/ and then I'll pass you out. CUES
. the good God won't listen to such vel
min as you, but I'm game to let yo
3 try your hand at 1t. Step lively no,
!, with them petitions to your goo
J. Maker!"
d With q revolver in each hand an
I his three men covering the 10 prison
J. ers with their guns. Ross counted ou
;. the minutes. The Beers had not W
!, realized that he was In earnest an
II stood watching him anxiously.
" One more minute and out you get
4. Ross snapped at them az he flnishe
o counting OF four minutes He ste
lr ped toward the first man and held h
10 revolver at the mans head I'll
Boer covered back and began to be
% for mercy
,e "Cut out that woman business
In commanded Ross. IL guess the go(
q God won't listen to you, and, n |
won't you can't expect me to. Tin
h. up Here's where you go 20 see yo,
,e God. II he'il see you, which I soubts
le Bang! went the revolver, and Il
ut man sank dead at the majors 10,
le One after the other no sent them ,
se their way into the Great Unknown
The work completed, Ross and h
Is. men mounted their horses and rode
e. a gallop after their regiment
III The story leaked out, and Ross W
& sent for by Lord Kitchener
TO Pretoria. No record Of this -meeti,
IT. is obtainable, and Ross will not spe