Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-02-10
foley Tells TRAGIC Death
Of OLD fort POSTMASTER

post it commenced; to rain. when J. A.
[ Stoyal told the Major he must not think
of leaving in an uncovered rig: to come
UP to his livery barn and get q covered
buggy which tine Major did. The Major
thought we We're leaving the town too
soon, but when assured that the Black
Hills stage had gone and knowing that
when it arrived at the river the boat
would cross for the last time that night,
he concluded TO start. We drove down
Third street and followed the road along
which the telegraph poles were until we
arrived at the timber where the road
turned to the right following the river
bank to the landing. When we arrived
at the point where the road turned the
Major bore hard on che left rein caus-
ing the horse T., make a circle to where
he met the road when he started on the
bach trail When we arrived neafs the foot
of the Third street Hill the Major made
another circle when we were again 60.
ing towards Lincoln; but when arriving
near the timber the Major made another
circle and again we were on the road 10
Bismarck This time when we came near
the foot of the hill the Major CHANGED to
look up, when he say the lights In town.
and remarked: I'VE are going towards
town, aren't we 4" l replied: If you keep
right on you will be in tow in about two
minutes" He then made another turn
and again started, but when near the
timber again began to circle. / felt BY
this time that I had Travelled up and
down the road as long as | wanted to on
a, rainy night, so took the reins and drove
to the landing.
When we arrived at the landing it was
found that the stage had not arrived,
which the Major thought strange after
what he had been told in town. When we
crossed to tee post the night was very
dark and I wanted to take him home to
the upper post, but he would listen to
nothing of the kind but said to me: Il
want you to understand that l am fully
capable of caring for myself?"11 felt
very anxious about him, and more so on
the following morning when he did not
come to the office. Hc came in the at
ernoon and showed me how near he
came to crossing the "Great Divide" on
his way home. He did not know how 1t
happened but his abdomen was nearly
scraped through by the wheel Of the
buggy. - ..%a .
A short time after this the Major was
ordered to join his company at the can.
Torment at Little Missouri. The Major
never returned for duty to Lincoln, the
place he dearly loved. The following year
1850, his regiment the 9Th Infantry was
ordered to Wyoming. This regiment had
been stationed many years in this de-
partment. The headquarters were at Fort
Buford. with companies stationed at
Forts Stevenson and Lincoln. Our mutual
friend. Charles Gurley, was a lieutenant
at Stevenson. l never served under Hazen
the colonel of the 9Th, but from wha.
I have heard officers and soldiers a y
between serving at Buford under Hazen
and in He'll all would prefer the later
post. Hazen was said to be a tyrant OF
the tyrants. The regiment had some
cellent officers and soldiers. many Of
whom had been long in service. Senator
ed to this, regiment
The removal Of the Major brought
Josiah Chance t duty a
post commissary. In February Captain
N. s. Constable, post quartermaster,
went on sick leave. when Lieutenant j..
Frank Bell. now a general in the army.
was detailed as post quartermaster. and
a most efficient one he made. He was a
very young man and took much interest
in his new duties.
When a regiment was removed from a
department some other one always took
its place, II necessary. The 18th Infan.
try was ordered from Texas to the De.
partment Of Dakota, as this was then
called. With this regiment came many
and men with whom I had, serv-
ed years before in Texas. One morning
at the boat landing I was surprised To
meet Captain Warren C.. Beach with a
company Of this 18th Infantry. I met
this officer man years before at CAL
weston, Texas, when he was adjutant Of
the regiment. He was very kind to me
at that time, when I was in need Of
frion6chin an6 r alvvova hod n IN y,