The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-27
The Sergeant's
Promotion
b. M. QUAD
81 N. QUAD
Copyright, 1913, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Copyright, 1913. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
1t may have been known among the
officers that she was coming-a blue
eyed. fair haired girl Of eighteen from
the east named Miss Bell-but the first
we heard Of it was when we went to
the depot as an escort.
Miss Bell was a regular c%hatterbox.
She couldn't understand the wide gulf
separating officer from private. but in
ignorance thought a soldier was a SOL
der, no matter whether he carried a
saber or a sword. Being left alone
with Sergeant Larkins for a few mo-
ments while the captain sent of q
telegram for her. she did not hesitate
to chatter away as If they had been
formally introduced and had met be-
fore, and this action Of hers was to
have a strange bearing on after
events. After a couple Of days we no
ticed a change in Sergeant Larkins.
he was a young man Of thirty, well
educated and evidently something
above the common. and there were
rumors that his father was a wealthy
New Yorker and that the son had en-.
tered the army because Of a quarrel
between them. l repeat that we saw
a change in him. and pretty soon It,
came to us that he had fallen in love
with Miss Bell at first sight.
Miss Bell had been at the fort about
a month when the Sioux on the reser-
walton began to make trouble, and the
Indian police reported that a number
Of them had broken away and were
marauding in the foothills. Such sto-
ries were always aioat. and no Gre
dence was given them until some deed
of violence had been committed. 1t
had been planned by half a dozen Of
flcers and their wives to hold a picnic
at the falls of Buffalo river. and so
Sergeant Larkins and the same half
dozen of us were again detailed. 1t
was twelve miles to the falls. and the
picnickers were loaded into two am
balances. There were five officers.
seven ladies and three children. and
the escort was ordered to keep them
in sight.
From the first Sergeant Larkins sat
apart from US and seemed moody and
taciturn. There was no question but
that jealousy was at. work. and he
hadn't the strength of mind to throw it
off and realize the situation. We had
many a wink and laugh at his expense.
and yet we felt to pity him. We had
been told to go up for the empty bas-
kets at 4 O'Clock. and the hour had
just gone 2 when IL fusillade of revol-
yer shots. followed by the warwhoops
of Indians. jumped every man to his
feet. Ten seconds later we were fol-
the sergeant up the gorge. and
in five minutes we came upon the wo-
and children hidden away among
the rocks and stricken with terror. A
quarter Of an hour before the five Off
GERS had caugiIt sight of a cub bear on
the other side Of the falls. They had
up stream Il few rods and crossed
a log. but the shots we heard had
not been fired ut the cub. A band of
or more renegades who were
in the foothills had discovered
the picnfckers hulf I'm hour before
and were planning a wipeout Of every
soul when the officers moved. They
played right into the hands of the red
men. In their chase after the cub
they left the fails half a mile behind.
and as they came slowly back they |
found the Indians confronting them.
was but course-to make q
dash for ft-nnd it was CALAMITY done.
The Indians were too strong and too
wen posted. however. A lieutenant
was dropped dead in bis tracks and q
and a captain wounded. |
The first move on our part. seeing
that the women and children were
safe. was to secure cover behind the
and open fire ON the Indians.
They had counted on n sure thing. and
their yellS OF rage when they knew Of
our presence were load and long. We
had them between two. fires. and yet
so well were they sheltered that they !
had no means Of knowing that they
had only two unwounded men In front
Of them. armed with revOlvers. The
told us about the officers going |
away In a body: but. although there
had been severe firing. we hoped none
Of them had been hit. After we had
fred three or four rounds apiece the
sergeant called out to know how It
was with the officers. The major an
swered. giving the names Of the killed
md wounded. Three Of the Eve were
behind the same bowlder and could use
their revolvers. It was a curious po-
sition in which the three parties were
placed. but as the Indians were In
such a strong force they could defend
their front and rear at the same time. /
II, we left cover to cross the creek we
be exposed to certain death. II
they left cover to attack the camp we
had only to shoot them down. What
feared was. that they would ret out
Of the trap by dashing upon the on
EIaNNF 49, = So ANttE| EFL a-Ha Etn aEH - AsLL n II