The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-04-24
: By F. A. Mitchell.

! q
in the regular army stationed in what
was then the wild west at Fort *. we
had in the garrison an officer who was
a tyrant. The fort was two company
post, and he commanded one of, the
companies. Captain Hawkins was so
severe with his men that Major Bar
ton. commanding, felt called upon on
several occasions to demonstrate with
him. -
a young man named Stevenson was
sent out to us with a lot Of recruits
and assigned to Hawkins company.
He had very little knowledge of mill
tary discipline and was unfortunate in
having martinez for captain.
Stevenson was a handsome fellow,
with young face and massive frame.
l remember one day when several In
dian chiefs came to the fort on bust
ness for their tibes and saw him they
gruntedstheir aGmination, one of them
saying to him: You come with us.
We make you chief" Perhaps it was
this manly beauty that won the heart
OF Madge Conover, the daughter of an
ordnance sergeant who wore half
dozen service stripes on his arm. At
any rate, Madge fell desperately in
love with Stevenson, though l believe
he was not disposed to fall in love
with any one.
The recruit was as high strung as
he was handsome. But, knowing MOTH
ing about the duties of a soldier, ne
very soon got into trouble His cap
tain was always sending him to the
guardhouse, and since SteVensOn's
breaches of discipline were entirely
through ignorance he justly laid up
his punishment against Hawkins. One
day for some misdemeanor the cap
tain ordered him tied up by the
thumbs. When his sufferings were
becoming unbearable, Hawkins Or
dercd him taken down and gave him
severe scolding. The youngster thus
yoaded while still suffering struck his
captain. Hawkins drew his sword and
was about, to cut down the mutineer
when he thought better of the matter
and ordered him under guard.
he OlIcnSe was, lHueeu, SGIiOuS
Stevenson was informed by his friends
that he would be tried for his life.
Had the case come to trial he might
nave been sentenced to he shot, but
the sentence would likely have been
committed to u long Imprisonment.
But it did not-at least, not then
come. to trial. Madge Conover one
night contrived to draw away the at
tention of his guard and made a sign
to- him to light out This. he did, and
before his escape was reported to
headquarters he had mounted horse
that stood saddled and was soon gall
Looping over the plain.
Stevenson membered that the In
dams had said that if he, would go
| with them they would make him a
chief. He directed his course to where
he knew the ArapahOes were en-
camped and was received with open
arms by them. They did not at once
make him chief, but he soon became
d leader among them.
1t was not long after the mutineer's
escape that the Indians became trou-
| blesome,, and g force from the fort
| was; sent out to regulate them Dur
q
was captured. If his case was desper-
ate before it Was now douby SO. In
addition to the charge of mutiny he
now had to answer a charge of deser-
! ton and one of taking arms against
the army to which he belonged. This
time he was confined in a place where
escape was scarcely possible. A court
was at once convened; he was tried
on all three of the charges, ftHlnd
guilty and sentenced to be shot, The
findings were sent to Washington, ap-
proved and returned to the command
ing officer.
! Major Barton was at the time seri-
ously considering whether he would
not prefer charges against Captain
Hawkins for cruelty to the men. He
was aware of all the facts in the case
of Stevenson and sympathized with
the young man, who he knew had
been driven toSwhat he had done by
Hawkins severity. He RECOMMENDED
to the president: that a pardon be
granted Stevenson in view of the Gull
prit's ignorance of military discipline
at the time his offenses We're COM
mitted.
1t was a long distance in those days
from Fort K. to Washington. While
the majors communication was on the
! way Stevenson was under sentence of
death, and unless a pardon came be-
fore the day set for execution he must
die, for there was no one authorized
to set aside the fin dings of the court
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