Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-05-11
ARMY RED
TAPE
II Was Cut In the Nick Of
Time by q Girl.
By p. A. Mitchell

s By F. A. Mitchell S
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Years ago when was lieutenant
in the regular army stationed in what
was then the wild west at Fort K. we
had in the garrison an officer who was
tyrant. The fort was a two com.
pany 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 lot Of recruits
and assigned to Hawkins company.
He had very little knowledge Of mill.
hry discipline and was unfortunate
in having martinez for captain.
Stevenson was handsome fellow,
with young face and massive frame
l remember one day when several In.
dim chiefs came to the fort on bust
ness for their tribes and saw him they
grunted their admiration, 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 Conoyer, the daughter Of m
ordnance sergeant who wore half a
dozen service stripes on his arm. Al
any rate. Madge fell desperately IN
love with Stevenson, though I believe
he was not disposed to fall in love with
any one.
The recruit was Us high strung us
he was handsome. But, knowing moth
ing about the duties Of soldier. be
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 NJ
his punishments against Hawkins. One
day for some nlisdemeanor the cap
tain ordered him tied up by the
thumbs. When his sufferings were
becoming unbearable Hawkins ordered
him taken down and gave him severe
scolding. The yOungster thus goaded
while still suffering struck his cap
tain. Hawkins drew his sword and
was about to cut down the mutineeI
when he thought better Of the matter
and ordered him under guard.
The Offense was, indeed, serious
Stevenson was informed by his friends
that he would be tried for his life
Had the case come to trial he NIGH
have been sentenced to be shot, but
the sentence would likely have beel
committed to long Imprisonment
But it did not-at least, not then-comt
to trial. Madge Conover one night
contrived to draw away the attention
Of his guard and made sign to hin
to light out. This he did, and before
his escape was reported to headquar
tiers he had mounted q horse thai
stood saddled and was soon gallopinl
over the plain.
Stevenson remembered that the Indi
ans had said that II he would go will
them they would make him u chief
He directed his course to where be
knew the Arapahoes were encampel
and was received with open arms by
them. They did not ut once make hin
chief, but he soon became leader
among them.
1t was not long after the mutineer's
escape that the Indians became trou
blesome, and force from the fort was
sent out to regulate them. During d
skirmish with them Stevenson was
captured. If his case was desperate
before it was now doubly 30. In adj
dition to the charge of mutiny he now
had to answer charge Of desertiOr
and one of taking arms against the
army to which he belonged. This time
he was confined in place where es
cape was scarcely possible. A court
was at once convened: he was tried
on all three of the charges, found gull
| ty and sentenced to be shot. The find
ings were sent to Washington. approx
ed and returned to the commanding
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 to what he had done By
Hawkins severity. He recommended
to the president that pardon be
granted Stevenson In view Of the cul-
prit's ignorance of military discipline
at the time his offenses were commit.
ted.
1t was long distance in those days
from Fort X. to Washington. While
the majors communication was on the
way Stevenson was under sentence of
death. and unless pardon came be-
fore the day set for execution he must
die, for there was no one authorized
to set aside the findings Of the court
except the president of the United
States.
A few days before the day set for
Stevenson's execution an official docu-
ment arrived ut the fort postmarked
Washington. the envelope bearing the
printed words "From the President Of
the United States" and addressed to
Major Charles F. Barton. command
ing. 1t happened that the command
was away on an expedition and the
fort had been left In charge of Ser
geant Conover. The sergeant was not
authorized to open the mail and would
have kept the missive until the majors
return. but, suspecting 1t pertained to
tho matter Of Private Stevenson. con
cluded to send 1t to his commanding
officer.
Stevenson, when the command start.
ed on the expedition. was transferred
under guard to Fort G., some twenty
miles distant, where his execution was
to take place.
Sergeant Conover knew Of the dis.
tress his daughter was suffering at
Stevenson's misfortune and that she
was In an agony Of suspense as to
word from Washington concerning