Gilpin observer., 1916-12-21


| strip of barren country on the north
west. San Jose numbered only 800
inhabitants, all told, and of these bare
| ly twoscore men were armed or ply
sicaliy capable Of self-defense, while
the soldiers, as has been seen, were
taken at a disadvantage, and might
| easily be cut to pieces before they
could offer organized resistance.
This attack on an American commu-
nifty wore the thin disguise of patriotic
motive, but its true purpose was re-
vealed by the action of every marau-
der, both leaders and rank and file, in
not losing a second before beginning
the congenial task of plumber. True,
their Recognized chief, none other
than Sebastian Pancho in person, con-
trived to urge on some Of his follow
ers In swift dash on the camp.
Markham, astOunded by the tornado
of yells and musketry, grabbed re-
volver and rushed bareheaded into
the open. He took in the situation at
a glance, and his soldiers heart
| Quailed momentarily in the natural
belief that the watch and ward his
troops maintained over the district
had failed most lamentably.
He noted at once that the enemy
had given him few most precious
seconds of respite. Not more than 100
men were racing down on the camp,
whereas five times that number were
| available, and could have swept the
small body of Americans into eterni-
ty before they could even reach their
piled arms and ammunition belts. Al
| ready the startled troopers were as
Stunning some semblance of order, and
| Markham's voice reached them in high,
clear notes.
Number four section will prevent
the horses from being stampeded! The
remainder will form on their section
leaders! Aim lowl Stop this first
| rushl"
He was Obeyed to the letter, for
these hardy American boys were al
| ready veterans in frontier warfare,
and knew instinctively how to act for
the best, even in the trying conditions
of a surprise attack.
1t was no antiQuated rifle which
these Mexican cut-throats carried.
Markham recognized at once that they
date weapon.
And now the United States troopers
took deadly toll of the oncoming
enemy. Pancho quickly found himself
advancing alone. An Incompatible
horseman, he swung a hardy mustang
almost at a right angle as he changed
his course. He must have borne q
charmed life, since bullets passed
through his hat and jacket, and lodged
repeatedly in the heavy Mexican sad
die, without inflicting any serious
wound on either man or animal.
| Thenceforth, of course, discipline es-
| tablished its superiority. The cava,-
| rymen advanced in open order, and a
machine gun detachment brought a
| whitening fire to bear along the main
| street.
The savage pandemonium passed
away almost as speedily as it COM
menced. Soon San Jose was quiet,
save for the weeping of women and
children and the groans of the wound
ed, while the rebel band fled over the
hills closely pursued by the Infatuated
troopers. By Markham's side rode the
stern-visaged sergeant-major. They
! drew rein for moment when they
came upon a crumpled body lying in
the scrub. 1t was the sentry who
should have given warning of the en-
emy's approach.
He had been stabbed between the
shoulder blades.
A desultory fight went on till dusk
| fell. Scattered units of flying rebels
and Infatuated Americans crossed the
Rio Grande by ford and passed far
into Mexican territory on the right
bank of the river. AZ last, when dark
ness set in, Markham recalled his men
by long-drawn trumpet blasts.
On the way back to the town the
| young officer ascertained the facts Of
| the raid from prisoner. He was Inn
mensely relieved to find that the re-
port brought by the patrol was cor
rect in every detail. Pancho had dou-
bled back from the frontier, only to
turn again under cover of the night,
and cross the river Mt n point well
above the line for which b troop was
responsible. Then, well served by
spies and traitors among the half
breeds claiming American citizenship.
he secreted his force In canyon until
the hour seemed ripe for the assault
on San Jose.
Markham, fully exonerated from the
slightest shadow Of blame when his
commanding officer had investigated
the affair, not only confessed that he
and his men had enjoyed the time of
their lives, but was openly envied by
every officer in the regiment.
Another man, young as Markham,
enthusiastic as he in love of country,
ready as he to spend and be spent In
that country's cause, glowed with