The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-07-01
A Reunion
By BARBARA PHIPPS

will impress itself on the mind of a
will never be forgotten. Mother died.
and my brother Jimmie was taken
away by a lady, while was placed in
an orphan asylum.
However, this lugubrious beginning
was the harbinger of a life of ease and
comfort. In time I was adopted by a
wealthy couple and treated as affec-
donately, as much layished upon me,
as IL had been their real daughter !
was given a liberal education and as
many accomplishments as / had a fit
ness for. Then 1 was brought out" in
the most approved fashion and entered
society as young lady.
One summer a girl friend of mine,
the daughter of Major Shelbourne of
the army, invited me to visit her at her
fathers post in what was then Indian
country. ] had seen enough of society
to tell me of its hollowness, insincerity.
selfishness and bargain and sale in,the
matter OF favor, and it occurred to me
that / would find something more sat
isfying in one of those army posts that
tuting large family. / went to Fort
Tomkins and found things very much
as they had been described to me.
One day several of the younger Off
GERS and the daughters of the older
| ones went on a picnic. / learned be-
fore starting that the major command
ing objected to our going, but I did
not hear why. / learned soon enough.
| to my cost. The Indians had for some
time been very unruly, and while we
were leaving the fort they were leay-
/ ing their reservation, numbering and
pilfering as they proceeded.
We had gone to a stream at the foot
! of a mountain range wooded on its
| banks and, entering a spot well shad-
| ed, had partaken OF our luncheon when
soldier rode up and told US that he
had been sent to inform US of the In
| dian situation and that we must re-
turn Immediately. But before we could
/ collect our paraphernalia and get into
/ the mule wagon that had brought US
one of the party saw several Indians
riding hard to cut us off.
The major had sent six mounted
4
were three heutenants and the man
/ who had come to warn US. The Off
GERS held quick consultation and de-
| cided to ascend a ravine in the noun
| tain where we could the better defend
ourselves and not attempt at once to
! reach the fort. The ravine lay but
| short distance on the other side of
i the stream, which we crossed in the
/ wagon and were soon in position
/ where we could hide behind rocks,
/ which also furnished a defense from
which to fire.
j / shall only speak of our defense by
| few brave men against several times
| their number of Indians SO far as to
/ show that the soldiers fought skill
fully and with sufficient knowledge of
Indian warfare to keep the savages at
i bay. One of the men being severely
| wounded, took up his carbine and
climbing to a rock higher up and at
the side, where / saw Indians trying
to get around US, endeavored to pick
them off, / was followed by one of
the privates, who told me that should
take more care to conceal my person
or I would be hit / didn't ask him
/ why he had come to help me, suppos-
ing that he saw the danger of being
i taken in the rear as had seen it.
/ We two kept widening the distance
between US and our party, because the
Indians kept circling to the side in an
i effort to get past us to our rear. Then
suddenly we saw an Indian between
US and our friends.
saw by the expression on the sol
dier's face that we were in terrible
danger He swept his eye about US
for a position of defense and found
one in crevice between two rocks
where we could not be attacked ex-
cept from the front. Another rock
formed a rampant before a part of the
space into which we retreated. My
companion told me TO crouch down be-
hind this rock refused till he told
me that I could shoot from there, and
at the same time he took a position
beside me-
1t seemed half a day-it may have
been an hour-that we defended our
selves from the Indians who endeavor-
4 ed to kill or capture US. My compan-
ion laid low a number of them. / fired
| at several, but hit only one-that Is,
so far as / knew. After awhile we
saw across the level plain a troop of
cavalry coming from the fort, and the
Indians scurried away.
Ny life had been saved by the pri-
yate who had followed me. Together
we returned to the party. and he re-
ceived the thanks of the officers for
. | what ba had dono
Well, as soon as we returned to the
camp made inquiries concerning my
deliverer. The major sent for him.
| saying to him when he arrived that
/ desired TO thank him for having saved
my life l did the thanking and, be-
! lieving that my foster father would
. send him a substantial present. asked
/ him his name.
James Waterhouse." he replied.
Have you a middle name?" / asked
II don't know | came out of an
orphan asylum. and they called me
) Jim Waterhouse.
You are my brother" | said and.
running toward him. put my arms
} | about him.