Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-06-29
STORY OF A WOUNDED
SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE

troop, Tenth cavalry, was brought t,
the border late Sunday Afternoon
suffering from wounds in his lef
shoulder and arm. From him cam,
the assertion that pitted against the
81 men of the American detachment
We're fully 700 Mexicans. o.
ITO top it off," said Harris, "they
had a machine gun and they sur
lprised us.
I'VE approached them in a peace
ful way and never had an idea that
they would try to massacre us. Had
We known they wanted fight, we coui
have given it to them. 1 guess they
got enough, at that"
Harris troop was entirely sur
rounded by the Carranzistas, he said
He escaped, wounded, from the cor
don the enemy had drawn around
the Americans by riding straight
through their line on his charger,
rode this horse until he fell from
/ loss of blood, and then nabbed an
other fleeing animal with which he
eventually caught up with other sur
viyors whom he accompanied to field
headquarters.
SAVED BY HIS HORSE.
Harris account of the battle and
his escape was expressive and color
full. Tears came to his eyes as he
recounted the heroic effort of his
wounded charger to bear him to
safety.
THAT horse sure saved my Life"
he said. Il want you to know l let
him see how 1 appreciated it.
"Our troop, with Captain Boyd
commanding, had pulled up before
Carrizal. The captain ordered every
one to dismount and we all got
down. was horse holder and l
took charge of some animals while
their riders stood at attention.
Just after Captain Boyd went for
ward, my horses got nervous and be-
gan to prance around. l lost what
was going on, looking after those
fool animals.
CAPTAIN GOES DOWN.
Next thing l knew the shooting
had started. looked around. Cap
tain Boyd was down and l couldn't |
see him. kept on looking. There
were easily 700 of those 'greasers'
around u.s. They had come up right
out of the ground, forming half /
circle. Our men kept on falling. The
first shots came from a machine gun.
1t was trained right on us, and, be-
lieve me, it talked fast. Every few
might have been seconds,
for all l know-it would let up
while the operator was putting in
more clips. Then you could pick out
he clicks of the rifle fire.
1T wasn't more than two minut
before the Mexicans had surrounded
u.s. We were right there in the mid
lie, fighting like the dickens. All
the horses were rearing and
olunging. Every little bit horse
or a man would get a bullet and go
Town. L
HORSE AND MAN WOUNDED.
81 couldn't fight for / had to keep
lfter those mounts. Pretty soon my
'wn horse, a great big fellow. stag
sered and whinnied They had hit
i'm in the neck.
Il put my hand ON the spot where
be blood was spouting out. 1t was
hen they got me-in the shoulder.
Il lost control of the animals COM
letely. My own horse was whinny-
Ag and Juggling on his rope. 1 could L
se fellows dropping all around me,
nd horses were running off, over y
leir bodies. We didn't have a show
/ the world and l saw It. l cut the
1rses loose and climbing on the ami .
al, hit it for the thinnest part of
e circle. oe
1 went right through the Mexicans. al
y horse brushed two of them out III
the way as We charged.
II owe my life to that horse sure az
you live. Don't you know that -
imal was so brave and big heart -
that he carried me along for 10 ue
les before he settled down to a w.
Tx. ~
Five miles further on his legs just
We out and he went down.
AID GOODBYE TO HIS HORSE,
Man, hope you don't ever have
say goodbye to horse like that,
time and place like that. 1t
med to me couldn't leave him.
ooked back to see If there was
gone following. There wasn't, SO
melt down and poured a little wa 'oi
from my canteen on his tongue.
was slipping fast and Just told II