Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-06

In pleasant pastures near an Army
post in Hawaii, a four footed veteran
of more than 80 years Of honorable
active service with the colors is kick
ing up his heels in the peace and
comfort due an old soldier.
His name is Whiskers and he
travelled down from his Montana
birthplace 10 join up with the Cavalry
in Texas three decades ago. lie is
now enjoying retirement with its
regular rations and assurance that
he viii never be called upon to work
again.
Whiskers Is Just troop horse in
Uncle Sans Cavalry. There is a
long list Of these faithful mounts
for whom troopers themselves have
decreed restful old age in reward for
their long years of hard duty. The
appropriation for this equine roll of
honor comes out Of the troopers
pockets if necessary. but the deeds Of
hero horses Of the Army have been
officially recorded in general orders
before now.
Comanche probably heads that
list lie was the only survivor of
the massacre of the Little Big Horn.
when Custer and his gallant detach-
ment went 10 their death. Legend has
pictured this big charger, found wan
dcrins and almost dead after the
battle with seven wounds to show
the part he played. as Clusters own
mount But the records show other
wise lie was a troop horse assigned
20 Troop /, 9TH Cavalry, and was
ridden in the fight by Capt. NJ. w.
keogh. who died at his chiefs side.
y reSimental order of the Eth. dated
Fort \. Lincoln, Dakota Territory.
April 10. 1879. directed that Comanche
and that he Will not be ridden by
any person whatever under any cir
cumstances, nor will he be put 10
any kind of work" as tribute to
comrades fallen in the fight
Comanche died at the Cavalry
post at Fort Riley, Kans., in 1891 and
that order was never violated. He
lived two-thirds of his life on the re
tired list.
The yellowed records OF the Cavalry
show many other famous horses. com
ing clear down 10 Pershing's Kid
ron bought from the French re-
mount service to carry the general
in France, and JEFF, the big. ami
able charger presented TO Pershing on
his return to the United States and
on which he headed the victory pa
rades of the First Division in New
York and Washington.
And among the old records there is
none more striking than that of
Black Tom. the mighty coal black
on which Col. May, the Charles O'Mal-
ley Of the American Cavalry in the
forties. set tongues awagging by his
mad pranks. May was arrested in
Baltimore once for leaping his black
thunderbolt over a cart loaded with
firewood Again he spurred Black
Tom up the front stairs Of Balti-
jog about the rooms. The horse won
wager with a leap of 80 feet just
after the Me Xican War. against a rec
ord of "a feet for the greatest English
steeplechaser.
Jumped Over Field Gun.
Black Toms greatest achieve
ment came in the war when May
jumped him over a Mexican field gun
TO capture the entire battery and the
Mexican general. La Naga. That deed
is memoralized in the coat of arms of
the I'd Cavalry.
Black Tom stood more than Il
hands. a Jet black Kentucky thor
ouGhbred. and his dashing master
was more than a six-footer.
Another Army horse of Mexican
War fame was Gen. Zachary Taylor's
Old Whitley. who carried his mas
ter throughout the war and was never
ridden again. He was sent to Wash
ington to he exhibited after the war.
and was we'll nigh stripped of his