The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-12-18
Forgotten
I'm n R @ ES
BY
Saved From Apache Tortures
ELMO SCOTT WATSON

LAD II not been for the fearless
L devotion of one of those typical
old army sergeants, the career OF
distinguished cavalryman and Indian
fighter might have been ended at the
outset and American literature might
never have been enriched by the stir
ring romanceS of the old army days
in the West which came from his per.
For Gen. Charles King, al the age of
eighty-seven one of the few remaining
links today between the present and
the past when there was a frontier.
owes his life TO Sergeant Bernard Tay-
lor of the Fighting Fifth" cavalry.
In 1874. King, then a lieutenant
with small detachment of the Fifth.
was pursuing band of Apache raiders
IN the MOgollon mountains of Arizona.
Near Sunset pass King, accompanied
by Sergeant Taylor. scouting ahead of
the detachment, uncovered the ambush
which the Indians had laid for the SOL
dierS. The first sign of the presence
of the enemy was an arrow which
whiZZed past his head and buried it.
self deep into tree. A moment later
he felt burning sensation as another
dart tore through the outer corner of
his left eve.
Jumping quickly behind rock, King
waited for the enemy TO show them
selves and as two dusky forms glided
into the open a quick shot from his
rhi Of
Before he could reload a vOlley from
the other warriors spattered on the
rock. bullet pierced his right arm
and his carbine dropped from his hand.
Realizing instantly that the savages
would be upon him before the detach-
ment could come up. King sprang to
his feet and started to dash down the
slope. But tough clinging vine
tripped him up and head-long plunge
of ten feet left him lying bruised and
almost senseless among the rocks. AS
he fumbled for his revolver, for he
was resolved not to let them take him
alive, he heard a voice calling Lieu
tenant! Where are ye?"
"Here. Sergeant" replied the wound
ed officer. and second later Taylor
was at his side, had lifted him in his
arms and started down the slope.
When King fell. the Apaches lost his
trail for a few moments but they
caught sight of him again as Taylor
reached him. Now began a thrilling
race for life with the savages gaining
on the sergeant with his heavy load.
Every few yards he stopped TO send a
shot from his carbine to delay his pur-
suers and twice an Apache dropped N
his tracks. Taylor was firing fast and
King begged the sergeant to drop him
and save his own life. But the SER
geant knew what that would mean for
the young lieutenant. He staggered
on and just as he was about to col
lapse he heard the welcome sound IF
the other soldiers crashing through the
bushes. They were saved.
F. F. v. and Indian Scout
IN HIS veins flowed some of the
proudest blood in all America. His
father was Col Richard Garnett OF
Virginia, q classmate of Sheridan al
West Point. who was commanding Off
Ger al Fort Laramie, WyO.. before the
Civil war and who as brigadier gen.
eral of Virginia troops in the COnfed-
crate army lost his life early in the
war. His mother was an Indian wom-
an of the great Chief Red Clouds
Ogallala Sioux. So Billy Garnett could
claim that he belonged TO the first
families of Virginia and the Dakotas.'
During the Sioux war of lS76-77
he served under General Crook as
a scout and interpreter and it was
largely through his energy. influence
and work in the field thar Chief Crazy
Horse. leader of the hostiles who over
whelmed Custer on the Little Big
Horn. surrendered at Fort Robinson in
the spring of 1877. Then when the war
was over and some 1900 turbulent red
men were placed on the Pine Ridge
reservation with DR.. V. T. McGillycud
dy, former army surgeon. as agent,
Garnett was made chief interpreter.
And this is Doctor McGillycuddy's
tribute to him: During seven years
of service. it was largely through Gar
nett's help and influence that | was
able, with the assistance of only ten
white men and force of 80 Indian
policemen TO hold those 5000 Indians
III check. Many a time during my in
cumbency as agent. Billy stood by my
side in hostile councils, aligned on the
Side of the Great White Father. when
our prospects were good for "a buffalo
hunt on Ghost Creek but he never
weakened.
During the Ghost Dance outbreak
of lS90-Si Garnett was as usual to the
front serving between his people and
the whites. He is the last survivor of
the old scouts and interpreters: he had
few equals and no superiors. He
helped open up the West to civilization
and ne helped make history on the
frontier"
Those last words were uttered when
only few years ago. Billy Garnett.
old and decrepit from arduous service
and exposure during campaigns where
the temperature ranged from 40 in
the summer to 81 below in the winter
was trying vainly to get a pension of
$50 a month from the government ne
had served So well. Al last the CRATE
full republic which he served did gram
him pension. but they cut il down 70
$40 a month And until his death In
1928 that was the only recognition
which this forgotten hero of the old
frontier had ever received
sc. 1891 Western Newspaper Union,