Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CHAPTER XIV. Tbo Twelfth spout its Now Year's 3rvy hot ou tho Indian trail. Into tho foothills it wound, tortuous and full of peril, for from every projecting point, from rock to rock and crest to crest, tho warrior rear guard poured their flro on tho advancing line. Charges were fruit less. Tho nimhlo ponies of the Indians boro their rid( rs swiftly out of harm's way, and only among tho charging force did casualties occur. Still, Fen ton had hung like a bulldog to his task, hoping before nightfall to catch up with tho main body and tho moving village, then to hem it in. Numerically ho was lit tle better off than tho Indians, as CO Indians can surround COO troopers much moro effectively than COO troopers can lurround CO mountt 1 warriors. Through Bat and others he had vainly striven to zoinmunicato with Big Road, to assuro him no harm would be dono; that nil that was necessary was for him to re turn with his peoplo under escort of tho regio on t to tho reservation. Up to 4 p. m. not a shot had boon fixed by tho Twelfth, oven in response to a some times galling fusillade from tho Indians. By thut timo several men had been un horsed and two or three wounded, and the thing was getting exasperating; yet, wnB it worth keeping up, tax Bat and )ther scouts declared the fleeing village o bo less than three miles ahead now, md, witk that overhauled, the warriors lonld bo brought to bay well south of ho mountains, and to tho accomplish neut of this, without sacrificing men or lOrsea to any groat extent, Fonton was lending every energy when overtaken jy tho first courier from Frayne. Wayne had marked tho dispatches in he order in which they should bo read, rat tho only ones which much concern id him now were from department leadquartors. A new king who know lot Joseph, a now general with whom ?enton had never chanced to servo, was here in command, and ho, coming a iompnrative stranger to tho community, mew littlo of tho merits of tho politi )ians by whom ho was speedily besieged, rhey were present in force, armed with ottors and dispatches by tho score from 10 called prominent citizens resident dong tho Platte, and Fonton was prao doally unropresonted. It was in no spir it of on kindness, but rather that Fen Kin might bnvo opportunity to come hither and confront and confound, if 10 could, his BCOUROrs, that the geuoral iad issued tho first order, which was ;hat Fonton should "immediately escort By the Uglit of a fifth) lachet lantern Fcn tea read. Big Road and his people back to tho agency and then report to theso head quarters for consultation." That dis patch, if delivered, would bnvo ruined all tho plans of tho plainsmen, and the wires wore clipped the moment warn ing came, and it never got beyond tho old substation on the Laramio until after tho repairs wero made, hut other dispatch* es wero wired from below the breaks, alleging first that, so far from Ponton's doing as ordered, ho was apparently bout oji driving Pig Road's peoplo up tho river or into the open field, then that ho hud dono so, nnd that tho Lt dinns wero now raiding tho scattered ranches and driving tin.'cattle into tho foothills, while tho Bottlers wero fleeing in terror. Ponton's dispatches, wired before Big Road's escapade, had, of course, been received, but his report of tho situation was at utter variance with that from tho agency and those from tho Thorpe party. Cross mismanage ment, and general incottpotouoy wero the principal allegations agiiust Fonton, though tho astute "hustbrs" did not forgot to odd drunkenness to tho list as ono which tho public Mould accept without question, ho being an army officer, and when tho governor himself Was induced to add his complaint to those of his enterprising peoplo tho general yielded. Tho dispatches sent by conricr called for explanation of tho charges made, by tho agont and civilians, intimated doubt as to tho wisdom of Fonton'a G0UX80 or tho accuracy of his information and wound up with tho significant olauso, "Do nothing to provoko hostilities or axonso tho fears of tho Iidians, "and hero he had been in hot pur nit of them all tho livelong dny. Stung to tho quick, FentQi neverthe less pressed vigorously on. 'Tho result would justify him, nnd hoi could wait for his vindication until tlb campaign was over. The village at snrilown could not bo moro than three milcguway, said his scouts, and tbo onergy of kiig Road's defensive measures was redoubled. In structions to do nothing to privoko hos tilities wore dead letters, no? that hos tilities had aotually been provtked?not by him or his peoplo, but, botweou them, by Big Road nnd thoVowboys. There was only ono courso fi- Fcuton to tako, and that was to ovctiaul the village and peaceably if ho cfcdd, but forcibly if ho must, escort it brek with in the reservation Jims. Bat tad rid den up just as tho sun was dl appear ing to say that tho Indians a '.mod to bo heading for a deep oloft in ho foot bills through which tho buff a > in by gone days hnd mndo thoir waj Now, if Fonton could only send Faivoll or Amory with half tho squadron to gal lop iu wide detour to tho wcsi under cover of tho darkness and ecizo tho bluffs overhanging tho canyou, inenntimo makingovery prctonso of keeping up tho pursuit with tho remainder of his force, ho ruiKht trap tho villago while most of its defenders wcro still far awuy. Dark ness settled down over tho desolate win try landscape, und the two troops dis patched on this stirring and perilous mission wero thoso of Farwoll aud Mal colm Leale, tho latter lod by its boy liontonaut, Will Farrar. Ono hour lator, as tho advanco was still groping along tho trail and the weary troopers, alternately leading afoot and riding sleepily in narrow col u.nu, pushed steadily in their tracks, two horsemeu on Jaded mounts cams spurring from tho rear, and Wayne, with sorrowful face, handed his dis patches to tho colonel. By the light of a littlo pocket lantern Feutou read, while In brooding silenco a knot of half a dozen officers gnthorcd about them. Tho closing paragraph is all wo need to quote: "You will therefore turn over tho command to Major Wayno and ro poit in person at theso headquarters without unnecessary delay. Acknowl edge receipt." At any other timo tho colonel might havo been expected to swear vigorously, but the troublo in Wayne's faco and tho unspoken sym pathy and sorrow wero too much for him. "All riyht, old boy," said ho ns ho refolded tho papers. "Pitch in now atid finish up tho business, with my blessing. Bat," ho continued, turning to tho Bwarthy guide, "how far is it over to tho Alii on ranch? I think I'll sleep there." And no further words wero needed to toll tho littlo group that their colonel had been removed from command just on tho ovo of consumma tion of his plans, and ho was tho only man of tho lot who didn't look at though all heart bad been taken out of him as tho immediate result.. "D?n that fellow Thorpo! It's his doing," sworo tho ndjutant between his sot tooth. "Ho has nover forgiven us for spoiling his echome to oloan out the whole baud." "Don't waste timo swearing," said Fonton grimiy. "I'll tako tho Job off your hands. Thoy'ro heading for Elk Springs, Wayne, and I've sent Farwoll with two troops around to the left to flud thoir way to tho bluffs and get thore first. Everything depends on that." But eveu Feuton hardly realized how very much depended. It was now about 7 o'clock, aud over since tho early dawu tho cavalry had been pressing steadily at tho heels of tho Indian rear guard, nover firing, nevor responding to tho challengo of shot or shout from the scampering warriors before them. Again aud again had Bat and his half breed cousin, La Bout", striven to got Hig Road to halt and parley; but, though tho signals wero fully anderstand, old Road was mad with tho mingled rage of fight and whisky and believed him self tho leader of an outbreak that should rival that of 1870 and place him, as a battle chief, head of au army of warriors that should overrun the uorth west. Anxious only to get tho women and children safely in among tho fast nesses of the hills, he contented himself therefore through tho livelong day with holding tho troops at long arm's length, opening lively liro when they songht to push ahead. It was glorious fun for him and his. Well they knew that so far nt least tho soldiers wero forbidden to at tack. With the coming of another day Big Road planned to havo his village far in among tho clefts aud canyons of tho range, whero a few resolute war riors coidd defend tho pass against an ndvance, whilo ho nnd hi.') braves, rc cuforced by eager recruits from tho young men of othor bands at tho reser vation, could fall upon tho flanks and rear of Fenton's forco and fritter it ! away, as Bed Cloud had massacred Fot torman's men long yoars beforo at old Fort Kearny. Everything depended on who should got thoro first, and, as tho Sioux said of Custcr's column tho bloody day on the Littlo Horn, "tho soldiers worn tired." Extending southward from the peaks of tho Big Born wur a wild rango of ir regular heights, coverod in places with a thick growth of hardy young spruce nnd cedars and scrnb oak, slashed and sovered here and there by deep nnd tor tuous canyons with precipitous sides. Somewhere in among those hills whs a big amphitheater known as tho Indian rnen course, approachable in winter at least only through the crooked rift or pass known for short as Elk gulch. Iu just such another natural fnstuesa and only a few miles away to tho northeast had tho Chevennen made their famous _.st live times thoir weight iu fighting men the bitter winter of 1870, a hattio the oavalrylong had oanse to remember, and now, with but a hand ful of troops r.<< compared with tho forco led in by MacK> nzie, Wayne hnd right beforo him a similar problem to tackle. Tho only j>oints in his favor wero that Hig Road's bravos wcro as few as bis own and that Fenton had already sent a forco to raco tho Indians to their ref uge. At 8 o'clock tho darkness was intense There was no moon to light thoir way, and their only guido wan tho doop trail in tho snowy surface left by the rotrcat ing Indinns. Tho darkness whs no deop er than tho gloom In eve.-y heart, for Fenton wan gone, a wronged and calum niated man, and thoy, his loyal soldiers, obodiont to a higher duty still, wore forcod to push on nnd finish his work without him. For an hour only at snail's paco bad they followed tho trail. Bat and his associates hnd had mnny a nar row escape. Lioutennnt Martin, com manding tho ndvance, had had his horse shot nnder him. Sergeant Roe had a bullot through bis oont, nnd Corporal Werriok, riding eagerly in tho lond, got another through tho shoulder. Luckily it was not very cold, but all tho same most of the men wero becoming slug gish nnd sleepy, nnd thnt was just about tho time Wnyno might be expeoted to wake up. And wako up ho did. "I havo had no orders on no aooennt to attack," said ho, "audlhaven't time (o Aq^flU fcho/ot thoy'vo wirod toJ>on; ton. Watch for tho noxt shots ahead there," ho cried to tho foremost troop ers, "und sock it to them I" Then it waa beautiful to see bow oven tho horsos seemed to rouse from their stupor and apathy, and something almost like a cheer burst from tho lips of tho younger men. Old hands took a swig of water from their canteens and a bito at tho comforting plug. Out from tho sockets cmno tho brown carbines, nnd a fresh plutoon was ordered up to rcliovo tho advance, mid Liontcnant Randolph took Martin's placo at the front. Every littJo whilo through the darkness ahead had come a flash and report from tho iuvisiblo foe, and, as tin so had been suffered unavenged, It was soon observed that tho lurking warriors grow bolder nnd that with every-shot tho distance seemed to de crease. For half an hour past thoy had been coming in from easy pistol range, and Randolph took tho 0U0. Bidding his mou open out and rido several yards apart, yet aligned as much as was pos slble, ho ordered carbines dropped and revolvers drawn and then, trotting along tho rear of tho dozen, gave his quick caution to man after man. "Watch for tho flash and lot drive at it. Even if wo don't bit, we'll keep the in at a respectful distance," he said, nnd tho words wero hardly out of his mouth when a ruddy light leaped over the snow, a shot went zippfog pust his head, nnd then, follow ed by a roar of approval from tho main column, tho revolvers of the advance crackled and sputtered their answer. Thelaudscapo was lit up for an instant, dark forms went pounding and scurry ing away from the front, nnd a momeht later there, uprose a cheer over at tho right, and Randolph galloped to tho spot. An Indian fJony lay kicking, struggling, stiffening in tho snow, shot through tlie body, and tho rider had had to run for it. "That's right, Randolph," said tho major, spurring to his side. "Now, keep 'em off, but don't push too hard. Re member, wo'vo got to give Farwoll time." "now far ahead la that confounded canyon, Bat?" naked tho udjutant at the moment. "Not more than two miles now. I hunted buffalo all over here, when I wns a boy," waa tho answer. "Big Road's tvoplo all thero by this time, I'm afraid." "Then you think that they got thero tirst?that they've got tho bluffs?" ** 'Fraid so. Big Road no foul. He wouldn't let his village drivo into a gulch and not guard the bluffs. If tho captain got thero first, they'd hnvo fonnd it out by this timo and signnlcd for help. Tho reason I belicvo thoy think thcy'ro all safe is that so many Indians hang around us out hero." And just then camo a grunt of disgust from La Bonte. Tho colonel at his sido said "II?II" and an cxcitablo trooper called out, "Lock thero! What's that?" for over at tho northwest,- all on a sud den, a brilliant column of flame had burst through tho blackness of tho night nnd sent a broad glare streaming over tho snow clad surface of the rolling prairie. "Thcy'ro on to us, by tho eternal I" cried tho adjutant, who loved tho Jack POnian form of expletive. "Listen!" Bnt no ono listened more than an instant. Even through tho muffling coverlet of pnow tho rumblo and rush of a hun dred pony hoofs, like low, distant thun der, told of tho instant flight of Bit Road's braves in answer to the signal. Wayne was ablaze in a second. "Close np on tho head of column," ho shouted to tho troop loaders. "Como on, now, men, for all you'ro worth. There isn't a second to aparo." And as tho amazed and wearied horses gavo answer to tho spur and broke into lumbering gallop far over at tho west tho rocks began to ring to tho orackle of musketry. Farwoll and tho Bioux had clinched on the bluffs to tho south of the. springs and -wero fighting in tho dark for tho right of wny. Ten miles away, at Allison's ranch, woaried with tho sleepless toil of 24 hours, too weary to be kept nwako oven by the exasperating souso of his wrongs, tho colonel was just rolling into his blankets for a much needed /cat beforo setting forth with tho rising sun on his homeward road. Fifty miles away over tho wnito cxpanao of prairio, under the cold and glittering skies, Marjorio Far rar Bat by tho bedsido of her boloved danghtor, praying oeasolessly for tho safety of an equully beloved sou now riding for thu first timo in his bravo young lifo to provo his worthiness to boar the father's name in hendlong fight with a savago nnd skillful foe. And if ever n young follow, wearer of tho army blue, realized to tho full extent tho hopes and faith and fondness centered in him this night of nights, it was Will Farrar. Barely arrived at man's estate, not yet a year out of tho cadet coatee, with Iiis mother, his sis ter, Iiis sweetheart, all thero at tho old fort so long associated with his father's name, with that namo to maintain, and not only that, but with Malcolm Lealo's old troop as ono man looking op to him as their londor, yot competent, down to tho very last man, to noto tho faintest flaw should ho fail them, tho junior subaltern of tho Twelfth, tho "plobo" lieutenant, bb his elders laughingly spoko of him, fonnd himsolf, as though some special providence had Bweptfrom his path every possiblo barrier to danger and distinction, lifted suddenly to a command that seldom falls to army subalterns today even within a dozen years and bidden hero and now to win his spurs for tho honor of tho old troop, tho honor of tho Twelfth, tho honor of the namo his father mado famous and that ho mnst maintain or dio in trying to. All this, and God nlono knows how much moro besides, went thrilling through his very soul as, on Farwoll's loft and in utter silence, ho redo swiftly onward at tho bond of tho column. Leaving to his own first lieutenant tho command of tho grays, Captain Farwell bad told him to follow oloso in tho tracks of Farrar'a men nnd, with only ono of tho Indian company to aid and no other guido of any kind hut his senses and tho stars, hnd placed himself in tho lend and pushed forth into tho ' night. "8wing well out to tho west," wero Fenton's last orders. "Keep dark, as you know bow. Head for the hills as soon as yon'ro suro you'ro far beyond henring nnd try to striko thoso bluffs a couple of miles at least back of tho mouth of tho canyon. Yon ought to get thero abend of tho village Halt it with a fow men down in tho gorge, but hold your main body ou the bluffs. We'll keep Big Road busy." > , Luckily tho stars weoro brilliant in 4ho wintry Rky and the constellations' out in all thoir glory. Tho polo star glowed high aloft and held them to thoir course. Out in tho advance, lashing his horso with Indian whip to keop him to his speed, rodo Bravo Boar, a corporal of tho Ogolulla company, Bido by side With Sergeant Brommer. Whenever tho drifts wero deep in tho ravines, one of them would halt and warn tho column' to swervo to the right or loft. Only a yard or two behind tho two offtcow?? Farwell, grizzled and stout, Farrar, fair and slender?came loping or trotting the loading four, and, though it was1 not his aooustomed place, thero rodo. Terry Rorko, where, as ho had explain ed to tho satisfaction of tho sorgeaut, ho could bo close to "Moathor Will." Tho prairio was broad and open and fairp- loveL Thero was no need of di minishing front. A platoon could have ridden abreast and found no serious ob stacle, excopt tho snowdrifts in the deep coulees. Two miles to tho west they sped, moving cautiously at first so as to givo no inkling of their intent, and, for tho first time, almost doubling back up on their tracks, so as to keep well away from tho Indian roar guard. Then, in long curve, Farwoll led thorn toward tho low, rolling hills, now dim ly visiblo against tho tirmamont, and presently tho ravines began to grow doeper but farther apart, tho slopes moro abrupt, and tho westward'hills loomed closer lu their path, and Btill tho snowy cxpanso showed uubrokeni and Bear, bending low over his pony's neck and watching for signs, declared that no Indians had crossed as yet into tho hills and that tho entranco to Elk gulch was now not moro than a mile to tho north. And hero tho hills rolled higher, both to their front and toward tho west, but Farwell rodo ou up a gradual ascent un til tho slope began to grow steep, then, dismounting, led tho way afoot, tho wholo column rolling out of saddlo and towing its horses in his track. Up, up thoy climbed until, breathing hard now, but pushing relentlessly on, tho captain reached tho crest, and faint and dim in tho starlight, dotted hero and thero with littlo clumps of spruce or cedar, tho rolling, billowy surfaeo lay before him, shrouded in its mantle of glistening snow. Leading on until tho wholo command had timo to roach tho ton, ho motioned Will to halt, while ho, with Bear and Sergeant Bremmer, pushed a fow yards farther on. The column took a breathing spell and waited. Far out to tho eastward and below them an occasional Hash as of riflo or revolver sparkled through tho night, and tho faint report was presently boruo to thoir listening ears. Big Road was still barring tho way of tho column then, nnd that meant that all tho vil lage was not yet safely within tho grim walla of tho canyon. Northward tho snowy slopes rolled higher still, but it was northwestward, among tho clumps Of trees, that tho loaders had gone.. Tho I ?team from tho h?rnen' nostrils and from j thoir heaving flanks roBO on tho keen air, and tho blood raced and tingled In tho veins of tho men. Not a whlBper of mountain brcozo was astir. Tho night was asstill as tho voiceless skies. Three, four minutes, with beating hearts, tho littlo command watched nnd waited and drow longer breath, andthonadark shapocamo jogging back from the front, and Farwell's voico said, "Mount and oo)ue on." Then camo 10 minutes' trot, winding snakoliko and in long extended column of twos among tho Blunted trees, and then Farwell ordered "Walk;" for moro than ouco a dark form loomed up in their path, and Breramor wheeled his horde about nud rodo by tho captain's Bide, eagerly explaining in low tone. Will caught tho words: " Right ahead. You can hoar tnom distinctly, sir, and lor the lifo of him Will could not quite control the flutter of his heart. "Hall! Dismount and wait herol" wero th<? next orders, almost whispered, and again Farwoll pushed out into the front, and again tho column swung out of saddle, watched and waited, and presently tho mon began to stamp about in tho snow and thrash their stiffening fingers. "Aro wo oloso to 'em now, Masther Will?" asked old Terry, uurcbuked. "Right ahead, they Buy, corporal. But this, remember, is only tho women and children, with a fow of tho old men." "Ah, it's your father's boh yo are, Borr?God rest his bouII If it was day time, yo could almost eeo from hero tho breaks of tho Mini Posa, wboro wo Struck theso Indians threev . i ago this cruel winter." "I know," said Will bri. fly, "and if?if it comes to fighting her ?, Rorke, remember father's last order. 11 may bo harder than cvor to tell buck from squaw in so dim a light, but I want tho men to heed it." "They will, Borr, as thoy would if tho captain himself was at thoir head, and, Masther Will, for tho lovo of luv en, wherever yo hovo to go this night H* struggled to his feet, gropiug for hi* revolver. ' lot mo bo wan of thlm that go wid yo if yo only tako wan," and there was a I break in tho old fellow's voico as ho be gan his ploa. "Hush, Rorke. We'll soo to that, " ' sold Farrar. "Hero comes tho captain I back." And Farwell camo wit h speed. "Mr. Farrar," ho said, an unmistak ' nblo tremor in his tone, "thoro's not a moment to ho lost. Thoy ore passing through tho canyon now. Wo can hoar them plainly, but they havoflankers out along tho bluff. Two buoks rodo by not n momout ngo, and Boar Bays tho wholo outfit is pushing for tho raco traok. I've got to head them off farther up tho gnloh. Bear say t wo can got down in singlo filo by an old gamo trail there, und I wish you to dismount right hero, lino this slope- with your rnon, Bond at loast a dozen down into tho ravine- and stand off Big Boad and his follows whilo wo corral that wholo village and ?tart it for home. They can't toll bow* lew yon are In nnmbor, andFcuton will be oloso at their heels. Between you they ought to bo forced to tho north Bide whilo I'm driving the village out to tho south. You understand, do you not? It's a fight in tho dark, and they're afraid of It, anyhow. You've pot a splendid troop, lad, and they won't fail you.' Don't bo ashamed to ask your old sergeants for advice. You understand fully?" "I do," said Will stoutly, though bis young heart wns hammering in his breast "Wo'll do our best, sip. Form fours, sergeant, and link?livoly," he added, thou grasped tho captain's hand ono instant beforo tho latter turned away. Silently, quickly tho men linked horses, and, leaving No. 4 of each set In saddlo, camo running up to tho front, unslinging carbines on the way. Farwoll and his fellows went trot ting off among tho dumps of pi no as tho last man foil in on tho left. Then, quickly dividing off a dozen troopers from that flank, Will placed the tlrst sorgcaut in chnrgo aud bade him find tbo way down tho steep incl'no to tho bottom of tho gorge, which thero was not moro than 250 feet below, giving him instructions to bo ready to sweep it with thoir Uro when tho warriors cumc, as come they speoaily must, Next, fac ing eastward, ho deployed his men, cnusing them to stand or kneel iu tbo sheltor of tho Uttlo trees, but to keep vigilant lookout. Another littlo sqnad was strung out down tho face of tho bluff to keep connection with tho men descending to tho depths of tho canyon, nnd these preparations wero barely com ploted when, riding at rapid gait, two horsemen camo dashing up tho eastward slopo. Tho panting of tho ponies could bo heard before anything could bo soon, but tho instant thovnguo shapes appear ed two sudden allots rang out on tho night, and thon a dozcu?a sputtering volley?flashed from tho lino. Down went ono pony, struggling and rolling in tho snow. Away sped tho other back into tho blackness of tho night. Thou a dark object seemed to disengago itself from tho struggling pony and go crouching nnd limping away. Two or threo excited young sol diers banged their carbines without tho faintest aim. Then it seemed as though tho hillsides woko to n wild revel of battle, for, behind thorn, far up the can yon, thero rosoawail of terror from tho fleeing squaws and shouts of tho few old braves left to guard thorn, resounding warwhoops of" younger .Indians some where, anywhere, everywhere, down tho slopes to tho east. Thou a bright col umn of flame shot high in air over among tho rocks to tho north of tho gntc, aud afar out over tho eastward prairie Big Boad aud his braves camo dashing, driving, thundering to tho rescue. "They'll not try the gulch, sorr," shouted Itorko in bis ear. "Only a few will ptish in hero. Most of 'cm will como this way and get uround us to our right." "Open out, men I Push out soutlrward thero as fast as yon cnnl" shouted Will, as ho ran bounding through the snow toward tho right of his imisihlo line. "Watch for them 1 They'll como with a rnsh when thoy como nt all!" And Korke, whoso business it was to remain with his "comrades in battle" whero first ho was posted, near the brow of tho steep, went running after bis young commander as hard as ho could go, with no man to stop him, In tho excitement nnd darkness, in tho thrill of tbo moment, seme of I ho men seemed disposed to huddle leget In r rath.or than to increase their intervals, for plainly now could bo heard a dull thunder of hoofs?tho roar of the com ing storm. Then, too, shadowy specters of horsemen could lie dimly seen dart ing into partial view and out again, like tho flush that greeted them. But far up tho gorge, behind Farrar'a lino, tho sound of battle grow fiercer and louder, Then, down from tho depths of tiio can yon, there camo sudden clamor of shot and cheer and ohallongO and yells of rago and defiance, and thon all on a sudden out from among tho stunted trees, with panting, struggling, bound ing ponies, with lashing, bending, yell ing braves, there burst upon them tho main body of the Indians, threescore warriors at least, and despite the ring of shots on and through and ovi r they rushed tho slim and extended skirmish lino, and Will Farrar, springing from the shelter of a littlo cedar, was struck full in tho breast by a muscular shoul der aud knocked backward into tho snow. IIo struggled to his feet, groping for his revolver, just in time to meet the dash of half a dozen racing braves, all yelling liko fiends. Something crashed upon bis sknll nnd struck a million tparks or stars, mid everything whirled out of sight and sound and sense as the young officer went down, faco foremost, into the drifts. [TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.] OION. JACKSON'S MRSSAGM. On Recognizing the Independence of the Republic ofTexaa, December 21, 1880. To tho Houscof Kepri sontatlves, Uni ted States: During tho last session information was given to congress by tho executive that measures had been taken to as certain "tbo political, military and civil condition of Texas." I now sub mit, for your consideration, extracts from the report of th agent who bad been appointed to collect it, relative to tho condition of that country. No steps have been taken by the ex ecutive towards the acknowledgement of tbo Indepcndenco of Texas ; and the wholo subject would have been left without further remark, on the infor mation now given to congress, were it not that tbo two houses, at thoir last session, acting separately, passed reso lutions "that tho independence of Texas ought to bo acknowledged by the United States whenover satisfac tory information should bo received that it had in successful operation a civil government capable of perform ing the duties and fulfilling tho obliga tions of an independent power. This mark of interest in the question Ol t he independence of Texas, and indication of tho views of congress, make it pro pur that 1 should, somewhat in dotal1, present the considerations that havo governed tho oxccutlvo In continuing to occupy tho ground previously taken In the contest between Mexico and Texas. Tho acknowledgement of a new ntato as Independent, and entitled to a place in the faml'y of nations, is at all times ? an act of great dolioacy and roBponsi bllity ; but more especially so when such Stato has forcibly separated it solf from another of which it had formed an integral part, and which still claims dominion over it- A pre mature recognition under theso cir cumstances, if not looked upon us justi fiable cause of war, is always liable to be regarded as a proof of an unfrlondly spiril. to ouo of the contending parties. All questions relativo to tho govern ment of foreign nations, whether of tho old or new world, havo been treat ed by the Uuited States as questions of fact only ; and our predecessors havo cautiously abstain-d from deciding upon them until tho clearest ovldenco wus in their possession to enable them, not only to decide correctly, but to shield their decisions from every un worthy imputation. In ail the con test that have arisen out of tho rev olutions of Frame, out of tbe disputes relating to tho crowns of Portugal and Spain ; out of the revolutionary move ments of thoso kingdoms, out of the separation of the American posses sions of )th from tho European gov ernments, and out of the numerous and coustantly occurring struggles for do minion in Spaitiah America, so wisely consistent with our just principles has been tho action of our government, that we have, under the most critical circumstances, avoided all censure, and encountered no other evil than that produced by a transient estr nge ment of gooil will iu those whom wo have been, by force of evidence, com pelled to decide. It has thus been made known to tho world that the uniform policy aud praetieo of tho United States is, to avoid all interference iu disputes which merely relate to the internal government of other nations, and even tually to recognize the autnority of the prevailing party, without reference to our particular interests and viows, or to the merits of the original con troversy. Public opinion hero is so (Irmly established and so well under stood in favor of this policy that uo serious disagreement has ever arisen among ourselves in relation to it, al though brought under review in a variety of forms, and at periods when I tho minds of tho people were greatly I excited by the agitation of topics purely domestic In their character. Nor has any deliberate inquiry ever bjcu instituted in congress or in any of our legislative bodies, as to whom belonged the power of recognizing a new state? -a power tbe exorcise of which is equivalent, under some cir cumstances, to a declaration of war? a power nowhere expressly delegated, and only granted in the constitution, as it is necessarily involved in soteo of the great powers glvCD to congress ; in that given to the president and - uuto" to form treaties with foreign powers, and to appoiut ambassadors and other public ministers; and in that conferred upon the president to receive ministers from foreign nations. In the preamble to the resolution of the bouse of representatives, it is dis tinctly intimated that the expediency of recognizing the independence of Texas should be left to the dcolsion of eougress. In this view, on the ground ol expedb noy, l am disposed to con cur, and do not. therefore, consider it necessary to express any opinions as to the strict constitutional right of the executive, either apart from or iu con junction with the senate, over tho sub ject. It is to be presumed that on no future occasion will a dispute arise, as none has heretofore occurred, between tlio executive ami the legislature in the exorcise of the power of rec(igni tion. It will always be considered consistent with tho spirit of the con stitution, and most sale, that it should be exercised when probably leading to war, with a previous understanding with that body by whom war can alone bo declared, anil by whom all tbe pro visions for sustaining its perils must bo furnished. Its submission to con gress, which represents in one of its branches tbe States of this Union, and 1 in the other the people of tbe United Slates, whore then: may be reasonable j ground to apprebcud so grave a eon sequonoo, would certainly afford tho j fullest satisfaction to our own country, | and a perfect guarantee to all other i nations, of the justice and prudence of the measures which might be adopted. In making these suggestions, it is not my purpose to relieve myself from tho responsibility of expressing my own opinions of the course tbe in terests of our country prescribe, and its honor permits us to lollow. It is scarcely to bo imagined that a ottestion of this character could be presented, in relation to which it would I bo more dlflloult for the United States to avoid exciting the suspicion and j jealousy of other powers, and main tain their established character for J fair and impartial dealing. Dot on this, 08on every trying occasion, safety is to be. found in a rigid adhereuco to j principle In the contest between Spain and : her revolted colonies we stood aloof, ; and waited, not only until the ability; of tbo new Slates to protect them selves was fully established, but until tbe danger of their being again sub jugated bad entirely p issed away. Then, and not until thou, wore they recognised. Suoh was our course in regard to Mexico herself. The same policy was observed in all the disputes growing out of the separation into dis tinct governments of those Spanish American States who began or carried j on thocontC8t with t he parent country, j united under ono form of government. We acknowledged the separate hide- I pendonco o( New Granada, of Venezuela and of Kjuador, only after tholv lade- i pendent existence was no longer a sub ject of dispute, or was actually ac- I I qulesced In by thoso with whom they I liad been previously united. It is truo that, with regard to Texas, tho civil authority of Mexico has been expelled, its invading army defeated, ..ml the chief of tbe republic himself captured, ? and all present power to control the newly organized government of Texas annihilated within its confines. Hut, on the other hand, there is, in appeal*' ranee at least, an immense disparity of physical force on the side of Mexico. , The Mexican republic, under anothor executive, is rallying its forco under a new leader, and menacing a fresh invasion to recover its los' dominion. Upon the issue of this threatened in vasion, tho independence of Tex-is may be considered as suspended : and wero there nothing peculiar in the relativo situation of tbe U id ted States and Tex as, our acknowledgement of its inde pendence at such a crisis could scarcely be. regarded as consistent with that prudent reserve with which we have heretofore held ourselves bound to treat all similar questions. Hut there arc circumstances in tho relations of the two countries which require U* to act, on this occasion, with oven more than our wonted caution. Texas was onco claimed as a part of our property, aud there are those among our citizens who, always reluctant to abandon that claim, cannot but regard with solici tude the protpeot of tlio reunion of the territory to this country. A large proportion of its civilized Inhabitants are from tho United S'ates ; speak the samo lunguage with ourselves; chorish the same principles, political and re* 1 liglousj and are bound to many of our citizens by tlos of friendship and kindred bleed ; and, more than all, it is known that tho people of that coun try have instituted the saino form of government with our own ; uud have since the close of your last session openly resolved, on the acknowledge ment by us of their independence, to seek admission into the Union as ono of the federal States. This last cir cuuistaucos is a matter of peculiar del icacy, aud forces upon us considera tions of tho gravest character. The titlo of Texas to tho territory she claims is iudeulilied with her indepen j dence ; sho asks ua to acknowledge that titlo to tho territory, with an avowed design to tho treat immediate ly of its transfer to tho United States, it becomes us to beware of a too early movement, as it might subject us, I however unjustly, to tho imputation of I seeking to establish the claim of our neighbors to a territory with a view to its subsequent acquisition by our selves. Prudence therefore seems to dictate that we should still Btand aloof, and maintain our present attitude, if not until Mexico itself or ono of tho groat foreign powers shall recoguizo the Independence of the now govern ment, at leust until tbo lapse of time or the course of events shall have proved beyond cavil or dispute tho ability of tho peoplo of that country to maintain their separate sovereignty, and to uphold the government consti tuted by them. Neither of the con tending parties can justly complain of this course, liy pursuing it, we are but carrying out tho loug-establishcd policy of our government?a policy which bus secured to us respect and Inlluenoe abroad, und Inspired con fidence at homo. Having thus discharged my duty, by prosootlog with simplicity and directness the views which, after much refleotiou, 1 have been led to takj of this important subject. I have only to add the expression of my confidence that, if congress should diller with me upon it, their judgment will bo tho result of dispassionate, prudent and wite deliberation ; with the assurance that, during the short wine 1 shall con tinue conncotcd with the government 1 shull promptly and cordially unite with you in such measures as may be deemed bent fitted to increase the pros perity and perpetuate tho peace of our favored country. Andrew Jackson. Washington, Dec. 31, 1830. WAS IT A GOLD BRICK ? How Hie Mugwumps ii ml Sound Money Democrats Feel Now. To the Editor of the Boston Herald: Once upon a time there wasa mighty party, nr.:} it was called the Republi can party. But aftOI it liad become weakened by age, and by uho abuse of Stimulants, such as star routes, BXVy contracts, large appropriations and great individual profit from high pro tection, it lost many of its adherents, who became mugwumps, if not Demo crats, and it put up a candidate for tho presidency who was opposed by a strong minority in his party. This minority didn't like him a little hit, but they had to say they would take him, and they all set to to elect him. And about that time there was sprung against them a candidate call ed a Democratic candidate, und of a sudden it looked mightily as if ho were going to be elected, out ho, too, was opposed by a strong minority of his party. And it came to pass that the Repub licans, in their dangor and distress, appeared to see some of the errors of of their ways, and they seemed to wish to burn some of their previously wor shipped idols of protection and high prices, and to adopt instead the ideas of the good Democrats, who wanted j sound money and a reformed currency, in order to improve the business needs of the country. And they a'l said : "That's what we all want, and if you will help us to elect our candidate we will holp you to your sound money and your reformed currency and your bus iness improvements. But we have not funds needed to carry on the campaign against our common enemy, so you must help us quickly with your con tributions." And tho trusting, good Democrats and mugwumps turned to with a will, and they supplied what was needed of linaneial and moral support to their new-made friends, and thoy olected the Republican candidate, after ono of the most momentous struggles ever witnessed in a great nation. And the great men of tho Republi can party breathed freely again, and they wont to Washington and got to getner in their councils, and they turned ihelr backs upon the Demo crats who had holped them to victory, and began to parcel out among them selves all the good things. And they sat themselves down at tho feast tables, but tho good Democrats they left standing in the entries. This reads like a fable, and like a fable it must have a moral to it: 1 am ono of tho Democrats. I was won over to tho side of iny new friends, tho Republicans; 1 trembled with them: I suffered with them ; I worked with them : 1 marched In their pro cessions. 1 dually rejoiced with them and threw up my bat and cheered I with them In the day of our joint vie- j tory. We contributed to the joint cause moro money than wo had evor conj I trlbllted to a political campaign. oi worked harder in the field of eduea-1 llotial literature and reform stumping, . atnl w<; innocently believed in the miw frier: [ships which we had made. But my new frien s now pass nw y without so much as a smile of reco, i tion : they do not seek my companion ship as they did a fow short weeks since.. I mention sound money, cur rency reform und revival of business to them, and 1 B66 them smilo a smile of indiiforenco, if, indeed, not one of contempt, and they .talk among them BolVCS of high protection, large appro priations, exalted offices and war with foreign nations. In tho name of innocent and verdant humanity, what aro they aiming at? Are they kicking away our support by which they were saved ? Are they preparing for themselves new crops of enemies and another hydra-headed foo in four years? And am I to bo blamed if a feeling arises in me that wo huvo been buncoed. Laurence Curtis. ?Capt ('.. ,B. Blood, of Tennessee, who acted as drill master for tho raw insurgent troops under Oomcz, has just rotumcd to his home. He brings hack the startling information that (Jon. Woylor is a native of ()hio and a sou of parents of Gorman origin. His rather is at present a farmer In tho Buckeye State. I ?A clergyman's daughter, looking ] ovor tho MMS. loft by her father in I his study, chanced upon thu following sentence : "I love to look upon a young man. There is a bidden poten cy Conceal ad within his breast'which charms and pains me." Sho sat down and hlushingly added: "Thorn's my sentiments exactly, papa?all but tho pains." - "WAY81DK C.\ l lll'.KIMiH. Bit? ot Humor und NuRfteta'of Truth l'or tllO .?lull it mir. ?Calcutta Is the hottest city In the world. ?A milllou dollars in silver weighs 56,031 pounds. ?Russia exports more whoat than ?iny other country. ?Tobolsk, Russia, is tho coldoat in habitod placo in the world. ?Baldnoss is caused by a gorui de stroying tho roots of tho hair. ?There aro 17,592,186,044,515 differ ent souuds in the human voice. ?Presidentelect. McKinley has a porcelain bath tub inlaid with gold. ?There are fourteer hundred and twenty-five characters in tho twonty fuir books written by Dicken*. ?Tho region about tho Dead Sea is one of tho hottest places on tho globe, and tho sea is said to lose a millions tons of water a day by evapo ration. ?A Now York religious journal intimates that some . persons contri bute to missions according to their meanness rather than according to their means. ?Yaleta, on tho Rio Graudo river, in Texas, la said to bo the oldest town in America. St. Augustine, in Flori da, has long laid claims to that dis tinction. ?California has always claimed to bo a smart State, and as her present year's mustard crop amounts to about 10,000,000 pounds, we aro inclined to bclievo it. ?Tho Welsh havo a saying that if a woman wuru as quick with her feet as with their tongue, she would cntch lightning enough to kindle tho firo in tho morning. ?There is a timo when thou may est say nothing, and a timo when thou mayest say something ; but there will never be a timo when thou shouldst say all things. ?Learning Is not education. Half of all the fools in the world aro "edu cated." Learning gives tho moans of acquiring that which correctly used, enlightens the mind. ?If you would enjoy your meals, alt down to the tablo good-natured. An angry, fussy man or womuu cannot toll whether they tire eating boiled cab bage or steweil umbrellas. ?The model husband lives in Phil adelphia. He Dover allows his wifo to do more than half the work. She puts up all the can tu d fruit in the summer, and he puts it down in tho winter. ?in certain parts of China tho young women wear their hair in a long single plait, with which i^ intertwined a strand of bright scarlet thread, ;?hich denotes that she is murriugablo. ?An abused wifo in Maystlck, Ivy., lately secured a divorce from her hus band on the gi " ind, us atutod in tho decree, that he " dfu not provido her with enough provender to keOiJ her organic system from faltering." ?A curious note of explanation ac companied some poetry received by a Michigan editor. The noto ran thus : "These lines were written 50 years ago by a man who has, for a long lime, slept in his grave merely for a pas time." ?Tommy (who bad just rocoivod a severe scolding)?"Am I really 80 bad, mamma?" Mamma?"Yes, Tommy, you uro u very bad boy.*' Tommy (reflectively) ?" Well, anyway mamma, 1 think you ought to bo .'eul darn tflud 1 ain't twins !" ?An addition to the telephone Is a device which shows tho photographs of the persons who aro talking. You can see the picture, of the person with whom you are conversing. This won derful invention is tho word of a man in Alamenda, Cal. ?The bicycle craze, according to The United States Tobacco Journal, has decreased the consumption of cigars in this country by about one million a day. The decrease since tho craze set iu has actually been seven hundred million a year. ?A chemical export says that 00 por cent, of tho beer brewed in Amer ica will not come up to tho tost pre scribed by the German government, which is not a severe one, only insist ing that pure beer bo brewed, and lixing severe penalties for the pro duction of any other kind. ?The Kx-Slavo Pension Association which recently met at Birmingham, Ala., has put v lot of agents on tho road to collect money to further their scheme iu Congress. Tho Baptist Safeguard warns its readers to he on their guard against this nesv "forty acres and a mule" scheme. ?A Portland sea captain tells of his sailing in southern seas whero flying tisb abound. They would sometimes in their flight in the night conto aboard tho ship and drop to the deck. Ho hud three cats that, though they wore lying asleep below, woultl bear the sound whenever a lish struck the deck aud would rush up to get it. They distinguished this from all other sounds. The crew tried to imitate it in various ways, but could not deceive the cuts. ?Tho best briar from which pipes arc made comes fr.'m the borders uf France and Italy, in the mountainous district of those countries roots are dug OUt which have grown for ages, und are sometimes larger tbun u mun's hotly, weighing hundreds of pounds. The wootl thus obtained is remarkubly beautiful. Those large deposits Of the root, have just been discovered in France, and the price may bo brought down in time. At present n good briar root pipe it not cheap. ?A Michigan young lady named Os ier was so confident that Bryan would be elected that she staketl one lin>tir~^~ sand kisses on him. Tho youag man with whom the hot was made had got well along towards tho half wuy murk in tho collection when u dispute arose over the enumeration, so thoro was nothing to do but wipe out the sluto and take a recount, which is now pro gressing. Tho couple are engaged, but the girl declines to got married until the debt has boon paid in full. Wise girl ; sho wants to get out of dobt. ? While he was at breakfast in Cin cinnati on the day after Christmas a New York Journal reporter asked Mr. Bryan whether ho thought that tho recent bank failures in Chicago und St. Paul were in uny way duo to tho result of the recontciection. His reply was: "All by this time know tho underlying principles of frco silver and the cflects of the goltl stnndurd, and all can apply their own measuring sticks, and doubtless roach a truo con clusion. If there havo boon any ovl dencos of returning prosperity I havo fulled to noto them particularly. As to any permanent prosperity without free silver, tho people of tho United States will have time to dccldo that point. Lot tho sliver men not put a stono In the pathway of any man who will give prosperity, but lo'. no!? too camp fires of free silver burn out."