Low Twelve ES Ellis 1907 298pgs SEC SOC

7/27/2019 Low Twelve ES Ellis 1907 298pgs SEC SOC

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- The first motion you make to do that, I'll shoot you dead ! -



LOW TWELVE"BY THEIR DEEDS YE SHALLKNOW THEM"

A S e r i e s o f S t r i k i n g a n d T r u t h f u l I n c i d e n t s i l l u s t r a t i v e o f

t h e f i d e l i t y o f F r e e M a s o n s t o o n e . a n o t h e r i n

t i m e s o f d i s t r e s s a n d d a n g e r

BYEDWARD S . ELLI S, A .M .

P, M . TRENTON (N . J.) LODGE, No . 5

F. & A. M

NEW YORKF . R. NIGLUTSCH

1907



COPYRIGHT, 1907By F. R. NIGLUTSCH



INTRODUCTIONI

T i s t o b e f e a r e d t h a t s o m e e n t h u s i a s t i c w r i t e r s o n F r e e

M a s o n r y g i v e t h e o r d e r a n a n t i q u i t y t h a t i s m o r e o r l e s s

i m a g i n a t i v e . O n e s p e c i a l l y a r d e n t a u t h o r m a k e s t h e p a t r i -

a r c h s a n d o t h e r n o t e d B i b l i c a l c h a r a c t e r s F r e e M a s o n s , a n d

i n s i s t s t h a t s e v e r a l o f t h e S a v i o u r ' s d i s c i p l e s w e r e m e m b e r s o f

t h e o r d e r . F r e e M a s o n r y , n o n e t h e l e s s , i s t h e o l d e s t e x i s t i n g

o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a c h a r i t a b l e n a t u r e i n t h e h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d .

During the Middle Ages the Mason brot herhoo ds were

o r g a n i z e d c o r p o r a t i o n s , r e s e m b l i n g i n a g e n e r a l w a y t h e o t h e r

g u i l d s , w i t h r u l e s o f t h e i r o w n , a n d r e c r u i t e d f r o m a b o d y

o f a p p r e n t i c e s w h o h a d s e r v e d a p e r i o d o f p r o b a t i o n . T h e

t i m e r e f e r r e d t o w a s a c h u r c h - b u i l d i n g a g e , a n d m e n s k i l l e d i n

t h e h e w i n g a n d s e t t i n g o f s t o n e s w e r e i n d e m a n d a n d h e l d

i n h i g h e s t e e m . When a great church or cathedral was to

b e b u i l t , s k i l f u l m a s o n s g a t h e r e d . f r o m d i s t a n t q u a r t e r s t o

a s s i s t t h o s e o f t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d i n t h e w o r k . A mas ter wa s

c h o s e n , w h o s u p e r i n t e n d e d t h e w h o l e , a n d e v e r y t e n t h m a n

w a s a w a r d e n w i t h a u t h o r i t y o v e r t h e r e s t .

I t f o l l o w e d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t a m a s o n , a f t e r s e r v i n g h i s

a p p r e n t i c e s h i p , c o u l d n o t s e t t l e d o w n , l i k e o t h e r c r a f t s m e n ,

a m o n g h i s n e i g h b o r s , b u t w a s o b l i g e d t o t r a v e l i n o r d e r t o

find employment . I t w a s a d v i s a b l e t h a t a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e

f r a t e r n i t y s h o u l d p o s s e s s t h e m e a n s o f m a k i n g t h e m s e l v e s



i v I n t r o d u c t i o n

k n o w n t o o n e a n o t h e r a n d t h u s a v o i d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f p r o v i n g

t h e i r s k i l l a s c r a f t s m e n . I n o r d e r t o d o s o , a n d t o e n a b l e

a m a s o n t o c l a i m t h e h o s p i t a l i t y o f h i s b r o t h e r m a s o n s , a

system of symbols was devised, in which every mason was

i n i t i a t e d a n d w h i c h h e w a s p l e d g e d t o k e e p s e c r e t .

T h e t e r m " F r e e , " a s a p p l i e d t o t h e c r a f t , a r o s e f r o m t h e

f a c t t h a t i t s m e m b e r s w e r e e x e m p t e d b y s e v e r a l p a p a l b u l l s

f r o m t h e l a w s w h i c h g o v e r n e d o r d i n a r y l a b o r e r s , a s w e l l a s

f r o m t h e v a r i o u s b u r d e n s i m p o s e d u p o n t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s e s

in England and on th e Continent . These laws bound the

F r e e M a s o n s t o c e r t a i n r e l i g i o u s d u t i e s , a n d i t w a s n a t u r a l

t h a t a c r a f t w h o s e p r i n c i p a l b u s i n e s s w a s c h u r c h b u i l d i n g

s h o u l d r e c e i v e t h e s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n a n d c a r e o f t h e c l e r g y .

S o m a r k e d b e c a m e t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e F r e e M a s o n s t h a t t h e

j e a l o u s y o f t h e C h u r c h w a s a r o u s e d l o n g b e f o r e t h e R e f o r m a -

t i o n . H e n r y o f B e a u f o r t , C a r d i n a l o f W i n c h e s t e r , i n s t i g a t e d

the passage of an act, during the minority of Henry VI . ,

w h i c h f o r b a d e t h e M a s o n s t o h o l d t h e i r a c c u s t o m e d c h a p t e r s

a n d a s s e m b l i e s . B u t t h e a c t w a s n e v e r e n f o r c e d , a n d w h e n

H e n r y V I . became of age he joined the orde r, while

H e n r y V I I . was the G rand Master in England .

T h e o r i g i n o f o p e r a t i v e m a s o n r y i s t r a c e d b a c k b y m a n y

to the old Roman Empire, the Pharaohs, the Temple of

Solomon, even to the Tower of Babel and to the Ark of

No a h . S p e c u l a t i v e F r e e M a s o n r y o r i g i n a t e d i n E n g l a n d a n d

d a t e s f r o m t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y . I t s f o u n d a t i o n l i e s i n t h e

" p r a c t i c e o f m o r a l a n d s o c i a l v i r t u e , " i t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e

b e i n g c h a r i t y i n t h e b r o a d e s t s e n s e , b r o t h e r l y l o v e , r e l i e f a n d

t r u t h . I t i s b e c a u s e o f t h i s f o u n d a t i o n , s o c l o s e l y a p p r o a c h -

i n g t h a t w h i c h i s d i v i n e , t h a t t h e g r o w t h , p r o s p e r i t y a n d p e r -

m a n e n c e o f t h e n o b l e i n s t i t u t i o n i s d u e . I t h a s w i t h s t o o d

e v e r y s h o c k a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e i t s b e n e f i c e n t s w a y t o t h e e n d

o f t i m e .



I n t r o d u c t i o n VC h a r l e s I I . a n d W i l l i a m I I I . w e r e M a s o n s , a n d a s e e m i n g

connecti on with operative masonry was kept up by the

a p p o i n t m e n t o f S i r C h r i s t o p h e r W r e n t o t h e o f f i c e o f G r a n d

Mast er . T h e S c o t t i s h l o d g e s c l a i m o r i g i n a m o n g t h e f o r e i g n

m a s o n s w h o c a m e t o S c o t l a n d i n i i S o t o b u i l d K i l w i n n i n g

Abbey ; t h o s e o f E n g l a n d g o b a c k t o a n a s s e m b l a g e o f m a s o n s

h e l d b y S t . A l b a n a t Y o r k i n 9 2 6 . The mother lodges of

Y o r k a n d K i l w i n n i n g w e r e , w i t h a f e w s l i g h t e x c e p t i o n s , t h e

p a r e n t s o f a l l t h e l o d g e s t h a t w e r e f o r m e d i n d i f f e r e n t p a r t s

o f G r e a t B r i t a i n . The admirable character of the order

w a s a t t e s t e d i n1 7 9 9 ,

w h e n i n t h e a c t p a s s e d i n E n g l a n d f o r

t h e s u p p r e s s i o n o f s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s , F r e e M a s o n r y w a s t h e

o n l y o n e e x c e p t e d f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e l a w . A Gra nd

Lodge was formed in London in 1717, with p ower to grant

c h a r t e r s t o o t h e r l o d g e s , a n d t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e f r a -

t e r n i t y w e r e f i r s t p u b l i s h e d u n d e r i t s s a n c t i o n . From thi s

f o u n t a i n F r e e M a s o n r y h a s s p r e a d t o e v e r y q u a r t e r o f t h e

g l o b e .

Now and then we Masons ar e amused by statements con-

cerning female members of our order . S o m e y e a r s a g o i t

w a s c l a i m e d b y a n u m b e r o f n e w s p a p e r s t h a t a c e r t a i n f a m o u s

woman sculpto r of Washington was a Free Mason . T h e

w r i t e r o f t h i s a s k e d f o r t h e n a m e o f t h e l o d g e i n w h i c h s h e

w a s i n i t i a t e d a n d a f e w o t h e r p a r t i c u l a r s . The reply was

g i v e n t h a t s h e w a s a m e m b e r o f o n e o f t h e l o d g e s i n s t i t u t e d

b y t h e t h e n E m p r e s s E u g e n i e o f F r a n c e . My next audaciou s

q u e s t i o n w a s a s t o w h e r e t h e E m p r e s s g o t h e r a u t h o r i t y f o r

charter ing Masonic lodges . The intimation was further

m a d e t h a t s h e w a s n o m o r e a F r e e M a s o n t h a n t h e g i l t f i g u r e -

head of a man-of-war . Every re al Mason kno ws that ther e

n e v e r w a s , i s n o t , a n d n e v e r w i l l o r c a n b e a f e m a l e F r e e

Mas on . L e t o u r s i s t e r s r e m a i n c o n t e n t w i t h t h e r e p l y o f a

g a l l a n t b r o t h e r



v i I n t r o d u c t i o n

"You were born Mas on s ; a n y i n i t i a t i o n o r c e r e m o n y w o u l d

b e s u p e r f l u o u s ; t h e r e f o r e , w e d o n o t i n s u l t y o u b y a n y s u c h

p r o p o s i t i o n . "

N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e r e i s r e s p e c t a b l e a u t h o r i t y f o r b e l i e v i n g

t h a t t h r e e w o m e n h a v e t a k e n t h e f i r s t s t e p i n M a s o n r y . I t

i s s a i d t h a t M r s . B e a t o n , o f N o r f o l k , E n g l a n d , l e a r n e d t h e

s e c r e t s o f t h e E n t e r e d A p p r e n t i c e d e g r e e b y h i d i n g h e r s e l f

i n t h e w a i n s c o t i n g o f a l o d g e r o o m . S h e l i v e d w e l l b e y o n d

f o u r - s c o r e , a n d , i n c r e d i b l e a s i t m a y s o u n d , k e p t h e r s e c r e t

i n v i o l a t e . M a d a m e d e X a i n t r a i l l e s , i t i s c l a i m e d , w a s i n i t i -

a t e d i n t h e f i r s t d e g r e e b y t h e F r e r e s - A r t i s t e s l o d g e , i n P a r i s ,

m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d y e a r s a g o , a n d t h e H o n . Mrs . A l d w o r t h

w a s s i m i l a r l y h o n o r e d . T h e m o s t t h a t c a n b e s a i d , t h e r e f o r e ,

is that these women kne w simply the first step of Free

Mas o n r y . *

I t w a s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t t h e o r d e r s h o u l d s u f f e r p e r s e c u t i o n

p a t t h e h a n d s o f d e g e n e r a t e s a n d t h o s e w h o w e r e i g n o r a n t o f

i t s r e a l s p i r i t . The most noted example of late years was

G a b r i e l J o g a n d - P a g e s , a F r e n c h m a n b o r n i n 1 8 5 4 . His p ub-

l i c a t i o n s a g a i n s t F r e e M a s o n r y w e r e g r o t e s q u e l y m o n s t r o u s ,

b u t f o r a t i m e g a i n e d m a n y b e l i e v e r s . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e y

w e r e d e n i e d b y s u c h d i s t i n g u i s h e d F r e e M a s o n s a s E m p e r o r

William I . , B i s m a r c k a n d t h e P r i n c e o f W a l e s a d d e d t o t h e

e x c i t e m e n t c a u s e d b y t h e b o o k , o f w h i c h h u n d r e d s o f t h o u -

*A venerable Free Mason once told me tha t many years ago, he met . a

v e r y o l d b r o t h e r w h o s a i d h e w a s p r e s e n t o n o n e o f t h e m e m o r a b l e o c c a s i o n s

when it is cla imed that a woman was made an Entered Apprentice Mason .

T h e o a t h w h i c h s h e w a s c o m p e l l e d t o t a k e , f a r f r o m b e i n g t h e l e g i t i m a t e o n e

o f t h a t d e g r e e , w a s s i m p l y a s o l e m n p l e d g e , u n d e r t h e m o s t f e a r f u l p e n a l t i e s ,

n e v e r t o r e v e a l a n y o f t h e s e c r e t s w h i c h s h e h a d d i s c o v e r e d . I c a n n o t h e l p

s u s p e c t i n g t h a t i n a l l t h e i n s t a n c e s o f t h e s e a l l e g e d i n i t i a t i o n s , a s i m i l a r c o u r s e

was followed, and that no woma n was ever made so much as a real Entered

Apprentice . D o u b t l e s s t h e a w f u l n e s s o f t h e o a t h a n d p e n a l t y h a d m u c h t o

d o i n k e e p i n g h e r l i p s s e a l e d r e g a r d i n g t h e l i t t l e s h e h a d l e a r n e d . No Fre e

M a s o n n e e d s t o b e r e m i n d e d t h a t i t i s s i m p l y i m p o s s i b l e f o r a n y wo m a n t o

become a member of our order .



I n t r o d u c t i o n v i i

s a n d s o f c o p i e s w e r e s o l d . I n 1897 J o g a n d - P a g e s p u b l i c l y

c o n f e s s e d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g w r i t t e n b y h i m a g a i n s t t h e o r d e r

w a s a d e l i b e r a t e f a l s e h o o d .

T h e g r e a t e s t b l o w e v e r r e c e i v e d b y F r e e M a s o n r y i n t h i s

c o u n t r y w a s i n 1 8 2 6 , a n d i t d i d n o t r e c o v e r t h e r e f r o m f o r

t w e n t y y e a r s . T h e p a r t i c u l a r s o f t h i s a f f a i r a r e g i v e n i n

t h e s u c c e e d i n g p a g e s . F r o m t h a t t i m e , t h e o p p o s i t i o n t o

t h e o r d e r r a p i d l y d e c l i n e d , f i n a l l y t o - d i s a p p e a r a l t o g e t h e r .

To-day, with nearly a million of members in the United

S t a t e s , i t i s s t r o n g e r t h a n e v e r a n d s t e a d i l y g r o w i n g . Bisho p

H e n r y C . P o t t e r s a i d i n I 9 o I

" F r e e M a s o n r y , h o w e v e r , i s i n m y v i e w o f i t a g r e a t d e a l

m o r e t h a n a m u t u a l b e n e f i t a s s o c i a t i o n . I n o n e s e n s e , w i l d

and extravagant as the words may sound, it is the most

r e m a r k a b l e a n d a l t o g e t h e r u n i q u e i n s t i t u t i o n o n e a r t h . Wil l

y o u t e l l m e o f a n y o t h e r t h a t g i r d l e s t h e w o r l d w i t h i t s

f e l l o w s h i p a n d g a t h e r s a l l r a c e s a n d t h e m o s t a n c i e n t r e -

l i g i o n s , a s w e l l a s o u r o w n , i n t o i t s b r o t h e r h o o d ? W i l l y o u

t e l l m e o f a n y o t h e r t h a t i s a s o l d o r o l d e r ; m o r e b r i l l i a n t i n

i t s h i s t o r y ; m o r e h o n o r e d i n i t s c o n s t i t u e n c y ; m o r e p i c t u r -

e s q u e i n i t s t r a d i t i o n s ? T o - d a y i t l i e s i n t h e h a n d o f t h e

m o d e r n m a n l a r g e l y a n u n u s e d t o o l , c a p a b l e o f g r e a t a c h i e v e -

ments for God, for country, for mankind, but doing very

l i t t l e . F o r o n e , I b e l i e v e t h a t c i r c u m s t a n c e s m a y e a s i l y a r i s e

when the highest and most sacred of all freedoms being

threatened in this land, Free Masonry may be its most

p o w e r f u l d e f e n d e r , u n i f y i n g a l l m i n d s a n d c o m m a n d i n g o u r

b e s t c i t i z e n s h i p . "

L e t i t b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t w e a r e n o t t r y i n g t o a p o l o g i z e

or make a ny plea f or Free Masonry . No member is p er-

m i t t e d t o a s k a n y o u t s i d e r t o j o i n t h e o r d e r a n d n o m a n c a n

b e a d m i t t e d i f i n a s e c r e t b a l l o t a s i n g l e v o t e a p p e a r s a g a i n s t

h i m . I n o r d e r t o s h o w t h e b e n e f i c e n t c h a r a c t e r o f t h e o r d e r ,



v i i i I n t r o d u c t i o n

the following landmarks or uncha ngeable laws are quoted

f r o m t h e l i s t g i v e n b y D r . Mac ke y

" E v e r y c a n d i d a t e f o r i n i t i a t i o n m u s t b e a m a n , f r e e b o r n

a n d o f l a w f u l a g e ; h e m u s t b e l i e v e i n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f G o d

a s t h e G r e a t A r c h i t e c t o f t h e u n i v e r s e ; h e m u s t b e l i e v e i n a

r e s u r r e c t i o n t o a f u t u r e l i f e ; a b o o k o f t h e l a w o f G o d m u s t

c o n s t i t u t e a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e p a r t o f t h e f u r n i t u r e o f e v e r y

l o d g e ; a l l m e n i n t h e s i g h t o f G o d a r e e q u a l , a n d m e e t i n

t h e l o d g e o n o n e c o m m o n l e v e l . "

T h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f t h e o r d e r w a s s e t f o r t h b y C h a r l e s

W h i t l o c k M o o r e , o f M a s s a c h u s e t t s , i n 1 8 5 6 , a t t h e c e n t e n -

n i a l a n n i v e r s a r y o f S t . Andre w's Lodge, Bost on :

" A t t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e c r a f t a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t

of the pre sent Grand Lodge of England, in 171 7, we laid

a s i d e o u r o p e r a t i v e c h a r a c t e r , a n d w i t h i t a l l p r e t e n s i o n s t o

e x t r a o r d i n a r y s k i l l i n a r c h i t e c t u r a l s c i e n c e . We then beca me

a p u r e l y m o r a l a n d b e n e v o l e n t a s s o c i a t i o n , w h o s e g r e a t a i m

i s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c u l t i v a t i o n o f t h e m o r a l s e n t i m e n t , t h e

s o c i a l p r i n c i p l e , a n d t h e b e n e v o l e n t a f f e c t i o n s , a h i g h e r r e v e r -

ence for God, and a warmer love for man . New l a w s a n d

r e g u l a t i o n s , a d a p t e d t o t h e c h a n g e d c o n d i t i o n o f t h e i n s t i t u -

t i o n , w e r e t h e n m a d e , a n e n t i r e r e v o l u t i o n i n i t s g o v e r n m e n t a l

p o l i c y t o o k p l a c e , o r d e r a n d s y s t e m o b t a i n e d w h e r e n e i t h e r

h a d p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t e d , a n d E n g l a n d b e c a m e t h e g r e a t c e n t r a l

point of Masonry for the whole world .

" F r o m t h i s s o u r c e h a v e l o d g e s , g r a n d a n d s u b o r d i n a t e , a t

v a r i o u s t i m e s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , a n d s t i l l e x i s t a n d f l o u r i s h i n

F r a n c e a n d S w i t z e r l a n d ; i n a l l t h e G e r m a n s t a t e s s a v e A u s -

t r i a ( a n d t h e r e a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s a n d f o r s h o r t s e a s o n s ) ; a l l

up and down the classi c shores of the Rhine ; i n P r u s s i a ;

Holland, Belgium, Saxony, Han over, Sweden, Denmark,

R u s s i a a n d e v e n i n f a l l e n P o l a n d ; i n I t a l y a n d S p a i n ( u n d e r

c o v e r o f s e c r e c y ) ; i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f A s i a ; i n T u r k e y ; i n



I n t r o d u c t i o n i x

S y r i a ( a s a t A l e p p o , w h e r e a n E n g l i s h l o d g e w a s e s t a b l i s h e d

m o r e t h a n a c e n t u r y a g o ) ; i n a l l t h e E a s t I n d i a s e t t l e m e n t s ,

in Bengal, Bombay, Madras (in all of which lo dges are

numerous) ; in China, where there is a Provincial Grand

M a s t e r a n d s e v e r a l l o d g e s ; i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f A f r i c a , a s a t

t h e C a p e o f G o o d H o p e a n d a t S i e r r a L e o n e ; o n t h e G a m b i a

a n d o n t h e N i l e ; i n a l l t h e l a r g e r i s l a n d s o f t h e P a c i f i c a n d

I n d i a n o c e a n s , a s a t C e y l o n , S u m a t r a , S t . H e l e n a , M a u r i t i u s ,

Mada gasca r ; t h e S a n d w i c h g r o u p ; i n a l l t h e p r i n c i p a l s e t t l e -

m e n t s o f A u s t r a l i a , a s a t A d e l a i d e , M e l b o u r n e , P a r r a m a t t a ,

Sidne y, New Zealand ; i n G r e e c e , w h e r e t h e r e i s a g r a n d

l o d g e ; i n A l g e r i a , i n T u n i s , i n t h e e m p i r e o f M o r o c c o , a n d

w h e r e v e r e l s e i n t h e O l d W o r l d t h e g e n i u s o f c i v i l i z a t i o n h a s

o b t a i n e d a s t a n d p o i n t , o r C h r i s t i a n i t y h a s e r e c t e d t h e b a n n e r

o f t h e C r o s s .

" I n a l l t h e W e s t I n d i a I s l a n d s a n d i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f

Sou t h Am e r i c a , a s i n Pe r u , V e n e zu e l a , New G r a n a d a ,

G u i a n a , B r a z i l , C h i l e , e t c . , M a s o n r y i s p r o s p e r i n g a s n e v e r

b e f o r e . . . . I n M e x i c o , e v e n , r e s p e c t a b l e l o d g e s a r e m a i n -

t a i n e d , d e s p i t e t h e o p p o s i t i o n o f a b i g o t e d p r i e s t h o o d ; a n d

in all Britis h America, f rom Newfoundland, t hrough Nova

Scotia and the Can adas to the icy regions of t he North,

Masoni c lodges and Masonic brethren m ay be found, `t o

f e e d t h e h u n g r y , c l o t h e t h e n a k e d a n d b i n d u p t h e w o u n d s

o f t h e a f f l i c t e d . ' "

Ancien t Free Masonr y consis ts of the thre e degrees-

E n t e r e d A p p r e n t i c e , F e l l o w C r a f t a n d M a s t e r M a s o n . Upon

t h e s e a r e b a s e d t h e Y o r k r i t e a n d t h e S c o t t i s h r i t e . T h e

f o r m e r t a k e s i t s n a m e f r o m t h e c i t y o f Y o r k , i n t h e n o r t h

o f E n g l a n d , w h e r e t h e a n n u a l a n d g e n e r a l a s s e m b l i e s o f t h e

c r a f t w e r e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d i n A .D . 926 . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e

s y m b o l i c d e g r e e s , i t i n c l u d e s C a p i t u l a r , C r y pt i c a n d C h i v a l r i c

g r a d e s , c o n f e r r e d i n b o d i e s k n o w n r e s p e c t i v e l y a s t h e C h a p -



x I n t r o d u c t i o n

ter, Council and Commandery . The Chapter has four de-

gree s-Mark Mast er, Pa st Mast er, Most Excel len t Mast er

and the Royal Arch, together with an honorary order of

h i g h p r i e s t h o o d . T h e C o u n c i l h a s t w o d e g r e e s - Ro y a l

Mast er an d Select Mast er . T h e C o m m a n d e r y h a s t h r e e

o r d e r s -Kn ig h t o f t h e Red C r o s s , Kn ig h t T e m p l a r a n d

Knight o f Malt a .

F r e e M a s o n r y h a s b e e n t a r d y i n a d m i t t i n g t h e A f r i c a n r a c e

t o r e c o g n i t i o n . The first negroes made Free Masons were

P r i n c e H a l l a n d f o u r t e e n c o l o r e d c i t i z e n s o f B o s t o n . T h e

t r a v e l l i n g l o d g e o f a B r i t i s h r e g i m e n t i n 1775 c o n f e r r e d t h e

symbolic degrees upon them . En g l a n d g r a n t e d t h e m a

c h a r t e r i n 1 7 8 7, a n d t h e f i r s t M a s o n i c l o d g e , w i t h P r i n c e H a l l

a s M a s t e r , w a s i n s t i t u t e d . I n 1 7 9 7 a s e c o n d n e g r o l o d g e w a s

e s t a b l i s h e d i n P h i l a d e l p h i a a n d a t h i r d s o o n a f t e r i n P r o v i -

d e n c e . T h e s e t h r e e l o d g e s u n i t e d i n f o r m i n g a g r a n d l o d g e

i n 1 8 o 8 , w h i c h i n 1 8 2 7 d e c l a r e d i t s e l f i n d e p e n d e n t o f E n g -

l a n d . Our colored grand lodges now number over thirty .

T h e l e g a l i t y o f t h e s e M a s o n s i s i n d i s p u t a b l e , b u t a s m u c h

can hard ly be said o f the ne gro Royal Arch Masons, Co m-

m a n d e r y a n d S c o t t i s h r i t e . L i b e r i a , o n t h e w e s t c o a s t o f

A f r i c a , h a s h a d a l e g i t i m a t e g r a n d l o d g e f o r s i x t y y e a r s . I n

s o m e p a r t s o f G e r m a n y J e w s a r e n o t a d m i t t e d a s c a n d i d a t e s ,

n o r a r e t h e y r e c o g n i z e d a s s u c h i n d i v i d u a l l y . T h e s e i s o l a t e d

i n s t a n c e s o f r a c e p r e j u d i c e m u s t d i s a p p e a r w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s

o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d r e a l b r o t h e r h o o d .

I t h a s s e e m e d t o m e a n d m a n y o f t h e b r e t h r e n t h a t a c o l -

l e c t i o n o f i n c i d e n t s i l l u s t r a t i v e o f t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f F r e e

M a s o n r y w i l l b e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d i n s t r u c t i v e . I f i n d t h e s e

i n c i d e n t s s o n u m e r o u s t h a t a s e l e c t i o n i s d i f f i c u l t . I have

been careful to give only tho se that in my judgment are

a u t h e n t i c . Truth compels me to admit, however, that the

p r i n c i p a l s k e t c h w h i c h f o l l o w s , a l t h o u g h f o u n d e d u p o n f a c t



I n t r o d u c t i o n x i

( I w a s p r e s e n t i n t h e l o d g e w h e n J a r e d J . J e n n i n g s m a d e h i s

e n t r a n c e a s d e s c r i b e d , a n d h e t o l d m e h e w a s m a d e a M a s o n

among the Chippewa Indians), contains some imaginative

t o u c h e s , w h i c h I a m s u r e w i l l n o t b e f o u n d i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h

t h e r e a l s p i r i t o f F r e e M a s o n r y . E. S . E .

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N. J ., 1907 .



a n d B r i t i s h A m e r i c a . 210

CONTENTSI . Low Twel ve 1 7

( ( ( (I I . 2 9

( ( ( (I I I . 40

( ( ( (I V .

5 0( ( ( (V 6 2 -

f ( ( (

V I .7 3

VII . A f t e r T e n Y e a r s . 8 6

V I I I . C a m p i n g o n H i s T r a i l , 1 04

I X . A T y p i c a l L o d g e1 9X. T r i e d b y F i r e ,1 3 3

XI . A L i v e l y T i m e4 8

XI I . The Man Who Saved President Diaz 1 6 7

XIII . On th e Summ it of t he Rock y Moun tai ns-

F i r s t M a s o n i c L o d g e H e l d i n M o n t a n a 1 7 6XIV True t o His Oath-A Legend of the New

J e r s e y C o a s t8 0XV A S o l d i e r o f F o r t u n e9oXV I . T h e A b d u c t i o n o f W i l l i a m M o r g a n . . 196

XVI I . M a s o n i c G r a n d L o d g e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS" T h e f i r s t m o t i o n y o u m a k e t o d o t h a t , I ' l l s h o o t y o u

d e a d ! "r o n t i s p i e c e

" D o n ' t t r u s t a n y o f y o u r I n d i a n s c o u t s " .•

27

" I t w a s G e r o n i m o h i m s e l f "1" I t w a s a n i g h t o f t r a g e d y "9" I s h o u l d l i k e t o k n o w w h a t t h a t m e a n s 1 " .

•99

T h e P r e s i d e n t ' s R e b u k e21B e n M c C u l l o c h , t h e T e x a n R a n g e r , a n d B i s h o p J a n e s ,

o f t h e M . E . C h u r c h

" Y a n k , d o y o u s e e t h a t p i e c e o f w o o d s ? " .

I n d i r e e x t r e m i t y

A b a d f i x f o r P r e s i d e n t D i a z . .

" Y o u m u s t n o t t r y t o g o h o m e t o - n i g h t " .

T h e T r a i t o r .

. 139

. . 1 4 5

1 5 5

171

183

2 0 7 ,



LOW TWELVEI

JS H A L L n e v e r f o r g e t t h e v i s i t o r t h a t w e h a d a t o u r l o d g e

o n e e v e n i n g i n t h e e a r l y w i n t e r o f 1 8 8 5 . I s h o u l d s t a t e

that my name is Alfred B . C h i c h e s t e r , t h a t a t t h a t t i m e I

w a s a l i e u t e n a n t o f c a v a l r y , s t a t i o n e d i n t h e S o u t h w e s t , a n d

a f t e r t w o y e a r s ' a r d u o u s s e r v i c e w a s v i s i t i n g m y h o m e i n t h e

E a s t o n f u r l o u g h . H a v i n g b e e n a M a s o n o n l y a b r i e f w h i l e ,

I n e v e r f a i l e d t o a t t e n d t h e r e g u l a r a n d g e n e r a l l y t h e s p e c i a l

m e e t i n g s o f t h e l o d g e . S o m e t i m e s w e b e c o m e n e g l e c t f u l a s

w e g r o w o l d e r i n t h e o r d e r , b u t t h e f l u s h o f a n e w a n d b e a u t i -

f u l e x p e r i e n c e g a v e a p e c u l i a r z e s t t o t h e v i s i t s o n m y p a r t .

W e w e r e o n t h e t h i r d d e g r e e w h e n a c a r d w a s s e n t i n b y

t h e t y l e r a n n o u n c i n g t h a t J a r e d J . J e n n i n g s , c l a i m i n g t o b e

a M a s t e r M a s o n , a s k e d f o r a s e a t a m o n g h i s b r e t h r e n . Per -

h a p s I w a s m o r e a l e r t t h a n t h e o t h e r s , f o r i n l i s t e n i n g t o t h e

a n n o u n c e m e n t I n o t i c e d t h a t t h e o f f i c e r d i d n o t n a m e t h e

l o d g e f r o m w h i c h t h e s t r a n g e r h a i l e d . The Master fa iled

t o o b s e r v e t h e o m i s s i o n , a n d a p p o i n t e d t h e u s u a l c o m m i t t e e

t o g o o u t s i d e a n d e x a m i n e t h e a p p l i c a n t . I was not a member

o f t h e c o m m i t t e e w h i c h r e t u r n e d s o m e t i m e l a t e r w i t h t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e y h a d e x a m i n e d t h e b r o t h e r a n d f o u n d

him t o be a bright Mason . A g a i n , w h i l e g i v i n g h i s n a m e ,

t h e y o m i t t e d t h a t o f h i s l o d g e . The Maste r orde red hi s

a d m i s s i o n , a n d a m i n u t e a f t e r w a r d h e e n t e r e d .



1 8 Lo w T w e l v e

E v e r y o n e i n t h e l o d g e w a s s t r u c k b y h i s a p p e a r a n c e . I

remember the thought at once occurred to me that he was

t h e p i c t u r e o f W i l l i a m P e n n , t h e Q u a k e r f o u n d e r o f P h i l a -

d e l p h i a , a n d P r o p r i e t o r o f t h e S t a t e n a m e d i n h i s h o n o r .

H e w a s d r e s s e d i n t h e a t t i r e o f t h e F r i e n d s , h a d a h a n d s o m e ,

s m o o t h l y s h a v e n f a c e , w i t h l o n g a u b u r n h a i r c u r l i n g a b o u t

h i s s h o u l d e r s , a n d w a s s l i g h t l y i n c l i n e d t o c o r p u l e n c y . H i s

y e l l o w w a i s t c o a t w i t h i t s f l a p p i n g p o c k e t s d e s c e n d e d l o w i n

f r o n t , h i s b r o w n c o a t h a d s i m i l a r h u g e f l a p s , b u t t h e t r o u s e r s

w e r e o f m o d e r n c u t . U n l i k e F a t h e r P e n n , h o w e v e r , h e w o r e

a massive gold chain , to which a handsome Masonic med al

w a s p e n d e n t , a n d a f i n e d i a m o n d s p a r k l e d o n h i s r u f f l e d s h i r t

f r o n t . Evidently he was a man of com fortable means .

H i s b e h a v i o r a f t e r e n t e r i n g t h e l o d g e w a s a s r e m a r k a b l e

a s h i s a p p e a r a n c e . When facing the East he did not once

l o o k u p , b u t s t o o d w i t h h i s e y e s f i x e d o n t h e f l o o r a t h i s f e e t .

T h e n h e b e g a n w a l k i n g s l o w l y f o r w a r d , s t i l l g a z i n g d o w n -

ward . Every one c uriously watched him, wondering what

he meant .

S u d d e n l y , w h e n h e h a d r e a c h e d a c e r t a i n p o i n t , h e s t o p p e d

w i t h a n e x p r e s s i o n a s o f f e a r o n h i s f a c e , t h r e w u p h i s h a n d s ,

a n d l e a p e d b a c k w a r d a c o u p l e o f p a c e s , f o r a l l t h e w o r l d

l i k e a p e r s o n w h o h e a r s t h e w a r n i n g w h i r r o f a r a t t l e s n a k e

i n t h e p a t h i n f r o n t o f h i m . B u t i t w a s o b s e r v a b l e t h a t i n

making this singular movement, he did precisely what he

s h o u l d h a v e d o n e w i t h h i s h a n d s . H e w a s " a l l r i g h t . "

The Master invit ed him to a seat among the brethr en,

a n d c o u r t e o u s l y t h a n k i n g h i m w i t h a n i n c l i n a t i o n o f t h e h e a d ,

B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s l o o k e d a r o u n d , a n d s e e i n g a v a c a n t p l a c e

at my side bowed to me with a pleasing smile and sat

d o w n .

T h e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g a t t r a c t i v e t o m e i n a l l t h i s , a s w e l l

as in the singular appearance of the man, and I reached



Lo w T w e l v e 1 9

o u t m y h a n d . He shook it warmly, crossed his shapely

l e g s , f o l d e d h i s a r m s a n d f i x e d h i s a t t e n t i o n u p o n t h e M a s t e r .

S o m e t i m e l a t e r , t h e l o d g e w a s c a l l e d t o r e f r e s h m e n t a n d

o f f i c e r s a n d b r e t h r e n m i n g l e d o n t h e f l o o r . I may add at

this point fo r the benefit of those who are not Masons,

t h a t " r e f r e s h m e n t " i n a l o d g e m e a n s a t i m e w h e n a l l b u s i -

ness is suspended, generally while candidates are being

p r e p a r e d i n t h e a n t e r o o m f o r s o m e d e g r e e . I t c o r r e s p o n d s

t o r e c e s s i n s c h o o l , a n d d o e s n o t i m p l y t h a t a n y t h i n g i n t h e

n a t u r e o f f e a s t i n g o r e a t i n g i s g o i n g o n .

T h e o c c a s i o n g a v e a c h a n c e f o r t h e M a s t e r , w a r d e n s a n d

s u c h b r o t h e r s a s c h o s e t o g a t h e r a r o u n d t h e s t r a n g e r a n d

c h a t w i t h h i m . I w a s i n t h e l i t t l e k n o t . The Mast er was

t h e f i r s t t o s p e a k .

" B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s , w h a t l o d g e d o y o u h a i l f r o m ? "

H e s m i l e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y .

" D o n ' t f e e l a p p r e h e n s i v e w h e n I t e l l y o u t h a t m y l o d g e

h a s n e i t h e r n a m e n o r n u m b e r , n o r i s i t u n d e r t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n

o f a n y g r a n d l o d g e . "

W e a l l l o o k e d a s t o n i s h e d a n d s c a r e d . M o r e t h a n o n e s u s -

p e c t e d t h a t a f a l s e M a s o n h a d m a n a g e d t o o b t a i n a d m i s s i o n .

T h e M a s t e r s a i d r a t h e r s t e r n l y :

" B e g o o d e n o u g h t o e x p l a i n . "

"I was made a Mason among th e Chippewa Indians ; y o u r

c o m m i t t e e k n o w s w h e t h e r i t w a s r e a l o r n o t . "

"There can be no question about t h a t , " promptly spoke

o n e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e .

" I h a v e v i s i t e d f u l l y a s c o r e o f l o d g e s i n t h e W e s t a n d

E a s t a n d h a v e n e v e r f a i l e d o f a d m i s s i o n w h e r e v e r I a p p l i e d . "

"It is news to me that th ere are Masons amon g the In-

d i a n s , " r e m a r k e d t h e M a s t e r , v o i c i n g t h e s e n t i m e n t s o f t h e

r e s t o f u s .

"Why, my dear brother, there are hundreds of them . I



20 Lo w T w e l v e

c o u l d r e l a t e i n c i d e n t s t h a t w o u l d a m a z e y o u , i n w h i c h t h e

l i v e s o f w h i t e m e n h a v e b e e n s p a r e d t h r o u g h t h e f a c t t h a t

t h e I n d i a n s l e a r n e d t h e y w e r e F r e e M a s o n s . "

"Are Masons to be found am ong all the tribes?"

"By no means ; o n l y a m o n g t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d , s u c h a s i n

I n d i a n T e r r i t o r y . I h a v e m a d e t h e s i g n s w i t h o u t b e i n g r e c o g -

n i z e d i n s c o r e s o f i n s t a n c e s , a n d t h e n a g a i n , w h e n I h a d l i t t l e

hope of anything of the kind, help was given me . T h e r e

w e r e m a n y s u c h i n s t a n c e s d u r i n g t h e S i o u x o u t b r e a k i n M i n n e -

s o t a , i n 1 8 6 2 . I know of an American o f f i c e r who passed

e n t i r e l y t h r o u g h t h e l i n e o f h o s t i l e s a r m e d w i t h a M a s o n i c

p a s s g i v e n h i m b y o n e o f t h e c h i e f s , w h o k n e w o f h i s b e i n g

a m e m b e r o f t h e s a m e o r d e r w i t h h i m s e l f . "

"Do you have lodge buildings among the Chippe was?"

a s k e d t h e M a s t e r ."No ; w e a l w a y s m e e t o n t h e s u m m i t o f a h i g h h i l l , w i t h

r o w s o f s e n t i n e l s , c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o o u r t h r e e d e g r e e s . I t

h a p p e n s n o w a n d t h e n t h a t a c u r i o u s w a r r i o r t r i e s t o r e a c h t h e

l o d g e . He may succ eed in pass ing the Entered Apprentice

l i n e , b u t i s s u r e t o b e d i s c o v e r e d b y t h e F e l l o w C r a f t s e n -

t i n e l s . A n d , " a d d e d B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s , w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t

s m i l e , " h e n e v e r m a k e s a s e c o n d a t t e m p t t o t r e a d o n f o r -

bidden ground . "

"W h y n o t ?"

" F o r t h e r e a s o n t h a t h e i s i n v a r i a b l y p u t t o d e a t h . I hav e

s e e n i t d o n e . "

T h e s a m e t h o u g h t w a s i n t h e m i n d s o f u s a l l ; t h i s b r o t h e r

h a d p r o b a b l y a s s i s t e d i n t h e e x e q u i e s o f s u c h a n i n t r u d e r .

" H o w i s i t w i t h t h e A p a c h e s ? " I i n q u i r e d .

O u r v i s i t o r s h o o k h i s h e a d .

" I d o n ' t t h i n k y o u w i l l f i n d a n y M a s o n s t h e r e . Are yo u

s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h a t t r i b e , t h e m o s t t e r r i b l e i n o u r

c o u n t r y ? "



Lo w T w e l v e 21

" I e x p e c t s o o n t o r e t u r n t o m y p o s t i n t h e S o u t h w e s t a n d

t o h e l p i n f o r c i n g G e r o n i m o a n d s o m e o f t h e o t h e r s i n t o s u b -

j e c t i o n , a n d t o m a k e t h e m g o o d I n d i a n s . "

" I ' m a f r a i d y o u w i l l h a v e t o u s e G e n e r a l S h e r i d a n ' s p l a n ,

w h e n h e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e o n l y g o o d I n d i a n i s a d e a d o n e .

N o , m y b r o t h e r , i f y o u e v e r g e t i n t o h o t q u a r t e r s i n t h e

S o u t h w e s t , d o n ' t c o u n t o n a n y h e l p f r o m t h e o r d e r . "

A f t e r f u r t h e r c h a t t h e l o d g e w a s c a l l e d t o l a b o r . T h e

v i s i t o r r e m a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e r a i s i n g o f a f e l l o w c r a f t t o

t h e m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e . H e a n d I t a l k e d a s w e g a i n e d c h a n c e ,

and when the lodge broke up he invited me t o call upon

h i m a t t h e T r e m o n t H o t e l . I p r e s e n t e d m y s e l f o n t h e f o l l o w -

i n g e v e n i n g . He received me in his handsome apartments,

a n d c o n f i r m e d m y b e l i e f t h a t h e w a s i n g o o d c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

H e h a d e v e r y c o n v e n i e n c e a n d l u x u r y a t t h e c o m m a n d o f t h e

h o t e l , s m o k e d t h e f i n e s t c i g a r s a n d i n v i t e d m e t o d r i n k w i n e ,

t h o u g h h e d i d n o t i n d u l g e h i m s e l f . When I declined, he

a d d e d :

" I a m g l a d t o s e e i t ; i n t o x i c a n t s a r e a n u n m i x e d e v i l . I

w a s o n c e a h a r d d r i n k e r , b u t f o r t e n y e a r s h a v e n o t t a s t e d a

d r o p , a n d s h a l l n e v e r d o s o , u n l e s s i t b e i n d i r e n e c e s s i t y a n d

t o s a v e m y l i f e . "

N a t u r a l l y I w a s f u l l o f c u r i o s i t y c o n c e r n i n g t h i s r e m a r k -

a b l e m a n , b u t d i d n o t f e e l f r e e t o q u e s t i o n h i m . H e m u s t

h a v e k n o w n o f m y f e e l i n g , f o r i n t h e c o u r s e o f c o n v e r s a t i o n

h e t o l d m e c o n s i d e r a b l e a b o u t h i m s e l f .

" I h a v e a n I n d i a n n a m e , " s a i d h e , " w h i c h w a s g i v e n m e

b y t h e C h i p p e w a s . I t i s ` E l - t i n - w a , ' a n d m e a n s ` p a l e b r o t h e r . '

Of course, I never use it among my own people, though I

w a s s t r o n g l y t e m p t e d t o s e n d i t i n l a s t n i g h t t o t h e l o d g e ,

i n s t e a d o f t h a t w h i c h I r e c e i v e d f r o m m y p a r e n t s . "

" Y o u h a v e s p e n t a g o o d d e a l o f t i m e a m o n g t h e I n d i a n s ? "

"Yes ; I r a n a w a y f r o m h o m e w h e n I w a s a l a d . I had no



22 Lo w T w e l v e

i n t e n t i o n o f s t a y i n g a m o n g t h e r e d m e n , b u t w h e n o u r p a r t y

o f e m i g r a n t s w e r e c r o s s i n g t h e p l a i n s , w e w e r e a t t a c k e d o n e

d a r k n i g h t b y a l a r g e b a n d a n d e v e r y o n e m a s s a c r e d e x c e p t

myself . "

"How was it you escaped?"

"I don't know . I was wounded, and I suppose they

t h o u g h t m e d e a d w h e n I w a s f o u n d s t r e t c h e d s e n s e l e s s u n d e r

o n e o f t h e w a g o n s . A c h i e f t o o k a f a n c y t o m e a n d c a r r i e d

me away on his horse with him to his h ome, where I was

n u r s e d b a c k t o h e a l t h a n d s t r e n g t h . He was not a Chippewa,

f o r t h a t t r i b e l i v e s f a r t h e r t o t h e n o r t h , b u t h i s p e o p l e h a d

friendly relations with the Chippewas, and he turned me

o v e r t o t h e m . M y r e s o l v e w a s t o e s c a p e o n t h e f i r s t o p p o r -

t u n i t y , b u t t h a t w a s s o l o n g c o m i n g t h a t I g r e w t o l i k e m y

n e w p e o p l e a n d f i n a l l y s e t t l e d a m o n g t h e m . I became a good

h u n t e r , a n d p l e a s e d t h e m s o w e l l i n s e v e r a l w a r l i k e e x c u r s i o n s

a g a i n s t t h e S i o u x a n d o t h e r t r i b e s , t h a t t h e y m a d e m e a c h i e f

and christened me, as I have told you, with the name of

' E l - t i n - w a .' Soon after reaching my majority, I marrie d

t h e d a u g h t e r o f a n o t h e r c h i e f , a n d t w o c h i l d r e n , a b o y a n d a

g i r l , w e r e b o r n t o u s . "

" T h e n y o u w i l l r e t u r n t o t h e C h i p p e w a s ? "

H e m o u r n f u l l y s h o o k h i s h e a d .

"Nev e r ; w i f e a n d b o t h c h i l d r e n a r e d e a d ; t h e t i e s t h a t

bound me to them are broken forever . I f e e l n o y e a r n i n g

to live with them again, though the whole tribe are my

f r i e n d s . Being free to do as I chose, I came e astward,

e x p e c t i n g t o s p e n d t h e r e s t o f m y d a y s a m o n g m y o w n p e o p l e .

The years with the Chippewas, however, had wrought a

c h a n g e i n m y n a t u r e ; I s o o n t i r e d o f t h e r e s t r a i n t s o f c i v i l i z e d

l i f e . T h e o n l y r e l a t i v e s I h a d l e f t w e r e m y a g e d f a t h e r a n d a

s i s t e r . W i t h o u t t e l l i n g t h e m m y p u r p o s e , f o r I k n e w h o w i t

w o u l d s a d d e n t h e m , I q u i e t l y l e f t h o m e a n d a g a i n w e n t w e s t -



Lo w T w e l v e 23

w a r d . I spent some tim e among the Chippewas, but could

n o t s t a n d i t , a n d b e g a n a w a n d e r i n g l i f e w h i c h t o o k m e a m o n g

t h e S i o u x , t h e B l a c k f e e t a n d m a n y o f t h e t r i b e s f a r t h e r s o u t h .

I t w a s a n o t h e r i m p u l s e o f m y r e s t l e s s s t a t e o f m i n d t h a t

b r o u g h t m e e a s t w a r d a g a i n t o t h i s c i t y , w h e r e I h a d l e f t m y

f a t h e r a n d s i s t e r . A woeful disappo intment a waited me . "

I s y m p a t h e t i c a l l y i n q u i r e d a s t o w h a t h e r e f e r r e d .

" I w a s p r e p a r e d t o h e a r o f t h e d e a t h o f m y f a t h e r , f o r h e

w a s a n o l d m a n w h e n I l e f t h i m y e a r s b e f o r e , b u t i t n e v e r

entered my mind that my siste r could be dead . She was

b u r i e d t h r e e y e a r s a g o . "

" S u r e l y y o u h a v e d r u n k d e e p f r o m s o r r o w ' s c u p , " I s a i d ,

a s I n o t e d t h e m o i s t u r e i n h i s e y e a n d t h e s i g h t h a t f o l l o w e d

h i s w o r d s .

"Yes ; s o r r o w i s t h e l o t o f m a n . I h a v e n ' t a l i v i n g r e l a t i v e

i n t h e w i d e w o r l d ; my father and my sister died in good

c i r c u m s t a n c e s , s o t h a t I h a v e e n o u g h t o k e e p m e i n c o m f o r t

t h e r e s t o f m y d a y s , b u t I a m l i k e a s h i p a t s e a w i t h o u t a

rudder . "

I c o u l d t h i n k o f l i t t l e t o c o m f o r t h i m . The most that

I could do was to suggest that the best remedy in th is

world for grief is work . T h e m a n w h o k e e p s h i s b r a i n

and hands actively employed has no time for brooding

sorrow .

" T h e r e c a n b e n o q u e s t i o n o f t h e t r u t h o f t h a t , a n d I h a v e

t h o u g h t h a r d o v e r i t , b u t a m u n a b l e t o f i x u p o n a n y b u s i n e s s

t o w a r d w h i c h I d o n o t f e e l a d i s t a s t e . It would have been

f a r b e t t e r f o r m e i f m y r e l a t i v e s h a d n o t l e f t m e a p e n n y ,

t h o u g h t h e d i s c o v e r y o f a g o l d m i n e i n t h e S o u t h w e s t h a d

m a d e m e r i c h b e f o r e I c a m e E a s t t h e l a s t t i m e . "

I m a d e a w i l d v e n t u r e .

" W h y n o t g o w e s t w a r d w i t h m e a n d e n l i s t a s a s c o u t i n o u r

army? Your knowledge of the country and of Indian ways



24 Lo w T w e l v e

w o u l d b e o f v a s t h e l p , f o r w e h a v e a b i g j o b o n o u r h a n d s

i n t h e s u b j u g a t i o n o f t h e A p a c h e s . "

I w o u l d h a v e g i v e n m u c h t o k n o w h o w t h i s s t r a n g e p r o -

posal impressed him . H e w a s s i t t i n g b e s i d e t h e t a b l e i n

t h e m i d d l e o f t h e r o o m , h i s l e g s c r o s s e d , a s w a s h i s c u s t o m ,

a n d w i t h o n e e l b o w r e s t i n g o n t h e s u p p o r t . He flung away

t h e r e m n a n t o f a c i g a r , t o o k a n o t h e r f r o m t h e g o b l e t w h i c h

h e l d s e v e r a l , a n d l i t i t w i t h a m a t c h f r o m a s i l v e r c a s e w h i c h

h e c a r r i e d , i n s t e a d o f u s i n g t h o s e i n t h e s m a l l b o x b e s i d e t h e

c i g a r s . H e p u f f e d f o r a m i n u t e o r t w o , w i t h h i s e y e s f i x e d

n o t u p o n m e , b u t u p o n t h e u p p e r p a r t o f t h e c e i l i n g o n t h e

o p p o s i t e s i d e o f t h e r o o m . He continued smoking, while

I silently waited for him to speak . Instead of doing

so he slowly shook his head . He declin ed my p r o p o s a l

f o r r e a s o n s w h i c h h e d i d n o t c h o o s e t o g i v e . He abruptly

asked

"When do you return to your post?"

" I m u s t l e a v e n e x t w e e k , a l l o w i n g m y s e l f s i x o r e i g h t d a y s

t o r e a c h A r i z o n a . "

" I u n d e r s t o o d y o u t o s a y y o u h a v e t a k e n p a r t i n t h e c a m -

p a i g n i n t h e S o u t h w e s t . "

"I have spent two years in that section and found it

t h e h a r d e s t k i n d o f w o r k . "

"Then you know somethi ng of the Apaches?"

" I h a v e a s u s p i c i o n t h a t I d o . "

" T h e y a r e t h e m o s t t e r r i b l e t r i b e i n t h e c o u n t r y . I h a v e

t r a v e l l e d a m o n g t h e m f o r w e e k s a t a t i m e . They hav e been

u n j u s t l y u s e d b y o u r p e o p l e , b u t t h a t i s t h e f a c t w i t h a l l

I n d i a n s w i t h w h o m w e h a v e h a d t r o u b l e . B a c k o f e v e r y o u t -

b r e a k a n d m a s s a c r e a r e b r o k e n t r e a t i e s , s c o u n d r e l l y a g e n t s

and the lack of honor by our Government . There was no

t r o u b l e w i t h t h e W a r m S p r i n g I n d i a n s u n t i l 1 8 7 2 , w h e n t h e

Interior Department was persuaded into ordering them to




l e a v e t h e i r f e r t i l e g r o u n d s i n W a r m S p r i n g V a l l e y , w h e r e

t h e y w e r e c o n t e n t a n d h a p p y . T h e y w e r e f o r c i b l y s h i f t e d t o

t h e s t e r i l e r e g i o n a r o u n d F o r t T u l a r o s a . G e n e r a l H o w a r d

p r o t e s t e d , a n d h a d t h e m s e n t b a c k t o t h e i r o l d h o m e s . But

t h e c o v e t o u s w h i t e v i l l a i n s w o u l d n o t l e t t h e m a l o n e , a n d a

s t i l l g r e a t e r m i s t a k e w a s m a d e w h e n t h e y w e r e s e n t t o t h e

S a n C a r l o s R e s e r v a t i o n , f o r n o t o n l y w a s t h e w a t e r b r a c k i s h

a n d t h e s o i l w o r t h l e s s , b u t i t w a s t h e h o m e o f a t h o u s a n d

C h i r i c a h u a A p a c h e s , w h o w e r e t h e i m p l a c a b l e e n e m i e s o f t h e

W a r m S p r i n g b a n d , w h i c h h a r d l y n u m b e r e d t h r e e - f o u r t h s a s

m a n y . "

" G e r o n i m o i s t h e l e a d e r o f t h e W a r m S p r i n g I n d i a n s ? "

"Yes ; y o u w i l l h a v e a f r i g h t f u l t i m e b e f o r e y o u s u b d u e

h i m a n d p u t h i m w h e r e h e c a n d o n o f u r t h e r h a r m . I knew

h i s f a t h e r , M a n g u s , o n e o f t h e m o s t f i e n d i s h w r e t c h e s t h a t e v e r

l i v e d . He had no grievance against the white man, but

m a s s a c r e d t h r o u g h s h e e r l o v e o f d e v i l t r y . H e d i e d w i t h h i s

b o o t s o r m o c c a s i n s o n , a n d l e f t h i s s o n w e l l t r a i n e d i n t h e

w a y s o f t h e m e r c i l e s s p a r e n t . "

Noting how well my friend was info rmed regarding the

A p a c h e s , I a s k e d h i m s e v e r a l q u e s t i o n s w h i c h h a d p u z z l e d

u s o f f i c e r s i n t h e S o u t h w e s t .

" O n e o f t h e n a t i v e s t h a t w e h a v e e n l i s t e d a g a i n s t G e r o -

nimo is another chief named Chato . D o y o u k n o w h i m ? "

" V e r y w e l l ; h e i s a c o u s i n o f G e r o n i m o , a n d t h e t w o p r o -

f e s s t o b e i n v e t e r a t e e n e m i e s . C h a t o w a s t h e m i s c r e a n t w h o

murdere d the famil y of judge McComas at on e of the Gila

c r o s s i n g s ; then he turned good Indian and has given you

much help . "

" G e n e r a l M i l e s o n c e s a i d t o m e t h a t h e n e v e r d a r e d f u l l y

t o t r u s t C h a t o , t h o u g h h e h a s n o t b e e n a b l e t o b r i n g h o m e

a n y t r e a c h e r o u s a c t t o h i m . What do you think?"

Again my friend smoke d his cigar for a minute without



26 Lo w T w e l v e

s p e a k i n g , w h i l e h e g a z e d t h o u g h t f u l l y a t t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f

the room .

" I h a r d l y k n o w h o w t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n . There are

m i g h t y f e w I n d i a n s t h a t c a n b e t r u s t e d . I have met a few

n o b l e c h a r a c t e r s , b u t I c a n ' t n a m e a n A p a c h e w h o i s f i r e -

proof . I m a y b e d o i n g C h a t o i n j u s t i c e , b u t i t s e e m s t o m e

i m p o s s i b l e f o r a n I n d i a n w h o h a s b e e n a s d e v i l i s h a s h e t o

become thoroughly changed . Nothing excep t a conv ersion

t o C h r i s t i a n i t y w i l l d o t h a t . Y o u m u s t n ' t b e s u r p r i s e d i f

s o m e d a y y o u d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e r e i s a p e r f e c t u n d e r s t a n d i n g

between Geronimo and Chato, and th e Warm Spring leader

r e c e i v e s t h r o u g h s o m e m e a n s t i m e l y w a r n i n g o f a l l y o u r c a m -

p a i g n s a g a i n s t h i m . "

This statement made me uneasy . I t w a s n o t t h e f i r s t

t i m e I h a d h e a r d i t ; i t w a s s h a r e d b y m o r e t h a n o n e o f o u r

o f f i c e r s , a n d , a s I h a v e s a i d , t h a t s a g a c i o u s l e a d e r , G e n e r a l

M i l e s , w a s n o t f r e e f r o m d i s t r u s t . I r e c a l l e d t h a t I h a d b e e n

on several scouting expeditions with Chato when, had he

c h o s e n t o p l a y m e a n d m y f r i e n d s f a l s e , n o t o n e o f u s w o u l d

h a v e e s c a p e d a l i v e . I w e a k l y d i s s e n t e d f r o m t h e p e s s i m i s t i c

v i e w o f m y f r i e n d .

" I m a y b e i n e r r o r ; h e m a y b e h o n e s t , b u t s u p p o s e h e i s

w a i t i n g f o r a s t i l l b e t t e r c h a n c e t o s t r i k e y o u a b l o w ? I t

i s n o t u n l i k e l y t h a t h e i n t e n d s t o p l a y t h e r o l e o f a f r i e n d t o

t h e e n d , f o r h e i s a s h r e w d I n d i a n , a n d m a y c o n t e n t h i m s e l f

w i t h g e t t i n g w o r d t o G e r o n i m o w h e n t h e l a t t e r i s i n d a n g e r .

T h e o n l y c o u n s e l I h a v e t o g i v e y o u i s t o b e o n y o u r g u a r d

a n d d o n ' t t r u s t any o f y o u r I n d i a n s c o u t s o r r e c r u i t s f a r t h e r

t h a n y o u a r e f o r c e d t o t r u s t t h e m . "

W e c h a t t e d i n t h i s f a s h i o n u n t i l q u i t e l a t e . When I rose

t o b i d m y n e w f r i e n d g o o d - n i g h t , I a c c e p t e d h i s i n v i t a t i o n

t o s p e n d t h e f o l l o w i n g e v e n i n g w i t h h i m . E v i d e n t l y h e w a s

w e l l d i s p o s e d t o w a r d m e . B u t a s u r p r i s e g r e e t e d m e w h e n



"D o n ' t t r u s t a n y o f y o u r I n d i a n s c o u t s "




I c a l l e d a t t h e d e s k a n d s e n t m y n a m e t o h i s r o o m . H e h a d

l e f t t h a t a f t e r n o o n .

" W h e r e h a s h e g o n e ? " I a s k e d i n a s t o n i s h m e n t .

" H e l e f t n o w o r d ; h e s i m p l y p a i d h i s b i l l a n d w e n t t o t h e

r a i l w a y s t a t i o n . "

" I s t h e r e n o w o r d f o r m e ? "

T h e c l e r k s h o o k h i s h e a d .

L i t t l e d i d I d r e a m o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h E l - t i n - w a

a n d I w e r e n e x t t o m e e t .

I IG ERON IMO w a s o n t h e w a r p a t h a g a i n . H e h a d b e e n

h u n t e d s o p e r s i s t e n t l y t h a t h e s e e m e d t o b e l i e v e i t w o u l d

s o o n b e a l l u p w i t h h i m . H e c a m e b a c k t o h i s r e s e r v a t i o n ,

d e c l a r i n g h e w a s t i r e d o f b e i n g a n o u t l a w , a n d w o u l d g o o n

the warpath no more . There were few who did not receive

t h e s e p l e d g e s w i t h d i s t r u s t , f o r t h a t t e r r i b l e A p a c h e ' s b l o o d

t h i r s t w a s u n q u e n c h a b l e . N o m a t t e r i f h e r e m a i n e d p e a c e -

f u l f o r y e a r s , m a n y w o u l d d r a w t h e i r b r e a t h i n d r e a d . So

long as he lived and made h is home in the Southwest, no

- m a n , w o m a n o r c h i l d w a s s a f e f r o m h i s f u r y .

W h e n w e e k s a n d m o n t h s p a s s e d w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t h o s -

t i l e a c t o n h i s p a r t , t h e t i m i d b e g a n t o h o p e . During the

period named he was a mode l husband, father and agri-

c u l t u r i s t . D e s p i t e t h e s t e r i l i t y o f t h e s o i l , h e t o i l e d i n d u s t r i -

o u s l y , h e s m o k e d h i s p i p e , h e s m i l e d u p o n h i s c h i l d r e n a n d

t h e o n e t h a t h a p p e n e d t o b e h i s w i f e a t t h e t i m e - t h e o l d

f e l l o w h a s h a d s e v e n t e e n w i v e s a t l e a s t - a n d t a l k e d p l e a s -

a n t l y w i t h t h e a g e n t a n d o f f i c e r s w h o p a s s e d t h e t i m e o f

d a y w i t h h i m . H e e v e n s e e m e d t o f e e l a g e n u i n e f r i e n d s h i p

for the men in uniform that had harrassed him into sub-



3 0Lo w T w e l v e

m i s s i o n . A l l t h e s a m e , t h e m a j o r i t y o f u s w e r e c o n v i n c e d

t h a t , s o o n e r o r l a t e r , h e w o u l d r a i s e t h e m i s c h i e f a g a i n .

Sure eno ugh, one morning in May, 1885, Geronimo broke

f r o m t h e r e s e r v a t i o n , t a k i n g w i t h h i m t h i r t y - f o u r w a r r i o r s ,

e i g h t y o u t h s a n d n i n e t y - o n e w o m e n . W i t h t h e l e a s t p o s s i b l e

d e l a y w e w e r e i n t h e s a d d l e , a n d a f t e r t h e f i e r c e h o r d e , t h o u g h

t h e b e s t m o u n t e d o f u s k n e w i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o o v e r t a k e

t h e m . T h e o l d c h i e f w a s a w a r e t h a t p u r s u i t w o u l d b e i n s t a n t ,

a n d h i s p a r t y d i d n o t g o i n t o c a m p t i l l t h e y h a d r i d d e n o n e

h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y m i l e s . I t w a s c l e a r t h a t h e w a s a i m i n g

f o r t h e m o u n t a i n s , w h e r e e v e r y c a n o n , c a v e , s t r e a m , r a v i n e a n d

e v e n r o c k w e r e f a m i l i a r t o t h e b a n d . W e p r e s s e d o u r h o r s e s

t o t h e l i m i t , b u t d i d n o t o v e r t a k e t h e r e n e g a d e s , n o r g e t n e a r

e n o u g h e v e n t o e x c h a n g e s h o t s w i t h t h e m .

We had a dozen of the best Apache sco uts with us, and

p l u n g e d i n t o t h e m o u n t a i n s u n d e r t h e i r g u i d a n c e . D i r e c t e d

b y t h e m a t c h l e s s V i k k a , w h o , d e s p i t e h i s f i f t y - o d d y e a r s , w a s

a s a c t i v e , w i r y , p o w e r f u l a n d a l e r t a s e v e r , w e r a n G e r o n i m o

down and made him prisoner, though most of his party

got away . I t w a s t h e c h i e f w e w e r e a f t e r , a n d w e s h o u l d

r a t h e r h a v e c a u g h t h i m t h a n a l l t h e r e s t . He was sullen

a n d d e f i a n t , a n d w e f e l t p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p a t i e n t w i t h h i m .

" C o n f o u n d i t 1 " s a i d C a p t a i n S w a r t m o r e t o m e ; " i t w a s n ' t

managed right . "

" I a m n o t s u r e I u n d e r s t a n d y o u , c a p t a i n . "

" Y e s , y o u d o ; w h a t ' s t h e u s e o f p l a y i n g o f f l i k e t h a t ? W e

h a d i t a l l f i x e d . C a p t a i n C o o k o r I w a s t o f i r e o f f h i s r e -

v o l v e r a c c i d e n t a l l y w h e n t h e d u s k y d e v i l w a s i n t h e w a y .

W e w e r e r e a d y t o a p o l o g i z e a f t e r h e h a d s k i p p e d t o h i s h a p p y

h u n t i n g g r o u n d s , b u t t h e w h o l e t h i n g w a s o v e r , a n d h e h a d

s u r r e n d e r e d b e f o r e w e c a m e u p . "

" Y o u o u g h t t o h a v e l e t s o m e o f t h e r e s t o f u s i n t o y o u r

s e c r e t . "



LOW 1 weave3 1

" T h e r e s h o u l d n ' t h a v e b e e n a n y n e e d o f a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t ;

A m e r i c a e x p e c t s e v e r y m a n t o d o h i s d u t y . "

"The opportunity was mine . I'm sorry I didn't know

o f y o u r l i t t l e a r r a n g e m e n t , b u t n e x t t i m e I ' l l b e a r i t i n m i n d . "

I m a y r e m a r k p a r e n t h e t i c a l l y t h a t s u c h " a r r a n g e m e n t s "

a r e c a r r i e d o u t o f t e n e r t h a n m o s t f o l k s s u p p o s e . F o r i n -

s t a n c e , I h a p p e n t o k n o w o f a c e r t a i n t y t h a t i t w a s u n d e r s t o o d

when the party went out from Fort Yates, in December,

18 g o , t o a r r e s t S i t t i n g B u l l , e x c u s e w a s t o b e f o u n d f o r s h o o t -

i n g h i m w h i l e " r e s i s t i n g a r r e s t , " a n d i t w a s a c c o r d i n g l y s o

done .

B u t G e r o n i m o h a v i n g b e e n a c c e p t e d a s a p r i s o n e r , t h a t w a s

t h e e n d o f i t . W e h e l d h i m t h a t d a y a n d n i g h t , a n d t h e n ,

b y g r a c i o u s ! i f h e d i d n ' t b r e a k a w a y a g a i n . M o r e t h a n t h a t ,

h e c a m e b a c k s e v e r a l n i g h t s l a t e r w i t h s e v e r a l o f h i s b e s t ,

o r r a t h e r w o r s t , w a r r i o r s , e n t e r e d o u r c a m p , w e n t t o t h e t e n t

o f o n e o f t h e o f f i c e r s , s e i z e d h i s w i f e a n d w h i s p e r e d t o t h e

t e r r i f i e d c a p t i v e t h a t t h e o n l y w a y t o s a v e h e r l i f e w a s t o s h o w

h i m t h e t e n t i n w h i c h h i s w i f e w a s h e l d p r i s o n e r . T h e w o m a n

was glad enough to show him, whereupon he set her down,

r u s h e d t o t h e r i g h t t e n t , c a u g h t u p h i s w i f e a n d w a s o f f a g a i n

b e f o r e a n y o n e e x c e p t i n g t h e l a d y k n e w h e h a d b e e n i n c a m p .

M a t t e r s w e r e i n t h i s e x a s p e r a t i n g s t a t e w h e n t h a t m a g -

n i f i c e n t s o l d i e r ( a f t e r w a r d k i l l e d i n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s ) , C a p -

tain Henry W . L a w t o n , t o o k c h a r g e o f t h e i m m e d i a t e c a m -

p a i g n a g a i n s t G e r o n i m o . H e b e l i e v e d t h e c h i e f w o u l d r e t r e a t

t o h i s s t r o n g h o l d i n t h e S i e r r a M a d r e s , s o u t h o f t h e R i o

G r a n d e . W e h a d a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h t h e Me x i c a n

a u t h o r i t i e s b y w h i c h p e r m i s s i o n w a s g i v e n t o t h e s o l d i e r s o f

e a c h c o u n t r y t o r u n d o w n t h e h o s t i l e s o n e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e

l i n e . No matter where Ge ronimo went, we shou ld be after

h i m , a n d , m o r e o v e r , t h e f o r c e s o f o u r s i s t e r r e p u b l i c w o u l d

d o a l l t h e y c o u l d t o h e l p u s .



3 2Lo w T w e l v e

W e h a d n o m o r e t h a n f a i r l y s t a r t e d o n o u r p u r s u i t w h e n

news came that Geronim o and his band had not gone to

Mexico, but had broken up into sma ll parties, and were

r a i d i n g , l i k e s o m a n y j u n g l e t i g e r s , t h r o u g h S o u t h w e s t e r n

Arizo n a a n d No r t h w e s t e r n S o n o r a . Lawton t hereu pon

c h a n g e d h i s o r i g i n a l p l a n a n d t o o k u p t h e d i r e c t p u r s u i t .

Law t o n ' s c o m m a n d c o n s i s t e d o f t h i r t y - f i v e m e n o f

Troop B, my own Fourth Cavalry, twenty India n scouts,

twenty men of Company D, Eighth Infant ry, and two pack-

t r a i n s . We left Fort Huachuca ea rly in May, and pr essed

t h e p u r s u i t w i t h t h e u t m o s t v i g o r i n o u r p o w e r .

I t w a s a s h o t a s t h e h i n g e s o f H a d e s . Never h ave I e x-

p e r i e n c e d s u c h w e a t h e r a s w e s u f f e r e d d u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g

weeks . I n J u n e , f r e s h d e t a c h m e n t s o f i n f a n t r y a n d s c o u t s

t o o k t h e p l a c e s o f t h o s e t h a t w e r e w o r n o u t , a n d b e f o r e t h e

c l o s e o f t h e f o l l o w i n g m o n t h w e h a d t r a v e l l e d f o u r t e e n h u n -

d r e d m i l e s a n d t h e h o s t i l e s w e r e d r i v e n s o u t h e a s t o f O p o s u r a.

I f w e h a d n o r e s t o u r s e l v e s , n e i t h e r h a d t h e A p a c h e s . Thr ee

d i f f e r e n t t i m e s w e b u r s t i n t o t h e i r c a m p , a n d , a b a n d o n i n g

t h e i r a n i m a l s a n d m a t e r i a l , t h e y s c a t t e r e d l i k e q u a i l t o c o v e r

i n t h e m o u n t a i n s . A s L a w t o r r s a i d i n h i s a c c o u n t o f t h e

c a m p a i g n , " E v e r y d e v i c e k n o w n t o t h e I n d i a n w a s p r a c t i s e d

t o t h r o w m e o f f t h e t r a i l , b u t w i t h o u t a v a i l . M y t r a i l e r s w e r e

good, and it was soon proved that there was no spot the

e n e m y c o u l d r e a c h w h e r e s e c u r i t y w a s a s s u r e d . "

W h e n t h e c a v a l r y s u c c u m b e d , i n f a n t r y a n d I n d i a n s c o u t s

t o o k t h e i r p l a c e s . S o t e r r i f i c w e r e t h e h e a t a n d h a r d s h i p s

t h a t m a n y o f t h e s t r o n g e s t s o l d i e r s g a v e o u t , u n t i l o n l y f o u r -

t e e n o f t h e i n f a n t r y w e r e l e f t . When there was not a shoe

to the feet of any one, Lieutenant A . L . S m i t h w i t h h i s

c a v a l r y t o o k t h e i r w o r k u p o n t h e m s e l v e s . T h i s i n c r e d i b l e

p u r s u i t w a s d u e t o G e n e r a l M i l e s , w h o h a d t a k e n t h e p l a c e

o f G e n e r a l C r o o k , r e l i e v e d a t h i s o w n r e q u e s t .



Lo w T w e l v e 33

I t w a s t h e p r i v i l e g e o f s e v e r a l o f u s w h o h a d b e e n i n a t

t h e s t a r t t o s t i c k i t o u t t o t h e e n d . Among the iron-limbed

s c q u t s w e r e a n u m b e r a l s o w h o w i t h s t o o d t h e f r i g h t f u l h e a t

a n d p r i v a t i o n s . C h i e f o f t h o s e w a s V i k k a , t h a t w o n d e r f u l

A p a c h e , w i t h a n e y e l i k e t h e e a g l e ' s , m u s c l e s o f s t e e l a n d a n

e n d u r a n c e t h a t s e e m e d n o t t o k n o w t h e m e a n i n g o f f a t i g u e .

O f t e n I l o o k e d a t h i m a s h e r o d e h i s g a u n t p o n y , w i t h o u t

saddle, at my side and envied the salamander who seemed

t o r e v e l i n t h e f u r n a c e - l i k e t e m p e r a t u r e . F r e q u e n t l y t h e

f i n g e r s o f t h e m e n w e r e b l i s t e r e d b y c o n t a c t w i t h t h e i r o n

o f t h e i r w e a p o n s . M a n y t i m e s , w h e n w e h a d s t r u g g l e d o n t o

s o m e w e l l - k n o w n s p r i n g o r w a t e r h o l e , w e f o u n d i t e i t h e r d r y

o r s o b e f o u l e d b y t h e h o s t i l e s t h a t h a d b e e n a h e a d o f u s t h a t

o n e w o u l d h a v e d i e d o f t h i r s t b e f o r e t o u c h i n g t h e w a t e r .

O u r p o o r h o r s e s s u f f e r e d w i t h u s , a n d m o r e t h a n o n e s u c -

c u m b e d , n o t s o m u c h f r o m e x h a u s t i o n a s f r o m t h i r s t . T h e r e

w e r e t i m e s w h e n t h e m u d d i e s t p o o l t h a t c o u l d h o l d t h e f l u i d

i n s o l u t i o n w o u l d h a v e b e e n w e l c o m e d l i k e i c e d n e c t a r b y u s .

W e s e e m e d t o b e c o m e m e r e a u t o m a t a , m o v i n g w i t h o u t w i l l o f

o u r o w n , b u t h e l d t o t h e f e a r f u l w o r k b y a b l i n d , a i m l e s s ,

d o g g e d p e r s i s t e n c y t h a t n o t h i n g b u t d e a t h c o u l d s t o p .

The throbbing afternoon was well advanced when Vikka

a n d I r e i n e d u p o u r p o n i e s o n t h e e d g e o f a s t r e t c h o f s a n d

t h a t w a s h o t e n o u g h t o r o a s t e g g s . A m i l e o r m o r e t o t h e

w e s t w a r d l o o m e d a m o u n t a i n s p u r , w h o s e b l u e t i n t t h r o b b e d

i n t h e f l a m i n g s u n s h i n e , a s i f i t w e r e t h e p h a n t a s m a g o r a o f a

d i s o r d e r e d b r a i n . T h e A p a c h e t r a i l l e d i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n , a n d

we were morally sure that Geroni mo and his band were

g a t h e r e d t h e r e , u n l e s s , w i t h t h a t p e r s i s t e n c y w h i c h w a s a

f e a t u r e o f t h e i r r e t r e a t , t h e y h a d p r e s s e d t h r o u g h a n d w e r e

f l e e i n g i n t o t h e b r o k e n r e g i o n b e y o n d . We had pushed our

h o r s e s t o t h e l i m i t , a n d L i e u t e n a n t S m - i t h h a l t e d t h e c o m -

m a n d a m o n g t h e h i l l s n o t f a r t o t h e r e a r o f w h e r e m y d u s k y



34 Low T w e l v e

c o m p a n i o n a n d m y s e l f p a u s e d t o s c a n t h e w h i t e , b l i s t e r i n g

sand that stretched away to the mountain spur . By per-

m i s s i o n o f t h e o f f i c e r , V i k k a a n d I h a d r i d d e n t h i s c o m -

p a r a t i v e l y s h o r t d i s t a n c e , a n d i t r e s t e d w i t h u s w h e t h e r w e

should advance any farther toward the enemy .

T h i s e x p a n s e o f p l a i n w a s a b e d o f s a n d t h a t p u l s a t e d i n

t h e i n t o l e r a b l e s u n l i g h t . It was ridged and hummocky in

m a n y p l a c e s , h a v i n g b e e n t h u s t w i s t e d a n d f l i r t e d a b o u t b y t h e

g u s t s o f w i n d t h a t s o m e t i m e s p l a y e d p r a n k s w i t h t h e m o b i l e

s t u f f . N o t s o m u c h a s a s h r i v e l l e d c a c t u s o r y e l l o w s p e a r o f

grass showed ; i t w a s a s c e n e o f h o r r i b l e w a s t e a n d d e s o l a -

t i o n f r o m w h i c h o n e w o u l d s h r i n k a s f r o m t h e c o r e o f D e a t h

V a l l e y i t s e l f .

V i k k a c h e c k e d h i s p o n y d i r e c t l y a t m y s i d e , a n d w e p e e r e d

a c r o s s t h e f i e r y w a s t e a t t h e c o o l - l o o k i n g s p u r i n t h e d i s -

t a n c e . The sweat on our a nimals was baked dry . How wes t o o d i t i s b e y o n d m y c o m p r e h e n s i o n , b u t a m a n c a n b e c o m e

a c c u s t o m e d a l m o s t t o a n y t h i n g . A few month s previ ous, a

half hour's exposure to such merciless heat would have

t u m b l e d m e h e a d l o n g f r o m m y s a d d l e w i t h s u n s t r o k e ; b u t I

h a d r i d d e n f o r h o u r s t h r o u g h t h i s h e l l i s h t e m p e r a t u r e a n d

f e l t n o s p e c i a l i l l e f f e c t s . The point seemed to have been

r e a c h e d w h e r e t h e d u l l b o d y b e c o m e s i n u r e d a n d i n s e n s i b l e

t o t h a t w h i c h i n o r d i n a r y c i r c u m s t a n c e s w o u l d b e f a t a l .

I looked across at Vikka . H i s d i r t y , l u x u r i a n t h a i r

d a n g l e d a b o u t h i s s h o u l d e r s , b u t h e w a s w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t

h e a d c o v e r i n g . N o t s o m u c h a s a f e a t h e r s h o w e d a m o n g h i s

h o r s e - h a i r l i k e l o c k s . T h a t s k u l l m u s t h a v e w i t h s t o o d a h u n -

d r e d d e g r e e s , b u t i t m a t t e r e d n o t h i n g t o h i m . Not a drop

o f m o i s t u r e s h o w e d o n t h e r o u g h , b r o n z e d f e a t u r e s , t h o u g h

i f i t h a d a p p e a r e d i t p r o b a b l y w o u l d h a v e e v a p o r a t e d i n a

f l a s h . H e w a s s c a n t i l y c l o t h e d , b u t I p r e s u m e i t w o u l d h a v e

b e e n a l l t h e s a m e t o h i m i f o n e o f t h e d i r t y b l a n k e t s o f h i s



Lo w T w e l v e 35

t r i b e s w a t h e d h i s s h o u l d e r s . He wore leggins and strong

m o c c a s i n s , a n d , a s I h a v e s a i d , r o d e h i s p o n y w i t h o u t s a d d l e

a n d w i t h o n l y a h a l t e r . He needed nothing more . Manyt i m e s I h a d a d m i r e d t h e p h y s i q u e o f t h i s r e m a r k a b l e m a n .

He was over six feet tall and as symmetrical as a Greek

s t a t u e . H e w a s i m m e n s e l y p o w e r f u l , b u t , l i k e a l l h i s r a c e ,

showed only a moderate muscular development . H i s e n -

d u r a n c e w a s i n c r e d i b l e . I have known him to scout for

t h i r t y - s i x h o u r s i n s u c c e s s i o n , d u r i n g w h i c h h i s m e n t a l f a c -

u l t i e s w e r e k e y e d t o t h e h i g h e s t p o i n t , a n d y e t h e a p p e a r e d

a s b r i g h t a n d a l e r t a s i f j u s t r o u s e d f r o m s l e e p . G e n e r a l

C r o o k h a s s a i d t h a t a n y o n e o f t h e A p a c h e s w o u l d l o p e f o r

f i f t e e n h u n d r e d f e e t u p t h e s i d e o f a m o u n t a i n , a n d a t t h e

e n d y o u c o u l d n o t o b s e r v e t h e s l i g h t e s t i n c r e a s e o f r e s p i r a t i o n .

I have known Vikka to do it time and again, without the

f i r s t e v i d e n c e o f w h a t h e h a d p a s s e d t h r o u g h .

This remar kable Apache spok e English quite well, an d

s o m e t i m e s h e t o l d m e o f h i s p a s t l i f e . He had been one of

t h e m o s t i m p l a c a b l e m i s c r e a n t s t h a t s e r v e d u n d e r M a n g u s ,

a n d t h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n t h a t h e h a d c o m m i t t e d s h u d d e r i n g

d e e d s o f a t r o c i t y , b u t h e h a d a b i t t e r q u a r r e l w i t h G e r o n i m o ,

and hated him and all the hostiles with an unquenchable

h a t r e d .

Now and then when on th at last cam paign in the South-

w e s t , i n w h i c h w e r a n t h e A p a c h e l e a d e r t o e a r t h , I w o u l d

s u d d e n l y r e c a l l t h e w a r n i n g t h a t J a r e d J e n n i n g s s p o k e t o m e

w h e n s p e n d i n g t h e e v e n i n g w i t h h i m a t h i s h o t e l . "Nev e r

t r u s t a n y I n d i a n , " w a s i t s s u b s t a n c e , a n d h e a d d e d t h a t t h e

r a c e w e r e c a p a b l e o f p r e t e n d i n g f r i e n d s h i p f o r y e a r s , w i t h t h e

u n f a l t e r i n g p u r p o s e o f s e i z i n g t h e b e s t o p po r t u n i t y f o r b i t i n g

the hand that fed them .

S o i t w a s t h a t m o r e t h a n o n c e w h e n i n s p e c i a l p e r i l , I

a s k e d m y s e l f w h e t h e r i t w a s s a f e f u l l y t o t r u s t V i k k a . I t



36 Lo w T w e l v e

w o u l d s e e m t h a t h e h a d a l r e a d y s e r v e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s o

w e l l , a n d h a d s t r u c k s o m a n y b l o w s a g a i n s t h i s p e o p l e , t h a t ,

i f h e m e d i t a t e d t r e a c h e r y , h e c o u l d n e v e r a t o n e f o r t h e s e a c t s .

I r e c a l l e d t h a t o n m o r e t h a n o n e o c c a s i o n I h a d t r u s t e d h i m

s o f u l l y t h a t h e c o u l d h a v e b r o u g h t a b o u t m y d e a t h w i t h o u t

c a u s i n g a s h a d o w o f s u s p i c i o n . W h e n I t h o u g h t o f a l l t h i s ,

I c o m p r e s s e d m y l i p s a n d m u t t e r e d , " I w i l l n e v e r d o u b t h i m ;

h e h a s b e e n t e s t e d b y f i r e . "

A n d y e t t h e o l d , v a g u e , t o r m e n t i n g s u s p i c i o n w o u l d c o m e

t o m e , a n d i t c a m e a g a i n w h e n I g l a n c e d s i d e w a y s a t h i m ,

and saw his black eyes gazing off across the s himmerin g

plain toward the mountain spur . The misgiving was un-

r e a s o n a b l e , b u t i t w o u l d n o t d o w n . I s h u d d e r e d a s I r e f l e c t e d

that when he should bound back to barbarism and his own

n a t u r a l s e l f , h i s f i r s t v i c t i m m u s t b e m y s e l f . W h y d i d h e

wait so long before striking? Was he plann ing some huge

t r e a s o n t h a t w o u l d o v e r w h e l m u s a l l ?

H a r d l y h a d I a s k e d m y s e l f t h e q u e s t i o n w h e n I f l u n g i t

a s i d e , i m p a t i e n t t h a t I h a d a l l o w e d i t a m o m e n t a r y l o d g m e n t

in my thoughts . " H e i s t h e t y p e o f f a i t h f u l n e s s . I have

t r u s t e d h i m w i t h m y l i f e a n d w i l l d o s o a g a i n w h e n e v e r i t

i s n e c e s s a r y . "

I r a i s e d t h e g l a s s , w h i c h I c a r r i e d s l u n g a b o u t m y n e c k , a n d

l e v e l l e d i t a t t h e e l e v a t i o n s i n t h e d i s t a n c e . B r o u g h t o u t m o r e

c l e a r l y , I n o t e d t h e h i g h h i l l i n t h e f o r e g r o u n d , a n d t h e g r a y

r o c k s a n d s t u n t e d p i n e s . Another lower peak ro se to the

r i g h t a l i t t l e f a r t h e r b a c k , w h i l e t h e c r o w n o f a t h i r d s h o w e d

f a i n t l y b e y o n d . T h e i n t e n s e h e a t c a u s e d a t h r o b b i n g o f t h e

a i r , w h i c h m a d e t h e o b j e c t s f l i c k e r a n d d a n c e i n o n e ' s v i s i o n .

N a u g h t t h a t r e s e m b l e d a n i m a l l i f e w a s d i s c e r n e d . I t w a s

a s i n e r t a n d d e a d a s a t t h e m o r n o f c r e a t i o n .

Then I carefully studied the white, lumpy sand that

s t r e t c h e d b e t w e e n . N o t e v e n a r a t t l e s n a k e o r i n s e c t c o u l d b e



Lo w T w e l v e 37

s e e n w r i g g l i n g a t o u r f e e t . I l o w e r e d t h e g l a s s a n d o f f e r e d

i t t o V i k k a . He shook h is head . I n e v e r k n e w h i m t o u s e

s u c h h e l p , f o r h i s k e e n n e s s o f v i s i o n w a s m a r v e l l o u s .

" S e e ' P a c h e ? " h e a s k e d , i n h i s s e n t e n t i o u s f a s h i o n ."No ; I c a n ' t c a t c h - s i g h t o f h i d e o r h a i r o f t h e m , b u t n o

d o u b t t h e y a r e a m o n g t h e h i l l s a n d w a t c h i n g u s . "

" I s e e ' P a c h e ! " w a s h i s s t a r t l i n g r e m a r k .

"Where?" I demanded, whipping up the glass again . " I

k n o w y o u h a v e m i g h t y g o o d e y e s , V i k k a , b u t I o u g h t t o d o

a s w e l l a s y o u w i t h t h e t e l e s c o p e . "

" D o n ' t l o o k r i g h t p l a c e ; a i n ' t i n h i l l s - c l o s e r b y . "

I t w a s a n a s t o n i s h i n g d e c l a r a t i o n . I f t h e h o s t i l e s w e r e

n o t a m o n g t h e m o u n t a i n s , w h e r e c o u l d t h e y b e ? S u r e l y t h i s

p l a i n o f p u l s i n g s a n d c o u l d n o t h i d e t h e m w i t h o u t s o m u c h

a s a s h r u b a n d h a r d l y a b l a d e o f w i t h e r e d g r a s s . Low e r i n g

t h e g l a s s , I l o o k e d i n q u i r i n g l y a t m y c o m p a n i o n . The iron

counten ance was wrinkled with a smile, which showed his

e v e n w h i t e t e e t h . I s a w t h a t h e w a s n o t l o o k i n g a t t h e h i l l s ,

b u t a t t h e p l a i n a s h o r t w a y o u t . What did he see there?

W a s n o t t h i s a d i s p l a y o f t h e w a g g e r y w h i c h h e s h o w e d a t

r a r e i n t e r v a l s ? Was he not having a little amusement at

my expense?

B u t i t w a s n o t i m e f o r j e s t ; t h e s c o u t w a s i n e a r n e s t . Hec e r t a i n l y h a d d i s c o v e r e d s o m e t h i n g . W i t h o u t r a i s i n g a h a n d

t o p o i n t , a n d s p e a k i n g i n a l o w v o i c e , h e s a i d

" T h e ' P a c h e s a r e c l o s e ; t h e y h a v e l a i d a m b u s h . "

T h u s d i r e c t e d , I s t u d i e d t h e p l a i n w i t h o u t t h e a i d o f t h e

g l a s s . No more than a hundred yards away, I now note d a

s e r i e s o f h i l l o c k s . They numbered nearly a score . W h i l e

t h e y b o r e a g e n e r a l r e s e m b l a n c e t o o t h e r l u m p s v i s i b l e i n

e v e r y p a r t o f t h e p l a i n , t h e s e w e r e g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r m o r e

c o m p a c t l y . L e a d i n g o u t f r o m w h e r e w e h a d h a l t e d , t h e t r a i l

o f G e r o n i m o ' s b a n d p a s s e d w i t h i n a f e w r o d s , s o t h a t h a d



38 Lo w T w e l v e

o u r c o m m a n d k e p t t o t h e t r a c k s , w e m u s t h a v e r i d d e n i n f r o n t

o f t h e m .

E v e r y h i l l o c k o f f l a m i n g s a n d h i d t h e b o d y o f a n A p a c h e .

T h o s e t e r r i b l e m i s c r e a n t s w o u l d g r o v e l i n t h e f i e r y d i r t w i t h

e v e r y p a r t o f t h e b o d y c o v e r e d a n d o n l y t h e s e r p e n t l i k e e y e s

p e e r i n g o u t a n d f i x e d u p o n t h e w h i t e m e n . U n s u s p i c i o u s o f

a n y t h i n g o f t h e k i n d , n o t h i n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e n a t u r a l

t h a n f o r u s t o r i d e q u i e t l y p a s t . Then when our fac es were

t u r n e d a w a y , a j e t o f f i r e w o u l d s p o u t f r o m e a c h h u m m o c k ,

and half our saddles would be emptied . That very thing

h a s b e e n d o n e m o r e t h a n o n c e i n t h e I n d i a n c a m p a i g n i n g i n

t h e S o u t h w e s t .

B u t V i k k a p e n e t r a t e d t h e s u b t l e t r i c k . H a d h e f a i l e d t o

d o s o , h i s c a r e e r a n d m i n e w o u l d h a v e t e r m i n a t e d w i t h i n t h e

f o l l o w i n g f e w m i n u t e s . D i d I n e e d a n y f u r t h e r p r o o f o f h i s

f i d e l i t y ?

" Y o u a r e r i g h t , V i k k a , " I s a i d i n a l o w v o i c e . "I s ee

w h e r e t h e y a r e h i d i n g ; i t w o n ' t d o f o r u s t o g o a s t e p n e a r e r

t h e m . I think it best we should dash back, for we are

n i g h e n o u g h f o r t h e m t o p i c k u s o f f a s i t i s . "

It was then the dusky scout did a daring thing . Heb r o u g h t h i s r i f l e t o h i s s h o u l d e r , a n d t a k i n g q u i c k a i m , l e t f l y

a t t h e n e a r e s t h u m m o c k . A r a s p i n g s c r e e c h f o l l o w e d , s h o w -

i n g t h a t t h e d u s k y d e s p e r a d o c r o u c h i n g b e n e a t h w a s h i t h a r d .

A t t h e s a m e i n s t a n t , f r o m e v e r y o t h e r s a n d h e a p a f r o w s y

b u c k l e a p e d u p r i g h t , t h e g r a i n s s t r e a m i n g f r o m h i s d i r t y

c l o t h e s l i k e r a i n , w h i l e t h e i r w a r s h r i e k s c u t t h e a i r . Fr o m

e a c h h i d e o u s e x u d a t i o n i s s u e d a t o n g u e o f f l a m e a n d e v e r y

b u l l e t w a s a i m e d a t u s .

But there had been no pause on our part . H a r d l y h a d

Vikka pressed the trigger than he wheeled his pony and

d a s h e d o f f o n a d e a d r u n . I w a s n o t a s e c o n d b e h i n d i n d o i n g

t h e s a m e , a n d e a c h t h r e w h i m s e l f f o r w a r d o n h i s a n i m a l ,



Lo w T w e l v e 39

e l s e w e c o u l d h a r d l y h a v e e s c a p e d t h e s t o r m o f b u l l e t s t h a t

w h i s t l e d o v e r a n d a b o u t u s . H a d t h e y a i m e d a t o u r h o r s e s ,

w e m u s t h a v e b e e n d i s m o u n t e d , b u t b e f o r e t h e y c o u l d r e p a i r

their mistake we were beyond range . Glancing over my

s h o u l d e r , I s a w t h e f r o w s y f i g u r e s r u n n i n g f u l l s p e e d a f t e r u s ,

l o a d i n g a n d f i r i n g a s b e s t t h e y c o u l d , b u t o u r p o n i e s w e r e

a c c u s t o m e d t o s u d d e n d e m a n d s u p o n t h e i r e n e r g i e s , a n d t h e y

q u i c k l y c a r r i e d u s o u t o f d a n g e r . My secon d glance sh owed

t h e y w e r e l o p i n g t o w a r d t h e m o u n t a i n s p u r , w h e r e d o u b t l e s s

G e r o n i m o a n d h i s h o s t i l e s w e r e a w a i t i n g t h e r e s u l t o f t h e

a t t e m p t t o a m b u s c a d e u s . B u t t h e y h a d f a i l e d , a n d f e a r i n g

p u r s u i t , w e r e s p e e d i n g a c r o s s t h e p l a i n b e y o n d r e a c h o f t h e

a v e n g i n g c a v a l r y .

"I wish," said I, when we drew our animals down to a

walk, as we approached the co ver where Lieutena nt Smith

and the command had halte d for rest, "that all our men

c o u l d h a v e s t o p p e d w h e r e w e d i d . "

V i k k a l o o k e d a c r o s s a t m e i n a w a y t h a t s h o w e d h e d i d n o t

understand my meaning .

" I n s t e a d o f r i d i n g p a s t t h e h u m m o c k s o f s a n d , w e c o u l d

h a v e c h a r g e d a n d r o u t e d o u t t h e d e v i l s , p i c k i n g t h e m o f f a s

t h e y s h o w e d t h e m s e l v e s . "

T h e s c o u t s h o o k h i s h e a d .

"I knew where to aim ; r e s t o f s o l d i e r s w o u l d n o t ; s a n d

k e e p o f f t h e i r b u l l e t s ; ' P a c h e s s h o o t f i r s t . "

"That might be, but they would have been at disad van-

t a g e , a n d w e s h o u l d h a v e m a d e t h e t r i c k c o s t t h e m d e a r . "

T h e f e l l o w w a s n o t i m p r e s s e d b y m y i d e a . W h e n I c a m e

t o r e f l e c t u p o n i t , I s a w h e w a s r i g h t . I f , i n s t e a d o f r i d i n g

c a l m l y p a s t t h e p r o s t a t e f i g u r e s i n t h e s a n d , w e s h o u l d h a v e

g a l l o p e d s t r a i g h t a t t h e m , t h e y w o u l d h a v e b e e n t a k e n b y

s u r p r i s e , b u t s u c h f e l l o w s a r e n e v e r a t a l o s s w h a t t o d o .

B r i e f a s w a s t h e i n t e r v e n i n g d i s t a n c e , e v e r y m o t h e r ' s s o n



40 Lo w T w e l v e

o f t h e m w o u l d h a v e f i r e d b e f o r e w e c o u l d r e a c h t h e m , a n d

w i t h a p p a l l i n g r e s u l t s t o u s . E v e n i f w e h a d f i r s t e m p t i e d o u r

c a r b i n e s , i t w a s m o r e l i k e l y , a s V i k k a h a d s a i d , t h a t m o s t o f

o u r s h o t s w o u l d h a v e p r o v e d i n e f f e c t i v e , f o r t h e r e w a s e n o u g h

s a n d e n c l o s i n g e a c h o f t h e A p a c h e s t o s c r e e n t h e i r b o d i e s .

" V i k k a , " s a i d I a b r u p t l y , " s u p p o s e y o u b e c a m e a p r i s o n e r

of Geronimo, what would he do with you?"

A b r o a d g r i n l i t u p t h e b r o n z e d v i s a g e .

" V i k k a w i l l n o t b e p r i s o n e r . "

" Y o u c a n ' t b e s u r e o f t h a t ; t h a t c h i e f i s a f e a r f u l f i g h t e r

a n d y o u t a k e m a n y c h a n c e s ; s o m e d a y y o u m a y f a l l i n t o h i s

hands . "

"Vikka n e v e r b e p r i s o n e r , " r e p e a t e d m y c o m p a n i o n . The n

I u n d e r s t o o d h i s m e a n i n g . K n o w i n g t h e f e e l i n g o f t h e l e a d e r

o f t h e W a r m Sp r i n g I n d i a n s t o w a r d h i m , V i k k a w o u l d

s i m p l y t a k e h i s o w n l i f e w h e n h e s a w a l l h o p e w a s g o n e .

That thing has been done many a ti me in the Southwest

by white men, women and even by Indians themselv es .

I I I

TH E h a l t i n g p l a c e a m o n g t h e h i l l s o f f e r e d s u c h a d v a n t a g e s

t h a t L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h t u r n e d t h e m t o a c c o u n t . Men an d

a n i m a l s h a d b e e n p r e s s e d t o t h e l i m i t o f e n d u r a n c e , a n d n o n e

e v e r n e e d e d r e s t m o r e t h a n t h e y . The fleeing Apaches had

b e e n p u s h e d s o r e l e n t l e s s l y t h a t t h e y d i d n o t p a u s e t o c o n -

t a m i n a t e t h e s p r i n g , w h e r e w e s t o p p e d , d i s m o u n t e d , d r a n k

a n d f i l l e d o u r c a n t e e n s . T h e w a t e r n o t o n l y g a v e t h e p o n i e s

a l l t h e y c o u l d d r i n k , b u t n o u r i s h e d a s p e c i e s o f l u s h g r a s s ,

u p o n w h i c h t h e a n i m a l s f e d e a g e r l y . W e a t e , l o l l e d o n t h e

ground, smoked our pipes and the majority slept . Eve n



Lo w T w e l v e 41

V i k k a a n d I h a d s n a t c h e d b r i e f s l u m b e r b e f o r e r i d i n g o u t o n

o u r l i t t l e s c o u t .

When Lieutenant Smith had heard my repor t, he called

V i k k a , P e d r o , J i m a n d o t h e r s o f t h e b e s t s c o u t s a r o u n d h i m

f o r c o n s u l t a t i o n . C h a t o a t t h a t t i m e w a s n o t w i t h u s . Wecavalrymen were so few in number, and all so personally

i n t e r e s t e d i n e v e r y t h i n g , t h a t t h o s e w h o d i d n o t p r e f e r t o

s l e e p j o i n e d t h e g r o u p , o f w h i c h I w a s a m e m b e r .

W e w e r e o n t h e d i r e c t t r a i l o f G e r o n i m o a n d h i s b a n d ,

a n d w i t h s u c h s k i l f u l t r a c k e r s a s w e h a d w i t h u s , i t w a s

i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e h o s t i l e s t o t h r o w u s o f f t h e s c e n t . Weh a d b u t t o p r e s s o n a c r o s s t h e p l a i n i n t o t h e m o u n t a i n s p u r ,

w h e n w e s h o u l d b e u p o n t h e i r h e e l s .

A n d r i g h t t h e r e r o s e t h e p r o b l e m , a n d a m i g h t y s e r i o u s

o n e i t w a s , t o o . If we pushed over the sandy waste, the

f u g i t i v e s c o u l d n o t f a i l t o d i s c o v e r o u r p u r s u i t . They could

s c a t t e r a m o n g t h e r o c k s a n d f a s t n e s s e s , o r , w h a t s e e m e d m o r e

l i k e l y , s e t a s e r i e s o f t r a p s , w h i c h , w i t h a l l t h e s k i l l o f o u r

s c o u t s , i t w o u l d b e h a r d l y p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o a v o i d .

W h a t L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h s o u g h t t o l e a r n w a s t h e " l a y o f t h e

c o u n t r y " b e y o n d t h e m o u n t a i n s p u r . T h a t w a s r e a d i l y a s c e r -

tained from Vikka and others . T h e d e l i c a t e q u e s t i o n w a s

whether our scouts could reason out the destination of

G e r o n i m o - n o t h i s u l t i m a t e d e s t i n a t i o n , w h i c h p r o b a b l y t h e

wily devil did not kno w himself, but the point where he

w o u l d h a l t t h a t n i g h t , o r a t t h e f u r t h e s t , t h e f o l l o w i n g n i g h t .

T h e n , i n s t e a d o f k e e p i n g t o t h e t r a i l , w e s h o u l d t a k e a c i r c u i t -

o u s c o u r s e a n d r e a c h t h e s p o t a h e a d o f t h e h o s t i l e s , a n d w a i t

f o r t h e m ; o r , i f t h a t w a s n o t f e a s i b l e , w e c o u l d b e t h e r e i n

t i m e t o s u r p r i s e t h e m .

T h e a d v a n t a g e o f s u c h s t r a t e g y w a s a p p a r e n t . I t m u s t b e

o v e r w h e l m i n g l y i n o u r f a v o r , a n d w o u l d e n a b l e u s t o s t r i k e

t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e b l o w y e t d e l i v e r e d i n o u r p u r s u i t , c o v e r -



42 Low T w e l v e

i n g m a n y h u n d r e d m i l e s . T h e w h o l e t h i n g h i n g e d u p o n t h e

r i g h t s e l e c t i o n o f t h e d e s t i n a t i o n o f t h e h o s t i l e s . I f w e s h o u l d

m i s t a k e , o r t h e y s h o u l d d e t e c t o u r s c h e m e , w e s h o u l d b e m i l e s

o f f t h e r i g h t c o u r s e a n d m u s t l o s e s e v e r a l p r e c i o u s d a y s , w h e n

e v e r y h o u r w a s o f t h e l a s t i m p o r t a n c e .

B u t r i g h t t h e r e a n u n e x p e c t e d d i f f i c u l t y c o n f r o n t e d u s .

Vikka, Pedro and Jim agreed that Geronimo was heading

f o r t h e W o l f M o u n t a i n s , a r a n g e t w e n t y m i l e s t o t h e s o u t h .

I f h e s u c c e e d e d i n r e a c h i n g t h e m w i t h h i s w o m e n a n d c h i l -

d r e n , i t w o u l d p r o v e a n a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e t a s k t o r u n t h e m

t o e a r t h , t h o u g h e v e r y o n e o f u s w a s a s d e t e r m i n e d a s e v e r

t o d o s o . I t w o u l d b e a b i g t h i n g i f w e c o u l d h e a d t h e m o f f ,

o r , w h a t w o u l d b e e q u a l l y d e c i s i v e , s u r p r i s e t h e m a m o n g t h o s e

f a s t n e s s e s . T o d o s o i t w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r u s t o l e a v e t h e

t r a i l a n d r e a c h t h e W o l f M o u n t a i n s b y a r o u n d a b o u t c o u r s e ,

a n d t h i s c o u l d n o t b e u n d e r t a k e n u n t i l l a t e r i n t h e d a y , s i n c e

t h e s h e l t e r f u r n i s h e d b y o u r o w n r a n g e w o u l d s e r v e f o r o n l y

a s h o r t d i s t a n c e .

T h e d i f f i c u l t y t o w h i c h I a l l u d e w a s t h i s : A l l t h e s c o u t s ,

w i t h o n e e x c e p t i o n , b e l i e v e d t h a t G e r o n i m o w a s a l r e a d y o n

h i s w a y t o t h e p o i n t n a m e d . T h a t e x c e p t i o n w a s V i k k a , w h o

i n s i s t e d t h a t h e w o u l d s t a y w h e r e h e w a s , i n t h e h o p e o f

a m b u s c a d i n g t h e c a v a l r y , a n d h e w o u l d r e s u m e h i s f l i g h t o n

t h e m o r r o w , p r o b a b l y e a r l y i n t h e m o r n i n g . T h e r e f o r e , i f

w e i n t e n d e d t o s t r i k e a b l o w a t n i g h t , i t m u s t b e d o n e w i t h i n

a m i l e o r t w o o f o u r p r e s e n t c a m p . No argument could s hake

t h e c o n v i c t i o n o f V i k k a o n t h i s p o i n t .

L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h w a s p u z z l e d . H e r e w a s o n e m a n a g a i n s t

a d o z e n . T r u e , V i k k a h a d n o s u p e r i o r , b u t a m o n g t h e o t h e r s

w e r e s e v e r a l w h o w e r e h i s e q u a l , a n d i t w o u l d s e e m t h a t w h e n

t h e y u n i t e d , t h e i r l o g i c o u g h t t o o u t w e i g h t h a t o f a s i n g l e

man, be he never so cunnin g and wise . M o r e o v e r , a s i t

a p p e a r e d t o t h e r e s t o f u s , c o m m o n s e n s e w a s a g a i n s t V i k k a .



Lo w T w e l v e 43

T h e A p a c h e l e a d e r h a d b e e n t a u g h t l o n g b e f o r e t h a t t h e r e

w a s n o r e s t f o r h i s f e e t , a n d t h a t h i s o n l y s a f e t y l a y i n r a p i d

a n d c o n t i n u e d f l i g h t . W h a t r e a s o n , t h e n , w a s t h e r e f o r t h e

h o s t i l e s r e m a i n i n g n e a r o u r c a m p , w h e n t h e y r a n g r e a t r i s k

i n d o i n g s o ?

S m i t h t o o k m e a s i d e .

" L i e u t e n a n t , " s a i d h e , " I ' l l b e h a n g e d i f I k n o w w h a t ' s

b e s t t o d o . What do yo u think of things?"

"I am as much pu zzled as you . You know my faith in

V i k k a . He and I have been on more than one dangerous

s c o u t , a n d I h a v e n e v e r m e t h i s s u p e r i o r . H e s a v e d m y

l i f e t h i s a f t e r n o o n , a n d h a s n o t o n c e f a i l e d m e ; I f e e l l i k e

t y i n g t o h i m . "

" E v e n i n t h i s i n s t a n c e ? "

" I ' m n o t s u r e . I noticed that when you asked him his

r e a s o n s f o r b e l i e v i n g G e r o n i m o w o u l d s t a y w h e r e h e i s u n t i l

t o - m o r r o w h e r e f u s e d t o t e l l t h e m . "

" M o r e t h a n t h a t , h e a c t e d a s i f h e w e r e o f f e n d e d . I d o n ' t

s e e w h y h e s h o u l d b e u n r e a s o n a b l e , a s h e c e r t a i n l y i s i n t h i s

i n s t a n c e . "

I m a d e n o r e p l y t o t h i s , f o r , a s I h a v e s a i d , I w a s a s m u c h

m y s t i f i e d a s S m i t h h i m s e l f . We were standing apart from

t h e r e s t , a n d t h e l i e u t e n a n t l e a n e d h i s e l b o w o n t h e r o c k b e s i d e

h i m . H e t h o u g h t f u l l y s m o k e d h i s p i p e f o r a m i n u t e o r t w o ,

g a z i n g a t t h e g r o u n d i n a w a y I h a d o f t e n s e e n h i m d o w h e n

p o n d e r i n g s o m e q u e s t i o n . Suddenly h e looked up and asked

i n a w h i s p e r , j u s t l o u d e n o u g h f o r m e t o h e a r :

" L i e u t e n a n t , h a v e y o u e v e r f e l t a n y d i s t r u s t o f V i k k a ? "

The question fairly took me off my fe at . I t r i e d t o

p a r r y .

" H o w c a n I s u s p e c t h i m a f t e r t o - d a y a n d t h e o t h e r t i m e s

i n w h i c h h e h a s g i v e n p r o o f o f h i s l o y a l t y ? "

"You haven't answered my quest ion . "



44 Lo w T w e l v e

"Some time ago a man who had spent most of his life

a m o n g t h e I n d i a n s w a r n e d m e n e v e r t o t r u s t a n y o n e o f t h e m .

I a m a s h a m e d t o s a y I h a v e f e l t a t o u c h o f m i s g i v i n g c o n c e r n -

i n g V i k k a , a n d I f e l t i t t o - d a y , b u t i t w a s be f o r e h e s a v e d m y

l i f e . "

W i t h h i s k e e n e y e s s t i l l f i x e d o n m y f a c e , S m i t h a d d e d :

" D o y o u b e l i e v e h e i s h o n e s t i n s a y i n g G e r o n i m o w i l l s t a y

w h e r e h e i s u n t i l t o - m o r r o w ? "

" I d o . "

" S o d o I , a n d I s h a l l a c t u p o n t h a t v i e w . W e ' l l f o l l o w t h e

r i d g e t o t h e n o r t h , k e e p i n g i t b e t w e e n u s a n d t h e h o s t i l e s ,

a n d t h e n e n t e r t h e m o u n t a i n s a b o v e w h e r e t h e o l d d e v i l w i l l

b e l o o k i n g f o r u s . W e s h a l l h a v e a m o o n t o - n i g h t , b u t t h e r e

w i l l b e p l e n t y o f c l o u d s . "

"What of rain?"

T h e l i e u t e n a n t l o o k e d a b o u t a n d u p i n t o t h e s k y . T h e r e

h a d b e e n d e l u g e s o f d i s h w a t e r f i v e n i g h t s o u t o f s e v e n f o r

the last month . This was well enough in its way, for

we were able to keep our cant eens filled, but it was

anything but comfortable for us . We kindled no fires,

f o r i t w a s t o o d a n g e r o u s , a n d d e s p i t e t h e t e r r i f i c h e a t o f t h e

d a y , t h e n i g h t s w e r e o f t e n c h i l l y . I t h a d n o t r a i n e d f o r

forty-eight hours , and probably a season of drought was

o n u s .

" I d o n ' t t h i n k w e s h a l l h a v e r a i n . T h i s p a r t o f t h e w o r l d

l o o k s a s i f t h e r e h a d n ' t b e e n a n y d o w n f a l l f o r a m o n t h . Wes h a l l b e a b l e t o s e t o u t w i t h o u r c a n t e e n s f u l l , w h i l e e v e r y

m a n a n d h o r s e a t t h e s t a r t w i l l b e a b a r r e l h i m s e l f . I s a y ,

lieutenant, you and Vikka have been chums ever since we

l e f t t h e f o r t . "

" I a d m i t t h a t I h a v e a f o n d n e s s f o r h i m a n d h e s e e m s t o

l i k e m e . "

"Well, one word ; k e e p a s p e c i a l e y e o n h i m . You will



Lo w T w e l v e4 5

h a v e a b e t t e r c h a n c e t h a n a n y o n e e l s e ; he may have been

p l a y i n g f o r t h e o p e n i n g t h a t i s c o m i n g t o - n i g h t . At th e

f i r s t p r o o f o f t r e a c h e r y o n h i s p a r t" I u n d e r s t a n d , " I i n t e r r u p t e d . " I ' l l d o i t . "

T h e r e s t w h i c h w e g a i n e d a m o n g t h e s e h i l l s d i d a w o r l d o f

g o o d . W e h a d h a l t e d a b o u t n o o n , a n d i t w a s f i v e o r s i x

h o u r s l a t e r w h e n w e r o d e s l o w l y t o t h e n o r t h , w i t h t h e r i d g e

b e t w e e n u s a n d t h e s p u r a m o n g w h i c h w e b e l i e v e d t h e h o s -

t i l e s w e r e w a t c h i n g f o r o u r c o m i n g . O u r I n d i a n s c o u t s k e p t

w e l l i n a d v a n c e a n d c o u l d b e c o u n t e d u p o n t o g i v e t i m e l y

warning . I t w a s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e A p a c h e s h a d s o m e o f t h e i r

o w n s c o u t s o u t , a n d t h e u t m o s t c a u t i o n w a s n e c e s s a r y o n o u r

p a r t t o e l u d e d e t e c t i o n . I n t h e l a t t e r c a s e w e w e r e s u r e t o

have our trouble for naught, with the prospect that the

cunning enemy would turn the tables upon us .

N i g h t h a d a l r e a d y c l o s e d i n w h e n w e r e a c h e d a p o i n t s o m e

t h r e e m i l e s a w a y , w h e r e i t w a s o u r p l a n t o t u r n t o t h e w e s t -

w a r d , w i t h a v i e w o f g e t t i n g a m o n g t h e h i l l s , i n w h i c h w e

f i g u r e d t h a t G e r o n i m o a n d h i s b a n d w e r e o n t h e a l e r t a g a i n s t

s u r p r i s e . B y t h i s t i m e i t w a s c e r t a i n w e s h o u l d h a v e n o r a i n .

The night proved what Lieutenant Smith had antici pated .

The sky containe d many tumbling clouds slowly moving

a c r o s s , a n d s h o w i n g t h e t w i n k l i n g s t a r s i n t h e c l e a r s p a c e s .

The moon was nearly full, but would not rise until well

t o w a r d m i d n i g h t , o r " l o w t w e l v e . " T h i s w a s i n o u r f a v o r ,

f o r w e c o u n t e d u p o n t h e a b s e n c e o f c l e a r l i g h t t o s c r e e n o u r

advance .

A s b e f o r e , t h e s c o u t s h e l d w e l l i n f r o n t , w h i l e w e w i t h

o u r h o r s e s o n a w a l k m o v e d a s s i l e n t l y a s p o s s i b l e . Debouc h-

i n g f r o m t h e r u g g e d r e g i o n , w e e n t e r e d u p o n t h e p l a i n , w h e r e

t h e p o n i e s ' h o o f s s a n k i n t o t h e s p o n g y s a n d w i t h t h e f a i n t e s t

p o s s i b l e n o i s e . Among the twenty-odd cavalrymen hardly a

word was spoken . A l l w e r e l i s t e n i n g a n d p e e r i n g i n t o t h e



46 Low T w e l v e

g l o o m a s i t p a r t e d t o m a k e r o o m f o r u s . We hardly expe cted

t o s e e a n y t h i n g w r o n g , b u t t h e f a i n t b i r d - l i k e c a l l o f o n e o r

m o r e o f t h e s c o u t s w a s l i k e l y t o p i e r c e t h e s t i l l n e s s a t a n y

m o m e n t . I k e p t p r e t t y c l o s e t o t h e s i d e o f m y s u p e r i o r o f f i c e r ,

w h o s e s e n s e s w e r e o n t h e a l e r t . H e h a d p r o v e d h i s i n t r e p i d -

i t y a s w e l l a s h i s c o o l n e s s i n c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s , a n d t h o u g h

I h a d g o n e o u t o n m o r e p e r s o n a l s c o u t s t h a n h e , I r e l i e d u p o n

h i s j u d g m e n t a t a l l t i m e s . N a t u r e a n d e d u c a t i o n h a d g i v e n

h i m a w e a l t h o f m e n t a l r e s o u r c e s t h a t a l w a y s s t o o d h i m i n

g o o d s t e a d .

Suddenly through the soft hush came the soft tre molo

w h i c h w e w e r e e x p e c t i n g . I t w a s t h e s i g n a l f r o m t h e s c o u t s

f o r u s t o h a l t . O u r h o r s e s s e e m e d t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e w a r n i n g ,

f o r m o s t o f t h e m p a u s e d w i t h o u t t h e g e n t l e p r e s s u r e o f t h e

r e i n . S t i l l n o o n e s p o k e . We were waiting for the second

s i g n a l , w h i c h n e v e r f a i l e d t o b e s e n t a f t e r a p r o p e r i n t e r v a l .

T h e f i r s t m i g h t m i s c a r r y , a n d i t w o u l d n o t d o t o r u n t h e r i s k

o f a t h i n g l i k e t h a t .

T h e i n t e r v a l w a s n o m o r e t h a n t w o o r t h r e e m i n u t e s , w h e n

t h e c a l l r e a c h e d u s a g a i n . W e k n e w i t w o u l d n o t b e r e p e a t e d ,

f o r i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t h a t b o t h s i g n a l s

s h o u l d f a i l . T h e o r d e r s t h u s f a r w e r e f o r u s t o h a l t a n d

w a i t . I f t h e c r i s i s w a s s u c h t h a t w e s h o u l d f a l l b a c k , t h e

s i g n a l f o r t h a t w o u l d f o l l o w . I t d i d n o t , a n d w e s a t s i l e n t

i n o u r s a d d l e s , p e e r i n g f i x e d l y i n t o t h e g l o o m , w h e r e w e

e x p e c t e d o u r d u s k y f r i e n d s t o s h o w t h e m s e l v e s .

I n s t e a d o f c o m i n g f r o m t h a t d i r e c t i o n , t h e s h a d o w y f o r m s

t o o k s h a p e t o o u r l e f t . F i r s t t h e r e w a s o n e , t h e n t w o l o o m e d

i n t o s i g h t , a n d t h e n t h e o t h e r s a p p e a r e d . The whole parry

h a d b e e n s e n t o u t , a n d w e r e n o w a m o n g u s a g a i n , V i k k a b e i n g

t h e f i r s t t h a t w a s r e c o g n i z e d .

The report showed that the sagacious fellow had been

r i g h t i n h i s s u r m i s e . G e r o n i m o a n d h i s b a n d h a d b e e n



Lo w T w e l v e 47

l o c a t e d a b o u t a f o u r t h o f a m i l e a w a y a m o n g t h e h i l l s , a n d

h a d g o n e i n t o c a m p i n a s m a l l b a s i n - l i k e v a l l e y , w h e r e t h e r e

were water and grass . The disposition of the men and

women showed that the hostile s were ready and probably

e x p e c t i n g a n a t t a c k . I f t h e c a v a l r y f o l l o w e d t h e m o s t o b v i -

ous course among the mountains, they must pass near the

d e p r e s s i o n , i n w h i c h t h e A p a c h e s w e r e a w a i t i n g t h e m . Could

t h e l a t t e r e f f e c t u a l l y c o n c e a l t h e m s e l v e s , t h e a m b u s h m u s t

p r o v e a s d i s a s t r o u s a s t h a t i n t h e o p e n p l a i n w o u l d h a v e b e e n

t o m e b u t f o r t h e t i m e l y w a r n i n g o f m y c o m p a n i o n .

Never was more subtle cunning and patience matched

a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r t h a n i n t h e p u r s u i t a n d f l i g h t o f G e r o n i m o

and his band that had broken away from the reservation .

S o m e o f t h e e x p l o i t s o n b o t h s i d e s w e r e s o i n c r e d i b l e t h a t

t h e y w o u l d n o t b e b e l i e v e d i f t o l d . T r u t h f o r c e s o n e t o s a y

t h a t t h e r e n e v e r w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e s l i g h t e s t c h a n c e o f s u c -

c e s s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s c a v a l r y b u t f o r t h e h e l p

g i v e n b y t h e n a t i v e s c o u t s . M a t c h e d a g a i n s t t h e i r o w n r a c e ,

it was simply "Greek meeting Greek . " O n e w a s a s m u c h

a n a d e p t i n w o o d c r a f t a s t h e o t h e r . Sometimes our men

f a i l e d b e c a u s e t h e o t h e r s w e r e t h e w i s e r i n c e r t a i n c o n t i n -

g e n c i e s . A g a i n , i t w a s t h e o t h e r w a y . A l l t h i s b a c k e d u p

b y a n i n d o m i t a b l e , r e m o r s e l e s s p u r s u i t , s u c h a s h a d n e v e r be e n

s e e n b e f o r e , f i x e d t h e e n d f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g .

I t i s h a r d t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a r v e l l o u s s k i l l w i t h w h i c h

s e v e r a l o f o u r s c o u t s h a d d i s c o v e r e d t h e A p a c h e c a m p w i t h -

o u t b e i n g o b s e r v e d i n t u r n b y t h e s e n t i n e l s w h o w e r e o n t h e

watch . Lieutenan t Smith frank ly told Vikka an d the two

c o m p a n i o n s , P e d r o a n d J i m , w h o h a d m a d e t h i s d a r i n g v e n -

t u r e , t h a t s u c c e s s o n t h e i r p a r t - t h a t i s , w i t h o u t b e i n g d e -

t e c t e d i n t u r n - w a s o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e

t r i o s p o k e w i t h s u c h q u i e t a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e l i e u t e n a n t w a s

c o m p e l l e d t o b e l i e v e t h e m .



48 Lo w T w e l v e

T h u s f a r e v e r y t h i n g h a d g o n e a s w e l l a s w e c o u l d h o p e .

W e h a d l o c a t e d t h e c a m p o f t h e h o s t i l e s w i t h o u t r e v e a l i n g

o u r s e l v e s . All now depend ed upon the manne r in which we

c a r r i e d o u t t h e r e m a i n i n g p a r t o f t h e m o m e n t o u s p r o g r a m m e .

W i t h t h e c a v a l r y a n d s c o u t s - t h e l a t t e r o f c o u r s e b e i n g o n

f o o t , w e h a v i n g t a k e n t h e i r p o n i e s i n c h a r g e - g r o u p e d i r r e g -

u l a r l y a r o u n d , w e h e l d a c o u n c i l o f w a r , i n w h i c h a l l f e l t a

f r e e d o m i n e x p r e s s i n g h i s o p i n i o n n o t o f t e n s e e n i n a m i l i t a r y

c o m p a n y .

T h e s i t u a t i o n m a y b e s u m m e d u p t h u s : T h e A p a c h e s

whom we had been chasing for weeks were known to be

c a m p e d h a r d l y a f o u r t h o f a m i l e a w a y , i n a b a s i n a m o n g t h e

r u g g e d f a s t n e s s e s o f t h e m o u n t a i n s p u r . They would rem ain

t h e r e u n t i l d a w n , i n t h e h o p e o f t a k i n g u s a t a v a s t d i s a d -

v a n t a g e . I f n o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d o c c u r r e d , t h e y w o u l d r e s u m e

t h e i r f l i g h t a t t h e e a r l i e s t s t r e a k i n g o f d a y l i g h t . T h e i r s c o u t s

were not only watching the path which we were likely to

f o l l o w , b u t , a s a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e , w e r e g u a r d i n g t h e i r c a m p

f r o m e v e r y s i d e .

Matters being thus, cou ld we steal upon them from a n

u n e x p e c t e d d i r e c t i o n , b u r s t i n g l i k e a c y c l o n e i n t o t h e i r c a m p

a n d t a k i n g p r i s o n e r s o r w i p i n g o u t t h e w h o l e b a n d ? Howe a g e r l y e v e r y o n e o f u s h o p e d t h a t s u c h m i g h t b e t h e i s s u e 1

It would mark the end of thi s awful campaigning and our

r e t u r n t o c i v i l i z a t i o n .

A l l t h e s c o u t s a g r e e d w i t h V i k k a t h a t t h e c h a n c e o f s u c -

c e s s w a s g o o d e n o u g h t o j u s t i f y t h e a t t e m p t . W e s h o u l d

c e r t a i n l y a c c o m p l i s h s o m e t h i n g , e v e n i f t h e b u c k s t o o k t h e

a l a r m b e f o r e w e c o u l d r u s h t h e i r c a m p . Lieute nant Smith

d e c i d e d t o a t t a c k .

T h a t b e i n g s o , t h e p r e c i s e c o u r s e t o b e f o l l o w e d h a d y e t t o

b e s e t t l e d . I t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o l e a v e o u r a n i m a l s a t t h e f o o t

o f t h e h i l l s , w h e r e s o m e t h i n g l i k e s h e l t e r c o u l d b e s e c u r e d .



Lo w T w e l v e 49

Three men were to remain to look after them, while the

o t h e r s s t o l e t o w a r d t h e c a m p o f t h e r e d s k i n s .

I t s h o u l d b e s a i d , f u r t h e r , t h a t t h e e x p e c t a t i o n w a s t o

m a k e t h e a t t a c k j u s t b e f o r e d a y b r e a k . T h a t i s t h e f a v o r i t e

h o u r w i t h I n d i a n s t h e m s e l v e s , f o r i t m a r k s t h e l o w e s t e b b o f

o n e ' s v i t a l i t y a n d a l e r t n e s s . D e s p i t e t h e v i g i l a n c e o f t h e

s e n t i n e l s , t h r o w n o u t o n e v e r y s i d e b y t h e h o s t i l e s , s o m e o f

t h e l a t t e r w o u l d b e a s l e e p . I n c r e d i b l e a s w a s t h e i r e n d u r a n c e ,

i t h a d n o n e t h e l e s s i t s l i m i t s s e t . True, they would wake

w i t h t h e s u d d e n n e s s o f s h e - w o l v e s , b u t b y t h a t t i m e w e h o p e d

t o b e a m o n g t h e m , a t t e n d i n g t o " b u s i n e s s . "

The plan of approach havi ng been agreed upon, Vikka,

P e d r o a n d J i m m o v e d f o r w a r d a g a i n , w i t h u s t r o o p e r s f o l -

l o w i n g a t a d i s t a n c e o f a h u n d r e d y a r d s o r s o . The purp ose

o f t h e t h r e e w a s t o f i n d t h e a v e n u e f o r a t t a c k . I t w a s n a t u r a l

t h a t o n e s i d e o r t h e o t h e r o f t h e c a m p w a s m o r e v u l n e r a b l e

t h a n t h e o t h e r s . I t m i g h t b e t h a t t h e s e n t i n e l a t t h a t p o i n t

could be stolen upon and despatched so suddenly that he

w o u l d h a v e n o c h a n c e t o w a r n t h e o t h e r s . W e c o u l d d a s h

through the opening thus gained and be in the camp in a

t w i n k l i n g .

W e u s e d t w o h o u r s i n o u r s t e a l t h y a d v a n c e , a n d t h e n , a s

a g r e e d u p o n b e f o r e h a n d , h a l t e d u n t i l n o t i c e w a s r e c e i v e d f r o m

t h e s c o u t s , w h o w e r e n e a r t h e e n e m y . No shad ows coul d have

m o v e d m o r e n o i s l e s s l y t h a n w e . Every man o f us had been

t r a i n e d i n t h i s s p e c i e s o f w o o d c r a f t , a n d k n e w t h a t a c a r e l e s s

s t e p , t h e k n o c k i n g l o o s e o f a s m a l l s t o n e e v e n , a w o r d s p o k e n

i n a n u n d e r t o n e , o r t h e r a t t l e o f a w e a p o n m i g h t g i v e t h e

alarm and bring our whole scheme to naught .

L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h a n d I w e r e c r o u c h i n g b e s i d e a h u g e r o c k ,

s l i g h t l y f a r t h e r a l o n g t h a n t h e r e s t o f t h e m e n . Bendi ng his

h e a d c l o s e t o m i n e , h e w h i s p e r e d

" L i e u t e n a n t , t h i s i s t h e c r i s i s t h a t w i l l t e s t V i k k a . "



50 Lo w T w e l v e

"I am thinking the same . S h a l l I s t e a l a h e a d a n d s e e

w h a t I c a n s e e ? "

" I h a t e t o h a v e y o u r u n t h e r i s k . "

" I ' l l d o i t . "

I s l i p p e d o f f m y s w o r d f o r f e a r i t w o u l d b e t r a y m e a n d

g r a s p e d m y r e v o l v e r . I w a s l i k e l y t o n e e d i t w i t h t h e s u d d e n -

n e s s o f l i g h t n i n g , a n d d i d n o t m e a n t o b e t a k e n u n a w a r e s .

S m i t h w o u l d h a v e b e e n g l a d t o w h i s p e r a w o r d o f c o u n s e l

o r a t l e a s t t o s a y g o o d - b y , b u t i t w a s n o t n e c e s s a r y o r w o r t h

t h e r i s k .

A s I e m e r g e d f r o m b e h i n d t h e r o c k , I p e r c e i v e d t h a t t h e

m o o n h a d r i s e n a n d w a s r a p i d l y c l i m b i n g t h e s k y . J u s t t h e n

i t w a s o b s c u r e d b y a h e a v y c l o u d , b u t o b s e r v i n g t h a t i t w o u l d

s o o n p a s s , I i m p r o v e d t h e c h a n c e t o c r e e p f o r w a r d f o r s e v e r a l

r o d s . T h e n t h e f l o o d o f l i g h t w a s s u c h t h a t I l a y f l a t a w a i t -

i n g a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y , w h i c h I p e r c e i v e d w o u l d s o o n c o m e .

Ahead of me and slightly to t he left towered anothe r

b o u l d e r , n o t s o l a r g e a s t h e o n e t h a t s c r e e n e d L i e u t e n a n t

Smith . I c r a w l e d b e h i n d t h i s a n d t h e n a w a i t e d t h e o b s c u r a -

t i o n o f t h e m o o n , t o a d v a n c e f a r t h e r i n t o t h e o p e n .

I w a s i n t h e a c t o f c r e e p i n g f o r w a r d , w h e n , w i t h o u t t h e

s l i g h t e s t s o u n d o r w a r n i n g , t h e f i g u r e o f a n I n d i a n w a r r i o r

r o s e t o v i e w b e s i d e t h e b o u l d e r . O n e g l a n c e a t i t w a s e n o u g h .

I w a s t o o f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e f e l l o w t o b e m i s t a k e n . I t w a s

Geronimo himself .

I V

THE first lo ok was enough . G e r o n i m o , t h e f e r o c i o u s

l e a d e r o f t h e W a r m S p r i n g b a n d , w a s s t a n d i n g w i t h i n

t h i r t y f e e t o f w h e r e I l a y o n m y f a c e b e h i n d t h e b o u l d e r , w i t h

m y r e v o l v e r t i g h t l y g r a s p e d i n m y r i g h t h a n d .



11 I t w a s G e r o n i m o h i m s e l f ' '



Lo w T w e l v e 53

M y m u s c l e s w e r e i r o n , m y n e r v e c o o l a n d t h e s h o t a f a i r

one . I h a d t h e d r o p o n h i m a n d s w o r e h e s h o u l d n o t e s c a p e

m e .

M y s e c o n d i m p u l s e w a s n o t t o w a i t , b u t t o b r i n g h i m d o w n

b e f o r e h e t u r n e d h i s h e a d t o s c a n h i s s u r r o u n d i n g s . But

there was something in such an act at which I revolted .

U n s p e a k a b l e w r e t c h t h o u g h h e w a s , a n d d e s e r v i n g o f d e a t h

t e n t i m e s o v e r , I s h r a n k f r o m a c o l d - b l o o d e d s n u f f i n g o u t o f

the Apache lead er . No ; I should wait and give him the

shadow of a chance .

I h a v e s a i d t h a t t h e s m o t h e r i n g h e a t o f t h e d a y s w a s f o l -

l o w e d b y a c h i l l i n e s s a t n i g h t w h i c h w a s o n e o f o u r g r e a t e s t

t r i a l s o n t h a t m e m o r a b l e c a m p a i g n . T h e g r i m c h i e f t a i n h a d

a b l a n k e t a b o u t h i s s h o u l d e r s , a s i f h e n e e d e d i t f o r c o m f o r t .

A s h e s t o o d h i s s i d e w a s t o w a r d m e a n d h i s r o u g h , i r r e g u l a r

p r o f i l e w a s t h u s b r o u g h t o u t p l a i n l y .

T h e s t r a i n e d s i t u a t i o n h a d l a s t e d n o m o r e t h a n a m i n u t e

when it became plain to me that Geronimo had come here

t o m e e t s o m e o n e . H i s a t t i t u d e w a s t h a t o f e x p e c t a n c y , a n d

w i t h a l l h i s w o n d e r f u l f a c u l t i e s a l e r t , h e w a s p e e r i n g f i x e d l y

a l i t t l e t o t h e l e f t , f r o m w h i c h d i r e c t i o n h i s v i s i t o r p r o b a b l y

w a s t o a d v a n c e .

A l l d o u b t o n t h i s p o i n t w a s r e m o v e d w h e n f r o m t h a t p o i n t

a second form came out of the gloom, with no more noise

than that made by the shadow of the cloud which glided

o v e r t h e h i l l s . M y h e a r t b e a t f a s t e r t h a n b e f o r e , f o r t h e

i n s t a n t t h o u g h t w a s t h a t t h e c h i e f h a d m o v e d o u t f r o m h i s

c a m p t o m e e t o n e o f o u r s c o u t s , w h o w a s b e a r i n g h i m n e w s

of our movements . S u c h t r e a c h e r y h a d a i d e d h i m m o r e t h a n

o n c e t o e s c a p e f r o m c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n s , a n d n o w i t w a s a b o u t

t o o c c u r a g a i n .

M y a n x i e t y w a s t o i d e n t i f y t h e t r a i t o r . I p r e f e r r e d t o

s h o o t h i m r a t h e r t h a n t h e d u s k y l e a d e r , b u t I c o m p r e s s e d m y



54 Lo w T w e l v e

l i p s w i t h t h e r e s o l v e t o m a k e b o t h b i t e t h e d u s t . It would

b e s o m e t h i n g t o t e l l i n a f t e r y e a r s t h a t I h a d b r o u g h t d o w n

Geronimo and the miscreant who was serving him in our

o w n c a m p .

T o m y c h a g r i n , t h e s e c o n d a r r i v a l w a s n o t o n l y e n c l o s e d i n

a b l a n k e t , b u t i t w a s d r a w n s o f a r u p a r o u n d h i s s h o u l d e r s

t h a t h i s f a c e w a s h i d d e n . O n l y t h e c r o w n o f b l a c k , c o a r s e

h a i r s h o w e d . N o t a f e a t u r e w a s v i s i b l e . H a l t i n g w i t h i n a

c o u p l e o f p a c e s o f t h e c h i e f , t h e t w o b e g a n c o n v e r s i n g i n l o w

t o n e s . T h e i r v o i c e s w e r e s o f a i n t t h a t I c o u l d n o t d i s t i n g u i s h

a w o r d , a n d , h a d I b e e n a b l e t o d o s o , i t w o u l d h a v e d o n e

n o g o o d , f o r n a t u r a l l y t h e y t a l k e d i n t h e i r o w n l a n g u a g e .

T h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e t w o w a s s u c h t h a t t h e s i d e o f e a c h

s h o w e d c l e a r l y . They would have to turn their heads at

r i g h t a n g l e s t o s e e m y f o r e h e a d a n d e y e s b e f o r e t h e y f l i t t e d

b a c k o u t o f s i g h t . T h e i r t r a i n i n g , t h e s t r a i n e d s i t u a t i o n a n d

t h e p e c u l i a r p e r i l i n w h i c h b o t h s t o o d c o n v i n c e d m e t h a t t h e y

would neglect no precaution, however slight . G e r o n i m o

c o u l d h a v e b e e n n o m o r e a n x i o u s t o a v o i d b e i n g s e e n b y o u r

s c o u t s t h a n w a s t h e t r a i t o r t o h i d e h i s i d e n t i t y f r o m a l l e x c e p t

t h e a r c h l e a d e r o f t h e h o s t i l e s .

I n c r e d i b l e a s i t m a y s e e m , n e i t h e r o f t h e s e v e t e r a n s t u r n e d

h i s e y e s i n m y d i r e c t i o n d u r i n g t h e f e w m i n u t e s t h e y t a l k e d .

My plan was s impl e . I s h i f t e d s l i g h t l y s o a s t o r e s t t h e

w e i g h t o f m y b o d y o n m y l e f t e l b o w . This gave freed om of

t h e o t h e r a r m , a n d I h a d b u t t o l i f t m y w e a p o n a f e w i n c h e s

t o b r i n g t h e w r e t c h e s w i t h i n r a n g e . F i r s t t h e t r a i t o r , t h e n

the Apache chieft ain, and before either could kno w his,

danger .

I e x p e c t e d e v e r y m o m e n t t h a t t h e s c o u t w o u l d l o w e r h i s

b l a n k e t a n d s h o w h i s f a c e . I c o u l d t h i n k o f n o r e a s o n w h y

h e s h o u l d w i s h t o s h r o u d h i s f e a t u r e s w h e n t h e c o u n t e n a n c e

o f G e r o n i m o w a s a s c l e a r l y r e v e a l e d a s i f t h e s u n w e r e s h i n -



Lo w T w e l v e 55

i n g . B u t h e r e m a i n e d m u f f l e d , a n d I d i d n o t s e e s o m u c h a s

t h e t i p o f h i s n o s e .

S u d d e n l y a d e n s e r c l o u d t h a n u s u a l s w e p t o v e r t h e f a c e

of the moon . T h a t w h i c h h a d b e e n i l l u m i n a t e d w a s q u i c k l y

h i d d e n i n g l o o m . The two forms dissolved and faded from

s i g h t . G l a n c i n g a t t h e o r b i n t h e s k y , I s a w t h a t i t w o u l d s o o n

e m e r g e f r o m b e h i n d t h e m i s t s . I d e c i d e d t h a t t h e s e c o n d i t

d i d s o , a n d m y a i m w a s c l e a r , I s h o u l d l e t f l y a t t h e c o u p l e i n

i n s t a n t s u c c e s s i o n .

B u t t h a t o b s c u r i n g c l o u d p l a y e d t h e m i s c h i e f w i t h t h i s p l a n .

When the light began increasing and my straining vision

m a d e o u t t h e b o u l d e r b e s i d e w h i c h t h e A p a c h e s w e r e s t a n d i n g

l e s s t h a n a m i n u t e b e f o r e , o n l y o n e w a s i n s i g h t . G e r o n i m o

had vanished as silently as he had entered the field of

v i s i o n .

T h e o t h e r w a s s t a n d i n g a s b e f o r e , a n d s e e m e d t o b e l o o k -

i n g a f t e r t h e c h i e f , w h o h a d n o t y e t p a s s e d f r o m h i s v i e w .

O n l y f o r a n i n s t a n t d i d h e d o t h i s , w h e n h e t u r n e d t o m o v e

away . With his back toward the chief, he l owered the

b l a n k e t a f e w i n c h e s - j u s t e n o u g h t o s h o w h i s c o u n t e n a n c e ,

w h o s e p r o f i l e w a s t o w a r d m e . T h e t r a i t o r w a s V i k k a I

I was dumfounded, for, curiously enough, during the

b r i e f i n t e r v a l , a n d d e s p i t e m y r e c e n t t a l k w i t h L i e u t e n a n t

S m i t h , i t h a d n o t o c c u r r e d t o m e t h a t t h e w r e t c h c o u l d b e h e

whom each of us had distrusted more thann once . By the

t i m e I r a l l i e d f r o m m y s p e e c h l e s s n e s s h e w a s g o n e .

T h e s i t u a t i o n w a s c r i t i c a l t o t h e l a s t d e g r e e . I was in

a d v a n c e o f o u r o w n m e n , a n d w i t h o u t f u r t h e r h e s i t a t i o n I

r o s e t o m y f e e t , a n d i n a c r o u c h i n g p o s i t i o n r a n b a c k t o w h e r e

I h a d l e f t L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h .

H e , t o o , w a s o n h i s f e e t , a n d t h e f o r m s o f t h e t r o o p e r s

c a m e r a p i d l y t o v i e w , a s , i n r e s p o n s e t o a s i g n a l , t h e y g a t h -

e r e d r o u n d h i m . A m o n g t h e m c o u l d b e s e e n i n t h e o b s c u r i t y




s e v e r a l o f o u r s c o u t s . I g l a n c e d f r o m f a c e t o f a c e , b u t m i s s e d

t w o - V i k k a a n d P e d r o . I l o n g e d t o t e l l o u r c o m m a n d a n t

w h a t I h a d l e a r n e d , b u t c o u l d n o t d o s o i n t h e h e a r i n g o f

the company . S m i t h w a s i s s u i n g h i s c o m m a n d s i n l o w , h u r -

r i e d t o n e s .

"An openi ng has been made ; w e ' r e t o r u s h t h e c a m p ; i s

every man ready?"

T h e w h i s p e r e d r e s p o n s e s s h o w e d t h a t t h e y w e r e r e a d y a n d

e a g e r .

"We will f ollow Jim ; h e w i l l l e a d ; a l l r e a d y l "

The next minute we were threading our way among the

b o u l d e r s , r o c k s a n d g u l l i e s . I caught up my sword, and

h u r r i e d l y f a s t e n e d i t o n w h i l e j o i n i n g t h e p r o c e s s i o n , w h i c h

w a s l e d b y t h e f a i t h f u l J i m . A s y e t I h a d n o t s p o k e n t o t h e

c o m m a n d e r , b u t n o w I t w i t c h e d h i s e l b o w .

" I f e a r w e h a v e b e e n b e t r a y e d , l i e u t e n a n t . "

" I t c a n ' t b e ; c o m e o n ; i t ' s t o o l a t e t o s t o p n o w . "

L e s s t h a n a h u n d r e d y a r d s f a r t h e r t h e s c o u t J i m u t t e r e d

a suppressed exclamation and came to a halt . W e w e r e

a r o u n d h i m t h e n e x t s e c o n d . S t r e t c h e d a t h i s f e e t l a y P e d r o

d e a d , t h e w o u n d i n t h e u p p e r p a r t o f t h e b r e a s t s h o w i n g t h a t

h e h a d b e e n k i l l e d b y a s i n g l e b l o w w i t h a k n i f e .

T h e p a u s e w a s o n l y f o r a m o m e n t , w h e n , w i t h n o f u r t h e r

a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s t a r k f o r m , J i m l e d t h e a d v a n c e a t a r a p i d

p a c e . The moonli ght was uncertain . W e w e r e c l o s e t o t h e

d e e p b a s i n i n w h i c h c l u s t e r e d t h e c a m p o f t h e h o s t i l e s . Af e w s t e p s m o r e , a n d w e c a m e u p o n a s e c o n d f i g u r e s t r e t c h e d

o u t o n t h e e a r t h . I t w a s t h a t o f t h e A p a c h e s e n t i n e l , w h o

h a d b e e n s t r i c k e n d o w n s o s u d d e n l y t h a t h e h a d n o c h a n c e

t o g i v e t h e a l a r m . This was the opening thro ugh which we

w e r e t o r u s h , a n d w e d i d s o w i t h s c a r c e l y a s e c o n d ' s h a l t .

A s t h e t r o o p e r s s c r a m b l e d , l e a p e d a n d r a n t h e y s h o u t e d

t h e i r b a t t l e c r y . D o w n t h e s l o p e t h e y s t r e a m e d , s o m e o f t h e m




s t u m b l i n g a n d f a l l i n g , b u t t h e y w e r e q u i c k l y o n t h e i r f e e t

a g a i n , a r d e n t a s e v e r . Within the s ame minute t hat we

s t a r t e d t h e r u s h , w e w e r e i n t h e b a s i n h u n t i n g l i k e b l o o d -

h o u n d s f o r o u r p r e y .

And then a discove ry was made as startling as it was

e x a s p e r a t i n g . B r i e f a s w a s t h e t i m e u s e d , t h e A p a c h e s h a d

t a k e n t h e a l a r m a n d f l e d . The camp was deserted . T h e y

h a d h a d t h e i r w a r n i n g , a n d a f e w m i n u t e s , e v e n s e c o n d s , w e r e

s u f f i c i e n t .

Vikka, coming from somewhere, was among our scouts,

t w o o f w h o m d a s h e d a c r o s s t h e b a s i n l i k e a c y c l o n e . Wes a w t h e f l a s h e s o f g u n s a n d h e a r d f i e r c e c r i e s . They had come

u p o n t h e r e a r g u a r d , s o t o s p e a k , a n d w e r e h a v i n g i t o u t w i t h

t h e m . Among the troopers who were skurryin g here and

t h e r e , b a f f l e d a n d e n r a g e d a t t h e i r f a i l u r e t o f i n d a n y f o e s , a

h a l f d o z e n r u s h e d t o t h e h e l p o f t h e s c o u t s . I j o i n e d t h e m .

W e h a d b u t a f e w r o d s t o r u n , w h e n w e s t r u c k t h e f a r t h e r

s i d e o f t h e b a s i n . B u t w e w e r e t o o l a t e t o h a v e a n y p a r t i n

t h e f r a y . A f t e r t h e e x c h a n g e o f a f e w s h o t s , i n w h i c h o n e o f

o u r s c o u t s w a s w o u n d e d a n d o n e o f t h e e n e m y b r o u g h t d o w n ,

t h e o t h e r s m a d e o f f s w i f t l y i n t h e d a r k n e s s a n d w e r e b e y o n d

r e a c h .

A s w e c a m e t o g e t h e r i n t h e g l o o m , w e w e r e a d i s a p p o i n t e d

a n d f u r i o u s l o t . Angry mutter ings were going on, when

S m i t h n o t i c e d t h a t o n e o f t h e A p a c h e s w h o h a d f a l l e n w a s

s t r u g g l i n g t o g e t t o h i s f e e t . T h e s c o u t J i m o b s e r v e d i t , a n d

r a n f o r w a r d t o f i n i s h h i m w i t h h i s k n i f e , b u t t h e l i e u t e n a n t

w a s t h e n e a r e r a n d s t a y e d h i s h a n d .

" H e i s a p r i s o n e r . W e d o n ' t k i l l c a p t i v e s , e v e n i f t h e y ' r e

Apaches . "

S e i z i n g t h e f e l l o w b y t h e a r m , h e h e l p e d h i m t o r i s e . H e

w a s b a d l y h u r t , b u t w i t h t h e s l i g h t a i d t h u s g i v e n , w a s a b l e

t o s t a n d e r e c t . H e l o o k e d d e f i a n t l y a r o u n d i n t h e f a c e s o f




h i s c a p t o r s a s r e v e a l e d i n t h e m o o n l i g h t , w h i c h w a s n o w

b r i g h t , b u t d i d n o t s p e a k .

" D o a n y o f y o u k n o w h i m ? " a s k e d t h e o f f i c e r , t u r n i n g t o

t h e s c o u t s .

"H e i s Mar t a n a ," r e p l i e d V i k k a ; " h e i s a s ba d a s

G e r o n i m o . "

A l l o f u s h a d h e a r d t h a t n a m e . H e w a s a s u b - c h i e f o f t h e

Warm Spring Indians, and one of the most feroc ious mis-

c r e a n t s t h a t e v e r h e l p e d t o r a v a g e t h e f r o n t i e r .

" I t m a k e s n o d i f f e r e n c e , " s a i d t h e o f f i c e r s t e r n l y ; " h e s e e m s

t o h a v e s t o p p e d o n e o r t w o o f y o u r b u l l e t s a n d w o n ' t m a k e

a n y m o r e t r o u b l e f o r s o m e t i m e t o c o m e . No mat ter how bad

h e i s , I ' l l s h o o t t h e f i r s t o n e w h o h a r m s h i m f u r t h e r . "

I t w a s u s e l e s s t o a t t e m p t t o o v e r t a k e t h e h o s t i l e s d u r i n g

t h e d a r k n e s s , a n d w i t h o u r s c o u t s t h r o w n o u t t o p r e v e n t s u r -

prise, we made our way back to camp, where we had left

o u r h o r s e s i n c h a r g e o f t h r e e o f t h e t r o o p e r s . O u r p l a n

h a d f a i l e d b e c a u s e a t t h e c r i t i c a l j u n c t u r e G e r o n i m o r e c e i v e d

w a r n i n g o f t h e d a n g e r t o h i m s e l f a n d b a n d .

W e d i s p o s e d o f o u r s e l v e s f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e n i g h t .

A s s o o n a s w e c o u l d s e e , t h e p u r s u i t w o u l d b e r e s u m e d a n d

p r e s s e d a s v i g o r o u s l y a s b e f o r e . T h e I n d i a n s c o u t s w e r e k e p t

a t w o r k a m o n g t h e h i l l s , t o p r e v e n t a n y t h i n g i n t h e n a t u r e

o f a s u r p r i s e b y t h e A p a c h e s , s o m e o f w h o m w e r e l i k e l y t o

s t e a l b a c k i n t h e h o p e o f s t r i k i n g u s a n u n e x p e c t e d b l o w .

O u r c a p t i v e M a r t a n a w a s t r e a t e d w i t h m o r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

t h a n h e d e s e r v e d . A b l a n k e t w a s s p r e a d o n t h e g r o u n d , u p o n

w h i c h h e p a r t l y r e c l i n e d . We had no regular surgeon with

u s a t t h a t t i m e , b u t L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r s

p o s s e s s e d a p r a c t i c a l k n o w l e d g e o f w o u n d s , a n d g a v e i t a s

t h e i r o p i n i o n , t h a t , t h o u g h t h e f e l l o w w a s d e s p e r a t e l y h u r t ,

h e h a d a c h a n c e o f p u l l i n g t h r o u g h . He was offered food

a n d d r i n k , b u t r e f u s e d t o t o u c h t h e m . H e e v e n k n o c k e d



a s i d e a w h i s k e y f l a s k t h a t w a s h e l d t o h i s l i p s . H e c o u l d

n o t b e p e r s u a d e d t o s p e a k a w o r d , a n d p a i d n o t t h e l e a s t

attention to the Apaches who addressed him in his own

language . H e w a s a s t o i c , w h o s h r a n k f r o m n o t h i n g b e f o r e

h i m . H e h a t e d u s w i t h a n u n s p e a k a b l e h a t r e d . D e s p i t e t h e

k i n d n e s s w e h a d s h o w n h i m , h e w o u l d h a v e s c a l p e d e v e r y o n e

h a d t h e c h a n c e b e e n h i s .

L e a v i n g h i m t o h i m s e l f , L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h d r e w m e a s i d e

a s b e f o r e , a n d l i g h t i n g h i s i n e v i t a b l e p i pe , a s h e s a t w i t h h i s

knees drawn up, asked me to explain the hurried words I

h a d s p o k e n j u s t b e f o r e t h e c h a r g e u p o n t h e d e s e r t e d c a m p .

I d i d s o , h e l i s t e n i n g a n d p u f f i n g i n s i l e n c e . After a ti me

h e s a i d i n h i s l o w , e v e n v o i c e

" Y o u t o l d m e t h a t i n t h e s a m e i n s t a n t t h a t y o u r e c e i v e d

proof of Vikka's guilt you would shoot him . "

" I d i d s a y s o , b u t I w a s l i t e r a l l y p a r a l y z e d f o r t h e m o m e n t ,

n o t " d r e a m i n g o f a n y t h i n g o f t h e k i n d ; I ' m s o r r y I l e t h i m

e s c a p e . "

"So a m I , f o r t h e e v i d e n c e y o u s a w w a s e n o u g h t o

hang him . A n d y e t a f t e r a l l i s s a i d , l i e u t e n a n t , I d o n ' t u n d e r -

s t a n d t h a t f e l l o w . "

" I n w h a t r e s p e c t ? "

" H e h a s h a d n o e n d o f c h a n c e s t o s t r i k e u s t h e h a r d e s t k i n d

o f b l o w s , b u t n e v e r d i d s o u n t i l t o - n i g h t . W h y s h o u l d h e

s a c r i f i c e s o m a n y g r e a t e r f o r t h e s i n g l e l e s s ? "

" M e a n i n g t h a t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o - n i g h t w a s l e s s t h a n m a n y

o t h e r s w h i c h h e l e t s l i p ? "

" P r e c i s e l y . W h a t h e h a s j u s t d o n e w a s n e g a t i v e ; h e p r e -

v e n t e d u s f r o m s u r p r i s i n g G e r o n i m o , b u t t h e m o s t t h a t h e

d i d f o r t h e h o s t i l e s w a s t o g i v e t h e m a c h a n c e t o g e t a w a y .

W h y d i d h e n o t p l a n a s u r p r i s e o f u s b y them? He could

h a v e d o n e t h a t v e r y t h i n g t h r e e n i g h t s a g o , i n A n t e l o p e P a s s . "

" H e m a y h a v e f e a r e d h e r a n t o o m u c h r i s k . He ha s been



6o Low T w e l v e

playing a hard part, as you can understand, for he must

b e u n d e r t h e o b s e r v a t i o n o f h i s o w n s c o u t s m o s t o f t h e t i m e ,

a n d s o m e o f t h e m a r e b e y o n d s u s p i c i o n . "

" I w o n d e r w h e t h e r h e h a s a n y p a r t n e r s i n t h i s , " m u t t e r e d

t h e o f f i c e r , a s i f s p e a k i n g t o h i m s e l f . " I t ' s b l a m e d u n c o m -

f o r t a b l e t o t h i n k s o . "

" W h e r e i s h e n o w , l i e u t e n a n t ? "

" H e a n d J i m a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r s a r e s c o u t i n g a m o n g t h e

h i l l s . "

" B e g g i n g p a r d o n , V i k k a o u g h t n o t t o b e w i t h t h e m . "

"He would not have been had you told me this before .

I t i s b e s t , h o w e v e r , t o s h o w n o d i s t r u s t o f t h e f e l l o w t i l l w e

c a t c h h i m w i t h t h e g o o d s . "

" L i e u t e n a n t , I d o n ' t f e e l t h e n e e d o f s l e e p . I had e nough

t h i s a f t e r n o o n t o l a s t m e f o r a g o o d w h i l e . With your per-

m i s s i o n , I ' l l t a k e a l o o k a m o n g t h e h i l l s m y s e l f , h o p i n g t o

p i c k u p a p o i n t o r t w o . "

" I d o n ' t k n o w a s I h a v e a n y o b j e c t i o n . I u n d e r s t a n d t h a t

y o u w i l l g i v e m o s t o f y o u r a t t e n t i o n t o V i k k a ? "

" S u c h i s m y p u r p o s e . "

" Y o u h a v e n ' t o n e c h a n c e i n a t h o u s a n d . H e i s t o o c u n -

n i n g t o b e e n t r a p p e d b y a m a n w h o i s b u t a c h i l d c o m p a r e d

to him . "

" I g o t t h e b e s t o f h i m t h i s e v e n i n g . "

" H a r d l y ; b u t i f s o , i t w a s a n a c c i d e n t . "

"Another acci dent may occu r . "

" I f h e h a s a n y i d e a t h a t y o u a r e o n t o h i s g a m e , y o u w i l l

b e i n t e n f o l d g r e a t e r d a n g e r t h a n e v e r b e f o r e . Well, good

l u c k g o w i t h y o u . "

When I had reached a point fairly beyond our camp I

w a s i m p r e s s e d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e w i t h t h e a b s u r d i t y o f t h e

t a s k t a k e n u p o n m y s e l f . I h a d s e t o u t t o c i r c u m v e n t o n e o f

t h e m o s t s k i l f u l t r a i l e r s a n d s c o u t s i n t h e s e r v i c e . My w oo d-



Lo w T w e l v e 61

c r a f t a s c o m p a r e d t o h i s w a s f o o l i s h n e s s . He could give

m e c a r d s a n d s p a d e s a n d b e a t m e e v e r y t i m e . True, he was

s o m e w h e r e i n t h e s e h i l l s , b u t I m i g h t p r o w l a m o n g t h e m f o r

a w e e k w i t h o u t g e t t i n g s i g h t o f h i m . A n u n p r e c e d e n t e d p i e c e

o f l u c k h a d b r o u g h t m e k n o w l e d g e s o m e t i m e b e f o r e , b u t s u c h

a c c i d e n t s a r e n e v e r r e p e a t e d , o r , a t l e a s t , n o t o f t e n e n o u g h

t o j u s t i f y h o p e o n m y p a r t .

N o n e t h e l e s s , I h a d n o t h o u g h t o f t u r n i n g b a c k . I f I

c o u l d n o t o u t w i t V i k k a , I m i g h t h a v e a c h a n c e t o d o s o m e -

t h i n g e l s e . I t w a s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h A p a c h e c u s t o m s t h a t

s o m e o f t h e i r s c o u t s w o u l d l i n g e r i n t h e r e a r o f t h e m a i n

b a n d t o l e a r n o u r i n t e n t i o n s , a n d , i f o p p o r t u n i t y o f f e r e d , s t r i k e

u s a b l o w . T h e y k n e w t h e p u r s u i t w o u l d b e t a k e n u p i n t h e

m o r n i n g . We were better mounted t han they . I n f a c t , w e

h a d s c a t t e r e d t h e h o s t i l e s s o o f t e n t h a t m o s t o f t h e m w e r e

o n f o o t . Encumbered with women and chi ldren, they were

p u t t o i t a s n e v e r b e f o r e t o k e e p o u t o f o u r r e a c h . I t w a s ,

t h e r e f o r e , o f t h e h i g h e s t i m p o r t a n c e t h a t t h e y s h o u l d d e l a y

o u r p u r s u i t w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e . By leaving a dozen, more

o r l e s s , o f t h e i r b e s t s c o u t s b e h i n d , w i t h i n c o m m u n i c a t i n g d i s -

t a n c e , w e m i g h t b e c h e c k e d s u f f i c i e n t l y t o g i v e t h e m a i n b o d y

a c h a n c e t o i n c r e a s e t h e d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n t h e m a n d u s .

I t w a s t h e p r o v i n c e o f o u r g u i d e s t o f r u s t r a t e t h e s e p l a n s ,

a n d I w a s i n t h e m o o d t o t a k e a h a n d i n t h e d e s p e r a t e b u s i n e s s ,

t h o u g h c o m m o n s e n s e d i c t a t e d t h a t L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h s h o u l d

h a v e p r e v e n t e d s u c h r a s h n e s s o n m y p a r t .

I f o l l o w e d a c o u r s e t h a t l e d m e t o t h e e d g e o f t h e b a s i n

d o w n w h i c h w e h a d c h a r g e d i n t o t h e d e s e r t e d c a m p , a n d i t

w a s w i t h a c u r i o u s s h o c k t h a t I r e c o g n i z e d t h e v e r y s p o t

w h e r e I h a d s e e n G e r o n i m o e m e r g e f r o m t h e g l o o m a n d h o l d

his confab with Vikka, when he joined him a few moments

l a t e r .

" S t r a n g e 1 " I m u t t e r e d ; " i f t h e r e i s a n y t h i n g i n s i g n s , I



62 Lo w T w e l v e

s h o u l d a c c e p t t h i s a s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t s o m e t h i n g o f t h e k i n d

i s g o i n g t o h a p p e n a g a i n . "

T h e r e a r e f e w o f u s w h o s e e x p e r i e n c e h a s n o t p r o v e d t h e

e x i s t e n c e w i t h i n t h i s m a r v e l l o u s m a k e - u p o f o u r s o f s o m e -

t h i n g a k i n t o t h a t v a g u e f a c u l t y w h i c h h a s b e e n c a l l e d t h e

s i x t h s e n s e . On no other theory ca n many things be ex-

p l a i n e d .

I h a d h e l d m y c r o u c h i n g p o s t u r e o n l y a m i n u t e o r s o w h e n

t h e a b s o l u t e c e r t a i n t y c a m e o v e r m e t h a t s o m e o n e w a s n e a r .

I g l a n c e d i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n a n d l i s t e n e d i n t e n t l y , b u t d i d

n o t s e e n o r h e a r t h e s l i g h t e s t t h i n g t h a t c o u l d e x p l a i n m y

f e e l i n g . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e c o n v i c t i o n w a s u n a l t e r a b l e , a n d

r a t h e r i n c r e a s e d t h a n d i m i n i s h e d .

" I t c a n ' t b e t h a t V i k k a i s p r o w l i n g h e r e ; p r o b a b l y o n e o f

G e r o n i m o ' s s c o u t s i s o n t h e l o o k o u t , o r p e r h a p s o n e o f o u r

o w n . "

What to do was the questi on that puzzled me . I might

s t e a l f o r w a r d , b a c k w a r d o r t o o n e s i d e , a n d t h e r e b y d o t h e

v e r y t h i n g I s h o u l d n o t d o . Surely some clue must come

w i t h i n a f e w s e c o n d s t h a t w o u l d g u i d e m e .

A s b e f o r e , I h e l d m y r e v o l v e r r e a d y f o r i n s t a n t u s e . Mys w o r d w a s w i t h m e , a n d I m a y c l a i m t o b e a n e x p e r t i n i t s

u s e , b u t w h e r e w a s m y e n e m y ?

A s s u d d e n l y a s i f a n a v a l a n c h e h a d d e s c e n d e d u p o n m e ,

I w a s c r u s h e d t o e a r t h b y a m o u n t a i n o u s w e i g h t , m y s e n s e s

v a n i s h e d a n d a l l b e c a m e d a r k n e s s a n d o b l i v i o n .

VI

D O N ' T s u p p o s e I w a s u n c o n s c i o u s f o r m o r e t h a n f i v e m i n -

u t e s , a n d p r o b a b l y n o t t h a t l o n g . T h e f i r s t v a g u e i m p r e s s i o n

t h a t c a m e t o m e w a s t h a t I w a s b e i n g a s s i s t e d t o m y f e e t , a



Lo w T w e l v e6 3

man grasping my arm on my right and anoth er on my left .

T h e n , a l m o s t a u t o m a t i c a l l y , I b e g a n s t u m b l i n g a n d w a l k i n g ,

m y w i t s c l e a r i n g e v e r y m o m e n t u n t i l t h e w h o l e t r u t h d a w n e d

upon me .

Despite my care, an Apache warrior had stolen upon me

f r o m t h e r e a r , w i t h o u t d e t e c t i o n . H e h a d s t r u c k m e a s t u n -

ning blow as he leaped upon my shoulde rs and bore me to

e a r t h , w h e r e h i s c o m r a d e d e p r i v e d m e o f m y p i s t o l . T h e

s t i n g i n g , r i n g i n g p a i n i n m y h e a d t o l d m e t h a t t h e b l o w w h i c h

brought me down was a fierce one .

W h a t i m p r e s s e d m e a s b e y o n d e x p l a n a t i o n w a s t h a t t h e s e

t w o d u s k y d e m o n s h a d f a i l e d t o k i l l i n s t e a d o f t a k i n g m e

p r i s o n e r . I n t h a t c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t G e r o n i m o a n d h i s b a n d ,

i t w a s n o t t h e c u s t o m o n e i t h e r s i d e t o t a k e p r i s o n e r s . Thi s

w a s s p e c i a l l y t r u e o f t h e A p a c h e s . They deli ghted too much

i n t o r t u r e , o u t r a g e a n d s u f f e r i n g t o l e t a n y o p p o r t u n i t y f o r

s u c h d r e a d f u l w o r k p a s s .

When I became certain that only two captors were with

m e , I r e s o l v e d t o s e i z e t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y a n d m a k e a f i g h t

f o r i t . . I w o u l d p r e t e n d a w e a k n e s s g r e a t e r t h a n w a s t h e f a c t ,

t h e n s n a t c h o u t m y s w o r d a n d a t t h e m . I k n e w , o f c o u r s e ,

t h e y h a d t a k e n m y p i s t o l , b u t I c o u l d g e t o n w i t h o u t t h a t -

t h e b l a d e w a s s u f f i c i e n t .

The ground was rough, sometimes up, sometimes down,

: a n d a g a i n w e c i r c l e d b o u l d e r s a n d r o c k s , a n d t h e s t o n e s a n d

d i r t c r u m p l e d u n d e r o u r f e e t . I h a d n o t w a l k e d f a r , u n d e r

t h e u n c e r t a i n l i g h t o f t h e m o o n , w h e n I d i s c o v e r e d

t h a t m y s w o r d w a s g o n e . The scabbard would have f lapped

a g a i n s t m y t h i g h o r m a d e i t s e l f f e l t i n s o m e w a y . T h u s I

had no weapon of any kind with which to defend myself,

w h i l e o f c o u r s e m y c a p t o r s w e r e m o r e f u l l y a r m e d t h a n u s u a l .

T h e t w o h e l d a v i s e l i k e g r i p o n m y a r m s , a n d e v i d e n t l y

were prepared for any outbreak on my part . More ove r,



64 Lo w T w e l v e

t h o u g h I a m o f t h e a v e r a g e h e i g h t , e a c h w a s f u l l y a s t a l l a s

I . T h e A p a c h e i s g e n e r a l l y o f s q u a t f i g u r e , a n d t h e s e , t h e r e -

f o r e , w e r e o f m o r e t h a n t h e u s u a l s t a t u r e . H a v i n g b e e n

s m a r t e n o u g h t o m a k e p r i s o n e r a n a r m e d o f f i c e r , t h e y w e r e

n o t t h e o n e s t o g i v e h i m a h o p e o f e s c a p e .

W i t h m y r a c k i n g b r a i n c l e a r , I w a s c e r t a i n t h a t o n e o f

t w o t h i n g s w a s i n t e n d e d . These bucks were taking me far

e n o u g h a w a y t o i n d u l g e t h e i r f i e n d i s h w i l l w i t h o u t f e a r o f

m o l e s t a t i o n , o r t h e y w e r e c o n d u c t i n g m e t o t h e i r c a m p t h a t

o t h e r s m i g h t h a v e p a r t i n t h e e x q u i s i t e e n j o y m e n t . And yet

I w a s w r o n g i n b o t h s u r m i s e s .

O n c e o r t w i c e t h e i m p u l s e w a s s t r o n g u p o n m e t o c a l l f o r

h e l p . S o m e o f o u r s c o u t s m u s t b e i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d a n d

w o u l d b e q u i c k t o r e s p o n d , b u t I w a s h e l d s i l e n t b y t h e m a n i -

f e s t f a c t t h a t , q u i c k a s t h e y w e r e , t h e y c o u l d n o t b e q u i c k

enough to save me . My captors would never a llow me to

be retaken . Accordingly, I held my peace, a nd partly

s t u m b l i n g , p a r t l y w a l k i n g , a n d i n a n y t h i n g b u t a c a l m f r a m e

o f m i n d , I p l u n g e d f a r t h e r a m o n g t h e h i l l s t h a t w e r e t h e

s c e n e o f s o m a n y s t i r r i n g e v e n t s t h a t e v e n i n g .

T h e b u c k s d i d n o t s p e a k a w o r d , f o r t h e r e w a s n o o c c a s i o n

t o d o s o . N o r d i d I i n d u l g e i n a n y o b s e r v a t i o n s , f o r n e i t h e r

w a s t h e r e c a l l i n m y c a s e . I t w a s a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y p r o m -

e n a d e t h r o u g h t h a t w i l d r e g i o n o n t h a t s t i l l s u m m e r n i g h t .

T h e s i n g u l a r j o u r n e y c a m e t o a n e n d s o o n e r t h a n I e x -

p e c t e d . A f t e r c l a m b e r i n g a r o u n d a s c o r e o f b o u l d e r s , a s c e n d =

i n g a n d d e s c e n d i n g s e v e r a l s t e e p s l o p e s , I n o t i c e d t h a t w e

w e r e g o i n g t h r o u g h a n a r r o w c a n o n - l i k e p a s s a g e i n t h e m o u n -

t a i n s . T h i s w a s f o l l o w e d f o r l e s s t h a n t w o h u n d r e d y a r d s ,

w h e n a n a b r u p t c h a n g e w a s m a d e , a n d a n i n s t a n t l a t e r I w a s

among a group of more than twenty Apache warriors . Noc a m p f i r e w a s b u r n i n g , b u t e n o u g h m o o n l i g h t p e n e t r a t e d t h e

g o r g e t o g i v e m e g l i m p s e s o f s e v e r a l f a c e s . The first I



r e c o g n i z e d wa s G e r o n i m o h i m s e l f . T h e o t h e r s were

s t r a n g e r s . T h e r e w a s a g o o d d e a l o f t a l k i n g i n l o w t o n e s ,

d u r i n g w h i c h l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n w a s p a i d t o m e . I t w a s u s e l e s s

t o p r e t e n d w e a k n e s s , a n d I w a s a l l o w e d t o s t a n d s o m e w h a t

apart from the red men . I folded my arms, and contem-

p l a t i n g t h e s t r a n g e s c e n e , a s k e d m y s e l f w h a t t h e e n d w a s

t o b e .

To me only one end was possible . They were merely

consulting as to the most pleasing method, to them, of

t o r t u r i n g m e t o d e a t h . I t w o u l d n o t t a k e t h e m l o n g t o a g r e e ,

b u t a g a i n I w a s m i s t a k e n . N o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d w a s i n t h e i r

minds .

It was beyond my comprehension that this company of

warriors, under the leadership of Geronimo, should halt

f o r a n y t h i n g o f t h a t n a t u r e . I c o u l d c o n j u r e u p n o r e a s o n

f o r s u c h a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d c o u r s e , a n d i n t r u t h t h e r e w a s

none .

T h e c o u n c i l h a d l a s t e d b u t a b r i e f w h i l e , w h e n o n e o f t h e

n u m b e r c a m e t o w a r d m e , a n d p a u s i n g a s t e p o r t w o d i s t a n t ,

a d d r e s s e d m e i n e x c e l l e n t E n g l i s h

" M y f r i e n d , y o u a r e d o u b t l e s s a s t o n i s h e d t h a t i n t h e c i r -

c u m s t a n c e s y o u s h o u l d b e t a k e n p r i s o n e r b y t h e s e A p a c h e s .

I c a n m a k e a l l c l e a r i n a f e w w o r d s . Your people have made

c a p t i v e o f o n e o f o u r m o s t b e l o v e d c h i e f s , M a r t a n a . Weh a v e m a d e y o u p r i s o n e r i n o r d e r t h a t w e c a n b r i n g a b o u t a r t

e x c h a n g e . S e v e r a l o f o u r s c o u t s h a v e b e e n o u t l o o k i n g f o r

a c h a n c e t o s e c u r e o n e o f y o u r m e n , a n d i t i s y o u r f a t e t o

f a l l i n t o o u r h a n d s . But you need not be alarmed . Nod o u b t y o u r c o m m a n d i n g o f f i c e r w i l l b e m o s t h a p p y t o d o h i s

p a r t , a n d I a s s u r e y o u t h a t t h e r e s h a l l b e n o l a c k o f f a i t h o n

o u r s i d e . "

What was my reply to these astounding words? I n s t e a d

o f s p e a k i n g , I m a d e t h e M a s o n i c s i g n a l o f d i s t r e s s , f o r I h a d .



66 Low T w e l v e

r e c o g n i z e d t h e m a n b e f o r e m e a s J a r e d J . J e n n i n g s , w h o s e

I n d i a n n a m e w a s E l - t i n - w a , a n d w h o m I h a d f i r s t m e t s o m e

m o n t h s b e f o r e i n m y o w n l o d g e i n t h e E a s t . .

H e w a s a t t i r e d i n t h e s a m e f r o w s y c o s t u m e a s t h e u n t i d y

A p a c h e s a r o u n d h i m , e v e n t o t h e b a r e h e a d . His face was

n o t p a i n t e d , b u t h i s l o n g , c u r l i n g l o c k s d a n g l e d a b o u t h i s

s h o u l d e r s . I s h o u l d h a v e r e c o g n i z e d h i s v o i c e , w h i c h w a s

u n u s u a l l y m u s i c a l , w i t h o u t t h e s i g h t o f h i s c o u n t e n a n c e .

When he observed my appeal he smiled .

" T h a t i s u n n e c e s s a r y , B r o t h e r C h i c h e s t e r , " h e s a i d , " f o r I

i d e n t i f i e d y o u b e f o r e y o u d i d m e , t h o u g h I w a s u n a w a r e t h a t

y o u w e r e w i t h L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h u n t i l a b r i e f w h i l e a g o . Be

a s s u r e d t h a t I c a n n e v e r f o r g e t m y d u t y t o a b r o t h e r M a s o n .

I n e e d n o t a d d t h a t w e r e t h e r e n o m e m b e r o f o u r t r i b e w i t h

y o u , I s h o u l d h a v e d o n e a l l I c o u l d f o r y o u , a t t h e r i s k o f

m y l i f e . "

" I d o n ' t d o u b t t h a t , " w a s m y g r a t e f u l r e p l y . "I am at

y o u r d i s p o s a l. "

I would have given much for an explanation from this

remarkable man, but it was not mine to question him . I

supposed he had return ed to the Chippewas, among whom,

a s h e t o l d m e , h e h a d l i v e d f o r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s . T h e l a s t

p l a c e w h e r e I e x p e c t e d t o m e e t h i m w a s i n t h e b a n d o f W a r m

S p r i n g I n d i a n s , l e d b y G e r o n i m o , b u t h e r e h e w a s a n d e v i -

d e n t l y i n h i g h f a v o r .

" Y o u h a v e n o d o u b t o f t h e w i l l i n g n e s s o f L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h

t o a g r e e t o t h e e x c h a n g e ? "

"There can be none . How will it be managed? Youknow that no dependence can be placed on the word of an

Ap a c h e . "

"No more than upon the word of s o m e white men ; b u t , "

h e a d d e d , s i n k i n g h i s v o i c e , " s o m e o f t h e s e p e o p l e , i n c l u d i n g

G e r o n i m o , u n d e r s t a n d E n g l i s h . "




I a c c e p t e d t h e v a l u a b l e h i n t , a n d g u a r d e d m y w o r d s u t t e r e d

i n t h e h e a r i n g o f t h e p a r t y w h o w e r e g r o u p e d a r o u n d .

"How will the exc hange be managed?U n d e r a f l a g o f

t r u c e ? "

" O n l y m e t a p h o r i c a l l y s o . I will go with you to your

c a m p a n d l e a v e y o u t o s t a t e t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e e x c h a n g e ;

y o u w i l l s t a y a n d M a r t a n a w i l l a c c o m p a n y m e b a c k . Coul d

anything be more simple?"

" Y o u r p l a n i s s i m p l i c i t y i t s e l f . W h e n s h a l l t h e s t a r t b e

m a d e ?"

" N o w , f o r i t i s p a s t l o w t w e l v e , o r a s s o o n a s I h a v e h a d

a l i t t l e e x p l a n a t i o n w i t h G e r o n i m o . " He turned and began

t a l k i n g w i t h t h e c h i e f i n h i s n a t i v e t o n g u e . I t w a s p l a i n t o

m e t h a t t h e g r i m o l d f e l l o w w a s d i s s a t i s f i e d . He preferred

t h a t M a r t a n a s h o u l d j o i n h i m f i r s t . I n t h a t c a s e , i t i s n o t

l i k e l y I s h o u l d h a v e l i v e d t e n m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e r e t u r n o f t h e

s u b - c h i e f , f o r G e r o n i m o ' s i d e a s o f h o n o r w e r e m u c h t h e s a m e

a s t h a t o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f h i s r a c e . E v e n E l - t i n - w a , w i t h h i s

u n d o u b t e d " p u l l , " w o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o s a v e m e .

H e t a l k e d l o n g a n d e a r n e s t l y w i t h t h e l e a d e r , a n d f i n a l l y

p r e v a i l e d . I d o n o t k n o w , a n d h e n e v e r t o l d m e , w h a t w a s

s a i d , b u t I a m m o r a l l y s u r e t h a t J e n n i n g s s t a k e d h i s o w n l i f e

o n t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e p l a n h e h a d f o r m u l a t e d.

" H e a g r e e s t o i t , " h e s a i d i n h i s p l e a s a n t v o i c e , " a n d s i n c e

h e i s l i a b l e t o c h a n g e h i s m i n d , w e wi l l n o t d e l a y ; c o m e w i t h

m e . "

And, turning my back upon that group of bloody mis-

c r e a n t s , I w a l k e d a s c a l m l y u p t h e r a v i n e a s i f l e a v i n g a p a r t y

o f f r i e n d s . I n o t i c e d t h a t J e n n i n g s k e p t j u s t b e h i n d m e , a s

i f t o i n t e r p o s e h i s b o d y a s a s h i e l d . We had hardly tu rned

t h e c o r n e r o f t h e p a s s a g e w h e n h e s a i d i n a l o w v o i c e

" L e t u s c l i m b o u t h e r e ; t u r n t o t h e r i g h t ; I g u e s s i t i s s a f e

f o r m e t o l e a d . "




H e p l a c e d h i m s e l f i n t h e a d v a n c e , a n d c l i m b e d g r a c e f u l l y

u p t h e s l o p i n g s i d e o f t h e d r y c a n o n . I h a d l e f t m y r e v o l v e r

and sword behind . I should have been glad to get them

a g a i n , b u t i t w a s n ' t w o r t h w h i l e f o r m e t o a s k f o r t h e i r r e t u r n .

J e n n i n g s h i m s e l f , s o f a r a s I c o u l d s e e , h a d n o w e a p o n s w i t h

h i m .

T h e p e c u l i a r s i t u a t i o n g a v e s a f e t y t o u s b o t h . No n e o f

t h e A p a c h e s c o u t s w e r e l i k e l y . t o m a k e t r o u b l e , f o r t h e y w o u l d

i d e n t i f y J e n n i n g s a s q u i c k l y a s m e , w h i l e t h e r e v e r s e w o u l d

b e t h e c a s e i f a n y o f o u r o w n p e o p l e o b s e r v e d u s . Impre ssed

w i t h t h i s f a c t , my f r i e n d v e n t u r e d t o t a l k a s w e p i c k e d o u r

w a y t h r o u g h t h e h i l l s t o w a r d t h e c a m p o f L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h .

" J e n n i n g s , " s a i d I i n a g u a r d e d v o i c e , " I o u g h t t o t e l l

y o u t h a t M a r t a n a i s b a d l y , ' a n d p e r h a p s m o r t a l l y , w o u n d e d . "

"I am glad you did not say so where others could have

overheard you . Geronimo knows that he is in your hands

a n d t h a t h e m u s t h a v e b e e n h u r t , e l s e h e w o u l d n ' t h a v e b e e n

c a p t u r e d , b u t h e h a s n o i d e a t h a t i t i s a s b a d a s y o u s a y . "

" S u p p o s e t h e c h i e f d i e s b e f o r e w e r e a c h c a m p ? "

" T h a t s h a l l m a k e n o d i f f e r e n c e s o f a r a s I a m c o n c e r n e d .

I c a n t h i n k o f n o p o s s i b l e c a u s e t h a t w i l l p r e v e n t y o u r s p e e d y

j o i n i n g o f y o u r a f r i e n d s . We have not far to walk, and we

s h a l l g e t t h e r e b e f o r e t h e n e w s c a n r e a c h o u r c a m p . "

T h e s i t u a t i o n , b e i n g s u c h t h a t n e i t h e r o f u s w a s i n p e r s o n a l

p e r i l , m y c o m p a n i o n t a l k e d f r e e l y . We had not gone far

w h e n , b e i n g s l i g h t l y i n a d v a n c e , h e a b r u p t l y s t o p p e d .

" D i d y o u h e a r a n y t h i n g ? " h e a s k e d i n a l o w v o i c e ."No . "

" S o m e o n e i s h o v e r i n g n e a r u s . It may be one of your

s c o u t s o r o n e o f o u r s ; w h o e v e r i t i s m a k e s n o d i f f e r e n c e.

B r o t h e r C h i c h e s t e r , h o w w a s i t y o u f e l l i n t o o u r h a n d s ? "

I b r i e f l y r e l a t e d t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

" N o b r a v e r y o r c a u t i o n c o u l d p r e v e n t s u c h a m i s f o r t u n e ,




e s p e c i a l l y a s t h e o n e s w h o c a p t u r e d y o u w e r e o u t f o r t h e

p u r p o s e o f d o i n g t h a t s o r t o f t h i n g . "

" I a m s u r e , t o o , B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s , t h a t w e h a v e a t r a i t o r

i n o u r c a m p . "

" W h a t c a m p i s n o t t h u s a f f l i c t e d ? " w a s h i s n o n - c o m m i t t a l

r e s p o n s e .

W e w e r e s t i l l f a c i n g e a c h o t h e r , a n d I d e t e r m i n e d t o p r e s s

the questi on that had caus ed me and Lieutenan t Smith so

m u c h m e n t a l d i s t u r b a n c e . He opened the way .

"Do you know who your traitor is?"

" I r e c e i v e d p r o o f t o - n i g h t t h a t c a n n o t b e q u e s t i o n e d . "

"May I as k who he i s?"

I s a w n o r e a s o n w h y I s h o u l d w i t h h o l d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n .

" V i k k a , t h e m o s t s k i l f u l s c o u t w i t h u s . "

A t t h i s m o m e n t t h e m o o n l i g h t f e l l f u l l u p o n t h e f a c e o f

m y f r i e n d , a n d I n o t e d h i s d o u b t i n g s m i l e . He slowly sh ook

h i s h e a d .

"You are mis taken . "

I f l u s h e d i n d i g n a n t l y a t t h i s a t t e m p t t o s c r e e n a m i s c r e a n t .

" Y o u f o r g e t t h a t I h a v e h a d t h e p r o o f . "

"What was that proof?"

" I s a w h i m a n d G e r o n i m o i n c o n f i d e n t i a l c o n v e r s e h a r d l y

two hours ago . "

" W i l l y o u b e g o o d e n o u g h t o g i v e m e t h e p a r t i c u l a r s ? "

I d i d s o . C l e a r l y h e w a s a s t o n i s h e d t h a t I s h o u l d h a v e

remained crouc hing so near without being discovered by

e i t h e r .

"Did you hear what was said by them?""No ; a n d h a d I b e e n a b l e t o d o s o , I s h o u l d n o t h a v e

understood a word. "

" Y o u s a y t h a t V i k k a h e l d h i s b l a n k e t s o f a r u p a b o u t h i s

s h o u l d e r s t h a t y o u c o u l d n o t s e e h i s f a c e u n t i l h e t u r n e d a w a y

a f t e r t h e c h i e f h a d l e f t ? "



70 Lo w T w e l v e

" S u c h w a s h i s a c t i o n . "

"Can you explain w h y V i k k a s h o u l d t a k e s u c h p a i n s t o

c o n c e a l h i s c o u n t e n a n c e ? "

" O n l y o n t h e s u p p o s i t i o n t h a t h e f e a r e d s o m e o f h i s c o m -

p a n i o n s m i g h t b e n e a r , t o w h o m h i s i d e n t i t y o t h e r w i s e w o u l d

have become known . "

" I f t h a t w e r e t h e f a c t , h e w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n s o q u i c k t o

r e v e a l i t t o y o u w h e n h e t u r n e d t o g o a w a y . That was not

t h e c a s e . T h e r e a s o n f o r h i s p e c u l i a r a c t i o n w a s t h a t h e

d i d n o t w i s h G e r o n i m o t o r e c o g n i z e h i m . H e k e p t h i s f a c e

c o v e r e d a n d s p o k e i n l o w t o n e s a n d , s o f a r a s h e w a s a b l e , i n

a d i s g u i s e d v o i c e . H i s a i m w a s t o m a k e t h e c h i e f t h i n k h e

wa s s o m e other person-the o n e w h o h a d s e r v e d h i m b e f o r e . "

" Y o u m e a n t h a t h e t o o k t h e p l a c e o f t h e r e a l t r a i t o r a n d

fooled Geronimo?"

" N o t q u i t e . R a t h e r , h e t r i e d t o d o t h a t , b u t f a i l e d , t h o u g h

h e d i d n o t s u s p e c t i t . G e r o n i m o p e n e t r a t e d t h e d e c e p t i o n ,

b u t k e p t t h e f a c t f r o m V i k k a , w h o n e v e r s u s p e c t e d t h a t h i s

t r i c k h a d b e e n r e a d . "

" H o w , t h e n , d o y o u e x p l a i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h r o u g h V i k k a

y o u r l e a d e r l e a r n e d t h e t r u t h , f o r w h e n w e r u s h e d y o u r c a m p

s o o n a f t e r a l l y o u r p e o p l e h a d f l e d ? "

The man was still smil ing as he made answer

" V i k k a a s s u r e d h i m t h a t y o u r t r o o p e r s w e r e s e v e r a l m i l e s

d i s t a n t . Knowing who said these words, Geron imo saw he

w a s l y i n g , a n d t h a t t h e o p p o s i t e w a s t h e f a c t ; h e a c t e d u p o n

t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n . I h a v e g i v e n y o u t h e t r u t h . "

" W e h a v e a t r a i t o r a m o n g u s f o r a l l t h a t , a n d y o u r l e a d e r

m a y h a v e l e a r n e d t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n t h r o u g h h i m . "

"No ; h e h a s b e e n u n a b l e t o h o l d a n y c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h

t h e m a n f o r t w o d a y s . H e w a s o n t h e l o o k o u t f o r h i m w h e n

V i k k a a p p e a r e d w i t h h i s a t t e m p t a t p e r s o n a t i n g t h e o t h e r

f e l l o w . "




" W h o i s t h i s f e l l o w ? "

" S u r e l y y o u c a n n o t e x p e c t m e t o n a m e h i m . I a m a f r i e n d

of the Apaches, an d it would be base dishon or for me to

b e t r a y o u r a l l y . I c a n n o t p e r m i t y o u , h o w e v e r , t o b e u n j u s t

t o a f a i t h f u l s c o u t . V i k k a i s u n a p p r o a c h a b l e f r o m o u r s i d e .

I know that of my own personal kno wledge . "

I t g a v e m e i m m e a s u r a b l e r e l i e f t o r e c e i v e t h i s a s s u r a n c e .

I c o u l d n o t r e f u s e t o a c c e p t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n . A g r o s s i n -

j u s t i c e h a d b e e n d o n e V i k k a , a n d I l o n g e d f o r t h e c h a n c e t o

r e a s s u r e L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h .

B u t w h o w a s t h e t r a i t o r ? D e s p i t e t h e v a l u e o f t h e m i n -

u t e s a n d t h e p r u d e n c e o f o u r g e t t i n g b a c k t o c a m p w i t h o u t

d e l a y , I r a c k e d m y b r a i n i n t h e e f f o r t t o s o l v e t h e t o r t u r i n g

problem . I h a s t i l y r a n o v e r t h e n a m e s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t s c o u t s .

T h e o n l y o n e u p o n w h o m I c o u l d h a n g a s u s p i c i o n w a s C h a t o ,

t h e c o u s i n o f G e r o n i m o , b u t h e w a s n o t w i t h u s j u s t t h e n , a n d

I r e f l e c t e d , t o o , t h a t n o n e o f u s k n e w a n y t h i n g p o s i t i v e a g a i n s t

h i m . I t w a s h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e W a r m S p r i n g l e a d e r t h a t

c a u s e d d i s t r u s t .

" W e l l , " s a i d I w i t h a s i g h , " t h i s b u s i n e s s i s c o s t i n g b o t h

s i d e s d e a r . You have lost some of your best men an d so

have we . O n e o f o u r f i n e s t s c o u t s w a s k i l l e d t o - n i g h t , b e -

s i d e s s e v e r a l w h o w e r e h u r t . "

" W h o o f y o u r s c o u t s h a s f a l l e n ? "

" P e d r o , t h e e q u a l a l m o s t o f V i k k a . I n e v e r s a w a b r a v e r

f e l l o w . He faltered before no danger . "

I n o t e d t h e s t a r t o f J e n n i n g s . H e w a s r e s t i n g e a s i l y o n

o n e f o o t , b u t s t r a i g h t e n e d u p a n d a s k e d i n a n e x c i t e d u n d e r -

t o n e :

"Are you sur e Pedro is dead?"

" T h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n a b o u t i t ; I s a w h i s b o d y . "

" Y o u h a v e l o o s e d m y l i p s ; n o w t h a t t h e s c o u t i s n o m o r e ,

I w i l l t e l l y o u t h a t he was the friend of ours who served




u s b e s t b y s t a y i n g i n y o u r c a m p ; i t w a s h i s p l a c e t h a t V i k k a

a t t e m p t e d t o t a k e ; h e b e l i e v e s h e s u c c e e d e d i n d e c e i v i n g

Geronimo, when it was Geronimo who deceived him . "

" I t l o o k s , t h e n , a s i f V i k k a k n e w o f t h e t r e a c h e r y o f

Pedro . "

" T h e r e c a n b e n o q u e s t i o n o f t h a t . If any proof were

a s k e d , i t w a s g i v e n b y t h e v i o l e n t d e a t h o f P e d r o . "

" Y o u d o n ' t m e a n t o s a y t h a t V i k k a" C e r t a i n l y ; i t w a s V i k k a w h o d r o v e h i s k n i f e i n t o h i s

b r e a s t , a s s o o n a s h e g o t t h e c h a n c e , a f t e r h e l e a r n e d t h e

t r u t h . "

" B u t h o w d i d h e l e a r n t h e t r u t h ? "

" O f t h a t I c a n n o t b e c e r t a i n , b u t m y b e l i e f i s t h a t w h e n

G e r o n i m o f i r s t m e t V i k k a b e t w e e n t h e l i n e s h e d i d n o t s u s -

p e c t t h e d e c e p t i o n . Probably he pronounced the name of

Pedro and thus gave him away . Vikka must have known

t h a t s o m e t h i n g o f t h a t n a t u r e w a s a f o o t , a n d h e i s s h r e w d

e n o u g h t o d i s t r u s t t h e r i g h t p e r s o n . "

I t w a s o n m y t o n g u e t o a s k a p o i n t e d q u e s t i o n o r t w o o f

a p e r s o n a l n a t u r e , t h e a n s w e r t o w h i c h w o u l d h a v e e x p l a i n e d

how it was that the man who had spent most of h is life

w i t h t h e C h i p p e w a I n d i a n s w a s n o w l i v i n g h u n d r e d s o f m i l e s

away from their hunting grounds among the unspeakable

Apach es ; b u t I w a s h a r d l y j u s t i f i e d i n p r o b i n g t h e m a t t e r .

" I t h i n k w e h a v e b e e n s c r u t i n i z e d s u f f i c i e n t l y , " q u i e t l y

a d d e d m y g u i d e , " a n d n o w w e w i l l r e t u r n t o y o u r c a m p , w h i c h

i s c l o s e a t h a n d . "



V ILIEUTENANT SMITH had become much disturbed

o v e r m y a b s e n c e , a n d i t w a s a v a s t r e l i e f t o h i m w h e n I

walked into camp with my companion, whom I introdu ced

w i t h a s t a t e m e n t o f t h e b u s i n e s s u p o n w h i c h h e h a d c o m e .

I t w a s t h e f i r s t i n t i m a t i o n t h a t o u r c o m m a n d e r h a d o f t h e

p r e s e n c e o f a w h i t e m a n w i t h G e r o n i m o ' s b a n d . H i s a s t o n -

i s h m e n t w a s g r e a t , b u t h e w a s t o o m u c h o f a g e n t l e m a n t o

e x p r e s s h i s f e e l i n g s i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e v i s i t o r . Being

d r e s s e d l i k e a n A p a c h e , i t w a s e a s y t o t a k e J e n n i n g s f o r

o n e , s o l o n g a s h e k e p t a t a d i s t a n c e .

M o s t o f t h e t r o o p e r s a n d s e v e r a l o f t h e s c o u t s g a t h e r e d

r o u n d u s t h r e e a n d l i s t e n e d w i t h i n t e n s e i n t e r e s t t o o u r w o r d s .

The racking headache which had tormented me was almost

e n t i r e l y g o n e , a n d n a t u r a l l y I w a s i n h i g h s p i r i t s o v e r t h e

s i t u a t i o n .

" I t i s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t w e h a v e e x c h a n g e d p r i s o n e r s w i t h

Geronimo, " said the lieutenant , "but I shall be glad to

keep up the custom, including other usages of honorable

warfare . "

" T h a n k y o u ; n o t h i n g w o u l d p l e a s e m e m o r e . Y o u m u s t

make some allowance for uncivilized men who are pressed

d e s p e r a t e l y h a r d . We have been a lon g time on our way

h e r e , a n d I s h a l l b e g l a d t o a c c o m p a n y y o u r p r i s o n e r b a c k

to our camp . "

" A n d h e w i l l b e e q u a l l y g l a d , n o d o u b t , t o g o w i t h y o u ;

y o n d e r h e l i e s , a p p a r e n t l y a s l e e p , o n t h a t b l a n k e t , w h i c h I

p l a c e d a t h i s d i s p o s a l . "

I t w i l l b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t n o f i r e w a s i n t h e c a m p , a p a r t

o f w h i c h w a s i n s h a d o w , t h o u g h b y t h i s t i m e t h e m o o n w a s

h i g h i n t h e s k y , a n d w h e n n o t h i d d e n b y c l o u d s , a f l o o d o f

l i g h t b a t h e d t h e e a r t h . A few paces beyond where we stood



74 Lo w T w e l v e

a d a r k , s i l e n t f o r m w a s l y i n g , a s i f t h e m a n f e l t n o i n t e r e s t

in what was going on around him .

Jennings walked over to him, stoo ped and touched his

s h o u l d e r , s a y i n g s o m e t h i n g i n A p a c h e . T h e r e w a s n o r e p l y ,

a n d h e b e n t l o w e r . A m o m e n t f o l l o w e d a n d t h e n h e s t r a i g h t -

e n e d u p .

" C h i e f M a r t a n a i s d e a d I " h e s a i d w i t h m o r e e x c i t e m e n t i n

h i s v o i c e t h a n I h a d e v e r h e a r d .

" I t c a n ' t b e ! " e x c l a i m e d S m i t h , a s h e a n d I h u r r i e d t o h i s

s i d e .

N o n e t h e l e s s , i t w a s t r u e . T h e p o o r f e l l o w , s t r e t c h e d o n

t h e b l a n k e t , h a d q u i e t l y b r e a t h e d o u t h i s l i f e u n n o t i c e d b y

t h o s e a r o u n d h i m . H i s b o d y w a s s t i l l w a r m , a n d h e h a d b e e n

d e a d b u t a s h o r t t i m e .

"I cannot tel l you ho w sorry I am , Mr . J e n n i n g s , " s a i d

t h e l i e u t e n a n t , w h o s i n c e r e l y r e g r e t t e d t h e u n f o r t u n a t e o c c u r -

r e n c e .

" S b a m I , " r e s p o n d e d J e n n i n g s , " a n d y e t n o o n e i s b l a m -

a b l e f o r i t . T h e m o s t t h a t c a n b e s a i d i s t h a t f a t e h a s g i v e n

y o u t h e a d v a n t a g e . "

T h e p e c u l i a r d e l i c a c y o f t h e s i t u a t i o n m u s t h a v e s t r u c k

all three of us at the same moment . I had been sent

into camp i n exchange for Martana, who was no lon ger

among the living . Geronimo had performed his part of

t h e b a r g a i n , o r i g i n a l l y p r o p o s e d b y h i m . It was out of

o u r p o w e r t o f u l f i l l o u r p a r t . What did honor require of

m e ?

A t f i r s t b l u s h i t w o u l d s e e m t h a t I s h o u l d g o b a c k t o t h e

A p a c h e c a m p w i t h m y c o n d u c t o r , t h u s r e s t o r i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n

t o w h a t i t w a s a t f i r s t .

B u t d i d e q u i t y d e m a n d t h e s a c r i f i c e ? Were we dealing

w i t h a c i v i l i z e d e n e m y , t h e r e c o u l d b e o n l y o n e a n s w e r ; b u t

i f I v o l u n t a r i l y p l a c e d m y s e l f i n t h e p o w e r o f t h e m e r c i l e s s




A p a c h e s , i t w o u l d b e s u i c i d e o n m y p a r t . N o t a n i n s t a n t ' s

mercy would be shown me .

L i e u t e n a n t S m i t h w a s t h e f i r s t t o s p e a k .

"I rep eat, Mr . J e n n i n g s , t h a t I a m e x t r e m e l y s o r r y f o r

t h i s . You will report my words to Geronimo, and assure

h i m t h a t i f a t a n y t i m e i n t h e f u t u r e o n e o f h i s c h i e f s o r

w a r r i o r s f a l l s i n t o o u r h a n d s , h e s h a l l b e i m m e d i a t e l y r e -

t u r n e d t o h i m . T h a t i s t h e m o s t I c a n s a y , f o r i n n o c i r c u m -

s t a n c e s w i l l I p e r m i t L i e u t e n a n t C h i c h e s t e r t o g o b a c k t o

your camp . "

" A n d I m a y a d d t h a t i f y o u g a v e s u c h p e r m i s s i o n , I s h o u l d

r e f u s e t o t a k e h i m w i t h m e t o c e r t a i n d e a t h . "

" A n d i f y o u w i l l a l l o w a w o r d f r o m m e , n o p e r m i s s i o n o f

t h e l i e u t e n a n t n o r w i s h o f M r . Jenni ngs would indu ce me

t o w a l k i n t o t h e l i o n ' s d e n a g a i n . So that p h a s e o f t h e q u e s -

t i o n i s c l o s e d . That whic h now con cerns m e, Mr . J e n n i n g s ,

i s h o w t h i s i s g o i n g t o a f f e c t y o u . "

"What do you mean?" asked my friend .

"Will Geronimo accept your explanation ? Will he not

b e l i e v e t h a t w e a r e r e t a i n i n g M a r t a n a a l i v e , o r , i f h e i s d e a d ,

t h a t h e w a s s l a i n b y u s a f t e r c a p t u r e ? "

" I w i l l a t t e n d t o t h a t , " r e p l i e d J e n n i n g s w i t h a s h r u g o f h i s

m a s s i v e s h o u l d e r s . " G e n t l e m e n , I b i d y o u g o o d - e v e n i n g . "

And without another word he walked from the camp,

w h i l e w e g a z e d s i l e n t l y a f t e r h i m , h a r d l y a b l e f o r t h e m o m e n t

t o t a k e i n t h e w h o l e s i t u a t i o n . H e m u s t i n c u r s o m e r i s k f r o m

o u r s c o u t s , s o m e o f w h o m w e r e s t i l l o u t , a n d c o u l d n o t k n o w

o f w h a t h a d o c c u r r e d , b u t h e f e l t e q u a l t o t h e t a s k , a n d I m a y

as well say that he rejoined Geronimo without harm from

o u r s i d e .

A s s o o n a s I c o u l d g e t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y I t o l d L i e u t e n a n t

Smith what I had l earned fr om Jennings concer ning Vikka

and Pedro . H e w a s a m aze d .



76 Lo w T w e l v e

" T o t h i n k t h a t n e i t h e r o f u s s u s p e c t e d P e d r o , b u t d i s -

t r u s t e d t h e f a i t h f u l V i k k a . O u r o n l y c o n s o l a t i o n i s t h a t h e

n e e d n e v e r k n o w o f t h e s h a m e f u l i n j u s t i c e w e d i d h i m . Well ,

Pedro has met a deserved fate at the hands of our most

l o y a l s c o u t . "

" I d i d n o t s e e V i k k a a m o n g t h o s e i n c a m p . "

"H e i s o u t s o m e w h e r e o n d u t y . L i e u t e n a n t , w h i l e

y o u h a v e b e e n f o r t u n a t e i n t h u s c o m i n g b a c k , t h e A p a c h e s

h a v e g a i n e d a n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a d v a n t a g e o v e r u s . "

"I do not understand. "

" T h e s i n g u l a r s i t u a t i o n t h a t d e v e l o p e d h a s c h e c k e d o u r

p u r s u i t f o r a c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r v a l . T h e h o s t i l e s h a v e i m -

p r o v e d t h e c h a n c e a n d a r e m a k i n g o f f i n a l l h a s t e . "

"But they expected t he wounded Martana to join them . "

" T w o o r t h r e e w a r r i o r s h a v e s t a y e d b e h i n d t o r e c e i v e h i m ,

i n t e n d i n g w h e n h e c a m e u p t o p l a c e h i m o n a h o r s e a n d h u r r y

a f t e r t h e m a i n b a n d . I t i s n e a r m o r n i n g , a n d w e m u s t l o s e

no more time . "

E v e n w h i l e h e s p o k e a f a i n t l i g h t i n g u p o f t h e e a s t e r n s k y

s h o w e d . S o o n t h e s u n w o u l d t o u c h t h e h o r i z o n a n d a n o t h e r

hard day's work was before us .

" I s h o u l d b e g l a d t o g i v e M a r t a n a a s o l d i e r ' s b u r i a l , " s a i d

t h e o f f i c e r , " b u t t h e b e s t w e c a n d o i s t o t r e a t h i m a s w e t r e a t

t h o s e s c o u t s o f o u r s w h o f a l l a t t h e p o s t o f d u t y . "

S o t h e b l a n k e t w a s c a r e f u l l y g a t h e r e d a r o u n d t h e b r o n z e d

f o r m a s i t l a y f l a t o n t h e e a r t h , a n d t h u s i t w a s l e f t .

" S o m e o f t h e i r s c o u t s w i l l p r o b a b l y v i s i t o u r c a m p a f t e r

w e l e a v e ; i f t h e y h a v e a n y d o u b t o f t h e t r u t h , t h e y w i l l b e

c o n v i n c e d b y a n e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e b o d y , u n l e s s , " g r i m l y

a d d e d t h e o f f i c e r , " t h e y d o n ' t w a n t t o b e c o n v i n c e d . "

B e f o r e w e s t a r t e d V i k k a a n d J i m c a m e i n , b r i n g i n g t h e

m e s s a g e t h a t w e a n t i c i p a t e d . The main body of hostiles

w e r e w e l l t h r o u g h t h e m o u n t a i n s p u r a n d i n t h e r o u g h r e g i o n




b e y o n d , p u s h i n g w i t h a l l h a s t e s o u t h w a r d . I t w o u l d t a k e

t h e h a r d e s t k i n d o f r i d i n g t o o v e r t a k e t h e m b e f o r e n i g h t f a l l .

B u t w e w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o d o i t . Horses and men were re-

f r e s h e d f r o m t h e i r r e s t a n d f o o d , a n d w e o u g h t t o c o v e r a

g o o d m a n y m i l e s b e f o r e t h e i n t o l e r a b l e s p l e n d o r o f t h e s u m -

mer day burst upon us .

At the mome nt of start ing Smith said

" L i e u t e n a n t , I d o n ' t f e e l e a s y a b o u t t h a t f r i e n d o f y o u r s .

He is going to have a hard time to squ are matters with

G e r o n i m o . D o y o u t h i n k y o u c a n m a k e y o u r w a y b a c k t o t h e

p l a c e w h e r e y o u l e f t t h e A p a c h e s ? "

" I t h i n k s o , b u t i t w i l l b e b e t t e r i f I t a k e o n e o f o u r s c o u t s

with me . "

"Choose your man . "

"He is Vikka . I w i l l t e l l h i m e v e r y t h i n g , e x c e p t i n g t h a t

e i t h e r y o u o r I e v e r d i s t r u s t e d h i m . "

W e l e f t o u r p o n i e s w i t h t h e m a i n b o d y , w h o w e r e t o b e

guided over a trail well known to our scouts, while the

v e t e r a n a n d m y s e l f m a d e o u r w a y b y f o o t t o t h e r a v i n e d o w n

w h i c h I h a d b e e n c o n d u c t e d s o m e t i m e b e f o r e a s a c a p t i v e ,

to whom all prospect of escape was closed . Before we

r e a c h e d t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s p a r t o f o u r v e n t u r e I c o m p e l l e d

m y c o m p a n i o n t o a n s w e r s e v e r a l q u e s t i o n s . He had to ld me

w e w e r e l i k e l y t o c o m e u p o n t h e A p a c h e s w h o w e r e w a i t i n g

t o r e c e i v e M a r t a n a , t h o u g h t h e y w o u l d n o t s t a y l o n g a f t e r

l e a r n i n g t h e t r u t h .

I b e g a n b y t e l l i n g V i k k a t h a t I w i t n e s s e d t h e m e e t i n g

between him and Geronimo, being less than a do zen yards

a w a y f r o m t h e m d u r i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w . T h e f e l l o w w a s a s t o n -

i s h e d a n d c o u l d h a r d l y b e l i e v e i t . I d e s c r i b e d t h e m o v e m e n t

o f e a c h a n d t o l d h o w h e d r o p p e d h i s b l a n k e t f r o m h i s f a c e

after the departure of the chief and when the scout had

t u r n e d h i s b a c k u p o n h i m . " T h a t s o - t h a t s o , " h e r e p l i e d



78 Lo w T w e l v e

w i t h a g r i n . We had stopped for the exchange of a few

w o r d s , f o r t h e s i t u a t i o n g a v e u s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y . W i t h a

s m i l e t h a t d i s c l o s e d h i s g l e a m i n g w h i t e t e e t h , h e a s k e d :

"Why me put blanket over face ?"

" Y o u d i d t h a t t o p r e v e n t G e r o n i m o s e e i n g w h o y o u w e r e "

"Me fool him-me what you say, 'shet up his eye .'"

" N o , y o u d i d n ' t ; he may not hav e known you by name,

b u t h e s o o n f o u n d o u t t h a t y o u w e r e n o t t h e f e l l o w h e w a s

e x p e c t i n g . "

"He call me 'Pedro'-he think me Pedro . "

" H e d i d s o a t f i r s t , b u t i t t o o k h i m o n l y a m i n u t e t o l e a r n

t h e t r u t h . "

"H ow y o u k n o w d a t ? "

" T h a t m a n w h o b r o u g h t m e i n t o c a m p t o l d m e . G e r o n i m o

l e t y o u t h i n k y o u h a d f o o l e d h i m , b u t y o u d i d n ' t . You to ld

him our men were miles away . "

"Yes, me tole him dat . "

" B u t d i d n ' t y o u s e e f r o m w h a t f o l l o w e d t h a t h e d i d n ' t

b e l i e v e y o u ? H e k n e w y o u w e r e n o t t e l l i n g t h e t r u t h a n d h e

broke camp in a hurry . "

" D a t s o , " s a i d m y f r i e n d , a s i f c o m m u n i n g w i t h h i m s e l f ;

" m e t h i n k P e d r o t o l e h i m , b u t d a t c o u l d n o t b e . "

"W h y n o t ?"

" H e d i d n o t g e t c h a n c e , " w a s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t r e s p o n s e .

W i t h n o d o u b t a s t o h o w P e d r o h a d b e e n r e m o v e d h e n c e ,

I d i d n o t p r e s s t h e q u e s t i o n t h a t n a t u r a l l y r o s e i n m y m i n d .

When I had no thought of anything of the kind, the

s t i l e t t o t h r u s t c a m e . . Vikka gave an od d chuckle , and with

a q u e e r t u r n o f h i s h e a d s a i d :

" Y o u t h i n k m e a c t l i k e P e d r o ; L e f t e n ' S m i t h , h e t h i n k s o -

t h i n k s o s o m e t i m e . "

I w a s f r i g h t f u l l y e m b a r r a s s e d , b u t g o t o u t o f i t b e t t e r t h a n

I d e s e r v e d .



II

I t w a s a n i g h t o f t r a g e d y "




"Can't you imagine how I felt when I saw you talking

t o G e r o n i m o , w h e r e y o u d i d n ' t b e l i e v e a n y o n e e l s e c o u l d

k n o w i t ? I d i d f e e l b a d , V i k k a . "

"Leften ' Smith-h e not see me . "

" B u t I t o l d h i m a b o u t i t . "

" H e t h i n k s o a f o r e - y o u t h i n k s o a f o r e , e h ? "

" W e l l , w e s h a l l n e v e r d o u b t y o u a g a i n ; e v e n i f I s e e y o u

with your arm about the neck of Geronimo and your lips

a g a i n s t h i s c h e e k , I s h a l l k n o w i t i s n o t y o u , b u t s o m e b o d y

e l s e . "

T h i s b r i l l i a n t w i t t i c i s m w a s s a t i s f a c t o r y . Vikka might

well claim he had the lau gh on us, and I did not grudge

h i m h i s t r i u m p h . We resumed our adv ance up the ravine ,

a n d , a t h i s s u g g e s t i o n , I d r o p p e d b e h i n d u n t i l h e c o u l d g o

forward and reconnoitre . It might be that some of our

e n e m i e s w e r e n e a r , a n d i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o b e t o o c a r e f u l .

T h e s c o u t h a d n o t b e e n a b s e n t f r o m m y s i g h t t e n m i n u t e s

w h e n I h e a r d h i s g u a r d e d s i g n a l . I t w a s a c a l l f o r m e t o

j o i n h i m , a n d I d i d s o . A s I t u r n e d t h e b e n d i n t h e g o r g e

h e w a s s t a n d i n g u p r i g h t o n t h e s p o t w h e r e I h a d l e f t t h e

d o z e n h o s t i l e s w h e n B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s s t a r t e d f o r o u r c a m p

w i t h m e i n c h a r g e .

Even before I reached hi m I saw the form at his feet .

I t w a s a n i g h t o f t r a g e d y , a n d i n t h e d i m m o r n i n g l i g h t w e

h a d c o m e u p o n a n o t h e r v i c t i m o f a t r o c i t y . I i d e n t i f i e d t h e

body as that of Jared J. J e n n i n g s .

H e w a s l y i n g o n h i s s i d e , a s i f i n a c a l m s l u m b e r , b u t i t

w a s t h e s l u m b e r w h i c h s h a l l k n o w n o w a k i n g u n t i l t h e s o u n d -

i n g o f t h e l a s t t r u m p .

V i k k a h a d r e a d t h e w h o l e s a d s t o r y . S o h a d I , a n d n e e d e d

no enlightenment from him . T h e m a n h a d r e t u r n e d t o

G e r o n i m o w i t h o u t t h e s u b - c h i e f w h o m h e w a s t o b r i n g b a c k

i n e x c h a n g e f o r m e , a n d w i t h o u t m e a l s o . When an exp lana-



8 2 Low T w e l v e

t i o n w a s d e m a n d e d , h e t o l d t h e t r u t h . Marta na was dead, a

fact which was not discovered u ntil I was among my own

p e o p l e . M a r t a n a h a d d i e d o n t h e i r h a n d s w i t h o u t a n y b l a m e

o n t h e i r p a r t . I h a d r e f u s e d t o r e t u r n w i t h h i m , a n d t h e

v i s i t o r c o u l d n o t c o m p e l m e t o d o s o . Lieut enan t Smith h ad

s e n t t h e p l e d g e t h a t i f a t a n y t i m e o n e o f G e r o n i m o ' s w a r r i o r s

f e l l i n t o t h e h a n d s o f t h e w h i t e m e n , h e s h o u l d b e r e t u r n e d

s a f e l y t o t h e b a n d . Thus the exchange would be effected

s o o n e r o r l a t e r , a n d t h e b a r g a i n c a r r i e d o u t i n s p i r i t a n d

l e t t e r .

W i t h i n t h e s a m e m i n u t e t h a t J e n n i n g s , o r E l - t i n - w a , d e -

l i v e r e d t h i s m e s s a g e , h e d i e d , s t r i c k e n d o w n b y t h e h a n d o f

G e r o n i m o h i m s e l f . In his flaming rage, the remorse-

less chieftain believed that the white man had betrayed

him for the purpose of befriending a stranger of his

o w n r a c e .

H o w d i d I l e a r n t h e s e p a r t i c u l a r s ? The main fact was

s e l f - e v i d e n t w h e n I l o o k e d d o w n o n w h a t w a s l e f t o f t h e p o o r

f e l l o w w h o h a d r e a l l y g i v e n h i s l i f e f o r m e . Nearly twenty

y e a r s l a t e r , w h e n G e r o n i m o w a s a n o l d m a n a n d a p r i s o n e r ,

I q u e s t i o n e d h i m . H e s u r l i l y r e f u s e d t o t e l l m e a n y t h i n g ,

b u t I s e c u r e d t h e h e l p o f V i k k a , w h o w a s a b l e t o d r a w o u t

t h e v e n e r a b l e s c a m p , a n d p i e c e m e a l h e t o l d t h e t r u t h o f o n e

o f t h e m a n y a t r o c i o u s c r i m e s o f w h i c h h e h a d b e e n g u i l t y ,

t h o u g h y o u w i l l f i n d n o m e n t i o n o f i t ( n o r o f m a n y o t h e r s )

i n h i s b i o g r a p h y l a t e l y p u b l i s h e d .

T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g t h a t I c o u l d d o f o r B r o t h e r J e n n i n g s .

H e l a y a s h e h a d f a l l e n , a n d , t h o u g h h i s b l o o d h a d d y e d t h e

g r o u n d , o n e a r m w a s b e n t u n d e r t h e s i d e o f h i s h e a d , a s i f

h e h a d l a i n d o w n t o p e a c e f u l s l u m b e r . N e i t h e r V i k k a n o r I

had our blanket with us, or we should have wrappe d him

u p i n i t ; b u t w e d r e w h i m t o o n e s i d e o f t h e c a n o n , c a r e f u l l y

c o m p o s e d h i s s t i f f e n i n g l i m b s , a n d l e f t h i m t h e r e .



Lo w T w e l v e 83

A s I l o o k e d d o w n i n t h a t p a l e c o u n t e n a n c e , w h i c h I h a d

f i r s t s e e n i n s u c h d i f f e r e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I m u r m u r e d :

" I t i s l i t t l e t h a t I k n o w o f y o u e x c e p t t h a t y o u g a v e y o u r

l i f e f o r m e , a n d g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t n o m a n c a n g i v e . W o u l d

t h a t i t h a d b e e n m i n e t o t h a n k y o u . Whatever fault you

may have had, or whatever ill you may have done-and who

o f u s h a s n o t g o n e a s t r a y ? - s u r e l y i t h a s b e e n a t o n e d f o r b y

t h i s . Re q u i e s c a t i n p a c e . "

Regarding this re marka ble man, who gave his name as

J a r e d J . Jennings, and who was known amo ng the In dians

a s E l - t i n - w a , I h a v e c o n s u l t e d w i t h m a n y a n d s e t w h a t i n v e s t i -

g a t i o n s I c o u l d o n f o o t . T h e t h e o r y w h i c h i s t h e m o s t r e a s o n -

a b l e , i n m y j u d g m e n t , i s t h a t h e w e n t a m o n g t h e C h i p p e w a

I n d i a n s , a s h e c l a i m e d t o h a v e d o n e , w h e n q u i t e y o u n g , t h a t

h e m a r r i e d o n e o f t h e t r i b e , a n d t w o c h i l d r e n w e r e b o r n t o

t h e c o u p l e . T h e d e a t h s o f t h e s e a n d t h e i r m o t h e r w e r e d u e

t o w h i t e m e n . I t w a s i m p o s s i b l e t o k n o w t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,

b u t t h e a w f u l b l o w s h a d o w e d J e n n i n g s ' s l i f e . W h o c o u l d

h a v e h a d a m o r e a p p a l l i n g g r i e v a n c e ? I n t h e h o p e o f o v e r -

c o m i n g h i s i n t o l e r a b l e r e s e n t m e n t , h e c a m e E a s t , m i n g l e d

w i t h h i s o w n r a c e , a n d v i s i t e d M a s o n i c l o d g e s , a s h e w a s

e n t i t l e d t o d o . F i n a l l y h i s r e s t l e s s n e s s m a s t e r e d h i m . Hes t a r t e d s u d d e n l y f o r t h e I n d i a n c o u n t r y , r e s o l v e d t o d o a l l i n

h i s p o w e r t o p u n i s h t h o s e w h o h a d w r e c k e d h i s l i f e .

I t m a y h a v e b e e n t h a t h e h a d s e t t l e d l o n g b e f o r e w i t h t h e

d i r e c t l y g u i l t y , bu t i f s o , i t d i d n o t s u f f i c e h i m . He forswore

h i s r a c e .

T h e C h i p p e w a s a t t h a t t i m e , a n d i n d e e d f o r a l o n g t i m e

b e f o r e , w e r e o n t h e b e s t o f t e r m s w i t h t h e w h i t e s , a n d h e

c o u l d n o t w o r k o u t h i s t e r r i b l e p r o g r a m m e a m o n g t h e m . So

h e m a d e h i s w a y t o t h e S o u t h w e s t , w h e r e t h e A p a c h e s w e r e

c o n t i n u a l l y o n t h e w a r p a t h , a n d c a s t i n h i s l o t w i t h t h e m .

M o r e o v e r , t h e s p r i n g o f 1 8 8 5 w a s n o t t h e f i r s t t i m e h e



84 Lo w T w e l v e

w e n t t h i t h e r . He could not have become so familiar with

t h e i r l a n g u a g e a n d w a y s i n t h a t b r i e f i n t e r v a l . C h a t o t o l d m e

h e h a d s e e n h i m w i t h h i s p e o p l e t w o y e a r s b e f o r e h i s d e a t h ,

though Geronimo, when questioned, would never give any

s a t i s f a c t o r y r e p l y .

I m u s t n o t f o r g e t o n e p e c u l i a r f a c t w h i c h i n v o l v e d t h e c a r e e r

o f J e n n i n g s i n s t i l l d e e p e r m y s t e r y . I t w i l l b e r e c a l l e d t h a t

h e s a i d h e w a s b o r n i n t h e c i t y w h e r e I f i r s t s a t i n a l o d g e

w i t h h i m , t h a t a s i s t e r h a d o n l y r e c e n t l y d i e d , a n d t h a t h i s

f a t h e r h a d l i v e d t h e r e f o r a g o o d m a n y y e a r s . A n i n v e s t i g a -

t i o n , c o v e r i n g m a n y m o n t h s , f a i l e d t o d i s c o v e r a n y t r a c e s o f

h i s r e l a t i v e s . T h a t i n o n e r e s p e c t h e t o l d t h e t r u t h I a m

c o n v i n c e d , b u t h e d e e m e d i t b e s t t o h i d e h i s i d e n t i t y u n d e r

a n i m p e n e t r a b l e v e i l b y u s i n g a f i c t i t i o u s n a m e f o r h i m s e l f .

A t a n y r a t e , h e i s e n t i t l e d t o m y g r a t e f u l r e m e m b r a n c e , a n d

s u c h h e s h a l l a l w a y s h a v e .

I n e e d n o t p u r s u e t h e s u b s e q u e n t h i s t o r y o f t h a t l a s t

campaign against Geronimo . No man who has not p assed

t h r o u g h a s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e c a n c o m p r e h e n d t h e s u f f e r i n g s

o f t h o s e t e r r i f y i n g f o u r m o n t h s . T h e t r a i l o f t h e A p a c h e s

c r o s s e d a n d r e c r o s s e d a g a i n a n d a g a i n , a n d l e d t h r o u g h m o u n -

t a i n s s o w i l d t h a t u n t i l t h e n t h e y h a d b e e n d e e m e d i n a c c e s s i b l e

t o w h i t e m e n a t l e a s t . W i t h o u r f o r c e s s t r e n g t h e n e d , w e

k e p t a t i t . S c o u t E d u a r d y i n o n e w e e k r o d e a s i n g l e h o r s e

f i v e h u n d r e d m i l e s , a n d t h e d i s t a n c e w h i c h w e t r a v e r s e d w a s

equal t o that between New York and San Francisco . T h e

r a i d i n g a n d m a s s a c r i n g c o v e r e d a r e g i o n f o u r t i m e s a s l a r g e

as the State of Massachuset ts, and dur ing the campaign

t h r e e t h o u s a n d s o l d i e r s w e r e e n g a g e d o n o u r s i d e o f t h e l i n e

a n d a l m o s t a s m a n y M e x i c a n s s o u t h o f t h e R i o G r a n d e , w h o

w e r e a s r e s o l u t e a s w e t o r u n t h e h u m a n w o l v e s t o e a r t h .

T h r o u g h a t e m p e r a t u r e l i k e t h a t o f t h e i n f e r n a l r e g i o n s ,




G e n e r a l M i l e s p r e s s e d h i s t a s k . The heliograph flashed

o r d e r s f r o m o n e m o u n t a i n p e a k t o a n o t h e r , a n d G e n e r a l L a w -

t o n g a v e t h e h o s t i l e s n o r e s t . F i n a l l y , w o r n o u t a n d e x -

h a u s t e d , t h e y h a l t e d n e a r t h e t o w n o f F r o n t e r a s , i n t h e S i e r r a

Mad re . T h e r e , w h i l e G e r o n i m o w a s t r y i n g t o m a k e a t r e a t y

w i t h t h e M e x i c a n s w h i c h w o u l d a l l o w h i m t o r a i d A m e r i c a n

t e r r i t o r y , h e w a s v i s i t e d b y L i e u t e n a n t C h a r l e s B . G a t e w o o d ,

o f t h e S i x t h C a v a l r y , w h o s p o k e A p a c h e a n d k n e w t h e d e s -

p e r a t e l e a d e r . I n m a k i n g t h i s v i s i t , t h a t o f f i c e r t o o k h i s l i f e

i n h i s h a n d s , b u t b y h i s t a c t h e c o n v i n c e d G e r o n i m o t h a t o n l y

one course was open to him . He took that course and

s u r r e n d e r e d .

So long as he was anywhere in the Southwest, however,

n o n e o f t h e r a n c h m e n f e l t s a f e . C o n s e q u e n t l y h e w a s r e -

m o v e d e a s t w a r d , f a r b e y o n d t h e s c e n e o f h i s f e a r f u l c r i m e s ,

a n d h a s b e e n h e l d t h e r e e v e r s i n c e . The last time I saw

G e r o n i m o w a s a t t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n o f P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t ,

on Marc h 4, 19o5 . T h e o l d m a n , p a s t f o u r - s c o r e , w i t h t h e

t e a r s s t r e a m i n g d o w n h i s w r i n k l e d c h e e k s , b e g g e d t h e P r e s i -

d e n t t o a l l o w h i m t o r e t u r n t o h i s f o r m e r h o m e , f o r h e m u s t

s o o n d i e . T h e P r e s i d e n t t o l d h i m h e h a d b e e n s o b a d t h a t

h e m u s t w a i t a w h i l e l o n g e r , h i n t i n g a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h a t h e

w a s a f r a i d t h a t i f G e r o n i m o s h o w e d h i m s e l f i n s o m e p o r t i o n s

o f t h e S o u t h w e s t h e w o u l d b e k i l l e d b y t h e i n c e n s e d s e t t l e r s ,

who could never forget his wicked deed s, and who would

distrust him, eve n though he had passed far beyond the

a l l o t t e d a g e o f m a n .



V I I

AFTER TEN YEARSON E s u l t r y a f t e r n o o n i n A u g u s t , 1 8 6 9 , I w a s s i t t i n g i n

m y p a r l o r d r o w s i l y r e a d i n g t h e d a i l y p a p e r , w h e n I h e a r d

a q u i c k s t e p u p o n t h e p o r c h , f o l l o w e d b y t h e t i n k l i n g o f t h e

b e l l . W i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r t h e s e r v a n t t o a n s w e r , I s t e p p e d

i n t o t h e h a l l a n d d r e w t h e d o o r o p e n .

I s a w s t a n d i n g b e f o r e m e a m a n i n m i d d l e l i f e , p l a i n l y b u t

n e a t l y d r e s s e d , o f s a n d y c o m p l e x i o n , s m o o t h , p o c k - f r e t t e n

f a c e , p l e a s i n g e x p r e s s i o n a n d a s t r i k i n g b r i g h t n e s s o f m a n n e r .

" G o o d - a f t e r n o o n , s i r , " h e s a i d , w i t h a h a l f m i l i t a r y s a l u t e ;

"are you Mr . E l l i s , M a s t e r o f T r e n t o n L o d g e , N o . 5 ? "

I r e p l i e d i n t h e a f f i r m a t i v e .

" T h e n I h a v e t o s a y t h a t I a m a M a s o n i n d i s t r e s s a n d

h a v e c o m e t o y o u f o r h e l p . "

A t t h a t I i n v i t e d h i m t o e n t e r . S e a t i n g m y s e l f i n f r o n t

o f h i m , I s u b j e c t e d h i m t o a r i g i d e x a m i n a t i o n , w i t h t h e

r e s u l t t h a t I f o u n d h i m o n e o f t h e b r i g h t e s t M a s o n s I e v e r

m e t . H e c o u l d h a v e p r e s i d e d o v e r a n y l o d g e a n d c o n f e r r e d

a n y a n d a l l o f t h e d e g r e e s w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t h i t c h . S a t i s -

f i e d o n t h i s p o i n t , I a s k e d h i m t o t e l l h i s s t o r y .

" I t i s a l o n g o n e , " h e r e p l i e d w i t h a s m i l e , " b u t I t h i n k

I c a n p r o m i s e y o u i t i s i n t e r e s t i n g . "

" I a m s u r e o f t h a t , " I s a i d , s e t t l i n g b a c k o n a s o f a , a n d p l a c -

i n g a l a r g e c h a i r a t h i s d i s p o s a l ; " d o n ' t o m i t a n y p a r t i c u l a r s . "



After Ten Years 87

N e a r l y t w o - s c o r e y e a r s h a v e p a s s e d s i n c e I l i s t e n e d t o o n e

o f t h e m o s t r e m a r k a b l e s t o r i e s I e v e r h e a r d . I t o o k n o n o t e s

o f w h a t m y v i s i t o r s a i d , a n d i t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l e t h a t I m a y

s l i p o n a f e w m i n o r p o i n t s , s u c h a s n a m e s , b u t t h e n a r r a t i v e

i t s e l f w i l l r e m a i n w i t h m e a s l o n g a s I l i v e . I w a s i m p r e s s e d

b y t h e m a n ' s c a n d o r , h i s i n t e l l i g e n c e a n d h i s a p p a r e n t t r u t h -

f u l n e s s . I h a v e n e v e r d o u b t e d a s i n g l e t h i n g h e t o l d m e .

"My name i s John Wilk ins," he said , "and my home is,

o r r a t h e r w a s , i n K n o x v i l l e , T e n n . Having told you that

m u c h , I m u s t g o b a c k t e n y e a r s b e f o r e t h e b r e a k i n g o u t o f

t h e C i v i l W a r . I t w a s i n 1 8 5 1 t h a t I w a s a p a s s e n g e r o n a

s t e a m e r g o i n g u p t h e M i s s i s s i p p i t o m y h o m e . I w a s i n g o o d

c i r c u m s t a n c e s , b e i n g t h e o w n e r o f a p r o s p e r o u s g r o c e r y , a n d

w a s t h e f a t h e r o f t w o b o y s a n d a d a u g h t e r . S e v e r a l y e a r s

p r e v i o u s I h a d s u f f e r e d f r o m s m a l l - p o x , e s c a p i n g d e a t h b y a

h a i r ' s b r e a d t h , b u t a t t h e t i m e I h a v e i n m i n d I w a s i n s u p e r b

h e a l t h , w i t h a n a t u r a l f l o w o f s p i r i t s , a n d , i f I m u s t c o n f e s s

i t , n o t q u i t e f u l l y o v e r a c e r t a i n w i l d n e s s o f c o n d u c t a t w h i c h

l : n o w w o n d e r , t h o u g h I c a n n o t s a y t h a t i t e v e r i n v o l v e d m e

i n s e r i o u s t r o u b l e .

" O n e c o l d , d r i z z l y a f t e r n o o n t h e p a s s e n g e r s o n t h e s t e a m e r

w e r e t h r o w n i n t o a p a n i c b y t h e d i s c o v e r y t h a t a m a n i n o n e

o f t h e c a b i n s h a d b r o k e n o u t w i t h s m a l l - p o x . A d o z e n o f t h e

m o s t e x c i t e d d e m a n d e d o f t h e c a p t a i n t h a t h e s h o u l d p u t t h e

u n f o r t u n a t e f e l l o w a s h o r e a n d l e a v e h i m t o d i e i n t h e w o o d s .

" B e i n g i m m u n e , I m a d e a s t e a l t h y v i s i t t o t h e c a b i n o f

t h e s i c k m a n a n d d i s c o v e r e d t w o i m p o r t a n t f a c t s . H e u n -

q u e s t i o n a b l y h a d t h e d i s e a s e , b u t h e h a d h a d i t f o r s e v e r a l

d a y s , a n d w a s c o n v a l e s c i n g . H e m i g h t b e c o n s i d e r e d o u t o f

d a n g e r , s o f a r a s h e h i m s e l f w a s c o n c e r n e d , b u t , a s y o u k n o w ,

t h e r i s k f r o m c o n t a g i o n w a s a s g r e a t , i f n o t g r e a t e r , t h a n

b e f o r e .

" T h e s e c o n d t r u t h t h a t c a m e t o m e w a s t h e d i s c o v e r y t h a t



8 8 After Te n Years

the m an was a Free Mason . I a s s u r e d h i m h e s h o u l d b e

t a k e n c a r e o f , a n d t o l d h i m t o g i v e h i m s e l f n o a n x i e t y o n

t h a t s c o r e . P r o m i s i n g t o c o m e t o h i m a g a i n i n a s h o r t t i m e ,

I s l i p p e d o u t o f h i s c a b i n , w i t h o u t a t t r a c t i n g n o t i c e , a n d m a d e

m y w a y t o t h e d e c k , w h e r e t h e c a p t a i n w a s s t a n d i n g n e a r t h e

p i l o t h o u s e w i t h a s c o r e o f m e n , p a l e , s w e a r i n g a n d m o r e

e x c i t e d t h a n e v e r . H e w a s a w e d b y t h e d i s p l a y o f a n g e r a n d

d e a d l y r e s o l u t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e m o b . I l i s t e n e d f o r

s e v e r a l m i n u t e s b e f o r e I c o u l d g e t t h e r u n o f t h e t a l k . T h e

m e n w e r e d e m a n d i n g m o r e f i e r c e l y t h a n b e f o r e t h a t t h e b o a t

s h o u l d b e t u r n e d t o l a n d . H e w a s a r g u i n g a n d p r o t e s t i n g ,

f o r h i s s o u l r e v o l t e d a t t h e u n s p e a k a b l e b r u t a l i t y o f t h e t h i n g ,

b u t h e c o u l d n o t w i t h s t a n d t h e m .

"'Oh, w e l l , ' h e e x c l a i m e d w i t h a n i m p a t i e n t o a t h , ` y o u

a r e a s e t o f i n f e r n a l f o o l s ; b u t s i n c e y o u i n s i s t o n i t , I ' l l

d o i t . '

"I knew what he meant and my blood boiled .

" ` Y o u ' l l d o what?' I s h o u t e d a b o v e t h e d i n a n d c o n f u s i o n .

" ` W h y , s e t t h i s p o o r d e v i l a s h o r e a n d l e t h i m d i e a l o n e

i n t h e w o o d s , ' r e p l i e d t h e c a p t a i n , p u r po s e l y g i v i n g t h i s e x t r a

t w i s t , a s m a y b e s a i d , t o h i s r a g e .

" ` B y t h e E t e r n a l 1 ' I s h o u t e d , ` t h e f i r s t m o t i o n y o u m a k e

t o d o t h a t I ' l l s h o o t y o u d e a d i n y o u r t r a c k s I '

" I h a d m y p i s t o l i n m y h a n d a n d b r a n d i s h e d i t o v e r m y

head . My words, looks a nd manner were fo r the momen t

l i k e a b o m b s h e l l . I b a c k e d o f f , w e a p o n i n h a n d , a n d b e f o r e

t h e m o b c o u l d r e c o v e r a n d a t t a c k m e , I s h o u t e d :

" ` T h e s i c k m a n i s a F r e e M a s o n 1 B r o t h e r s , r a l l y t o m y

s u p p o r t , f o r n e v e r w a s o n e o f y o u r b r o t h e r s i n s o r e r n e e d

o f i t . '

" W e l l , s i r , y o u o u g h t t o h a v e s e e n w h a t f o l l o w e d . Other

p a s s e n g e r s w e r e s w a r m i n g o n t h e u p p e r d e c k , d r a w n b y t h e

m a g n e t o f a d a n g e r t h a t t h r e a t e n e d t h e m a l l . There must



After Te n Years 8 9

h a v e b e e n n e a r l y a h u n d r e d o f t h e m . O n h e a r i n g m y a p p e a l ,

t h e y b e g a n b r e a k i n g a p a r t , p u s h i n g a w a y f r o m o n e a n o t h e r

and many of them grouping around me, until two parties,

a b o u t e q u a l i n n u m b e r s , f a c e d e a c h o t h e r o n t h e d e c k . I h a d

s t e p p e d n e a r e r t h e c a p t a i n , a n d m y n e w f r i e n d s f o l l o w e d m e .

He was somewhat bewildered by the suddenness of every -

t h i n g , b u t h e k e p t h i s h e a d p r e t t y w e l l .

" I d o n ' t b e l i e v e t h e r e w a s a m a n i n e i t h e r p a r t y w h o d i d

n o t o w n a p i s t o l o r b o w i e k n i f e , a n d n o t a f e w d i s p l a y e d

both . There were pale, resolute faces among those mer-

c h a n t s , p l a n t e r s , a n d g a m b l e r s , a n d t h e y g l a r e d l i k e t i g e r s

a t m e , m y f r i e n d s a n d t h e c a p t a i n .

" ' G o d ! t h i s i s a w f u l , ' s a i d t h e c a p t a i n t o m e i n a s c a r e d

u n d e r t o n e .

" ` D o n ' t y o u f e a r , ' I a s s u r e d h i m ; ` t h i s i s o u r f i g h t ; y o u

h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h i t ; l e a v e e v e r y t h i n g t o u s . '

" N o w , I t h i n k I m a y t a k e c r e d i t t o m y s e l f f o r s e i z i n g

t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o m e n t f o r e x e c u t i n g a c o u p . A s s u r e a s

t h e s u n s h i n e s , t h e r e w o u l d h a v e b e e n o n e o f t h e b l o o d i e s t

and most desp erate fights ever kn own on the Mississip pi

w i t h i n t h e n e x t f e w m i n u t e s h a d I n o t f a c e d t h e s c o w l i n g m o b

and raised my hand .

" ` F r i e n d s , ' I c a l l e d , ` t h e r e i s a m a n i n o n e o f t h e c a b i n s

w h o h a s t h e s m a l l - p o x , a n d t h e f a c t t h a t h e i s g e t t i n g w e l l

w o n ' t l e s s e n y o u r d a n g e r f o r s e v e r a l d a y s . You have the

r i g h t t o p r o t e c t y o u r s e l v e s a g a i n s t t h a t h i d e o u s d i s e a s e , a n d

y o u c a n d o i t b e t t e r t h a n b y d u m p i n g t h e p o o r f e l l o w o n t h e

b a n k s t o d i e l i k e a r a b i d d o g . I h a v e h a d t h e s m a l l - p o x ; I

, a m n o t a f r a i d o f i t ; I w i l l g o i n t o h i s r o o m a n d n u r s e h i m ;

n o o n e e l s e n e e d c o m e n e a r h i m ; t h e s e r v a n t s c a n b r i n g t h e

f o o d t o a c e r t a i n p o i n t s a f e l y r e m o v e d f r o m t h e c a b i n , a n d

when they are gone I will come out and get the food ; n o

m e d i c i n e i s n e e d e d , f o r t h e t i m e f o r t h a t h a s p a s s e d ; t h e



9o After Te n Years

m a n w i l l b e c o m p l e t e l y i s o l a t e d , a n d n o n e o f y o u w i l l b e i n

t h e s l i g h t e s t d a n g e r . What do you say?'

" W e l l , I h a d c a p t u r e d t h e m . The cro wd broke up, mov-

i n g s l o w l y h e r e a n d t h e r e , a l l f r a t e r n i z i n g , w h i l e s o m e o f

t h o s e w h o h a d b e e n t h e m o s t i n s i s t e n t f o r t h e c o m m i s s i o n

of the dreadful crime shook me by the hand and declared

t h e y n e v e r m e a n t w h a t t h e y s a i d . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e y s t i l l

would have insisted upon marooning the sick man had I

c h a n g e d m y m i n d a n d r e f u s e d t o g o i n t o h i s c a b i n .

"The promise I made was faithfully carried out . T h e

p a t i e n t n e v e r k n e w f r o m m e o f t h e s c e n e o n t h e u p p e r d e c k ,

t h o u g h I t h i n k i t l i k e l y i t r e a c h e d h i s e a r s a f t e r w a r d f r o m

a n o t h e r s o u r c e . I s a t i n h i s r o o m f o r h o u r s , r e a d i n g a n d

t a l k i n g a n d d o i n g a l l I c o u l d t o c h e e r h i m . H e r e a l l y d i d n ' t

n e e d a n y t h i n g o f t h a t n a t u r e , f o r t h e m o s t e x h i l a r a t i n g p h y s i -

c a l c o n d i t i o n i n w h i c h a n y p e r s o n c a n b e p l a c e d i s t h a t o f

c o n v a l e s c e n c e . You get used to high health, but con-

v a l e s c e n c e i s n e w , t h r i l l i n g l y c o m f o r t i n g a n d d e l i g h t f u l , a n d

by the time you become somewhat accustomed to it, its

e x q u i s i t e p l e a s u r e d e e p e n s a n d i n t e n s i f i e s .

" I n e v e r s a w a m a n i m p r o v e m o r e r a p i d l y t h a n m y

f r i e n d . O f c o u r s e w e e x c h a n g e d n a m e s , a n d b e f o r e I f i n i s h

y o u s h a l l l e a r n h i s . N e i t h e r o f u s h a d e v e r h e a r d o f t h e

other, but that we became the warmest of comrades was

i n e v i t a b l e . I t i s s a i d t h a t t h e o n e w h o d o e s a k i n d n e s s t o

a n o t h e r f e e l s t e n d e r e r t o w a r d h i m t h a n d o e s t h e r e c i p i e n t

t o w a r d t h e o t h e r . This man was an e ducated gentlema n of

t h e h i g h e s t h o n o r a n d w a s f i l l e d w i t h p r o f o u n d g r a t i t u d e . H e

d i d n o t g u s h , b u t m e r e l y t h a n k e d m e , a d d i n g

" ` I h o p e y o u w i l l n e v e r b e i n t r o u b l e , b u t s h o u l d s u c h b e

your lot, you may command me to the death . Re m e m b e r

t h a t , ' h e a d d e d w i t h s o l e m n s i g n i f i c a n c e .

" W h e n w e r e a c h e d L o u i s v i l l e m y f r i e n d w a s s u b s t a n t i a l l y



After Ten Years 9 1

w e l l , t h o u g h t h e m a r k s o f h i s d i s e a s e w o u l d s h o w f o r a l o n g

t i m e , a n d i t w a s h a r d l y p r u d e n t f o r h i m t o v e n t u r e o u t , e x c e p t

w h e n a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y . M y i n t e n t i o n w a s t o l e a v e t h e

s t e a m e r a t t h a t p o i n t , a t t e n d t o s o m e b u s i n e s s m a t t e r s i n t h e

i n t e r i o r , a n d t o r e a c h m y h o m e i n K n o x v i l l e i n t h e c o u r s e

o f a c o u p l e o f w e e k s ; b u t I t h o u g h t i t b e s t n o t t o p a r t c o m -

p a n y w i t h t h e g e n t l e m a n , w h o w a s t o o c o n s i d e r a t e t o e x p r e s s

t h e w i s h t h a t I s h o u l d s t a y b y h i m a n y l o n g e r . H i s f a c e l i t

u p w i t h p l e a s u r e w h e n I q u i e t l y t o l d h i m o f my i n t e n t i o n

t o s e e h i m t h r o u g h t o h i s h o m e .

" A t L o u i s v i l l e w e h a d t o c h a n g e s t e a m e r s . T h e c a p t a i n o f

t h e n e w b o a t w a s a F r e e M a s o n , a n d w h e n I t o l d m y s t o r y t o

h i m , h e p r o m p t l y g a v e a l l t h e h e l p n e e d e d . Arm in arm

we two walked upon hi s boat at midnight and went to our

c a b i n . N o o t h e r p e r s o n b e s i d e s t h e c a p t a i n h a d a s u s p i c i o n

o f t h e t r u t h .

"By the time we reached the landing where my friend

w a s t o l e a v e t h e b o a t h e w a s w e l l , t h o u g h t h e d i s c o l o r a t i o n s

o n h i s f a c e , o f c o u r s e , we r e p l a i n . I h a d a c c e p t e d h i s i n v i t a -

t i o n t o g o t o h i s h o m e w i t h h i m . He wished me to make him

a n o l d - f a s h i o n e d v i s i t , b u t I a s s u r e d h i m I c o u l d s t a y o n l y

o n e n i g h t . H e w o u l d n o t c o n s e n t t o t h i s u n t i l I p r o m i s e d t o

u s e t h e f i r s t c h a n c e t o s p e n d s e v e r a l w e e k s w i t h h i m . I t

w a s m y i n t e n t i o n t o d o s o , b u t s o m e h o w o r o t h e r t h e o p p o r -

t u n i t y n e v e r c a m e .

"He was expected, and his negro coachman was waiting

for him . W e w e r e d r i v e n t o o n e o f t h e f i n e s t r e s i d e n c e s

I h a v e e v e r s e e n . H e w a s a m a n o f w e a l t h , o f c u l t u r e , a n d

o f r e f i n e m e n t , a n d w a s w e l l k n o w n t h r o u g h o u t t h e S t a t e . I

n e v e r r e c e i v e d k i n d e r o r m o r e h o s p i t a b l e t r e a t m e n t t h a n f r o m

him and his wife and daughter, o f whom any husband and

f a t h e r m i g h t b e p r o u d . L a t e a t n i g h t , w h e n w e s a t a l o n e i n

h i s d r a w i n g - r o o m , s m o k i n g a n d c h a t t i n g , h e s u d d e n l y a s k e d :



92 After T en Years

"'And now ho w much do I owe yo u, Mr . W i l k i n s ? '

" I t o o k o u t a b i t o f p a p e r a n d p e n c i l a n d f i g u r e d f o r a

minute or two .

" ` A s n e a r l y a s I c a n m a k e i t , i t i s s i x d o l l a r s a n d f i f t y

c e n t s , ' I r e p l i e d ; ` t h a t i s t h e e x t r a f a r e f o r g o i n g s o m e w h a t

out of my way . '

" H e t o o k h i s p i p e f r o m h i s m o u t h , s m i l e d a n d s h o o k h i s

head .

"'That won't do . '

" ` W h y n o t ? C a n y o u m a k e i t a n y d i f f e r e n t ? ' I a s k e d .

" ` I t i s a h u n d r e d d o l l a r s a t l e a s t . T h a t w i l l n e v e r r e p a y

y o u . Who would have done as much for me as you have

done ? '

41

'You for me ; a r e w e n o t b r o t h e r M a s o n s ? '

"He looked calmly in my face and smoked for a minute

o r t w o i n s i l e n c e . He saw I was in ear nest, and without

speaking paid me my extra fare to and from Louisville .

With the rare tact which was natural to him, he made no

f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e t o m y s e r v i c e s .

"The next morning I bade him and his family good-by .

J u s t a s t h e c o a c h w a s s t a r t i n g f o r t h e l a n d i n g , h i s d a u g h t e r

h u r r i e d o u t o f t h e d o o r a n d p l a c e d a s e a l e d l e t t e r i n m y

h a n d .

" ` F a t h e r s a y s y o u a r e n o t t o o p e n t h a t t i l l y o u g e t h o m e , '

s h e s a i d .

" I n o d d e d a n d p r o m i s e d a s I s h o v e d i t i n t o m y c o a t p o c k e t .

W h e n I b r o k e t h e s e a l a f o r t n i g h t l a t e r , t h e f i r s t t h i n g t h a t

c a u g h t m y e y e w a s a h u n d r e d d o l l a r b i l l . Pencilled on a

s h e e t o f p a p e r w e r e t h e w o r d s

" ` I f i t s h o u l d e v e r b e i n m y p o w e r t o d o y o u a n y f a v o r ,

no matter of what char acter, I beg that you give me the

o p p o r t u n i t y . '

" B e a r i n m i n d t h a t a l l t h i s t o o k p l a c e i n i 8 5 i . Ten years



After Te n Years 9 3

l a t e r c a m e o u r g r e a t C i v i l W a r . You people in the North

k n o w n o t h i n g o f w h a t w e s u f f e r e d i n t h e b o r d e r S t a t e s , n o r ,

i n d e e d , d o t h e p e o p l e o f t h e S o u t h i t s e l f , t h o u g h t h e y h a v e h a d

t o d r i n k t h e c u p t o i t s d r e g s . B u t i n K n o x v i l l e , a s i n c e r t a i n

p a r t s o f K e n t u c k y a n d M i s s o u r i , i t w a s u n a d u l t e r a t e d h e l l ,

f o r t h e S e c e s s i o n i s t s a n d U n i o n i s t s w e r e a b o u t e q u a l l y d i v i d e d .

I t g r e w h o t t e r a n d m o r e f r i g h t f u l e v e r y d a y . In the same

c i t y , t h e s a m e s t r e e t , t h e s a m e s q u a r e , t h e s a m e h o u s e , m e n

m e t w h o w e r e e a g e r t o s p r i n g a t o n e a n o t h e r ' s t h r o a t s a n d

w e r e o n l y w a i t i n g f o r t h e c h a n c e t o d o s o . I was a pro=

nounced Union man from the sta rt, and my two boys, one

o f w h o m w a s j u s t o l d e n o u g h , e n l i s t e d i n t h e F e d e r a l a r m y .

I s t a y e d a t h o m e t o l o o k a f t e r m y b u s i n e s s , o r u n t i l t h e

n e c e s s i t y f o r m y l e a v i n g s h o u l d b e c o m e m o r e u r g e n t . Aft er

a t i m e t h e S e c e s s i o n i s t s g a i n e d t o a l a r g e e x t e n t t h e u p p e r

h a n d . Pa r s o n B r o w n l o w a n d a f e w o f u s u s e d t o m e e t

s e c r e t l y t o d i s c u s s a n d d e c i d e u p o n t h e b e s t c o u r s e t o f o l l o w ,

i f , i n d e e d , a n y c o u r s e w a s o p e n t o u s o t h e r t h a n t o b i d e o u r

t i m e .

"Some of the hotte r-headed Uni onists began burning

b r i d g e s i n d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f t h e S t a t e w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f

h a r a s s i n g C o n f e d e r a t e m i l i t a r y m o v e m e n t s . T h i s c o n t i n u e d

a f t e r a n u m b e r o f t h e m h a d b e e n s h o t , a n d i t w a s p r o c l a i m e d

t h a t a n y o n e f o u n d g u i l t y o f t h e c r i m e w o u l d b e p u n i s h e d

w i t h d e a t h .

" H a r d l y a d a y p a s s e d t h a t m e n w e r e n o t a r r e s t e d o n t h e

s t r e e t c h a r g e d w i t h b r i d g e b u r n i n g a n d t h r u s t i n t o j a i l . On e

d a y , j u s t a s I c a m e o u t o f m y h o u s e , I w a s t a k e n i n c h a r g e

b y t w o s o l d i e r s i n c o m m a n d o f a c o r p o r a l a n d h u s t l e d o f f t o

j a i l . W h e n I w a s t h r u s t i n t o t h e s u f f o c a t i n g p l a c e , I f o u n d

m o r e t h a n s i x t y o f m y f r i e n d s a n d n e i g h b o r s a l l c h a r g e d w i t h

t h e s a m e o f f e n c e . "

A t t h i s p o i n t i n W i l k i n s ' s s t o r y I i n t e r r u p t e d h i m .



94 After Te n Years

" S e e h e r e , m y f r i e n d , t h e w a r i s o v e r a n d y o u n e e d n ' t b e

a f r a i d t o t e l l m e t h e t r u t h . D i d y o u h e l p b u r n a n y o f t h o s e

b r i d g e s ? "

He chuckled ."No ; I w a s i n n o c e n t , t h o u g h i f t h e y h a d w a i t e d t w o n i g h t s

l o n g e r I s h o u l d h a v e h a d t o p l e a d g u i l t y i n o r d e r t o b e h o n e s t .

W e h a d a b i g s c h e m e o n f o o t , b u t o n e o f o u r n u m b e r b e t r a y e d

u s . I k n o w w h o h e w a s , b u t w i l l s a y n o t h i n g m o r e , f o r h e h a s

b e e n d e a d s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d i t i s a s w e l l , a l s o , t h a t I m a k e n o

r e f e r e n c e t o t h e m a n n e r o f h i s t a k i n g o f f .

" I f i t b e c o n c e i v a b l e , m a t t e r s g r e w w o r s e . T h e y k e p t

b r i n g i n g m o r e p r i s o n e r s a n d s h o v i n g t h e m i n u p o n u s , u n t i l

we hardly had room to move about . Finally Parson Brown-

l o w h i m s e l f w a s f a i r l y t h r o w n i n t o t h e b i g r o o m w i t h u s .

W e l l , h e w a s a c h a r a c t e r . H e c o u l d p r a y h a r d e r , s i n g l o u d e r

a n d u s e m o r e s u l p h u r o u s l a n g u a g e t o w a r d t h e S e c e s s i o n i s t s

t h a n a n y t e n m e n n o r t h o r s o u t h o f M a s o n a n d D i x o n ' s l i n e .

T h e s t y l e i n w h i c h h e d e n o u n c e d t h e S o u t h e r n C o n f e d e r a c y

a n d a l l t h e l e a d e r s i n i t , f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t d o w n , m a d e o n e ' s

h a i r f a i r l y r i s e o n e n d . I c a n s e e h i m n o w , a s t h e g a u n t , s p a r e

p r e a c h e r s t o o d u p a m o n g u s , h i s e y e s b l a z i n g , w h i l e h e r o l l e d

o u t h i s d e n u n c i a t i o n s a n d c a l l e d d o w n t h e v e n g e a n c e o f G o d

u p o n t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e U n i o n . T h e n h e w o u l d t e l l u s o f

o u r d u t i e s t o o n e a n o t h e r a s w e l l a s t o o u r c o u n t r y . I h a v e

s e e n t h e t e a r s c o u r s e d o w n h i s c a d a v e r o u s c h e e k s w h i l e t h u s

p l e a d i n g w i t h u s t o l e a d p u r e a n d g o d l y l i v e s . T h e n a l l a t

o n c e h e w o u l d b r e a k o u t w i t h h i s s t r o n g a n d n o t o v e r m u s i c a l

v o i c e i n t o o n e o f t h e s w e e t , g r a n d o l d M e t h o d i s t h y m n s ,

f o l l o w e d b y a p r a y e r , l i k e t h a t o f s o m e i n s p i r e d p r o p h e t o f

o l d .

" O n e f a v o r i t e e x p r e s s i o n o f h i s w a s t h a t w e w h o s u f f e r e d

imprisonment or death for our principles were doing our

country as much good and were as much martyrs for the



After Ten Years 95

U n i o n a s i f w e f e l l i n b a t t l e . H e d r o v e t h a t t r u t h i n u p o n

u s , s e a s o n e d w i t h t h e a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h o s e a t w h o s e h a n d s w e

s u f f e r e d s h o u l d r e c e i v e f u l l p u n i s h m e n t , n o t o n l y i n t h i s w o r l d ,

b u t i n t h e l i f e t o c o m e .

" W e h a d b e e n i n p r i s o n o n l y a f e w d a y s w h e n a n o r d e r l y

c a m e t o t h e d o o r w i t h a s l i p o f p a p e r i n h a n d , a n d c a l l e d

o u t i n a l o u d v o i c e t h e n a m e s o f t w o o f t h e p r i s o n e r s . The y

r o s e t o t h e i r f e e t .

" ` C o m e w i t h m e , ' s a i d t h e o r d e r l y ; ` t h e p r o v o s t - m a r s h a l

wants you . '

" T h e y f o l l o w e d h i m o u t o f t h e d o o r . A f e w m i n u t e s l a t e r

w e h e a r d t h e d i s c h a r g e o f s e v e r a l g u n s , a s i f f i r e d b y a

p l a t o o n . W e l o o k e d a t o n e a n o t h e r w i t h s c a r e d f a c e s . All

k n e w w h a t i t m e a n t ; our two neighbors had been shot .

Whether they h ad taken any par t in bridge burning I do

not know . E v i d e n t l y t h e r e h a d b e e n a s e c r e t i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,

; a n d t h e y h a d b e e n p r o n o u n c e d g u i l t y .

" P r e c i s e l y t h e s a m e t h i n g t o o k p l a c e t h e n e x t d a y a n d t h e

d a y f o l l o w i n g t h a t . S i n c e n o o n e c o u l d s h u t h i s e y e s t o t h e

f e a r f u l t r u t h , i t w a s t h e c u s t o m i n e a c h i n s t a n c e f o r P a r s o n

Brownlow to offer up a prayer, denounce the Confederate

a u t h o r i t i e s i n h i s r e d - h o t f a s h i o n , w h i l e t h e v i c t i m s s h o o k t h e

h a n d s o f a l l i n t u r n . T h e n t h e y w e n t o u t a n d m e t t h e i r f a t e

l i k e h e r o e s .

" W e p r i s o n e r s r e c e i v e d v i s i t o r s n o w a n d t h e n , o u r j a i l e r s

making no objection, for no harm coul d follow from such

c a l l s . I remember a mild old Quaker who came every day .

H e s p o k e k i n d l y t o a l l o f u s , s o m e t i m e s b r i n g i n g u s d e l i c a c i e s

o r m e s s a g e s f r o m o u r f a m i l i e s a n d f r i e n d s , a n d b e a r i n g a w a y

s u c h m e s s a g e s a s w e h a d t o s e n d . H i s v i s i t s w e r e t h e o n l y

rays of sunshine that pie rced the woeful gloom, and he

w a s f e e l i n g l y t h a n k e d o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n f o r t h i s t h o u g h t -

f u l n e s s .



96 After Te n Years

" O n e d a y I p e n c i l l e d t h e f o l l o w i n g w o r d s o n a s m a l l p i e c e

of paper and handed it to him

" `The man who befriended you ten years ago when you

were taken down with small-pox on a Mississip pi steamer

is now in Knoxville jail unjustly ch arged with bridge

b u r n i n g . '

" ` W i l l y o u b e k i n d e n o u g h t o m a i l t h a t f o r m e ? ' I a s k e d ,

handing the paper to him . ` R e a d i t f i r s t . '

" H e d e l i b e r a t e l y a d j u s t e d h i s s p e c t a c l e s , h e l d t h e s l i p a t

a r m ' s l e n g t h a n d c a r e f u l l y r e a d t h e l i n e o r t w o .

" ` I d o n ' t k n o w , ' h e r e p l i e d ; ` t h e s e a r e t r o u b l o u s t i m e s ,

m y f r i e n d ; t h o s e f e w w o r d s m a y m e a n m o r e t h a n t h e y s e e m t o

m e a n . T h e a u t h o r i t i e s a l l o w m e t o v i s i t t h e e a n d t h y f r i e n d s

o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t I a m t o t a k e n o u n f a i r a d v a n t a g e

o f t h e o p p o r t u n i t y . '

" ` I g i v e y o u m y w o r d o f h o n o r , ' I s a i d , ` t h a t t h e w o r d s

h a v e n o o t h e r m e a n i n g t h a n w h a t t h e y s h o w o n t h e i r s u r f a c e . '

"He hesitated for a moment or two and then crumpled

u p t h e p a p e r a n d s h o v e d i t i n t o h i s w a i s t c o a t p o c k e t , w i t h

t h e r e m a r k :

" ` I c a n n o t m a k e t h e e a n y p r o m i s e , b u t I w i l l s e e w h a t I

can do . '

" T h e s u m m a r y e x e c u t i o n s w e n t o n a s b e f o r e , w i t h t h e s a m e

h o r r i b l e d e t a i l - t h e c a l l i n g o u t i n a l o u d v o i c e o f t w o n a m e s ,

the farewell and shaking of hands, Parson Brownlow's

p r a y e r , w i t h a f e w w o r d s o f e x h o r t a t i o n a n d t h e p r o m i s e t o

l o o k a f t e r t h e f a m i l i e s o f t h e v i c t i m s , s o f a r a s i t s h o u l d b e

p o s s i b l e t o d o s o , a n d t h e n a f e w m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e d o o m e d

o n e s h a d p a s s e d o u t t h e w h o l e c o m p a n y b u r s t i n t o s i n g i n g

` T h e S t a r S p a n g l e d B a n n e r . ' O n e o b j e c t o f t h i s w a s t o d r o w n

t h e s o u n d o f t h e v o l l e y w h i c h w e k n e w w o u l d s o o n b e f i r e d .

We became so accustomed to the report that we knew just

w h e n t o e x p e c t i t ; b u t s i n g a s l o u d a s w e m i g h t , w e n e v e r



t a r t e r 1 e n i e a r s 97

f a i l e d t o h e a r t h e a w f u l c r a s h , w h i c h p i e r c e d t h e w a l l s o f

t h e j a i l .

" Y o u c a n n o t i m a g i n e t h e b r e a t h l e s s h u s h w h i c h c a m e o v e r

u s w h e n t h e d o o r o p e n e d a n d w e c a u g h t s i g h t o f t h e o r d e r l y

w i t h t h e l i t t l e s l i p o f p a p e r i n h i s h a n d . W h e n t h e n a m e s

- w e r e p r o n o u n c e d , t h e s c e n e w h i c h I h a v e d e s c r i b e d i n v a r i a b l y

f o l l o w e d . I t i s s a i d t h a t m e n c a n b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d t o a n y -

t h i n g , b u t t h a t t o m b - l i k e p a u s e a s w e c o n c e n t r a t e d a l l o u r

f a c u l t i e s u p o n t h e d r e a d f o r m a s h e w a s a b o u t t o p r o n o u n c e

t h e d o o m o f t w o o f o u r n u m b e r n e v e r l o s t i t s d e a d l y i n t e n s i t y .

T h e r e w a s a l w a y s a m o m e n t o r t w o w h e n I d o n o t b e l i e v e a

: m a n i n t h e r o o m b r e a t h e d .

" O n e d i s m a l , d r i z z l y m o r n i n g , w h e n w e w e r e a l l s h i v e r i n g

w i t h c o l d , t h e m e s s e n g e r o f f a t e s e e m e d t o s h o u t w i t h m o r e

f i e n d i s h l o u d n e s s t h a n e v e r b e f o r e .

" ' W i l l i a m R . Jones and John Wilk ins ! '

" W h e n t h e s o l e m n h u s h e n d e d w e b e g a n s h a k i n g t h e h a n d s

o f t h o s e w h o c r o w d e d a r o u n d u s .

" ` W e l l , b o y s , ' s a i d I w i t h a m i r t h l e s s s m i l e , ` m y t u r n h a s

c o m e . G o o d - b y 1 '

" ` R e m e m b e r , ' f a i r l y s h o u t e d t h e p a r s o n , ` y o u a r e d y i n g

a s m u c h f o r y o u r c o u n t r y a s d i d y o u r c o m r a d e s a t M a n a s s a s

and before Richm ond . T h i s c a n ' t g o o n m u c h l o n g e r ; t h e s e

h e l l - h o u n d s w i l l s o o n r u n t h e i r r a c e a n d G o d w i l l s m i t e t h e m

in His wrath . '

" I t s e e m e d t o m e t h a t t h e p a r s o n p u t m o r e u n c t i o n i n t o h i s

p r a y e r t h a n u s u a l , w h i l e t h e s c o w l i n g o r d e r l y s t o o d a t t h e

d o o r a n d i m p a t i e n t l y a w a i t e d t h e c l o s e o f t h e e x e r c i s e s . As

I f i n a l l y p a s s e d o u t , I h e a r d t h e s t r a i n s o f o u r n a t i o n a l s o n g ,

s u n g w i t h a h e a r t i n e s s a n d v i g o r t h a t t h r i l l e d m e t h r o u g h .

"The orderly walked in the direction of the provost

m a r s h a l ' s o f f i c e , w i t h m e j u s t b e h i n d h i m a n d m y n e i g h b o r a t

m y h e e l s . The provos t was a large man, whom I had known



9 8 After Te n Years

f o r y e a r s a s p o s s e s s i n g a f u r i o u s t e m p e r . He was very pro-

f a n e a n d o n e o f t h e f i e r c e s t S e c e s s i o n i s t s i n t h e S t a t e . WhenI e n t e r e d h i s o f f i c e h e w a s s a v a g e l y s m o k i n g a h u g e c i g a r ,

t h e s m o k e o f w h i c h p a r t l y o b s c u r e d h i s f l a m i n g f e a t u r e s .

G l a r i n g a t m e a s I h a l t e d n e a r t h e d o o r a n d l o o k e d a t h i m

s e a t e d i n f r o n t o f h i s d e s k , h e f a i r l y s h o u t e d w i t h a s u l p h u r -

o u s o a t h

" ` I s h o u l d l i k e t o k n o w w h a t t h a t m e a n s 1 '

" H e h e l d i n h i s h a n d , w h i c h s h o o k w i t h a n g e r , a y e l l o w

p i e c e o f p a p e r , t h a t I s a w w a s a t e l e g r a m . The writing on

it was so large that I read the words from where I was

s t a n d i n g

"'WAR DEPARTMENT, Richm ond, V a .

" `r o v o s t - M a r s h a l , K n o x v i l l e , T e n n .

" ` R e l e a s e J o h n W i l k i n s f r o m c u s t o d y a t o n c e a n d d o n o t

a l l o w h i m t o b e m o l e s t e d o r d i s t u r b e d i n p e r s o n o r p r o p e r t y .

A l l o w h i m t o p a s s b a c k a n d f o r t h b e t w e e n t h e C o n f e d e r a t e

a n d F e d e r a l l i n e s w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n .

" ' B y o r d e r o f

"' JAMES A. SEDD ON,

" ` S e c r e t a r y o f W a r , C. S . A . '

"Jam es A . Seddon was th e gentleman whom I had be-

f r i e n d e d i n t i m e o f s o r e n e e d , a n d i t w a s t o h i m m y f e w

p e n c i l l e d l i n e s w e r e a d d r e s s e d w h i c h I h a n d e d t o t h e Q u a k e r

v i s i t o r a t o u r j a i l . He had mailed them to Richmond, and

i t h a d n o s o o n e r b e e n r e a d b y S e c r e t a r y S e d d o n t h a n h e t e l e -

g r a p h e d t h e o r d e r f o r m y r e l e a s e .

"A g l a n c e a t t h e w r i t i n g a n d t h e w h o l e t r u t h f l a s h e d u p o nme . I c o u l d n o t c o n c e a l m y e x a l t a t i o n o f s p i r i t s , a n d a s t h e

p r o v o s t - m a r s h a l s t i l l h e l d t h e t e l e g r a m a t a r m ' s l e n g t h , a s i f

i t w e r e a v e n o m o u s s e r p e n t , h e t o o k h i s c i g a r f r o m h i s m o u t h

a n d a g a i n r o a r e d w i t h a n u m b e r o f o a t h s

" ` I s a y , w h a t d o e s t h a t mean?'



I I I s h o u l d l i k e t o k n o w w h a t t h a t m e a n s! I I



After Ten Years i o i

" ` S i n c e i t i s w r i t t e n p l a i n l y e n o u g h f o r m e t o r e a d i t f r o m

w h e r e I s t a n d , I s h o u l d t h i n k y o u o u g h t t o b e a b l e t o d o s o . '

" H e g l a r e d a t m e a s i f a b o u t t o b u r s t w i t h r a g e , s w u n g

a r o u n d i n h i s c h a i r w i t h a s n o r t o f d i s g u s t , a n d w a v e d t h e

orderly away with me . He had probably given his orders

t o t h e m a n a n d w a s u n a b l e t o d o j u s t i c e t o t h e s i t u a t i o n . O n

t h e o u t s i d e I w a s t o l d I w a s a t l i b e r t y t o g o w h i t h e r I c h o s e .

" G e n e r a l B u r n s i d e a t t h a t t i m e w a s b e s i e g i n g K n o x v i l l e

a n d d r e w t h e c o r d o n c l o s e . Taking advant age of my strange

p e r m i s s i o n I p a s s e d i n t o h i s l i n e s , w h e r e , b e i n g w e l l k n o w n

t o a n u m b e r , I w a s w e l l r e c e i v e d . I m a d e t h e t r i p t o a n d

f r o s e v e r a l t i m e s , d o i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t h e w a y o f t r a d e .

I t w a s r a r e t h a t a n y o n e w a s g i v e n s u c h p r i v i l e g e s a s I , a n d

t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s n o t o n l y p e c u l i a r , b u t s o d a n g e r o u s t h a t

i t c o u l d n o t l a s t . F o r a c i v i l i a n t o p a s s f r e e l y f r o m t h e l i n e s

o f o n e a r m y t o t h o s e o f t h e i r e n e m y , w h e n h e w a s k n o w n t o

b e t h e f o e o f o n e , w a s a n a n o m a l y i n w a r f a r e t h a t m u s t s o o n

t e r m i n a t e .

" W h e n t h e c u r i o u s c o n d i t i o n h a d l a s t e d s o m e t h i n g o v e r a

w e e k I w a s f i r e d u p o n o n e n i g h t w h e n t u r n i n g a c o r n e r o f

t h e s t r e e t i n K n o x v i l l e . T h e m a n w h o d i s c h a r g e d t h e p i s t o l

w a s n o t m o r e t h a n a d o z e n f e e t d i s t a n t . I s a w t h e f l a s h a n d I

h e a r d t h e w h i s t l e o f t h e b u l l e t i n f r o n t o f m y e y e s . I n s t e a d o f

b r e a k i n g i n t o a r u n , h e c o o l l y w a l k e d o f f a s i f h e d i d n o t c a r e a

r a p w h e t h e r I i d e n t i f i e d h i m o r n o t . I t w o u l d h a v e b e e n u s e -

l e s s f o r m e t o d e m a n d h i s p u n i s h m e n t o r t o a p p e a l f o r p r o -

t e c t i o n . I k n e w I w a s c e r t a i n t o b e s h o t i f I r e m a i n e d , a n d t h e

m a n w h o d i d m e u p w o u l d n e v e r s u f f e r t h e r e f r o m . S o t h e n e x t

t i m e I w e n t i n t o B u r n s i d e ' s l i n e s I s t a y e d t h e r e . My t w o

s o n s w e r e s e r v i n g u n d e r h i m , a n d I w a s g i v e n e m p l o y m e n t i n

t h e c o m m i s s a r y d e p a r t m e n t , i n w h i c h I r e m a i n e d t o t h e c l o s e

o f t h e w a r .

" W h e n i t w a s s a f e f o r m e t o v i s i t K n o x v i l l e a g a i n , I f o u n d



I o z After Te n Years

t h a t m y p r o p e r t y h a d u t t e r l y v a n i s h e d , a n d I w a s n o t w o r t h

a d o l l a r b e y o n d t h e p a y I h a d s a v e d . My wife ha d die d

a t t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e w a r a n d b o t h m y s o n s h a d b e e n k i l l e d

i n b a t t l e . My only daughter married about that tim e and

moved with her h usband to the North . L i k e t h o u s a n d s o f

o t h e r s i n t h e S o u t h , i t w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r m e w h e n f i f t y y e a r s

o l d t o b e g i n l i f e o v e r a g a i n .

" I h a d e n o u g h f r o m m y p a y t o t a k e m e t o C a n a d a , w h e r e

I made my way to a lumber camp and hired out as a day

l a b o r e r . My c o m p a n i o n s w e r e g o o d - h e a r t e d a n d k i n d , -

though rough, rugged and stro ng as bears . They forgot

sometimes that I was not as tough as they, and the work

which I undertook was ofte n beyond my power . I s t r o v e t o

t h e u t m o s t t o ` h o l d u p m y e n d , ' a n x i o u s n o t t o b e t r a y m y

p h y s i c a l w e a k n e s s .

" O n e d a y w h i l e s t r a i n i n g t o l i f t a l a r g e p i e c e o f t i m b e r I

f e l t s o m e t h i n g g i v e w a y w i t h i n m e , a n d s e i z e d w i t h a s u d d e n

d e a t h l y n a u s e a u , I s a n k t o t h e g r o u n d i n a f a i n t . W h e n I

r a l l i e d I w a s s o w e a k t h a t o n e o f t h e m e n h a d t o h e l p m e

t o t h e c a b i n i n w h i c h w e s l e p t a n d a t e o u r m e a l s . There I

was put in my bunk and a messenger brought a country

d o c t o r f r o m t h e n e a r e s t v i l l a g e , w h i c h w a s a d o z e n m i l e s

away . T h e p h y s i c i a n d i d a l l h e c o u l d f o r m e , b u t h e h a d n o t

t h e r e m o t e s t i d e a o f w h a t w a s t h e t r o u b l e . He left me some

s i m p l e m e d i c i n e s a n d p r o m i s e d t o c o m e a g a i n i n t h e c o u r s e o f

t w o o r t h r e e d a y s .

" W e l l , I l a y i n m y r o u g h b e d f o r s i x w e e k s , d u r i n g w h i c h

t i m e t h e r e w a s n o t a s i n g l e m o v e m e n t o f m y b o w e l s . T h e

l o w e r p a r t o f m y b o d y s e e m e d a s i n e r t a s s o m u c h w o o d . Th e

d o c t o r w a s n o t a b l e t o g i v e m e t h e s l i g h t e s t h e l p , b u t a l w a y s

l e f t m e s o m e o f h i s m e d i c i n e , w h i c h I r e l i g i o u s l y t o o k a c c o r d -

i n g t o i n s t r u c t i o n . I w a s t o o w e a k t o l e a v e m y b e d f o r m o r e

t h a n a m i n u t e o r t w o , a n d s e e m e d t o g e t n e i t h e r b e t t e r n o r



After Ten Years 103

worse . Injections and every means possible were tried and

produced not the slightest effect .

"As I said, six weeks passed away without any change in

my condition As I lay awake one afternoon, it occurred

to me that it was time to take some of the medicine, which

was on a rough stand beside my bed . I rolled over on one

side and reached out my hand for the phial . At that instant

I thought a cannon had been discharged in the cabin . I

lunged head foremost and tumbled upon the floor, where

l: lay like a dead man until some of my friends came in to

prepare supper, and lifted me upon the couch again .

"Then the truth was discovered . A rupture of the bowels

had taken place on my left side, and through the opening thus

formed passed all the food that I ate, with the exception of a

small proportion, which sometimes found its way into the

bladder . The relief that had thus come gave me strength

enough to walk, and by and by I felt so well that no one would

suspect that anything was the matter with me . It was utterly

impossible, however, for me to do any kind of manual labor . I

made my way to the hospital in Montreal, where after a time

l . was discharged as incurable . I journeyed to Philadelphia,

where I went through the same experience . I am now on my

way to my married daughter in Troy, where I expect to end

my days . Being without a dollar to my name, I am com-

pelled to apply to my Masonic brethren for assistance ."

Mr. Wilkins told me that the only food he dare eat was

mush and milk . I gave him a meal of that,' and saw the

opening in his side, over which he carried a bandage, some-

thing like a truss . I handed him, in the name of my lodge,

more money than he asked for, shook his hand, and stillsmiling and with his farewell accompanied by a bright jest,

he passed out of my home and I never saw or heard of him

again .



VIII

CAMPING ON HIS TRAIL

(It is proper to state that in the following sketch the names of the places

and persons for good reasons are fictitious . -Jerry Chattin," who related

the incidents to me, is a prominent Free Mason, no doubt well known to

many of my readers .

ONCE firmly believed that Jim McGibbon and I were

ordained to be the bitterest of enemies, and it did seem to

me that everything joined to increase the intensity of hatred

which began in boyhood . Jim was about my age and lived

at the small town of Champlain, in southwestern Missouri,

while my home was at Verneau, some twenty miles away .

We first clashed as the captains of rival baseball clubs .

Nowhere in the world is the struggle in our national game so

determined and often so unfair as between near-by towns and

villages . Nothing in the professional world can compare

with it. The championship struggle between Champlain and

Verneau was as bitter as bitter could be . One season we

secured the coveted honor and the next year it went to our

rivals . More than once the strife became a veritable battle,

in which the inoffensive umpire, who strove to be just, was

mobbed and would have suffered grave injury but for therally of the club whom he was accused of favoring to his

defence . Several times the games broke up in rows, in which

the spectators were involved . It was shameful, but I am



Camping on His Trail 105 -

grieved to say that the same disgraceful scenes are still seen

in other parts of the country .

It was natural in the circumstances that Jim and I should

collide. Strict truth compels me to admit that in these bouts

I generally got the worst of it, for Jim was taller, more active

and a better boxer than I . Without giving any of the par-

ticulars, suffice it to say that the last season which saw the

struggle for the championship ended in a tie . I cannot help

believing that this was the result of an unfair decision on

the part of the umpire against us, but since such is the invari-

able explanation, I shall let it go at that .

In the autumn of 186o, Jim and I were sent East to college .

As proof of our mutual dislike, I may say that after I had

matriculated at Princeton, Jim, who appeared at the same

,place two days later with a similar purpose, deliberately

insulted me by the remark

"I have lived too long in the same State with you ; NewJersey isn't big enough for both of us . I'd rather go to

Tophet than abide in any college with the like of you ."

With which he deliberately packed his trunk and went

off to New Haven, without waiting for me to get back a

suitable reply, which I didn't think of until he was aboard

of the cars on the way to the junction, there to board the

New York train and to go farther eastward .

We had each been in college a year when the great Civil

War came. It was not long before I saw that Missouri was

sure to become one of the most harried States in the Union .

Nowhere was the strife so merciless and vicious as in the

border States, where hundreds of families were broken up

by the fratricidal struggle .

I was not sorry when my father sent for me to leave col-

lege, but I was pained to learn upon arriving home that

the general disarrangement of business had brought a reverse



io6 Camping on His Trail

to him which made it impossible to keep me longer at Prince-

ton. He, like myself, was strongly Union in his sentiments,

and neither he nor my mother nor my sister made any objec-

tion when I announced my purpose of enlisting under the old

flag, whose supporters in that part of the country at first

were at great disadvantage . It seemed to me that the Seces-

sionists were more numerous and more resolute, and for a

time they had the upper hand . You know they came within

an ace of burning the city of St . Louis, and we could make

little headway against Sterling Price, and the governor and

authorities who were back of him .

I was with Colonel Mulligan in his desperate but hopeless

battle against Price at Lexington, and was taken prisoner, but

soon afterward exchanged . It was at that time that I learned

Jim McGibbon was a lieutenant under Price . I suspect that

if he had discovered I was serving on his side, he would have

joined the Union forces . I saw him but once during my

captivity, and each sneered at the other without speaking .

The situation was one of those to which words could not do

justice.

Well, six months later I was at the head of a troop of

irregular cavalry raiding through southwestern Missouri . I

had two-score men under me, and they were as brave fellows

as ever rode in saddle . There was hardly a roan among them

who was not inspired by one or more personal grievances. One

had had a brother shot after surrender, another's home had

been laid in ashes, others had suffered in some way, and they

were not the men to let any chances at reprisals pass unim-

proved. Truth compels me to say that the outrages perpe-

trated by us were as much outside the pale of civilized war-

fare as were those of our enemies . It is a sad, sad story

upon which I do not wish to dwell . How many memories

linger with our gray-headed men of that bitter strife which



Camping on His Trail 107

they would fain forget l If, according to General Sherman,

war is hell, civil war is hell-fire and damnation .

From reports that reached me, McGibbon was also in

command of a squad of irregular cavalry that was about the

equal in numbers to my company . There was no questioning

his personal courage, and he was as anxious to meet me as I

was to meet him . A number in both commands were old

acquaintances, and half of my fellows would have given

their right hands for the chance of a set-to with his raiders .

They were as fierce and at times as merciless as-well, as

ourselves .

Now a situation came about, or, rather, several situations,

which I have never been able to explain . For weeks and

months McGibbon and I raided through southwestern

Missouri, over an area several hundred miles in extent, with

the yearning prayer on the part of each for a fair stand-up

fight between our companies . I was searching for him and

lie was hunting just as assiduously for me, and yet it looked

as if fate had ordained we should never meet . More than

once we missed each other by less than an hour . I was hot

an his trail one autumn day, and had actually caught sight of

his horsemen as they raised a hill less than a mile away, when

another body of cavalry, larger than both of us together,

and all red-hot Secessionists, debouched on the scene and we

had to gallop for our lives .

On another occasion I broke camp just north of the town

of Jasonville, and rode off at a leisurely pace to the eastward .

Unsuspected on my part, McGibbon and his men dashed into

the camp I had left, and came after us like so many thunder-

bolts . I did not learn the fact till a week later, and then heard

that he, too, was turned off almost in the same manner that I

had been diverted from my game . We managed to send

exasperating messages to each other, in which there were



io8 Camping on His Trail

mutual charges of cowardice accompanied by red-hot

challenges. As I said, how we failed to meet in the circum-

stances is and has always been beyond my comprehension .

One dismal, drizzly day in October, finding myself within

a short distance of Verneau, I decided to ride into the town

and call on my folks . The place contained about a thousand

inhabitants, almost equally divided in sentiment . We cared

nothing for that, since nearly all the able-bodied men were

absent fighting on one side or the other .

While still some distance from the town, I was disturbed

to observe smoke rising in heavy volumes . We spurred our

horses into a gallop, and had not yet reached the outskirts

when what I dreaded proved true. Three dwelling houses

were in flames, and among them was the home in which I

was born and which was all that was left of my father's

former wealth . The other dwellings were those of prominent

Unionists, and in each case a young man of my command

was a member of the suffering household . Although most

of those who had been spared were disunion in principles,

they were good neighbors and gave shelter to all who had

been so cruelly robbed of their homes .

I found father, mother and my sister with one of these

families, without whose kindness it would have gone hard

with them, for the raiders who had done this savage thing

would not allow their victims to save the most insignificant

part of their furniture or effects .

It proved as I suspected . Jim McGibbon and his band

had made a flying visit to Verneau, looted a number of houses,

and burned the three that we found in ruins. He wasespecially exultant over my parents and sister .

"Tell that coward son of yours," he said to my father,

"that I've been looking a long time for him, but he

always skulks out of my way . Don't forget to let him know



Camping on His Trail 109

that it was I, Jim McGibbon, who put the torch to this shack,

and that if he wants to settle with me, he knows where to

look. He's the chump I'm after . "

"Did he say where he could be found?" I asked, pale

faced and doing my utmost to restrain my rage .

"He said something," replied my father, "but in the con-

fusion and excitement of the moment I did not catch the

words, and if I did, have forgotten them ."

I appealed to mother and sister, but they professed equal

ignorance . Good souls, each one knew where the miscreant

was waiting, but purposely kept the knowledge from me .

They understood too well what would follow, and they shud-

dered at the thought of a meeting between us .

The houses which had been burned stood so apart from

the others that there was no danger of the flames communi-

cating with those toward whose owners the guerrillas were

friendly. McGibbon was careful in that respect .

When I found that nothing was to be gained from my

people, I formed a resolution which I took care to keep from

them . I did not wish to have them beg and plead with me,

and therefore gave no hint of what was in my mind . I

whispered it to several of my comrades, and they eagerly

agreed with me .

I stayed in the town for an hour or so, and the communion

with my people would have been sweet but for what I had

seen and learned. It was my custom, when my duties allowed,

to make these hurried, stolen visits, though they were always

accompanied by great danger . There was more than one

person in Verneau who would have been glad to betray me

to my enemies, and I know that in several cases the attempt

was made. Consequently, upon leaving my men encamped

at some distance, I had to use extreme care to avoid the traps

that were set for me. Of course, it was different when I took



110 Camping on His Trail

my men along. We were able to look out for ourselves, and

would have welcomed a brush .

Up to this time there had been something in the nature

of neutrality between McGibbon and me concerning our own

homes . I had kept away from Champlain and he had not

molested Verneau. Each could find plenty to do elsewhere .

But my enemy had broken this truce, and I determined to

strike back . Consequently, after riding a short way from

town, the troop turned their horses toward Champlain, and

we arrived there late in the afternoon .

I knew where the home of McGibbon stood . Striking the

heavy knocker on the door, I told his crippled father, who

answered the summons, what his son had done and that I

had come to retaliate . Jim had no brothers or sisters, but

only his aged parents . What pity I might have felt for them

in other circumstances was destroyed by the bitter memories

of what he had done to my people . The couple were so mild

and gentle, and refrained so carefully from protests and

appeals, that I could not help feeling a pang or two, after

a l l , when, after they had found refuge elsewhere, I applied

the torch to their dwelling with my own hand . Two other

buildings were fired by my men, and then we considered the

accounts balanced .

We had all cherished the hope that when McGibbon found

himself so near his own home he would pay it a visit, and the

fight for which we both longed would come ofl, but he had

not been there, and I had no more idea of where to look

for him than if we had been dropped into the middle of the

Atlantic .

"You will doubtless see your son before long," I said to

his father, as I sat in the saddle with my horse reined up

in front of his new quarters . "Don't forget to let him know

that I, Jerry Chatten, did this because he burned my own



Camping on His Trail III

home. He began the game and he will find I can play at it

as well as he . I'm only sorry that he isn't here himself, but

we shall meet before long ."

The good man stood at the gate, gazing up in my face,

which was illumined by the glare from his own burning home .

I can never forget the picture, for he held his battered hat

in his hand, looking for all the world like a patriarch of old .

He had no words of reproach to utter, nor did he seem to

feel the slightest ill-will toward me . I even fancied I saw

a mournful smile upon his beneficent countenance as he said

in a voice as gentle as that of a woman

"I am sorry, Jeremiah, that you and James are not friends .

I hope you will become so before either of you passes away .

I shall pray that it may be thus ."

What a strange farewell from one whose home I had just

destroyed 1 It made me feel queer all over, and I muttered

as I rode off in the gathering gloom

"How can such a father have such a son?"

Lieutenant Marsden, riding at my side, had a habit of

speaking his mind . Discipline in that respect was never very

strict in our company .

"I wonder now, cap, whether McGibbon isn't thinking

the same about you. "

"It may be," I growled ; "none the less, I'd give anything

in the world to meet him . "

"So would I ; don't forget that he burned my folks

out of house and home ."

Since McGibbon had left definite word with my parents

where I could find him and his band and I did not go there,

he had good reason to proclaim that I was afraid of him . . ,

He had given the information only to my people, so it was

useless for me to apply elsewhere . I could not blame my

friends for their silence, but all the same, it roiled me .




A week went by, during which I was unable to get any

trace of my enemy . He seemed to be raiding in the neigh-

borhood, and I did my share, but the same unaccountable

perverse fate kept us apart, when, as I have said, each was

straining every nerve to get at the other .

The peculiar conditions of this local civil war compelled

the combatants to rely to a great degree upon surreptitious

information . It may be said that there wasn't a village, how-

ever small, in a large part of Missouri which did not hold a

number of Secessionists and Unionists . It was risky for them

to give out information, but they gave it, and some of them

paid the penalty with their lives .

One day word upon which I relied came to me that McGib-

bon and his company were to spend that night with friends

in jasonville, only eight or ten miles away . Most of the people

there were disunionists, and it was not to be expected that

he intended any kind of raid . He would probably go thither

for a night or two for rest, for his men had been so con-

tinuously in the saddle that they needed it, as our own fellows

often did .

I quickly formed my plan . As soon as it was dark we

would ride to within a mile or so of the town and take our

position in a dense wood, with which we were all familiar .

Then late at night we would make a dash into the town and

set things humming . Perhaps the long hoped-for meeting

between McGibbon and me would follow . At any rate, we

should be able to strike a blow that would tell .

In a situation like the one I have described the utmost care

was necessary. It might be that my informant was mi§taken .

It might happen, also, that with all the circumspection I could

use, McGibbon would get wind of what was afoot and would

turn the tables on us . Matters could not have been more

critically delicate . The wood to which I have alluded ex-



Camping on His Trail 11 3

tended for several miles, almost to the edge of the town . If

McGibbon should learn of my coming, it would be the easiest

thing in the world for him to form an ambuscade and empty

half of my saddles at the first fire .

Because of this fact, I halted my men a mile out, and rode

forward alone until close to the town, when I dismounted and

tied my horse in the shadow of the trees, for the night was a

bright, moonlight one . I was doing a risky thing, for I was

taking the chances which I would not permit my men to run,

but I relied upon the partial disguise of my slouch hat and the

fact that forty or fifty men would not be likely to fire upon

a single horseman whose identity they did not know, when

they were waiting to receive a whole company of raiders .

I didn't see or hear a thing to cause misgiving, and strode

down the main street of Jasonville, which was well lighted,

and went up the porch of the single tavern and entered the

bar-room. The bartender was off to the war, doing what he

could for President Davis, and the heavy, waddling land-

lord was presiding, with two countrymen too decrepit to serve

in the ranks sitting in front of the old-fashioned fireplace,

smoking their corncob pipes . They looked up, but did not

recognize me . The landlord, Uncle Jed, as he was known,

scrutinized me sharply for a minute, and then grinned on one

side of his face, as he had a queer habit of doing, came round

from behind the bar and shook hands .

Uncle Jed was a genuine, old-fashioned publican, who felt

that he had no right to hold radical views on politics or

religion . He was equally friendly with everybody, but I

always fancied that he had a special liking for me . So when

we had talked together apart for some minutes, I asked him

whether there were any strangers in town .

"No," he replied with another side grin ; "about everybody

except two or three of us have gone to war ."



1 14 Camping on His Trail

"Have you seen anything of Jim McGibbon?"

"He had a drink here one day last week, but I haven't

seen or heard of him since ."

"I understood he was in town to-night . "

"If that's so I haven't seen him . It may be he's here . You

know he's like you-he has lots of friends all over . I say,

Jerry, if you haven't anything special on hand to-night, why

don't you visit our lodge?"

"Is this regular meeting night? I hadn't thought of it ."

"Yes ; I'd like to go down, but can't leave the house these

times ."

"Are they working any degree?"

"I believe not ; jes' the reg'lar communication."

Now, I felt quite certain that if Jim McGibbon was in

Jasonville Uncle Jed would know of it, and if he knew of it,

he would tell me . He was friendly to both, and if my enemy

should drop in at the tumble-down tavern with an inquiry

regarding me, he would learn the truth .

In my tempestuous life I did not often get a chance to

attend lodge, though I had been a member of the order ever

since attaining my majority, two years before. A sudden

impulse came over me to make amends so far as I could for

my neglect .

"I think I'll drop in for a while . I can't stay long . Where

does the lodge meet?"

"Just round the corner, down Lodge Alley . You'll see

the lights on the second floor . Can't miss it."

When I presented myself and asked through the tyler for

admission, word was sent out that one of the brethren, having

sat with me in my own lodge, vouched for me . Conse-

quently I was admitted without the examination through

which I should have been compelled to pass had the case

been different .



The moment the tyler ushered me through the door, after

I had been suitably clothed and told that the lodge was on the

third degree, I glanced around, and saw that between twenty

and thirty members were present . When the proper saluta-

tions had been made, the Master welcomed me in the usual

form and invited me to a seat among the brethren .

Directly on my left I perceived a vacant space, with a large,

burly fellow at the farther side of the vacancy. With a cur-

sory glance I dropped into this opening and then looked

toward the East to hear what the Master had to say . It was

at that moment I heard a queer, chuckling sound from the

man who sat nearest me . I looked at him, wondering what

it could mean . His face was so heavily bearded that I did

not recognize him, but saw from the movement of the beard

that he was grinning . Again I heard the chortling, and he

thrust his hand toward me .

"How are you, Jerry?"

You might have knocked me over with a feather . It was

Jim McGibbon

After our months of raiding and hunting for each other's

life, we had met at last, but it was in a Masonic lodge . I had

not dreamed that he belonged to the order, and, as he after-

ward told me, the thought never entered his head that I was

a Free Mason .

"I guess the laugh is on you, Brother Chattin," added

McGibbon, shaking with silent laughter, which, however, was

so hearty that the Master gave a slight warning tap with his

gavel .

"I'll admit it," I replied . "I'll be hanged if I hardly know

whether I am awake or dreaming . "

Despite our care, we attracted so much notice that McGib-

'bon proposed we should withdraw from the lodge and talk

things over . The Master gave permission, and we passed




outside, down the stairs and halted on a corner of the street,

where we were safe from cowans . Before speaking, McGib-

bon offered his hand again and we shook heartily .

"Now, Jerry," said he in his genial way, "I reckon things

are on a little different footing from what they have been

ever since-say, we played ball against each other. Are you

with me, old boy?"

"I am, heart and soul," I replied with an enthusiasm that

surprised myself . "I never thought you and I could be any-

thing but sworn enemies, but now-"

"We are sworn brothers," he said, taking the words from

my mouth. "I'm going to give you a proof of it . You have

stationed your men a little way outside of town, with the

intention of making a dash into the place and having a whack

at me and my boys. You have come in alone to spy around,

and when you found out how the land lies, you meant to go

back and bring your chaps in ."

"That is true, Jim ; but how in thunder did you find it out?"

"One of my spies got on the track of your spy. How far

out are your men?"

"A mile or so."

"Mine are only a half mile-hardly that, on the Turner

road ; they are lying in the wood waiting for your fellows

to come within range."

"Then I must have ridden in front of them I"

"Beyond a doubt you did. More than likely some of my

boys recognized you . If they did they kept it to themselves .

You see," added McGibbon with another chuckle, "they're

after more than you, captain . To make everything right,

Jerry, I guess I had better ride a part of the way back with

you."

McGibbon had left his horse not far from where mine was

tethered. We mounted and rode out of town together, chat-



Camping on His Trail 11 7

ting over old baseball times and war matters as if never a

cloud had come between us . It seemed to me that after we

had ridden some way Jim became more boisterous than ever .

His laughter rang out in the still night air, and as he evidently

intended, was identified by several of his sentinels, one of

whom came forward from the darkness of the wood to learn

the meaning of it all . "It's all right, Ben," he remarked

offhand to the man, who saluted and withdrew into the gloom

again .

We rode on until we were close to where my men were

impatiently awaiting my return . I invited McGibbon to

call on my company, but he replied

"I wouldn't hesitate a minute, Jerry, with you, but it will

be better not to do so yet awhile . Well, good-by, Brother

Chattin . "

"Good-by, Brother McGibbon . God bless you 1"

So we parted. Neither of us uttered the slightest hint as

to the future ; it wasn't necessary. We kept up our raiding,

but henceforward tried to avoid each other . We couldn't

expect many of our men to understand the changed situation,

and I know that Jim McGibbon purposely dodged a fight

with me when nothing would have been easier than to bring

the meeting about . As for myself, I steered out of his path

several times when it had a queer look to my men . Finally

McGibbon made a shift of quarters, passing over into

Arkansas, and thus relieved the situation of its peculiar

tensity. We never met again during the war."

"Have you met s i n c e the war?" I asked .

To this natural question Jerry Chattin made answer

"If you ever visit the flourishing town of Jasonville, make

a call at 234 Main Street, at the large grocery store of

Chattin & McGibbon . More than likely you will find a big

whiskered fellow smoking his corncob pipe at the rear and




giving orders now and then, as if he is boss . Fact is, he is

half-boss, for Jim McGibbon and I have been equal partners

for twenty years. He married my sister-the very one whose

home he burned during those lurid days in Missouri-and

their oldest boy bears my name . The parents of both Jim

and me have been dead for several years, but it is pleasant

to remember that Jim's father made his home with his son

long after he had become a merchant . I can see that hand-

some, saintly face now as he looked from one to the other,

and with his sweet smile and gentle voice said

" `I was sure you two would some day become friends . I

told you I meant to pray for it, and my prayer has been

answered. ' "



IX

ATYPICAL LODGET would require many volumes to give even a condensed

history of the hundreds of Masonic lodges in the United

States and British America. The Grand Lodges represent a

total membership of more than a million . They are in full

affiliation with the English Grand Lodge, of which the Duke

of Connaught is Grand Master, and the Grand Lodges of Ire-

land, Scotland, Cuba, Peru, South Australia, New South

`Hales, Victoria, and also with the Masons of Germany and

Austria . They recognize and affiliate with the Masons under

the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of France, but are not

in affiliation with the Masons under the jurisdiction of the

Grand Orient of that country . In Spain, Italy and other

Roman Catholic countries, Freemasonry is under the ban of

the Church, and the membership is meagre and scattered .

Inasmuch as we are dealing only with the Blue Lodges,

an account of one will serve as an illustration of the history of

all. A general similarity of the main features will be found,

varied, of course, by local circumstances and surroundings .

Those in the North felt little or no effects of the great Civil

War, or, as our brethren in the South prefer to call it, the

war between the States . But in their section, the times, to

say the least, proved strenuous .

I select for my illustration Hiram Lodge, No, 40, of



120 A Typical Lodge

Raleigh, N. C ., and am indebted to Brother John Nichols

for the facts which follow

This lodge was chartered in January, i8oi, and its con-

nection with the prosperity and progress of the State for more

than a century past has been marked. Many of the men who

became famous not only in the history of the State itself,

but in the councils of the nation, were made Masons in Hiram

Lodge, No . 40 A history of the anti-Masonic excitement

caused by the Morgan incident is given elsewhere. At the con-

vention held in Washington, in 1842, Hon. Kenneth Raynerwas the delegate who represented the Grand Lodge of North

Carolina . He was a man of brilliant ability, an eloquent

orator and a leading member of Congress for many years.

He possessed considerable wealth, but all of it was swept

away during the crimson years between 1861 and 1865 .

In the political campaign of 1848 Kenneth Rayner was

the competing candidate against Millard Fillmore for the

Vice-Presidential nomination . They were warm personal

friends and submitted their claims to a conference . Fillmore

beat Rayner by a single vote . It will be seen that, had one of

Fillmore's supporters changed to Rayner, the latter would

have become President of the United States .

Thirty-three years later, Kenneth Rayner, old, poor and

feeble, was Solicitor of the Treasury, having been appointed

to the office by President Grant . When Garfield became

Chief Executive, a persistent effort was made to have Rayner

ousted . The hungry politicians were clamoring for his

modest pay and would not cease their efforts . Garfield reso-

lutely refused every appeal . Finally a leading politician im-

patiently demanded :

"Why do you insist, Mr. President, in keeping in office a

nondescript without any party, when there are so many good

party men fully competent to take his place?"



A Typical Lodge 123

To this direct appeal Garfield made the noble reply

"Though he is an old man and out of favor with fortune,

he was a host in his day. He is still an able and accomplished

lawyer; he fills the office admirably and he sorely needs the

salary. He may not have many friends, but he has at least

one, and a mighty important friend, for it is I, and I am not

going to turn him out . I will not remove from a little place

in. the Treasury, whose duties he fully meets, an old man who

came within a single vote of filling the place I fill, and of

being President of the United States . You are wasting your

time in coming to me ; I shall refuse to listen any further . "

President Garfield was a Mason of high standing in Ohio .

Perhaps that fact did not influence him in retaining Rayner .

Perhaps it did .

The public school system of North Carolina was estab-

lished about 1840 The success of the beneficent movement

was largely due to the Masons of the State . The Grand

Lodge in 1842 appointed a committee to inquire into the

expediency of establishing a seminary of learning for the

benefit of the poor children of the members of the fraternity

and for such others as the means would permit. Some time

later, Hiram Lodge, No . 40, pledged itself to contribute

fifty dollars annually, in addition to the individual subscrip-

tions for such purpose, the latter amounting to a considerable

sum .

An interesting fact or two should be noted at this point .

Down to 1844, nearly all the business of the lodge was trans-

acted on the Entered Apprentice's degree . Members who

were neglectful in their attendance were frequently fined, and

it required a pretty good excuse on their part to escape the

i n f l i c t i o n .

Among the Grand officers who signed the charter of Hiram

Lodge was Colonel William Polk, one of the bravest soldiers



124 A Typical Lodge

of the Revolutionary War. He was an intimate friend of

General Lafayette, who, when he made a tour of this country

in 1825, paid a visit to Raleigh . At the conclusion of Gov-

ernor Hutchins's speech of welcome to the distinguished

French patriot, Lafayette and Colonel Polk rushed into each

other's arms and wept their gratitude that they, who had so

often borne the brunt of battle together in their youthful

prime, had been spared to meet again amid such peaceful,

happy scenes . There was scarcely a dry eye among those who

witnessed the touching scene .

Some of the oldest citizens of Raleigh hold pleasant mem-

ories of "Uncle Dick Ashton," who rarely missed a meeting

for the thirty years preceding the middle of last century . He

was Grand Tyler for twenty years, and one of the brightest

of Masons, who was never restrained by modesty from assum-

ing any station to which he was invited. He was popular

with everybody, for his peculiarities were never repellent,

and he had the kindest of hearts. He was quite advanced in

life when the Royal Arch Chapter, which had been dormant

for some time, was revived and the Chapter officers provided

themselves with the gorgeous paraphernalia appropriate to

their respective offices . Uncle Dick was the guard, or tyler,

for the Chapter, as well as for Hiram Lodge . When the

officers appeared, "arrayed in all their glory," he was ob-

served sitting at his station, with bowed head, disconsolate

visage, and with no apparent interest in the brilliant assem-

blage around him . A Past Grand Master walked up to him

and inquired the cause of his dejection . With a breaking

voice and moist eyes the old man replied in tremulous tones

"I have served you all these many years ; I have tried at all

times to do my duty, and here you fellows are in your fine

Sunday clothes : and I have not been furnished with so much

as a jacket . "



A Typical Lodge 125

It was amusing and yet sad . The next day an order was

given to a dressmaker of the town for a jacket and other

garments for Uncle Dick . A member bought a broad-

brimmed straw hat, then quite fashionable, and another picked

up for him a rusty, old-fashioned, crooked sabre that had

done service in the Revolution . At the next meeting of the

Chapter, Uncle Dick appeared in full robes, and none was

prouder or happier than he . The jacket, sword and hat are

still the property of Raleigh Chapter, No . io . They are

carefully preserved among the relics, and have often been

used in conferring the Past Master's degree .

The years between i85o and i86o were prosperous ones

for North Carolina . Many public enterprises were begun

and the resources of the State were rapidly developed . The

fine building for the education of the Deaf and Dumb and

Blind was completed and occupied ; the Insane Asylum was

established ; the Methodists built a fine Female School ;

St. Mary's School was greatly improved ; Goldsboro and

Charlotte were joined by railway, making connection with

other roads on the south and east ; still other lines joined the

Atlantic with the mountains on the west, and the public school

system was thoroughly reorganized .

Masonry kept pace with these advancements . The mem-

bership of Hiram Lodge had doubled and its members were

identified with the material and moral progress of their State .

All was hopeful and promising when the dark clouds burst

and the country was plunged into the greatest war of modern

times . To quote Brother Nichols

"States had taken up arms against sister States, citizens

against citizens, Masons against Masons . The Southern

soldier was captured and carried to Northern prisons . The

Northern soldier in like manner was brought to Southern

prisons . Many were sick or wounded or both . The signs



126 A Typical Lodge

of distress were seen in all these places of confinement, North

and South. Masons all over the country, whether in the

cold, desolate prisons of the North or the poorly supplied

ones of the South, or in hospitals, or on bloody fields of battle,

never failed to recognize the unerring signs of distress or

the magic words of a brother's appeal .

"In the city of Raleigh there were several hospitals where

the sick and wounded were brought for treatment . Amongthese there were, of course, a number of Masons . Some

made themselves known as brethren, others were found to

be such, while there may have been many who passed over

the river who never gave the sign of distress nor received

the fraternal grasp of a brother's hand . Of course, there

were many deaths among them, and the Masons of Raleigh

were called at frequent intervals to pay the last tribute of

respect to a departed brother."

Raleigh was a recruiting station, besides containing a num-

ber of hospitals. In the latter part of 1863 a Mason's Relief

Association was organized by Hiram Lodge . Its object was

to look after the sick and wounded Masons and to provide,

as far as possible, clothing, food and medicine for the needy .

It was agreed that the Federal soldier who was a Mason

should receive the same care and attention as the Confederate

soldier, whenever it was possible to reach him . The existence

of this association was known to Masons only . The good

which it did will never be fully known in this world .

As bearing upon this interesting subject, the following is

an extract from the Key Stone, a Masonic paper published in

Raleigh during the war :

"Masonic Dinner to Prisoners.-Onor about February 22,

1865, several hundred prisoners of war were stopped atRaleigh for a few days . A large number were quartered at

Camp Holmes, and on the day designated the Masons who



A Typical Lodge 127

were prisoners, we are informed, were given a bountifuldinner by Masons of the guard who stood sentinel overthem."

Brother Nichols relates the following personal experience :

"Among the sick and wounded Confederate soldiers in the

hospital tents on the grounds of Peace Institute was a young

lieutenant, who had been wounded in one of the battles of

Virginia. At one time he had been a member of my family .

He was also a member of Hiram Lodge . Of course I felt a

special interest in him and frequently visited him .

"One day he said to me that among the Federal prisoners

in a room in the building was a young soldier who was aMason. I at once called to see him, and found that my infor-

mation was correct. He had evidently been a handsome

young man before sickness, although now much emaciated .

From that time on he did not suffer for any comforts that

were at our command . In due course there was an exchange

of prisoners, and this young man and his fellow-soldiers were

returned to their Northern homes . This was in 1864 . In

1867, three years after, I was in the city of New York making

some purchases in the line of my business . A tall, handsome

young man was waiting on me in the establishment where I

was trading . In the midst of our business he stopped, looked

at me and said

" `Which State are you from?'

"I told him from North Carolina .

" `I have seen you before,' said he, `but cannot remember

where . I was in a hospital in Raleigh at one time during

the war, and it may have been there . '

"I asked him if he remembered what hospital it was .

" `It was a large, unfinished brick building,' said he .

" `Perhaps it was there, as I sometimes visited that hos-

pital,' I replied .



128 A Typical Lodge

"Looking at me with his keen black eyes, he said, in a

tone and manner that could not be misunderstood :

" Àre you a Mason ? '

"I responded in the affirmative, and then he replied

" Ì thought it was you when I first saw you . '

"We then talked over some of the incidents of hospital

experience, each becoming thoroughly satisfied of the other's

identity . That night I went with him to his lodge, where,

after introduction, I received a most enthusiastic welcome .

"I will not pursue the story further, but will simply remark

that ìncidental expenses' during the balance of my stay in

New York were not heavy ."

Trying days were at hand for Hiram Lodge . General

Sherman entered Raleigh on the morning of April 13, 1865,

the advance under General Kilpatrick being the first to

appear. The citizens hoped that the town would be spared,

but were in dread lest an overt act by some rash person should

draw down the wrath of the Federals, who were flushed with

the decisive successes that had come to their arms . There

was thankfulness, too, that the long, terrible war had come

to an end .

Brother Nichols relates that after he had obtained pro-

tection for his family, as did many others, he set out with

another Mason to secure, if possible, a guard of protection

to Masonic Hall . The provost-marshal to whom they

applied was not a Mason and was not disposed to show the

fraternity any consideration . While he was making curt

inquiries as to the loyalty of the order, a young major came

forward and asked the provost-marshal to assign to him the

duty of protecting the interests of-Masons of Raleigh . This

was done, and not the slightest molestation of Masonic prop -

erty occurred .

On Friday night, April 14, 1865, the saddest calamity



A Typical Lodge 129

that ever befell the American people occurred in the city

of Washington . It was the assassination of Abraham

Lincoln, the President of the United States . The following

Monday evening, April 17, was the regular meeting of

Hiram Lodge, No . 40. There were present at this meet-

ing quite a number of Fedral Officers-Masons, of course

-and among them was the young major who interested

himself in giving us a guard for the protection of our

property .

The news of the assassination had reached Raleigh late

in the afternoon of that day, and it caused a profound sensa-

tion among the Federal troops . About dark there was a rest-

lessness and spirit of insubordination manifested among the

soldiers, and a riot was feared by the officers in command .

In order to prevent such a calamity the guards at every street

crossing were doubled, and messengers were sent up and down

the streets to every place where the people might have

assembled to warn them to disperse at once and repair to

their homes . Hiram Lodge had just opened for business .

Suddenly we heard the hasty footsteps of some one ascending

the stairs to the hall, and the low clanking of the sword of

an officer. There was a rapid knock at the door, and I was

requested to go to the anteroom . There I met a Federalcaptain (a Mason, as I afterward learned, Captain W. C .

Whitten, Ninth Maine Regiment), who hurriedly told me

of the excitement among the soldiers in camp and suggested

that the lodge be closed and that the members go to their

homes at once . Orders were promptly obeyed .

There are a few Masons still living, perhaps, who remem=

ber that terrible night . I say terrible night because the

impending danger of riot, murder and burning of the city

was feared by every one who understood the condition of

affairs . The wise and prudent management and strict dis-



130 A Typical Lodge

cipline of the Federal officers prevented what might have been

a calamity of most serious consequences .

A few years ago in Washington City I was in conversation

with a member of Congress from the State of Iowa. Learn-

ing that I was from Raleigh, he told me that he came here

with the Federal troops in 1865, and asked me many ques-

tions about the city and some of our citizens with whom he

became acquainted, and related several incidents that occurred

while here. Among them (which he told in a jocular

manner) was that of two young brother Masons who came

rather excitedly to the provost-marshal's office seeking a

guard for the Masonic Hall, and how quickly the lodge was

closed on that eventful Monday night to which I have just

referred . When I learned that he was the young officer

that had befriended us I was as much surprised as he was to

learn that I was one of the excited young Masons looking

for a guard . It had been nearly thirty years before, and we

had both grown older and much changed in personal

appearance .

The gentleman thus referred to by Brother Nichols was

Hon. Edwin H. Conger, then a member of Congress andafterward Minister to China . His confinement within the

walls of Peking during the Boxer outrages, and the admirable

tact and wisdom which he displayed in that crisis that drew

the attention of the civilized world, will be gratefully remem-

bered by his countrymen .

In a private letter from Brother Nichols, he gives me

several interesting facts which deserve record in this place .

His brother, P . Nichols, was a captain in the Sixty-seventh

North Carolina troops . In the winter of 1863-64, the Fed-

erals occupied Newbern, from which point they frequently

made cavalry raids into the interior .

Captain Nichols, serving in Virginia, obtained a furlough



A Typical Lodge 131

to visit his family, who lived near Rocky Mount Station, in

North Carolina . After spending a brief time at home, he

set out on his return with a number of companions . Making

their way to the station, they were waiting for their train,

when a troop of Federal cavalry swooped down on them and

made the little party prisoners . Before they could escape,

they were hustled off and landed in prison at Newbern .

When Captain Nichols, who was of fine, soldierly appear-

ance, made himself known as a Mason to several brother

officers, he was paroled until the opportunity came for send-

ing the prisoners to Johnson's Island . Before the time for

the departure of the boat with the prisoners, the Masonic

Federal officers told Captain Nichols that he was going to

a cold country, where he would need comfortable clothing,

and that it would never do for him to take the voyage without

considerably more than the poor fellow possessed . So they

provided him with new shoes, a warm overcoat, two blankets

and some money-all of which proved valuable indeed to

him .

"I tell you," said the captain to his brother with a laugh,

when he came home after the close of hostilities, "they

treated me so well up North that I was half tempted to take

the oath of allegiance and stay there ; but when I thought of

my wife and two little boys, who were likely to suffer because

of such action, I determined to brave it out and remain true

to my country ."

Referring to Captain Nichols, his brother adds

"He returned home a better Mason and a more patriotic

American citizen . He spoke enthusiastically of his treat-

ment at Newbern and was loud in his praises of the conduct

of his Federal brethren ."

It is a singular coincidence that on the same night that

the Masonic lodges in Raleigh voted a subscription for the



132 A Typical Lodge

general fund for the help of the Masonic brethren who were

prisoners at Camp Mangum, the Masonic lodge at Elmira,

New York, voted a subscription to look after the Confederate

prisoners who were Masons and were detained in the Federal

prison at that place .



X

TRIED BY FIRE

T may be doubted whether one person out of ten, if asked

to name the time when the War for the Union was nearest

to failure, would give the correct answer . Some would say

it was directly after the disastrous Federal defeat at Bull Run,

at the beginning of the struggle . But such persons forget

that at that time both sides were in the flush of patriotic

enthusiasm, and the result of the Union defeat was to

intensify the resolution of the North to press the war to a

decisive triumph .

It may seem to others that the staggering blows admin-

istered by General Robert E . Lee to the Army of the Potomac

during the repeated campaigns against Richmond marked

the lowest ebb of the Union tide . Strange as it may sound,

however, the darkest days for the National Government fol-

lowed the most marked Union successes . Those days belong

to 1864, a year following the fall of Vicksburg, and the

repulse at Gettysburg of the finest army the Confederacy

was ever able to put into the field .

And what was the explanation of this profound depression

in the North and at Washington, when it looked for a time

as if the war must stop with the Confederacy unconquered?

Why had hope faded?

It was because of the awful price already paid, and the



134 . Tried by Fire

certainty that still more would have to be paid before the end

was reached. Tens of thousands of lives had been sacrificed

!and hundreds of millions of dollars spent, and the call was

still for more men and vaster sums of money . Volunteering

had given place to drafting, the government greenbacks had

enormously depreciated, and the prices of the necessities of

life were mounting skyward, with the certainty that each

day and week and month would make the situation more

desperate .

"The Union is not worth what it is costing us ."

This was the sentiment uttered by multitudes who until

then were among the most ardent supporters of the War for

the Union. They were losing heart ; they felt the strain

becoming too great to be borne . It is an impressive truth,

which all thoughtful persons must concede, that if the stupen-

dous struggle had not closed in 1865, with the Union

restored, it would have stopped within a year with the Con-

federacy triumphant . I am sure that the most ardent

ex-Confederate will join with us in thanking God that He

averted such a calamity . No one can question the devotion

to principle on the part of the South, any more than he can

question the bravery of her soldiers, the ability of her leaders

and the genius of Lee, her mighty commander .

None understood more clearly the real situation and the

real danger than the immortal Lincoln . The furnace blast

of trial had brought the real Union leaders to the front, and

they, too, comprehended the prodigious task that confronted

them . Despite the fact that the opening of the Mississippi

had cut the Confederacy in twain, General Jo Johnston had

seventy-five thousand men at Dalton, Ga ., while Lee with a

slightly smaller army, all of whom were fire-tried veterans,

held the Rapidan River, as defiant and ready as ever to

measure strength with the far more numerous Federal hosts,



Tried by Fire 135

whom he had beaten back so many times from its advance

upon the capital of the Confederacy .

At the opening of 1864, the National Government decided

to make its campaigns against Lee and Johnston alone,

all other military operations contributing to these two

that were to decide the fate of the Union .

Hitherto the Confederates, operating upon inner lines,

were able to reinforce any imperilled point . General Grant

was given supreme command of the Union armies, and he

determined to make an advance "all along the line," so that

every Confederate force would be kept actively engaged and

none could go to the help of the other . By such incessant

hammering the Confederacy sooner or later must crumble

to pieces .

On May 1, 1864, the available military strength of the

Union was more than three-quarters of a million men.

It

was intended to launch this colossal host against the atten-

uated armies of the Confederacy and to press them to the

wall .

This is not the place for a history of the last advance

against Richmond. Our aim is to clear the way for a

Masonic incident or two connected with that memorable

campaign. At the same time it is interesting to recall those

eventful days, in which the stake was so stupendous and the

issue at times seemingly suspended by a single thread .

General Grant arranged with General Sherman that the.

general advance should begin on May 5 . While the latfer

was boring his way through the core of the Confederacy,,

swinging loose from Atlanta and heading for the sea, Grant

himself was to undertake the task of beating Lee and captur-

ingng the proud Confederate capital . It was Titanic work

indeed, even with his overwhelming army and boundless&

resources .



136 Tried by Fire

In accordance with his far-reaching plans, Grant crossed

the Rapidan on May 4. The fighting which followed was

of the most terrific nature . For two days the armies grappled

in the gloomy depths of the Wilderness, and then the struggle

was transferred to Spottsylvania Court House . Less furious

fighting followed, and on the 28th of the same month what

was left of the Army of the Potomac gathered in the vicinity

of the Chickahominy, where McClellan had made his futile

attempt two years before . There, on June i and 3, at

Cold Harbor, the Confederate lines were assailed, and the

Union army suffered the most bloody repulse of the war . For

twenty minutes the losses in killed and wounded were at the

rate of five hundred a minute ! The Union casualties from

the opening of the campaign were fully 40,000, that of the

Confederates much less . The Union army was fought to a

standstill, and when another order was given for an advance,

it remained motionless .

One of the most gallant of the Confederate leaders, who

was barely twenty-seven years of age, was General Robert F .

Hoke. He commanded a division at Cold Harbor, and had

received his commission as major-general less than six weeks

previous . Directly in front of his lines lay scores of Union

dead and wounded . Loss of blood always causes a horrible

thirst, and the cries of the sufferers were more than the Con-

federates could bear. Scores ran from the ranks, and, kneel-

ing among the poor fellows, shared the water in their canteens

with them .

They had been thus engaged only a few minutes when the

Federals opened fire on them, not understanding the meaning

of the charity. The bullets whistled so hotly about the good

Samaritans that they had to hurry back . General Hoke was

so indignant that he issued an order forbidding his men going

out of his lines . In the lull that followed he lay down at the



Tried by Fire1 37

foot of a tree to rest, for the day was insufferably hot, and

he, like his troops, was exhausted. While lying thus, two of

his men approached, and saluting, said :

"General, a wounded Yankee is lying out in front and he

wanted to know whether there are any Masons among us .

We told him there were, whereupon he gave the sign of

distress and begged us to go out and bring him into our lines .

We replied that we had been fired upon while helping his

companions, and because of that you had issued strict orders

against our passing outside ."

General Hoke roused up and looked keenly at the two

men .

"Are you Masons?" he asked .

They told him they were .

"Do you know that it is almost certain death for you to

try to give any help to that poor fellow?"

"We do ; but he has made the Masonic appeal to us, and

we only await your permission to try to bring him in ."

"Then go, in God's name . I do not stand in the way of

such courage as that . "

As eagerly as if rushing to meet a returning brother, the

brave men ran toward the Federal who lay helpless on the

earth. They had hardly started when the enemy, still failing

to understand the meaning of the act, opened fire on them .

They did not falter or show hesitation. Every one expected

to see one or both fall dead at every step, but they reached

the sufferer, coolly held a can to his lips, and then raised his

limp body between them . They walked deliberately back

with their burden, and neither of them received so much as

a scratch .

It is within bounds to say that instances similar in spirit

to that which has just been related are to be numbered by the

hundred . Scores who read these lines will recall them in



138 Tried by Fire

their own experiences during the Civil War . I will add

only a few, most of which came under my own personal

knowledge .

Bishop E S Janes, of the Methodist Episcopal

Church, was presiding at a conference in Texas just before

the breaking out of the war . Feeling ran high, and open

threats were made of breaking up the body, some of whose

members were from the North . The bishop, one of the

gentlest and most amiable of men, quietly went on with his

duties, but warnings reached him that trouble was at hand .

Sure enough, in the midst of one of their sessions Ben McCul-

loch, at the head of some of his famous rangers, appeared

at the door . Standing just within the aisle, he called to the

bishop

"This can't go any farther . You must break up at once

and leave . If you don't, the life of no man will be safe . "

Bishop Janes from his place on the platform looked down

the church at the stalwart figure and made a Masonic sign .

It was done so quietly that no one not a Mason would have

recognized it . McCulloch was astonished, for he was a

Mason . Wondering how the venerable man of God had

learned itthough it is not certain he was aware of the fact-

he nodded his head .

"Have you any objections to our remaining in session until

our regular hour of adjournment?" gently asked the bishop,

amid the profound hush of the place .

"When is that?" asked the ranger in turn .

The bishop coolly drew out his watch and looked at it .

"A little more than an hour," he replied, as if holding a

conversation with one of the brethren on the floor .

"All right ; go ahead . I'll see you later . "

I never heard how Ben straightened out matters with .the

clamorous crowd that had gathered outside, all eager to



Ben McCulloch, the Texan ranger, and Bishop Janes of the M . E. ChurchBEN.-" If any one so much as says a mean word to you, I'll

knock hisead off ! "

BISHOP.-ut, tut, Brother Ben "



Tried by Fire 1 4 1

mob the clergymen within the building . Probably he didn't

have to straighten out or explain anything, for all knew the

resolute character of that daring Texan, who met his death

some time later in battle .

Bishop Janes despatched business with such vigor that a

sine die adjournment took place somewhat earlier than prom-

ised. When the conference was breaking up, and the mem-

bers were holding whispered and hurried consultations, the

bishop observed the striking figure of McCulloch, who had

again entered the building and seemed to be waiting to speak

with him . The clergyman made his way down the aisle, and

grasped the outstretched hand of the Texan, who said in a

low tone

"I saw your sign, bishop ; it's all right ; I'll guarantee a

safe trip for you and every one outside the city . Don't you

think it wise to adjourn without date?"

Looking benignantly through his golden spectacles, smiling

and still holding the hand of the ranger, Bishop Janes said in

his mild voice

"Brother Ben, it does look a little that way . I have

adjourned the conference sine die, and we shall wait till times

are more favorable before we come together again . Mygood fellow, I want to thank you for your kindness . "

"Oh, that's nothing . I'm sorry things are as they are, but

it wouldn't do for these Northerners to stay any longer in

town. I'll look after you personally, and if any one so much

as says a mean word to you, I'll knock his head off 1"

"Tut, tut, Brother Ben . I have had a good many mean

things said to me in the course of my life, but I forgive

them all . "

Ben McCulloch kept his word, and not a member of the

conference was molested in the slightest degree when making

his way out of "Dixie Land,"



142 Tried by Fire

A friend of mine was taken prisoner with over a hundred

others at one of the great battles in Virginia . After being

conducted so far to the rear that there was no possibility

of escape or rescue, the prisoners were drawn up in line, while

their names were taken down and the necessary data gathered

concerning them .

"While this was going on," said my friend, "a Confed-

erate colonel stood a few paces back of the officer who was

writing rapidly with a pencil on paper . The colonel was a

fierce-looking fellow, and it seemed to me he showed a grim

delight in contemplating our sorry plight . When each one

responded to the questions that were sharply asked him, the

colonel, with folded arms, looked fixedly into his face, but

did not speak .

"At the moment my turn came a sudden whim prompted

me to make a Masonic sign . I did it very furtively, and

could not observe the slightest result . I concluded that

neither the colonel nor any of his officers were Masons, and

my little essay was thrown away . In fact, so far as I could

see, it had attracted the attention only of Jim Baldwin, who

stood next to me and recognized what I had done .

" `You are a fool to try that on here,' he said in an under-

tone ; `even if there are any Masons among these Rebs, they

wouldn't pay any attention to you at a time like this . '

"I believed he was right, and thought no more bf it .

When our captors had pumped from us all the information

they required, we were sent to our quarters and placed in

charge of a guard . I don't think anybody ever felt bluer

than I did . The prospect of a long, dismal imprisonment

was before me, with the chances against my ever seeing home

again . Some of my companions broke into defiant song and

reckless jest, but I could make no such hollow pretence ; I

was utterly miserable and despairing .



Tried by Fire 143

"When the afternoon was drawing to a close, an orderly

came past the guards and called out my name . Wondering

what was up, I sprang to my feet and confronted him .

" `The colonel wishes to see you,' was all he said . Heindicated that I was to follow him, and, still perplexed, I

walked silently at his heels through the outskirts of the camp

till he paused in front of a tent, drew the fly aside, saluted

and announced his arrival with the prisoner in charge . The

next moment I was ushered into the presence of the glum

colonel, who was seated on a camp stool, smoking a corncob

pipe, and his expression seemed more terrible, if possible,

than before .

" `What's your name?' he demanded, taking his pipe from

his mouth .

I gave it .

" `Are you a Mason?' he asked in the same crisp

manner.

"I answered in the affirmative, and he then inquired :

" `Where do you hail from?'

"This was followed by the other questions with which all

Masons are familiar, until I convinced him that I was what I

claimed to be .

"The colonel abruptly ceased speaking . His sword lay on

a stool beside his own . He crossed his legs and smoked furi-

ously, with his eyes fixed on the opening in the tent through

which I had entered . He seemed to be thinking intently,

his face half obscured by the volume of smoke that continually

rolled from his mouth . Suddenly he sprang up, and with

the same brisk curtness he had shown from the first, he said :

`Come with me . '

"I followed, still wondering what it all could mean . Hewalked swiftly, and it was no easy task for me to keep pace

with him. His course was such that we soon passed outside



144 Tried by Fire

the camp, across an open field, whose fences, if there

had ever been any, had served to feed the camp fires long

before .

"By this time night was at hand-a night cloudy and with-

out stars . My guide did not speak a word until we had gone

fully a quarter of a mile. I remember thinking of a steam

tug towing a vessel, as the puffs of tobacco smoke rolled over

his shoulder into my face. Suddenly he stopped and faced

about .

"'Yank,' said he, `do you see that piece of woods?'

"He pointed ahead and a little to the right . In the slowly

settling gloom I could just distinguish the outlines of a forest,

the farther limits of which were lost in the obscurity . I

nodded my head and replied :

" `Yes ; I can readily make it out . '

" `Well, run like the devil l'

"At the same moment he started at a rapid pace for his

own camp . Not another word was said by him, nor did

'he look around to see whether I was acting upon his hint .

In fact, it was unnecessary, for I should have been an idiot

had I not `caught on' and improved the opportunity that I

may say was not wholly unexpected . Safely within the

stretch of timber and some distance beyond, I had little

trouble in making my way to our own lines ."

At the battle of Bull Run, July 2 i, 18 6 i, Edwin Cole, a

private of the Seventy-first Regiment of New York Volun-

teers, was severely wounded and taken prisoner . After a

short stay in Richmond he was removed to the city of New

Orleans, when Brother Fellows, then Grand Master of

Masons in Louisiana, provided him and eight of his fellow-

prisoners, who were craftsmen, with clothing, with medical

attendance and with every needful comfort possible . In the

excited state of public feeling at that time, the action of the



Yank, do you see that piece of woods? " ~ Yes, I can readily make i t out ."

~ Well, then run like the devil !"



Tried by Fire 147

Grand Master was severely criticised, but the Grand Lodge

of the State formally approved it, and in June, 1862, the

Grand Lodge of New York, by duly engrossed and certified

resolutions, made its formal acki,owledgments to the Grand

Master of Louisiana for this most gracious proof of his

Masonic charity .



XI

A LIVELY TIME

IF you should happen to be in the city of Providence, R . I . ,

and should make your way to No . 19 College Street, and

knock at the door of Room 18, you will be greeted by a

cheery "Come in," and will find yourself face to face with a

handsome, sturdy man, with a bright eye, gray beard and

scantily covered head of hair . Although at this writing

(1907) he is verging closely upon the proverbial three-score

and ten, he is as vigorous, alert and wide awake as most men,

two-thirds of his age . If the great Civil War claimed its

hundreds of thousands of valuable lives, it must not be for-

gotten that it saved many others . Those who in their early

manhood passed safely through its perils, hardships and the

rough out-door exposure became strong, rugged and tough .

Multitudes of pale, dyspeptic youths who enlisted came out

with physiques that laughed weakness and disease to scorn .

They have lived the scores of years since in the enjoyment

of high health, which otherwise could never have been

theirs .

The gentleman to whom I allude is judge George N . B l i s s ,

but in his case he was a splendid specimen of athletic man-

hood from the beginning . He is a native of Eagleville,

Tiverton, R . I ., where he was born, July 22, 1837 . He was

graduated from Union College, Schenectady, with the degree



A Lively Time 149

of A.B . , in June, 186o . Shortly after he entered the Albany

Law School, and on his graduation, in May, 1861, was

admitted to the Bar of the State of New York . In Septem-

ber of the same year he enlisted as a private in Company B,

First Rhode Island Cavalry . Young Bliss's ability caused

him to be made quartermaster-sergeant soon after, quickly

followed by his promotion to first lieutenant, which rank he

held until mustered in as captain of Company C, in August,

1862.

Having enlisted as a soldier, Captain Bliss set out to

become a thorough one. He was a daring and skilful horse-

man, he had fenced with foils when a schoolboy, and became

one of the finest swordsmen in the army. He was known as

a man of undaunted bravery, always ready and eager to obey

the orders of his superior officers, and never flinching in the

face of any peril, no matter how great nor how hopeless the

chance of victory might seem . Captain Bliss's modesty causes

him to pass lightly over many of his exploits, which would

have brought fame to any soldier . But his old comrades

agree in pronouncing him a superb officer, whose example in

the most trying circumstances was a model to others . He was

a splendid type of the American volunteers which have

carried our flag to triumph on many a crimson battlefield .

His qualities in this respect won the admiration of his

enemies, with whom he crossed swords again and again in

the hot conflict, which seemed at times and for so long to

waver in the balance .

Captain Bliss's regiment was with Sheridan's army in the

valley of the Shenandoah, and in September, 1864, was on

duty at General Torbert's headquarters, where Bliss was in

command of the provost guard . After the victories of

Sheridan at Winchester, on the 19th, and Fisher's Hill, on

the 22d, General Torbert with his cavalry occupied Waynes-



150 A Lively Time

borough, Va . On September z8 they set out to destroy

the railway bridge .

About the middle of the afternoon on the day named,

Captain Bliss was directed by Major Farrington to ride into

Waynesborough with orders to the provost guards to prevent

soldiers from entering the houses, since the entire cavalry was

about to pass through the town to water their horses in the

Shenandoah . It was a crisp, cool day in early autumn, and

the captain was in high spirits . A few weeks before lie had

been in the hospital, but the pure air, delicious spring water,

good rations, and rough, out-door life had restored him to

his usual perfect health . Life never looked more attractive

to the young patriot .

The captain had in his charge about fifty prisoners,

captured a day or so before . Just before entering the town a

sergeant was met with a large quantity of bread, which by

orders of the captain had been baked in Waynesborough for

the captives . Promising soon to return, Bliss rode into town

to give his orders to the provost guards . Having done so,

he was about to go back, when his attention was drawn to the

efforts of a Vermont cavalry regiment to destroy the railway

bridge. They had nearly completed the work before Captain

Bliss heard firing in the distance across the river . Looking

in that direction, he saw, about a mile away, the enemy

driving in the Union pickets. The latter fell back to

the reserves, who charged and drove the Confederates

in turn .

Captain Bliss supposed the affair was only a skirmish, but

when he saw the Union reserve hurled back, he knew it was

an attack in force . He galloped back into the village, where

Captain Willis C . Capron, of the First Rhode Island Cav-

alry, had command of about a dozen men as provost guard,

and ordered him to form them in line across the main street,



and allow none but wounded men to pass to the rear . This

was done, and Bliss was on the point of returning to his

squadron, when Captain Capron begged him to take com-

mand . Captain Bliss refused, but Capron insisted, and the

faces of his men showed that their wishes were the same .

They knew that in Bliss they would have the best of leaders .

He read the expression of their countenances, and in his

crisp, military fashion said :

"Very well ; I'll take command ; pass to the rear as junior

captain ."

At the same time, Captain Bliss drew his sabre and placed

himself at the front . The firing on the opposite side of the

river became hotter, but the Confederates steadily pushed the

Federals back and the situation was fast becoming desperate .

Seeing that something must be done quickly, Captain Bliss

gathered about thirty men for a charge across the river,

accompanied by cheering, the object being to make the enemy

believe reinforcements were approaching . At the same time

the main body of Union cavalry would be given time in which

to rally for action .

The charge was made, and Bliss had nearly reached the

front, when a major galloped up to him with orders from

Colonel Lowell to take his command to the ford of the river

and stop the stragglers . By his promptness, Captain Bliss

checked fully a hundred and fifty panic-stricken men . With

the aid of the lieutenants among them they were gotten into

line, when a Confederate battery began dropping shells

among them. The whole body was terrified and dashed so

tumultously across the river that they swept Captain Bliss's

small force off their feet . He dashed after them, and suc-

ceeded in getting a few together, and began to throw up a

barricade across the main street . There was not time to

complete it, however, and the little body fell back till they



152 A Lively Time

reached the Third New Jersey Cavalry, drawn up in column

of squadrons in the western suburbs of the town .

Looking again toward the enemy, Captain Bliss saw

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell, who had been in command

of the picket line, approaching with his horse on a walk. Hewas the last man to fall back before the advance of the Con-

federates . The bullets were whistling all about the brave

o f f i c e r , and little puffs of dust in the road showed where many

struck. Captain Bliss hurried out to meet him .

"Colonel Lowell, I had only a few of the provost guards,

but I did all I could with them to help you ."

"There is no question of that ; but, captain, we must check

their advance with a sabre charge . Isn't that the best thing

we can do?"

"I think it is ."

A few minutes later they came up to the Third New Jersey

Cavalry . Colonel Lowell addressed the officer in command :

"Major, let your first squadron sling their carbines, draw

their sabres and charge ."

The order was given, but not a man moved . They were

demoralized by having seen the troops driven back . Colonel

Lowell shouted

"Give a cheer, boys, and go at them 1"

He and Captain Bliss set the example, and charged, cheer-

ing and waving their sabres . It was just the thing needed,

and the squadron dashed hot after them . A little farther on

Colonel Lowell drew to one side, so as to send other troops

to the support of the squadron .

This left Captain Bliss to lead the charge . He was

mounted on a large, powerful sorrel horse, which speedily

carried him a hundred yards in advance of the others. Reach-

ing the partially built barricade, he reined up and looked

back His men were coming on with a splendid squadron



A Lively Time153

front, while in the other direction the enemy, in column of

fours, were turning to retreat . It was the psychological

moment for a charge, and Captain Bliss, waving his sabre

high above his head, shouted at the top of his voice

"Come on, boys 1 we've got them on the run I"

Touching spur to his horse, he went over the barricade

at a single leap, and thrilled by the chance of routing the

enemy, the captain put his steed on a dead run, and the next

moment was among them swinging his sabre right and left,

striking wherever he saw a chance of reaching a horseman .

Almost in the same instant he made the discovery that he

was entirely alone . The men had not followed, and he was

caught in the most terrifying peril of his life, for here was

one man attacking a squadron of cavalry single handed .

When the fearful truth broke upon Captain Bliss, he had

penetrated so far into the company that fully a dozen were

behind him . They were retreating in a loose column of fours,

and he had three files on his left hand and one on the right .

He says that fifty men were shouting

"Kill that damned Yankee 1" and all set vigorously to work

to do it .

Captain Bliss did not believe he had one chance in a

million. He was certain to be cut down if he tried to retreat,

and the farther he went, the worse would his situation be-

come. In the dizzying whirl of the moment, he thought that

if he could fight off death until he reached a side street he

would spur his horse into that and try to make a circuit back

to his lines . He set out to attempt the impossible .

It need not be said that all this time the captain was the

busiest man that can be imagined . His sabre flashed right

and left, for he must needs use it with skill and might and

main to repulse the assaults upon him . He aimed one blow

at Captain Morgan Strother, who dodged, and W . T. Haines



154 A Lively Time

ducked just in time to save his head. But Captain William A .

Moss, Hugh Hamilton, color bearer of the Fourth Virginia

Cavalry, Robert L . Baber and Thomas W. Garnett all caught

it fairly and were wounded. (Later on we shall explain

how their names came to be known . )

While laying about him like a Trojan, Captain Bliss was

on the alert for the side street to which he had pinned his _

hopes. He caught sight of one on his left, and dropping his

head close to his horse's neck, he broke through three files,

plunged into the opening and felt a thrill of hope ; but at

that instant a shot fired at him struck his steed and fatally

wounded him . Feeling him going, the rider vigorously

jerked the reins and struck his spurs deep into his flank. The

noble animal strove bravely, but he was doomed and went

down with a plunge which flung the captain to the ground .

Before he could leap to his feet two horsemen were upon him,

and each struck a vicious, well-aimed blow . One used his

carbine, and Bliss parried the stroke, which otherwise would

have killed him . He had no chance to ward off the sabre,

which inflicted an ugly cut on his forehead . Getting upon

his feet, he called out :

"For God's sake do not kill a prisoner 1"

"Then surrender 1" commanded the horseman .

"I do surrender ."

"Give me your sword and pistol."*

The captain handed the weapons to his captor, but had

hardly done so when he received a blow in the back, which

knocked him forward several paces. Turning his head to

learn the cause, he saw that a soldier had ridden up with

*Referring to this incident, Captain Bliss in a letter to the writer says :

"I suppose Shepherd, to whom I surrendered, did not dream how neardeath he was . If he had refused me mercy, I would have run him at once

through the body, and we should have died together ."



In dire extremity

<< For God's sake do not kill a prisoner !

~ Then surrender !"« I do surrender ! "



A Lively Time 1 57

his horse on a trot and stabbed him with his sabre . The

captain grimly says that the reason the weapon did not pass

entirely through his body was that the soldier, "in his igno-

rance of the proper use of the weapon, had failed to make the

half turn of the wrist necessary to give the sabre smooth

entrance between the ribs ."

In the same moment Captain Bliss observed another

soldier taking aim at him with a revolver . In that crisis,

when his life seemed scarcely worth a second's purchase, the

prisoner made the grand hailing sign of distress of a Mason .

Captain Henry C. Lee, the acting adjutant-general, instantly

recognized it and dashed up on his horse, and peremptorily

checked every demonstration against the wounded man . Heordered one of the soldiers to take him to the rear and see

that his wounds were dressed . The order was obeyed,

though on the way the prisoner was obliged to give up his

gold watch, his money, and afterward to exchange his cavalry

boots for a pair of canvas shoes .

Captain Bliss's wounds bled so much that he was too weak

to mount a horse without help, but he was gotten into place

behind one of the guards, and a ride of three miles brought

him to a field hospital, where his wounds were dressed . Later

in the evening he was put into an ambulance with Captain

William A. Moss-at that time a lieutenant-who had re-

ceived a bullet wound in addition to the sabre cut from

Captain Bliss . . Captain Moss, like Bliss, was a Mason, and

did his utmost for the comfort of the prisoner . The sabre

thrust caused the latter more trouble than the wound in

his forehead . His lung had been injured, and he had

to be plentifully dosed with morphine before he could

sleep .

The next forenoon a mounted courier came to the hospital

with orders to take Captain Bliss to the headquarters of



158 A Lively Time

General Thomas T. Munford, commanding the Confederate

force that had made the attack the previous day . The

prisoner, however, was too weak to sit a horse, and the

messenger went back without him . Late at night the

wounded were all landed by the cars in Charlottesville, and

Bliss was placed in the officers' hospital . During the two

weeks that he remained there he was treated with every

courtesy and kindness . The surgeon in charge, J . S . Davis,

Professor in the University of Virginia, was specially atten-

tive and did everything in his power for the comfort of the

Union prisoner .*

A few days after the arrival at Charlottesville, a wounded

Confederate called upon Captain Bliss .

"I am W. T. Hanes," said he with a smile, "and was the

first man you attacked in the ranks of the Fourth Virginia

at Waynesborough . "

"But you were not hurt," remarked Bliss .

"No; I was lucky enough to dodge that cut ; if I hadn't, I

shouldn't be here to shake you by the hand . No man ever

tried harder to kill another than I tried to kill you, but your

horse was too swift for me ; as I followed, your sabre looked

like a snake writhing in the air ."

By the middle of October, Captain Bliss's wounds had

healed and he was sent to Lynchburg, where he remained two

days, going thence to Libby Prison, in Richmond . The long,

hard journey from Charlottesville reopened his sabre wound,

and he was placed in the hospital, which was located at the

south end of Libby . He recovered so rapidly that in little

more than a week he was transferred to the regular prison

quarters, where he met an old college friend in Captain

*Captain Bliss informs me that he met seven Union officers whose lives

were saved during the Civil War through their being Free Masons . Andthese were only a few among the hundreds and thousands on both sides .



A Lively Time1 59

Henry S. Burrage, of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts In-

fantry, who had been unfairly taken prisoner several days

before while exchanging newspapers on the picket line . The

following day General Roger A . Pryor (now a retired justice

of the Supreme Court of New York) was captured in similar

circumstances . Captain Burrage, on December 9, was sum-

moned to the office of the prison and told that he had been

selected as a hostage for a Confederate private, then under

sentence within the Union lines . Captain Burrage reminded

the commandant, Major N . P. Turner, "that General Pryor

was already held as a hostage for him, and it was unfair to

complicate his case by the new arrangement . Major Turner

admitted the force of this contention and searched through

the prison rolls for another Massachusetts officer, but finding

none, decided that Captain Bliss, of Rhode Island, would fill

the bill . Accordingly, he was notified of the unwelcome

honor thrust upon him . Moreover, he was told that in addi-

tion, three other officers who were named were held as hos-

tages for four privates that had been sentenced to be hanged

by General Burnside for recruiting men for the Confederate

army within the Union lines in East Tennessee . Captain

Bliss was furnished with writing material and advised that if

he wished to save his own neck he would better get busy and

do what he could to preserve the lives of the condemned

prisoners . With such an incentive, the captain promptly

wrote to Senators Anthony and Sprague, who were equally

prompt in interesting themselves in the matter . Few know

by what a hair's breadth this delicate negotiation was carried

through to success. Suffice it to say, that all came out right in

the end, and one of the saddest of war's many tragedies was

averted. On January 25, 1865, the hostages were released

from their cells and sent back to the regular prison quarters .

On the 5th of the following month, all, with the exception of



16o A Lively Time

Lieutenant Murray, were sent down the James River on the

flag-of-truce boat and re-entered the Union lines .

The experience of Captain Bliss in Libby Prison was inter-

esting, but the story of the prisoners confined there during

the progress of the war has been told too many times to be

repeated in this place . The four months' confinement broke

the health for the time of the rugged young man, and he was

placed on light duty as president of a court-martial at

Annapolis, Maryland. On May 15 he was mustered out

of service and returned to the profession of law in his native

State of Rhode Island .

The stirring events narrated were followed, as has been

the case in many other similar instances, by a pleasant sequel .

In June, 1875, the Richmond Commandery of Knights

Templars made a brief visit to Providence on their return

from the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the

battle of Bunker Hill . Captain Bliss had a cheery time with

a number of the members, to whom he related his experience

at Waynesborough . When they went home they retold the

story . Thus the way was opened for not only an acquaintance

with the ex-Confederates whom he encountered, but for the

recovery of the sabre which the captain had been compelled

to surrender when his horse was killed and he stood in

imminent danger of death .

Under date of March 24, 1902, Robert L. Baber wrote

from Rock Island, Va ., to Captain Bliss, asking for his photo-

graph in return for the three sabre wounds he had inflicted on

his head in that lively scrimmage nearly forty years before .

He got the photo and further correspondence followed . As

proof of the truth of the account given of Captain Bliss's

notable exploit, we quote from some of these letters . MrBaber, writing April 29, 1902, said :

"I was highly gratified to learn of the man who gave me



A Lively Time 161

such an awful drubbing, but proud to know that it did not

seriously injure me : it only gave me six weeks' furlough .

You say that three of the men whom you wounded after_thirty years are still living, which is correct . Mr. ThomasWGarnett is the man, if I mistake not, whose name you had

not learned, who is living and whose post-office is Arcanum,

Buckingham County, Va . Captain William A. Moss hasbeen dead twelve or fourteen years, I suppose .

"I am nearly seventy-six years of age, have been a member

of the Methodist Church nearly sixty years, was justice of

the peace twenty-five years, a Mason nearly forty-two years

and am a notary public now and have been for about twenty-

eight years ."

Upon receipt of this letter, Captain Bliss wrote to Thomas

IN. Garnett, who answered on May 14, 1902

"DEAR SIR : I am agreeably surprised to hear from you .

I was at Waynesborough, Va ., on September 28, 1864 . I

was wounded by the same man who wounded Captain Will-iam A. Moss and Robert L. Baber . (His name I haveforgotten . )

"I received a sabre wound on my head . He or you gaveme a right cut and passed on . I followed you to a left-hand

street. I shot at you and your horse fell . Just then Cap-

tain Moss called me to his assistance . I went and did notsee you again until that night at the hospital . I was thefirst man you wounded in the fight .

"I got your sabre from Thad Sheppard and carried it the

balance of the war, and buried it on my return home after

the surrender .

"I never knew Hamilton . Captain Moss has been deadabout twelve years . I know Barber . He lives about thirty

miles from here . I am glad we are both still living . Writeagain ."

Garnett set out to recover the sabre of Captain Bliss with

the purpose of restoring it to him . Two months later he

wrote to the captain, telling him that after General Lee sur-

rendered at Appomattox, General Munford called for men



162 A Lively Time

to go with him to join General Jo Johnston, then at Dam-

ville, Va . Garnett was one of the volunteers . When they

reached Lynchburg, they saw it was useless to try to gofarther and gave up . On the way back, Garnett was advised

to get rid of his side arms, through danger of being mistaken

for one of Mosby's scouts . Ten miles from Arcanum, he

hid the sabre under the bottom rail of a fence, intending to

return and get it after things had quieted down, but he never

did so. The sabre was found by the owner of the place when

removing the fence, and he notified Garnett that while he

was willing to let him have it for nothing, it must be with the

provision that it was for himself alone ; but if he wished it

for any other purpose, he would have to redeem it . Garnett

wrote on July 27, 1902 :

"I had to make the second trip to see Mr . B . F . Sheppard

before I caught him . He said I was welcome to the sabre,

but if sent to you, five dollars must be paid for it . I put

the sabre under the fence April 11, 1865, and Sheppardfound it in 1874. Nine years under the fence had left their

marks. The leather on the hilt had rotted off and the scab-bard was nearly eaten up by rust . Sheppard put a woodenhilt on in place of the leather, and used it to kill rats with,

;and cut off a part of the guard to make it handy . There is

but one thing about it I can recognize, and that is the dent

in the edge, which was in it when I got it . " [This dentwas made by the parrying of the carbine, as has been de-

scribed . ]

The old, battered, but precious sabre reached Captain Bliss

a few days later, and it need not be said that no relic in the

possession of the brave veteran is held in such proud and

loving remembrance . It was on exhibition at the annual

reunion of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, August 9, 1902 .

A noteworthy incident on that occasion was the presence of

Color Bearer Hugh Hamilton, who received the warmest of



A Lively Time 163

welcomes from his former foes, but now his ardent friends .

He was the guest of judge Bliss . Hamilton is four years

younger than the judge, erect as an Indian, tall, soldierly,

courteous and strikingly handsome . The two had their

photographs taken together, and under the picture, which is

before me as I write, judge Bliss has placed the following :

"Once foes, for many years past and for all the years to

come, friends . "

Captain A. D. Payne died at Warrenton, Va ., in March,

z893. In his account of the remarkable exploit of Captain

Bliss, he wrote

"The Fourth Virginia Regiment was at this point in the

front, and Captain Morgan Strother, its commander, whenhe discovered the barricade, ordered some of his men to dis-

mount to remove the obstruction . While this was beingdone, he suddenly gave the order for the dismounted mento mount, which was immediately obeyed, and just then an

incident occurred worthy of mention, as exhibiting a deed of

individual heroism rarely witnessed . Just as the men ofthe Fourth Regiment were well in the saddle, after the order

of their commanding officer, a single soldier, coming from

the direction of the enemy, with sword in hand, dashed into

the Black Horse Troop, which composed one of the squad-rons of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry, and on that occasion

was the color squadron, sabering the men right and left,

wounding several, and among them Lieutenant William A .

Moss and Corporal Hugh Hamilton, a gallant soldier andthe color bearer. The boldness and suddenness of the attack

paralyzed for a moment or two the Confederates, and inthat interval this bold assailant succeeded in forcing his way

through the Confederate column, and might possibly haveescaped, but a shot fired by a Confederate brought his horse

down, and he fell with it . He was at once surrounded, and

received a sabre cut in the face while in the act of parrying

a blow from a carbine . Another Confederate gave him asabre thrust in the back, and in all probability he would have



164 A Lively Time

been slain but for the timely interference of Captain Henry

C. Lee, an aid of Colonel Munford, who, seeing the struggle,rode up and put an end to it . It is said that Captain Lee

recognized in the prostrate man a brother Mason, through

some sign or cry used by the Masonic order in times of dis-

tress or danger ."

Brigadier-General T. T . Munford at this date is living at

Lynchburg, Va. Writing on March 4, 1882, to judge Bliss,

he thus referred to the olden times :

"In fighting over our battles, as all good soldiers love to

do with those who went hand in hand together, I have fre-

quently had the incidents you recalled in your letter men-

tioned by those of us who witnessed it, and it affords me

pleasure to say it was worthy of a better support than you

received from the ranking officer ordering the charge or the

men who should have followed . A little dare-deviltry in a

cavalry officer sometimes acts like magic ; a few dashing fel-

lows well led have turned a victory from one side to a rout

on the other, without any cause . Your courage will never

be doubted by any Confederate who saw your manly bravery

in the fight, and you may thank a kind Providence that you

are now alive to tell your own story in your own way . Youhave spoken in a manly and generous way of what passedin our lines . When I saw you at night, sitting behind aConfederate cavalryman, with the blood streaming down

your face, going to the rear a prisoner, I said to Dr . Ran-

dolph, brigade surgeon, that you were one of the `widow's

son party .' He being one of the elder brothers, replied, `I'll

see your mother's son well taken care of this night,' and as

most of the staff-officers were of the clan, they did the best

they could for a brother in trouble .

"I am not a Mason, but most of my staff were Masons,and I know they frequently did many things that seemed to

give them extra pleasure for the unfortunate on the other

side . I was sure the institution was full of good works,

and although I was only a poor soldier who tried to do his

duty, without being a Mason, I believed the organization

was based upon Christian principles, and was always in sym-

pathy with the work of the fraternity . "



A Lively Time 165

In some respects the most peculiar interest attaches to the

narrative of Captain Henry C. Lee, for it will be remem-

bered that he was the one who recognized the Masonic call

of Captain Bliss when driven to the last extremity, and by

instantly responding saved him from certain death . Captain

Lee at that time was in his twenty-third year, so that he could

not have been a Mason for more than about a year and a

half. He died in Richmond in June, 1889. Some five years

before his death he wrote to judge Bliss

"Just as Captain Moss got into town, owing to the Third

not being up and the Second not well in position, I was sent

forward by Colonel Munford, who was then commandingour brigade, to halt the squadron of the Fourth, and as I was

galloping up one side (the right) of these squadrons (we

were in columns of fours), I saw you galloping down onthe other side . Knowing you would be looked after, par-ticularly as you were alone, I kept on and halted the head of

the troops, and then I saw your men going in the opposite

direction . They were the ones you told me, when I firstsaw you after the war, you expected to lead in the charge

against us and thought they were following you . My orderswere also to bring our troops back that had been sent up on

the road to the right, the First Regiment, for we were nearly

into Sheridan's camp, and were fearful that your troopsmight sweep down this street and cut this party off . It was as

I was returning, and had gotten to the corner, that I saw

your horse fall and three or four of our men with you . AsI passed you, you called out for relief as a Mason, andmaking a sign which I recognized, I ordered our men tolet you alone, take you to the rear and see that you were

attended to, as you seemed to be wounded . I had to go on

to bring our troops back, and, although you said something

to me, I had no time to stop . One of our men was aboutto kill you when I got to you, and informed me that you had

badly wounded Captain Moss, and had struck somebodyelse, and thought it wrong for me to interfere . When Icame back of course you were gone, and the horse, too, I

think, and I never saw you again until you came down to



16u A Lively Time

see me here in r88o . I heard that you and Captain Mosswere carried back in the same ambulance, and Moss, having

some 'apple-jack,' our national drink, you took a drink to-

gether ."

In conclusion, it may be said that Captain Bliss received

the Congressional medal for gallantry, September 28, 1864,

and the records of the War for the Union tell of no exploit

that was more deserving of the honor . Two of his sons

served in the navy during our late war with Spain, and the

veteran has long been a judge in the Seventh District Court

of East Providence, R . I .



XII

HTHE MAN WHO SAVED PRESIDENT DIAZ

OW the fate of the Mexican Republic once hung on the

Masonic honor and fidelity of a Brooklyn man is the

point of a remarkable political story that has been revived

in every Brooklyn lodge by the recent visit to the Mexican

capital of a member of Kings County Lodge, F . and A. M .

It is the story of a country made stable by the strength

and ability of one man, and it contains every element of

heroic manhood, unquestioned bravery, passionate politics and

grim humor, running the gamut from the fate of a nation to

that of a fistic encounter in which future President Diaz was

sent sprawling across the deck of an American steamship by

a purser who proved to be the greatest friend he ever had .

The facts given below are vouched for by leading Masons

in Brooklyn and are in detail as corrected by the Rev . T .

Morris Terry, of Kings County Lodge, a veteran member

of the order and a Past Master . The member who is respon-

sible for the revival of the story, because of recent honors

extended to him both in New Orleans and in Mexico City, is

another member of the same lodge, John Jerome Farley, an

expert connected with the Goodyear (shoe) Machinery Com-

pany, now of 1331 North Front Street, Columbus, Ohio .

Among those who have been prominent in an investigation of

the story is Fred L . Jenkins, the head of the Veteran Masons,

of 452A Hancock Street, Brooklyn .



168 The Man Who Saved President Diaz

Mr. Farley, however, though his recent visit to the Mex-

ican lodges brought forth the story, was at the time of the

series of events that are hereinafter told a babe in swaddling

clothes in Brooklyn . Just who the real hero was is not yet

disclosed, but on the statements made to the Eagle it seems

certain that his identity is known to some .

In the early seventies President Diaz was not known as a

patriot . Patriots in Spanish-American republics are success-

ful revolutionists . Diaz was not successful in those days .

Rather was he a fugitive beyond the confines of his own land,

and few who saw him about the cafes and at the festivals of

New Orleans paid much more attention to him than did men

of later years to Cubans who talked filibustering in Phila-

delphia before the war with Spain .

At the time there was plying between New Orleans and

Vera Cruz an American merchantman, taking to the war-

racked nation cotton, grains and foodstuffs and bringing back

the tropical products and the mineral wealth of Mexico .

The purser of that vessel was a young man from Brooklyn .

The purser did not know Diaz, nor did he know that there

was a price of $so,ooo on the head of any man in New

Orleans, and the full knowledge of what such a munificent

headpiece means did not come back to him till later years,

when, tried by fire and found not wanting, he came to his

reward by the hand of the man who, on that eventful night,

he met as an exile in the Louisiana metropolis .

While walking along one of the city streets, thinking of

the sailing in the morning, the purser was accosted by a friend

who introduced a quiet-looking young man whom he asked

the purser to make a passenger with him on the morrow .

The stranger wore a magnificent Masonic emblem .

"He is a fugitive," said the friend, "and must return before

it is too late."



The Man Who Saved President Diaz 169

"But I can't take him . My ship and my cargo might pay

the forfeit," said the purser, shaking his head .

"But you must take him . He is your brother and his very

life is at stake," was the stern answer .

The purser wavered and then consented, promising to pro-

tect to the utmost the stranger in his cabin from spies and

Mexican officials who might be watching for the "rebel"

leader .

On the morning when the ship was passing out of the

muddy delta of the Mississippi, Diaz, who even for years

afterward was unknown to the man who was befriending him,

was seated at the purser's desk . He had been writing on a

long, narrow strip of paper. Toying with it as the ink dried,

he turned to the purser and slowly said

"You have helped me, but I must tell you something . I am

in your power. There is a price of $so,ooo on my head . To

earn that all you will have to do is to hold me till we get to

Vera Cruz and deliver me to the military . Senor, you may do

that if you like . "

The young purser looked steadily at the man before him,

started to say something and then stopped . Clearing his

throat, he slowly and with a voice choked with emotion,

answered

"I don't befriend a man to betray him . I took you aboard .

If I can, whatever the cost, I am going to put you on the

beach in your own country ."

Diaz's eyes filled with tears and all the fire of his ardent

nature was in his embrace as he exclaimed fervently :

"Thank you ."

The scene was dramatic, but no master of stagecraft ever

completed another such with so strong a climax .

Handing the purser that long, narrow strip of paper on

which he had been writing, the Mexican said :




"Here is a check equal to what they would pay you ."

Again the young purser looked at the man before him,

almost angrily this time, then seizing the paper, he tore it

to bits that were borne away by the lazy, sluggish gulf winds

and lost in the wilderness of the blue waters . His answer

was

"I would not take you for money . I won't take money for

saving you . "

The next in a series of incidents in this game-where the

life of a nation, rather than the life of a man was at stake-

happened off Vera Cruz, where the American ship came to

anchor

"You must put me ashore," begged the future ruler .

"It's death, man," pleaded the purser. "I can't do it. If

you are captured, I will be taken and so will the ship . And

they will kill you . "

"I must go l I will go ! I will swim it!" young Diaz cried

with that determination that afterward made him what he

is to-day .

"It's madness, man . You will drown . The harbor is full

of sharks. You will never reach the shore ."

Diaz was obdurate, however, and that afternoon he

divested himself of his heavier clothing, girded on a knife to

defend himself against not only man-eating sharks, but man-

hunting soldiers, and sprang overboard .

Taking to the water, he headed toward the beach, and the

friend who had protected him so far watched him with his

glasses as he rose and fell with the waves, now tossed on

their crests, now hidden behind them as they broke in combers

on the sand bars .

Suddenly Diaz turned back, and seemed swimming with

redoubled effort to regain the ship . Through the breakers

there plunged a boat and from it came the glint of sunlight as



The Man Who Saved President Diaz 173

the red rays struck on the drawn swords of soldiers . The

man had been seen and was pursued .

The race was an exciting one, but the swimmer had the

start and was alongside as the purser shouted to the men in

the fo'castle :

"Line the starboard rail1 Lower a line," and made a

place for that bit of the ridiculous that so persistently seems

to enter into every affair of moment .

As Diaz was seized and drawn aboard the patriot soldiers

were already coming up the gangway . The situation was

critical, and a false move would have meant death to the

young man .

Yankee wit, however, saved the day. Seizing the wet

:swimmer by his frowsy hair and giving him a heavy blow

'behind the ear, the purser threw him to the deck, and with

an oath, pounced upon him and grabbed him by the throat .

"You drunken dog 1 You hound, I'll teach you to jump

ship . I'll teach you to try to drown yourself," he cried .

Then, leaping to his feet, the purser gave orders to put

the man into irons, and turning to the astonished soldiers,

asked them what he could do for them .

In broken English the leader explained that the country

was in the throes of a civil war, and said that all ports were

being watched for rebels, who had been driven from the

country, but who might at any time return . Seeing a man in

the surf, they thought that he had been caught, but were glad

to know they were mistaken and that "Senor El Captain had

got his drunken sailor back." With many other apologies

they went away .

The next danger that menaced the young man was when

two lighters came alongside to take off the cargo . These had

aboard, beside their crews, emissaries of the government, and

it was with a good deal of difficulty that the situation was met .




The work of loading was made as slow as possible, and

it was long after dark when the scows were filled . Hiding

the fugitive as best they could, the officers of the vessels

invited the crew to share their hospitality while Diaz was

rowed off into the darkness and put ashore farther down the

coast. This effort was successful, but it interrupted for years

the friendship that had sprung up between the humble purser

and the great Mexican leader .

A few years ago, however, there came the climax, and it

was brought about with all the dramatic effect of the modern

melodrama . The sailor hero of this story chanced to go to

Mexico, and among the places he visited was Mexico City .

As he alighted from his train he was suddenly arrested by

military officers . Being innocent of any wrong, he grew

indignant and begged to be informed of the cause of his

detention .

"This is an outrage ; send for the American consul," he

cried . But the soldiers only the more pushed him along

toward a carriage drawn by gayly caparisoned horses and

gave the order to the driver to proceed . Bands played and

the hoie poloi along the streets waved their sombreros and

shouted . Being arrested with martial honors was something

he did not understand .

His amazement grew as the procession drew up in soldierly

ranks before the plaza and the American was politely assisted

to alight and escorted into the central room of a palace, where

there stood before him, dressed in a finely fitting frock coat,

a a thickset man of small stature in whose eyes he saw a look

of friendly recognition .

An officer in uniform-still like the stage this story goes-

then broke the clouds :

"El Presidente ."

The friend of years ago, the exiled rebel, the brother in



The Man Who Saved President Diaz 1 75

trouble, was President Diaz, for years the head of the Mex-

ican Republic . It all came back to him ; even the head price

was explained .

"But how did you know I was here?" asked the American .

"My friend, never since the day I left you have I failed to

know where you were. I have followed you and watched you

prosper. You saved me and you saved Mexico . I could do

no less than wait for you to come back to her . "

Recently the Masonic papers contained the announcement

of the honors bestowed upon an American, but Brooklyn was

not connected with the matter till the New Orleans and

Mexico City lodges sent communications to the Rev. Mr .

Terry about the visits of Brother Farley .

The Masonic announcement was, however, that the

$5o,ooo which floated away on the warm waters of the gulf

stream thirty years ago was paid later as a present, and that

an American Mason, the friend of President Diaz, was hold-

ing a responsible office under the Mexican Government .



XIII

ON THE SUMMIT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS-FIRST MASONIC LODGE EVER HELD

IN MONTANA(Extract from Grand Historian's Address delivered before the Grand

Lodge, F. & A.M. of Montana, by Nathaniel P. Langford, * in 1867 . )

TIS brief contemplation of the leading features in our

early history leads me to narrate somewhat in detail that

portion of it which antedates the introduction of our order

in organized form . I esteem myself fortunate in having

been one of the early settlers of Montana-more fortunate in

having, before I left the abodes of civilization, been raised

to the sublime degree of Master Mason . When the company

of which I was one entered what is now Montana-then

Dakota-a single settlement, known by the name of Grass-

hopper (now Bannack), was the only abode of the white

man in the southern part of the Territory . Our journey

from Minnesota of fourteen hundred miles by a route never

before travelled, and with the slow conveyance of ox trains,

was of long duration and tedious . It was a clear September

twilight when we camped on the western side of the range of

the Rocky Mountains, where they are crossed by the Mullan

road . The labors of the day over, three of our number, a

brother named Charlton, another whose name I have for-

*Mr. Langford was Grand Master in 1869-1870 .



On the Summit of the Rocky Mountains 177

gotten, and myself, the only three Master Masons in the com-

pany, impressed with the grandeur of the mountain scenery

and the mild beauty of the evening, ascended the mountain

to its summit, and there, in imitation of our ancient brethren,

opened and closed an informal lodge of Master Masons . I

had listened to the solemn ritual of Masonry an hundred

times, but never when it impressed me so seriously as upon

this occasion ; such, also, was the experience of my com-

panions . Our long journey and its undeviating round of

daily employments had until this occasion been wholly un-

alleviated by any circumstance calculated to soften or mellow

the feelings subjected to such discipline . We felt it a relief

to know each other in the light of Masonry . Never was the

fraternal clasp more cordial than when, in the glory of that

beautiful autumnal evening, we opened and closed the first

lodge ever assembled in Montana .

Contemplating this early incident in the history of our

order from our present standpoint, and including in the con-

templation what Masonry has since done for the Territory,

and the Territory for Masonry, it seems to have been invested

with a kind of prophetic interest ; especially as at that time

it could hardly have been possible for the few Masons in the

Territory to have known each other, except as mere adven-

turers . As a manifestation of the all-pervading affections of

Masons for the lodge it is worthy of enduring record in our

archives . It is one of those facts that will reach forward

into our history and seize upon those undying elements which

shall transmit it to posterity . The fact will render the spot

sacred-and once known among Masons it will never be for-

gotten-that the first lodge in the Territory was opened and

closed upon the summit of the Rocky Mountains .

I might dilate upon the beauty of the evening upon which

we met-the calm radiance of the moon and stars, the



178 On the Summit of the Rocky Mountains

grandeur of the surrounding scenery . We exchanged fra-

ternal greetings, spoke kind words one to another, and gave

ourselves up to the enjoyment of that elevation of spirit which

Masonry, under such circumstances, alone evokes ; and when

we left the summit of that glorious range of mountains, to

descend to our camp, each felt that he had been made better

and happier for this confidential interchange of Masonic

sentiment.

Men when separated by distance from their homes and

all that is dear to them upon earth, and uncertain as to the

exposures and perils that lie before them, are apt to reflect

upon those events in their past experience which afford the

greatest promise or feeling of security and happiness . Every

true Mason who has made the journey across the plains can

attest to this . And as one of the striking evidences of the

effect of this influence upon the Masons who came early to

this Territory, I mention a little incident which occurred

while our train was working its weary way over the moun-

tains lying between Deer Lodge and Bannack . I happened

at that time to be the only Mason in a company consisting

of ten or twelve men . We had stopped at noon for refresh-

ment near the bank of what is now known as Silver Bow

Creek, and were preparing to resume our journey when three

or four horsemen descended from the mountains into the

valley where we had halted. They were dressed in the coarse

but picturesque costume of mountaineers, and presented to

our inexperienced eyes the appearance of a troop of brigands .

We regarded their movements with suspicion, and were ready

at a moment's warning to engage them in hostile

combat . All but one of them rode on without deigning to

notice us . He stopped and engaged in conversation with

those of our own men who were occupied in yoking our oxen .

I was at a little distance, and at the moment was engaged,



On the Summit of the Rocky Mountains 1 79

in adjusting the cincho of my saddle, when I heard him make

the inquiry

"Whose train is this?"

To which he received the reply, "Nobody's ; we own the

wagons among ourselves. "

"Where are you from?"

"From Minnesota . "

"How many men were there in your train?"

"About one hundred and thirty ."

"Was there a man named H. A . Biff in your train?"

"No, sir ; no such man . "

"Did you ever hear of such a man?"

"I never did," replied one . "I know of no one of that

name," said another

Now, as fortune would have it, I had a short time before

travelled the same road that had been travelled by the miss-

ing man (who, as I afterward learned, was a Mason), and

I had been informed by those who at that time accompanied

me that he had been killed by three ruffians . The particulars

of his assassination are familiar to you all . This was the

first murder of a brother of which we have any knowledge or

record .

From the information thus received I was enabled to

answer his anxious inquiries ; and as I rode along in company

with him during the rest of the day, I was greatly pleased

in finding in him an intelligent and warm-hearted brother

Mason. It was his first meeting with a brother in the Terri-

tory, and we employed the time we were together in relating

each to the other his Masonic experience, and bearing mutual

testimony to the satisfaction we had derived from the order,

and to its peculiar adaptability to our condition in this new

country . A friendship was thus formed through the instru-

mentality of Masonry which could not otherwise have found

existence .



XIV

TRUE TO HIS OATH-A LEGEND OF THENEW JERSEY COAST

REV. WILLIAM HOLLINSHED is a retired clergy-man of the Presbyterian Church, and at this writing is

proprietor of the Burnbrae House, a summer resort about

two miles from the little town of Sparta, Sussex County,

N J . I spent the month of June, 19o6, at the Burnbrae, and

formed a high regard for Mr . Hollinshed's ability and Chris-

tian character. He is one of the admirable few whose daily

life is in accord with his profession, and whose retirement

from active service, because of broken health, does not mean

that he has ceased his labors in his Master's vineyard. Heis as constant as ever in his works of charity, consolation and

self-denial, and is known far and near as an earnest minister

of the Gospel .

It was while sitting on the porch of the Burnbrae, as the

moon shone over mountain and lake, long after all the other

patrons were sunk in slumber, that Mr . Hollinshead gave

me, among many interesting experiences, the following

"I was resident pastor for four years in the Lackawanna

Valley, where the Erie, Delaware and Hudson, and the

Ontario and Western coal fields are located . My charge was

the Forest City Presbyterian Church, six miles north of Car-

bondale and twenty-three miles from Scranton. The popula-



True to His Oath 181

tion of the section was about seven thousand . Twenty-five

hundred men and boys were employed in the mines, of whom

six hundred were English speaking, the others being Poles,

Huns, Slavs, etc .

"My troubles came with the great coal strike, when a

boycott was placed against the families of the pump runners,

engineers and foremen, who were members of my church, and

were trying to protect the property of their employers, make

it possible for the country to have coal, and to save places

for the workmen when the turmoil should end . These faith-

ful employes were hounded, stoned and fired upon . They

were refused meat, bread, milk and clothing, as were their

wives and children . Out-of-town merchants were warned not

to sell these necessaries to any of the suffering families or to

their friends . The only way of satisfying their crying wants

was through purchase by me in my own name of what was

needed . I did this extensively, and distributed, so far as

possible, the articles secretly, though it was inevitable that

my action should soon become known . If there ever was a

persona non grata, I was that individual .

"We must not censure the local dealers too severely, for

had they disregarded the notice served upon them, they would

not only have been boycotted, but that fearful agent, dyna-

mite, would have been used against them . Although the

woful situation did not last long, it was long enough for me

to give some help to suffering womanhood and helpless chil-

dren . I wrote to other ministers and a circular was dis-

tributed, asking for peace and an observance of the laws .

It proved useless, however, for the men were in a desperate

mood and a riot followed, which was prevented from becom-

ing a bloody massacre through the arrival of the militia .

"The sight of my members, tried and true, insulted and

pelted with chunks of rocks, filled me with righteous indigna-



182' True to His Oath

tion. In October I wrote an article, À Voice from the Coal

Fields,' which was published in the N . Y . Sun . Although I

did not localize it, what I said was the simple truth . I was

known at once as the author, and the mob became more

inflamed than ever . The leaders of the strike replied with

i5oo handbills of an inflammatory character, directed against

me personally and meant to rouse the passionate hatred of the

foreigners . Beyond question it succeeded . I replied with

dignity and courtesy, but it was like pouring oil upon the

raging flames .

"One morning when I came out of my door I saw a book

lying on the porch . Upon examination, I found that it had

been shot half through by a revolver bullet, all the leaves

had been cut by a razor and four grossly insulting messages

were written within . I knew that action would follow these

threats, but I was in the path of duty, and was resolved to go

forward, content to do the will of the only One to whom I

bow the knee .

"A few nights later, just as I had closed my prayer-

meeting, and was about to pass out of the door to go home,

I was confronted by a woman, a member of my church, whose

face and manner showed that she brought momentous news .

Beckoning me to one side, she said in an excited under-tone :

" `Mr. Hollinshed, you must not try to go home to-night . '

" `Why not?' I calmly asked, though my heart was beating

faster than usual .

" Ìf you do, you will be killed ; I am telling you the truth . '

" Ì don't doubt that, my good woman, but explain ; who

is your authority?'

4t 'My husband ; he overheard the plot ; he was in the next

room ; he telephoned me ten minutes ago not to lose a second

in warning you ; I had just time to fling my shawl over my



« You must not try to go home to-night ."

" Why not?"" If you do you will be killed ! "




head, and I ran all the way to this place ; had I been a few

minutes later nothing could have saved you. '

"When she told me this I understood it all . Her husband

and I were members of the same Masonic lodge . He re-

membered his oath, and took his life in his hands when he

sent notice by his wife of my intended assassination . -His

use of the telephone in the circumstances was dangerous, and

his wife running through the wintry street was likely to draw

attention to her, but neither of the couple hesitated at the

risk. I do not mention the name of my loyal brother, for it

is not necessary, and possibly might injure him, even at this

late day .

"I thanked the woman and told her to assure her husband

of my deep gratitude . It would have been imprudent for her

and me to be seen together, and I waited until she passed

from sight. Then I walked to the barracks and told what I

had learned to the captain . He detailed two soldiers to escort

me home, which was reached without molestation . Thesoldiers guarded my house for a week . While this precaution

unquestionably saved my life, it did not protect me when on

'the street . On two occasions the leaders shouted to their

followers to `kill thereacher,' and they seemed

eager to do it . On my way to the post-office one morning,

I passed five hundred scowling men, with whom I saw

I was certain to have trouble . In returning, a ferocious-

looking fellow called me such a vile name that I turned to

rebuke him . He was standing in the door of a saloon,

and when I walked toward him he laughed and dashed

inside .

"By this time fifty rioters had closed around me . I faced

them and told them to do their work . I preferred to die a

martyr to American principles rather than live a craven and

coward . The fact that it was broad daylight and we were



186 True to His Oath

on the main street made the mob hesitate, and I reached home

unharmed .

"The nervous strain lasting through five months was too

much for me . On the next Sabbath morning I was stricken

with paralysis while in the pulpit . What a proof it was of

the reign of terror in that region, that not a physician could

be found with enough courage to come to my assistance ! I

speedily recovered and remained two years longer at Forest

City, myself and my church-members subject all the time to

the boycott . The outside world can form no idea of those

awful times . When the body of a workman was borne

through the streets to the grave, it was between jeering

crowds, who shouted, 'Good l good!' clapped their hands,

and called out the most shocking insults . It was almost im-

possible to get singers or pall-bearers . School-teachers were

discharged because they had brothers or fathers at work .

Free Masons were too frightened to attend lodge meetings

when their route led through any of the by streets, and it

seemed at times as if no man was safe unless he meekly bowed

to the will of the lawbreakers . I was no agitator, and never

when in the pulpit defended corporations or attacked the

Union . I did what I could to help the starving families of

the strikers, collecting money, clothing and food, which I

divided at the risk of my life impartially among those in need

of them ."

It was on another evening that Mr . Hollinshed related the

following incident. While in pleasing contrast to his turbu-

lent experience in the coal regions, it illustrates none the less

touchingly the beautiful spirit of Free Masonry :

At the time referred to a prosperous cloth merchant of

southern England lost his wife, to whom he was devotedly

attached . Ruth, a daughter nine years old, in whom his love

centred, could not dispel the gloom and depression of the




father, whose decline in health became so marked that his

physician told him that only a long sea voyage, with its

change of scene and manner of living, would save his life .

He reluctantly consented to sail to America . It was in mid-

summer, and his intention was to return home for the

Christmas holidays. He embarked from Liverpool for New

'fork, and almost immediately experienced an improvement

in health and strength . When within a day's sail of land a

dense fog settled over the vessel . A furious easterly gale

set in . The captain lost his bearings, and hardly had the

lead been cast when the ship was dashed upon the outer bar .

This was before the establishment of that blessed institution

of life saving along our ocean and lake coasts . The vessel

was rapidly pounded to pieces . Nearly all were washed from

the wreck and drowned. When all hope was lost, the father

lashed his child to a plank . He had no thought that either

would be saved, but he uttered a prayer that the body of his

child might be found by some fisherman and given Christian

burial . He pinned a little golden emblem, the square and

compass, to her shawl, and had just time to kiss her good-by

when the billows swept her from his sight .

A fearful crash followed, and the parent became uncon-

scious . When his senses returned, he found himself in the

cabin of a vessel bound for New Orleans . He had been

rescued at break of day when the fog lifted . Upon his arrival

at the Southern city he read the accounts of a shipwreck in

the newspapers, with the statement of the loss of all on

board. He used every possible means to gain tidings of his

lost daughter, but in vain, and when he finally sailed for

England he was firmly persuaded that she had perished and

would never be seen by him again in this world .

Five years later business called the parent once more to the

United States . He had a vague hope that he might be



188 True to His Oath

able to learn something of lost Ruth, and that it should be-

come his sad privilege to place her remains beside those of

his revered wife . He knew the vicinity of the wreck, but

when he visited it and made inquiries was not able to glean

the slightest information . At the inn in New Jersey he

learned that two of the guests were Free Masons, who had

come thither as representatives to the Grand Lodge, which

was about to convene in that town . Having made himself

known as a member of the order, the father was invited to

attend the session . He did so, and when the routine business

was finished he was invited by the Grand Master to make

some remarks. He complied, speaking glowingly of the suc-

cess and prosperity of Masonry in England, after which he

told the purpose of his visit to that part of New Jersey. Hegave a graphic account of his shipwreck, the loss of his only

child, and said that the prayer of his life was that he might

find her grave and be able to carry the remains to his home

in England.

While relating his affecting story the Englishman did not

notice that the tyler was excused for a brief while, and that

all the brethren showed a peculiar interest in his words .

Recess was declared shortly after . A group gathered around

the visitor and feelingly expressed their sympathy . He was

in the midst of conversation, when suddenly a young woman

was ushered into the lodge room, looked wildly round for a

moment and then rushed to the astounded visitor, ex-

claiming

"My father 1 my father 1"

Before he could rally from his bewilderment, her arms

were round his neck and she was sobbing with joy . Then he

recognized her as indeed his lost Ruth, and every eye in the

room was filled with tears at the touching meeting between

child and parent, who had for years thought each other dead .




When something like quiet was restored, the tyler in a

trembling voice said to the visitor

"This is the saddest and happiest night of my life, for I

lose and you gain a daughter . I am a fisherman, and on

that eventful day was repairing my nets, near the inlet, when

the waves tossed a plank to shore near me . I saw the uncon-

scious child and the square and compass pinned to her cloth-

ing . She was alive ; and carrying her tenderly to my home,

she speedily recovered under the care and loving attention

of my wife . The Masonic emblem did not save her life, but

it drew me more closely to her . I yield her to you with an

overflowing heart ; take her, but may I not claim that the

happy daughter has gained a new mother and two fathers?"

"Indeed you may ; you shall be her second parents as long

as you live ."



XV

ASOLDIER OF FORTUNE

CAPTAIN GEORGE B. BOYNTON was born in thecity of New York in 1842, at 73 Fifth Avenue, just

below Fourteenth Street . He received an excellent education,

but when the war for the Union broke out, he was seized with

patriotic fervor and enlisted in a cavalry regiment belonging

to his native State . He fought bravely throughout the war .

At the battle of Pittsburg Landing his right cheek was cut

open from ear to mouth by a sabre cut . He refused to stay

in the hospital, but did valiant service with his regiment until

the final surrender at Appomattox, when he was honorably

discharged with the hundreds of thousands of other Union

soldiers .

The taste of war which young Boynton thus gained has

never left him. When he returned to his home he meant to

do the same as most of his comrades did-settle down to a

peaceful life for the rest of his days . But a revolution began

in Cuba in 1868, under Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, and

Boynton threw all his enthusiasm and energies into it . Hebecame famous as a blockade runner . Despite the alertness

of our Government, he got together many valuable cargoes

of rifles, ammunition and supplies of war, and was equally

successful in dodging the Spanish officials .

It will be remembered that though Cespedes captured the



A Soldier of Fortune 191

town of Bayamo and the insurgents were victors in a goodly

number of battles with the Spanish soldiers, the final result

was not favorable to the Cubans . Captain Boynton saw that

he would have to wait a long time for the money due him on

account of the war supplies he had furnished . While he

was meditating over the best course to follow, if indeed any

course remained open to him, the Franco-Prussian War broke

out . Believing there might be something for him in this new

and more formidable conflict, he went to France to look into

things . During that struggle he brought several cargoes of

war supplies into French ports, and on one occasion came very

near losing his life. The Austrian Government was engaged

in equipping its army with a new rifle . It had sold 3500 of

the old rifles to a London firm, and they were to be delivered

on the firm's order at the Vienna arsenal . Captain Boynton

opened negotiations with the firm, bought the rifles and sent

a ship to Trieste . When the rifles were safely stowed in the

vessel, the Austrian authorities, not satisfied with the arrange-

ment, ordered the ship to be detained. When the order was

communicated to Captain Boynton, he replied that the

officials might go hang, and directed the captain to steam

away . Fire was opened upon the defiant vessel and she was

struck several times . The wonder is that she was not sunk,

but she succeeded in safely reaching the open sea . The

daring captain deserved a better fate than to learn upon

arriving in the harbor of Bordeaux, in March, 1871, that the

Prussians and French had signed a treaty of peace at Ver-

sailles only three days before . All the money paid for the

guns and for chartering the vessel was a dead loss, which

fell upon Captain Boynton .

Having the rifles on his hands, he decided that, instead

of trying to deliver them in Cuba, he would dispose of them

to Don Carlos, who was stirring up things in Spain, with



192 A Soldier of Fortune

the object of placing himself upon the throne . The Pre-

tender eagerly seized the chance thus offered, and before

entering Spain, in April, 1872, pledged himself to pay a

generous sum for the rifles . The delivery was made, and

Captain Boynton furnished several cargoes to the Carlists

during the uprising, which continued to a greater or less

extent for three years . No man could have been more

intrepid than he. He bought several vessels in England and

chartered others to be used in running the blockade. He had

more than one narrow escape from the Spanish men-of-war,

and came near being arrested and imprisoned in England .

It will be admitted that the captain rendered the most valu-

able kind of aid to Don Carlos, and the pay which he received

for his services was nothing . The infamous pretender,

when he saw certain failure before him, not only refused to

pay a dollar of his indebtedness to the American, but did his

best to get rid of his creditor by having him assassinated .

The captain was so indignant that he began figuring how he

could suitably punish the swarthy miscreant .

Before a decision was reached, the war flames flashed up

in the Balkans . He hastened thither, and fought with his

usual bravery on the side of the Servians and Montenegrans

against the Turks. Then the Russians mixed in, and Boynton,

who had a large supply of war supplies on the vessel which

he had chartered to carry him to the scene of hostilities, sold

most of them to the Russians, who were so pleased that they

allowed him to witness as their guest the battle of Plevna .

Then the captain returned to New York, but with eyes and

ears open for new fields for his activities .

It looked for a time as if he would have to abandon the

profession for which he had formed so strong a liking. The

"Ten Years' War" in Cuba came to an end in 1878, and

Spain for the time was triumphant . The Cubans unaided




were unable to win their independence . They had to wait

twenty years for Uncle Sam to expel Spain from the fertile

island, and to present liberty to the natives, with the doubt

very strong on our part whether the Cubans were worth even

a portion of American blood that was shed in their behalf .

Captain Boynton was getting on in years, and after his

tempestuous experiences, he had about made up his mind

to settle down to the quiet business of life, when a quarrel

broke out between Chile on the one hand and Peru and

Bolivia on the other, because of the claims made by the latter

two to the guano and nitrate beds on the borders of the three

countries . The murmur of distant war was music in the

captain's ears, and its beguilings were not to be resisted. He

left New York by the first boat for Valparaiso, and most of

his life since then has been spent in South America, where

the chronic situation is that of revolution . For the quarter

of a century following he was rarely absent from that seeth-

ing continent, and in the history of the almost numberless

wars his name will be found writ large .

Captain Boynton, however, engaged in a "side issue"

which must not be forgotten . It will be remembered that

Arabi Pasha headed an uprising in Egypt against foreign

domination . He was defeated and made prisoner . Not

deeming it prudent to let him remain in Egypt, where he was

likely to make further trouble, England removed him to

Ceylon. The deposed leader had many powerful friends in

Alexandria, and with them Captain Boynton made an agree-

ment to take the exile back to that city . If he succeeded, he

was to be paid $ i 50,000 The veteran soldier of fortune

made secret and skilful arrangements, for surely his experi-

ence ought to have qualified him for the dangerous part he

had set out to play . In due time he arrived in Colombo,

where the first news that greeted him was that the English



194 A Soldier of Fortune

had released Arabi Pasha . Thus the grand scheme of the

captain went up in smoke and he never received a penny for

his part in the venture . Ill luck seemed to follow him per-

sistently .

It would require a larger volume than this to tell all the

stirring adventures of Captain Boynton in South America .

He took a leading part in the uprising against Balmaceda, in

Chile, in 1891, and eluded by a hair's breadth the clutches of

President Baez in Santo Domingo, and President Hippolyte

in Hayti . He made a flying visit to China, where, as was

inevitable, he plunged into the fighting which was then going

on in different parts of the Flowery Kingdom . If he was

unsuccessful in the way of making money, he was mar-

vellously lucky in saving his head .

In the latter part of September, 1893, the captain of the

British warship Sirius, while lying in the harbor of Rio

Janeiro, saw a tug flying the British flag, heading for the

cruiser 4quidaban, the flagship of the fleet under Admiral

Mello . This officer had joined his brother admiral, Da

Gama, in heading a revolution against the government of

President Peixoto of Brazil . The uprising was speedily put

down .

The captain of the Sirius was at Rio to protect British

citizens and property . That which he saw led him to believe

the tug with its English flag meant to attack the rebel war-

ship. He stopped it and demanded an explanation. Captain

Boynton was in command and he was taken on board the

Sirius . He declared that he was an American, whereupon

he was turned over to Captain Picking, of the cruiser Charles-

ton,who telegraphed to Washington for instructions as to

what he should do with his prisoner . Boynton vigorously

denied that he had intended to attack the fl quidaban, but was

going out to Admiral Mello to try to sell him his cargo of




war munitions . But Captain Boynton had a torpedo on

board and had flown the British flag, which was a violation

of the law of nations . Captain Picking was perplexed, and

telegraphed to Secretary of the Navy Herbert for further

instructions . It looked for a time as if international compli-

cations would follow as a result of Captain Boynton's activity .

After some delay, the Washington authorities ordered him

brought back to the United States, where it was hinted he

might be tried on the charge of piracy . He was kept for

four days at the Brooklyn navy yard, when the Federal

authorities decided to let him go upon his promise that he

would keep away from Brazil until the troubles there were

over .

In reading of the experiences of this remarkable soldier of

fortune-only a small portion of which have been referred

to-one must wonder how it is he often came so near and

yet escaped death by so narrow a margin . A partial explana-

tion lies in the fact that Captain Boynton has been a Free

Mason for a good many years . Many incidents in his re-

markable career bearing upon this membership cannot be

told, for reasons which all brethren will understand . One

occurrence, however, will be given and must suffice . At the

time he was specially active in Santo Domingo, he was caught

"red handed"-that is, trying to deliver munitions of war to

the revolutionists . He was tried by drum-head court-

martial and sentenced to be shot the next morning at sunrise .

Captain Boynton made himself known as a Mason to one

of the prominent officials, who was also a Mason . That night

he succeeded in "escaping," rejoined his ship, and when the

sun rose was sailing merrily away over the Spanish main .



XVI

THE ABDUCTION OF WILLIAM MORGAN

IN1821 William Morgan was a brewer, living in York,

Upper Canada. Unsuccessful in that business, he removed

to Rochester, N. Y., and wrought at his trade of stone-

mason. He was a ne'er-do-well, addicted to tippling, spent

most of his time in saloons, and was a man whose word few

would accept . Two years later he changed his home to

Batavia, Genesee County, in the same State .

It is doubtful whether Morgan was ever made a Free

Mason, though he may have received the degrees in Canada .

He succeeded, however, in convincing a number of the breth-

ren that he had passed through the "Blue Lodge," and was

allowed to enter the one at Batavia . He made oath that he

had been regularly entered, passed and raised, and he was

made a Royal Arch Mason at LeRoy, N . Y ., on the last day

of May, 1823 . A movement was set on foot to establish

a Royal Arch Chapter at Batavia, and Morgan signed the

petition for that purpose, in 1826 . His character was so

well known that most of the other signers objected to the

appearance of his name on the petition, and a new one was

substituted, from which it was omitted . This curt snub not

only angered Morgan, but implanted in his sodden brain the

resolve to expose the secrets of the order, by which he was



The Abduction of William Morgan 1 9 7

confident that he and his associates would gain a great

fortune .

He secured an ally in David C . Miller, editor of the

Republican 4dvocate, a weekly paper published at Batavia .

It is said that this man had received the first degree in

Masonry, but being found unworthy, was never advanced

further . He was involved in debt, and, like Morgan, be-

lieved that the treachery would make all concerned indepen-

dently rich . The editor did not shrink from publicly

announcing his purpose .

It was right here that the Masons made a blunder which,

in the language of the French, was worse than a crime . They

should have paid no attention to the treachery, and the publi-

cation, whatever it might have been, would have fallen flat

and attracted little or no notice . Strong arguments were

made to Morgan to abandon his scheme, and he said he was

willing to do so, but Miller pushed the publication as fast as

lie could . Several hotheaded Masons determined to get

the manuscript. Miller's office was set on fire in September,

but the flames were extinguished before much damage was

clone. A reward of :-ioo was offered for the arrest and con-

viction of the incendiary, but the secret was well guarded .

There were not wanting those who believed that Miller had

set fire to the building as a shrewd means of advertising .

Morgan owed a sum of money to a hotel keeper at Canan-

daigua, and he was arrested for the debt and taken thither .

He was acquitted, but arrested again on a similar charge,

confessed judgment and was lodged in } : a i l . Miller was also

arrested, but he eluded the officer and fled to his home . The

wife of Morgan hurried to Canandaigua to the aid of her

husband, but learning that the debt had been paid, returned,

having been told that her husband would speedily join

her .



198 The Abduction of William Morgan

When several days passed without his appearance, she be-

came alarmed and sent a friend to learn what it meant. Hecame back with word that the debt had been settled and

Morgan released, but he had hardly left jail when he was

seized by Loton Lawson and another person and hustled

down the street . He resisted violently and shouted

"Murder l" Nicholas G. Chesebro and Edward Sawyer,

who with Lawson were members of the posse that had

brought Morgan from home, were spectators who refused to

help the prisoner . They followed the others, and were in

turn followed by a carriage, which soon came back and was

driven toward Rochester . It was empty when it went away,

but contained several persons on its return . The messenger

of Mrs. Morgan reported that the carriage reached Rochester

at daybreak and was driven three miles beyond . At that

point the party left it, and the vehicle returned. The driver

swore that all the men were strangers to him and that he saw

no violence .

Here another point is reached upon which the truth will

never be clearly known . Many have contended that no per-

sonal harm was intended, but that the purpose of the abduct-

ors was to compel Morgan to abandon his scheme and to

leave the country, the promise being made to him that he

would be provided with a liberal sum of money . It is said

further that he agreed to do as proposed, that he received the

money and buried himself out of sight of all his former

acquaintances . Reports came from time to time that he had

been recognized in South America, in Turkey, -in the wilds of

Canada, and in other parts of the world, but all these reports

were baseless . The miserable fellow had disappeared as

utterly as if the ground had opened and swallowed him from

human sight.

The high-handed outrage started a wave of excitement



The Abduction of William Morgan 1 99

which swept over the entire country . The abduction of

Morgan was without palliation, even if no personal harm

was meditated against him . The guilty parties should have

been punished with the utmost rigor of the law. Among the

thousands who hotly condemned the crime were leading Free

Masons, who gave their help to running down the criminals .

As is invariably the case, the innocent had to suffer for the

guilty. Public meetings were held in Batavia and elsewhere,

in which the fraternity was denounced in the fiercest terms .

Only those who lived in the border States at the outbreak of

the Civil War can form any idea of the irrestrainable rage

that was stirred to its depths . Although Governor De Witt

Clinton was a prominent Mason, he issued a proclamation,

October7 ,

1826, calling upon all officers and ministers of

justice to use the most efficient measures to arrest the offenders

and to bring them to justice . Shortly after he followed with

a second proclamation, offering a reward for the arrest and

conviction of the guilty persons . In the following March, a

third proclamation promised $iooo to any one who, "as

accomplice or co-operator, shall make a full discovery of the

offender or offenders ."

The investigations thus set ;'on foot showed that when the

men left the carriage beyond°Rochester on the fateful morn-

ing, they entered another ;vehicle and went westward by the

way of Clarkson, Gaines,,ewiston and thus to Fort Niagara,

where they arrived the following morning . On a portion

of the journey, Sheriff truce of the county was with them .

At Fort Niagara the four men dismissed the carriage and

made their way to the fort, which was near at hand. Beyond

this it was impossible fo trace the parties farther . With them

disappeared William Morgan .

In arriving at a .clear judgment of the truth concerning

this lamentable affair,\ it must be borne in mind that naturally




both parties to the controversy were biased . The accusers of

the fraternity were impulsive, hot headed, intemperate and

unjust, inasmuch as they laid the blame at the door of the

order, when in truth the vast majority condemned the crime

as warmly as their opponents . On the other hand, the Free

Masons labored to make the case as favorable as they could .

By that is meant that they insisted that no personal harm

was intended or ever perpetrated against the man, who

willingly agreed to guide himself in accordance with the

wishes of his abductors .

The father of the writer was a neighbor of Morgan, knew

the persons accused and gave it as his belief, expressed many

years after, that Morgan was placed in a boat or flung over-

board and sent over Niagara Falls .

The direct outcome of the disappearance of Morgan was

the formation of the anti-Masonic party, whose leaders were

William H. Seward, Millard Fillmore, William Wirt (attor-

ney-general under Monroe), John Quincy Adams and that

adroit politician, Thurlow Weed . During the four years

ending in 18 31, some one or other connected with the abduc-

tion was in jail, and suits were prosecuted for a long time .

Sheriff Bruce was removed from office by Governor Clinton .

He also suffered imprisonment for a year and a half. The

sheriff always contended that Morgan voluntarily accom-

panied the parties who had him in charge . Loton Lawson

was sentenced for a term of two years, Nicholas G . Chesebro

for one year and Edward Sawyer for one month . The

natural question that presents itself at this point is that if

Morgan was alive, why was he not traced-as he certainly

could have been-and restored to his friends? In truth, he

was and had been dead for a good while .

The resentment against Free Masonry flamed into a fire

that threatened to sweep everything before it . In many



places, clergymen were not allowed to preach unless they

repudiated and denounced Masonry, and Masonic meetings

were prevented by force of arms . In several of the States

the Grand Lodges felt it advisable to suspend their meetings

for years . In Vermont every lodge stopped work . It is the

:pride of my own lodge (Trenton, No. 5) that it did not miss a

single communication throughout all those tempestuous years,

being the only one in New Jersey that thus braved the storm .

'The old lodge room was on the bank of the Delaware, and in

order to reach it the members stole through alleys and along

the shore till it was safe to dodge to the door where the

trembling tyler admitted them . Many of those who were

warmly attached to the order, after passing temperate reso-

lutions, counselled a yielding for the time to the persecution,

a closing of their work and the surrender of their charters .

This was extensively done . As evidence of the staggering

blow to Masonry, it may be stated that although the Grand

Lodge of Maine met annually from 1834 to 1843, it once

had not a single representative from any lodge, and only

twice during that period did it have representatives from

more than four lodges . The lodges in New Jersey were

reduced from thirty-three to six in number .

The cruellest charge was that Governor Clinton com-

mitted suicide in 1828 because of his remorse for sanctioning

the death of Morgan . Only a few months before his death

he had declared that Free Masonry was no more responsible

for the acts of unworthy members than any other institution

or association .

No occurrence, however tragic, is safe from misuse by the

politicians . More than a hundred anti-Masonic newspapers

sprang into existence, whose venomous opposition was beyond

description . Chief among these was the Albany Evening

Journal, under the control of Thurlow Weed, a representa-




tive of Monroe County in the Legislature . No language

was too inflammatory for this and the other papers .

On October7 ,

1827, the body of a drowned man was

found on the beach of Lake Ontario, forty miles fromNiagara . It was so decomposed that recognition was im-

possible, and the coroner's jury, having rendered a verdict

of accidental death, the remains were buried. The golden

opportunity was not lost by Weed . He and several men,

including David C . Miller, had the grave reopened . At the

second inquest, Mrs . Morgan and other witnesses identified

the body of her husband . The fact that the clothing was

such as Morgan had never been known to wear, and that he

had been missing for more than a year, and that no perceptible

physical resemblance could be noted, did not prevent the official

declaration that the remains were those of William Morgan .

It was on this occasion that Thurlow Weed is said to have re-

plied to the absurdity of the whole business by the grim dec-

laration, "It's a good enough Morgan till after election ."

The evidence that the remains were not those of the Morgan

became so clear that a third inquest was held in the latter

part of 1827. It was then established beyond question that

the body was that of Timothy Monro, whose boat had been

upset while crossing the river some weeks previous .

Thurlow Weed, in a letter published September 9, 1882,

said that John Whitney, while at his house in 1831, confessed

that he and four others, whom he named, told Morgan, who

was confined in a magazine at Fort Niagara, that arrange-

ments had been made for sending him to Canada, where his

family would soon follow him ; that Morgan consented and

walked with the party to a boat, which was rowed to the

mouth of the river, where a rope was wound aroundMorgan's body, to each end of which a sinker was attached,

and he was then thrown overboard . Weed said he could not



The Abduction of William Morgan 203

in honor reveal a secret thus imparted to him . Twenty-nine

years later, when Weed was attending a National Republican

Convention in Chicago, where John Whitney lived, the latter

called upon him with the request that he would write out

what he had told him in 1831, have it witnessed, sealed up

and published after his death . Weed promised to do so, but

in the hurry and excitement of the convention which nom-

inated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency, he overlooked

the matter . In 1861, Weed while in London wrote to

Whitney, asking him to get Alexander B. Williams of

Chicago to perform the duty which Weed had so unpardon-

ably neglected . Whitney died just before the letter reached

Chicago .

Such was Weed's statement, but the fact remains that

Whitney did not die until eight years after the date given by

Weed, and witnesses came forward who declared that they

heard Whitney angrily protest to Weed against his persistent

falsehoods about him .

To return, the anti-Masonic party grew rapidly in num-

bers . At first it was confined to western New York, where,

in 1828, its candidate for Governor received 33,345 votes,

not enough, however, to elect him . In the following year,

in the State election, the anti-Masons carried fifteen counties

and polled 67,000 votes . In 183o and 1832, Francis

Granger, the nominee of the anti-Masonic party, received a

large vote, but not sufficient in either case to bring him

success . In the State of New York, the vote of 33,345 in

:1828 rose to 156,672 in 1832 . In the last-named year the

anti-Masonic party entered the Presidential field, nominating

William Wirt of Maryland and Amos Ellmaker of Pennsyl-

vania respectively for President and Vice-President . This

ticket received all the electoral votes of Vermont . It should

be noted, too, that in 1836 Francis Granger was nominated




on the ticket with General William Henry Harrison . After

that the opposition to Free Masonry died out almost as

rapidly as it had arisen, and the order was never more flour-

ishing than it is to-day .

Those who recall the devious ways of Thurlow Weed will

hardly believe the statement he made about John Whitney,

in view of the inaccuracy that his London letter of 1861 did

not reach Chicago until after the death of Whitney, who lived

until 1869 Whitney did leave a statement, which was not

to be published until after his death, and not then unless a

new attack should be made upon Free Masonry .

Whitney declared that the plan from inception to com-

pletion had in view nothing more than a deportation of

Morgan, by friendly agreement between the parties, either

to Canada or some other country . Ample means were pro-

vided for the support of Morgan's family, and for giving

him a fair start in life . Morgan agreed to everything pro-

posed. He was to destroy all MSS., gradually cease drink-

ing, refuse to meet his former partners, and to go to Canada,

if necessary, on an hour's notice . When he reached his

appointed place, he was to be paid $5oo upon his written

pledge not to return to the States . His family were to be sent

to him with as little delay as possible .

It will be recalled that Morgan was released from jail

upon the payment of his debt . This was part of the pre-

arranged plan, and Morgan understood it all . Unfortu-

nately he had obtained liquor, which always made him violent,

and he fiercely resisted, till he realized his mistake, when he

yielded and got into the carriage as quietly as did the other

members of the party. Whitney accompanied the coach fromCanandaigua . The sheriff joined the party at Wright's

Corners and they drove to Youngstown, where they called

upon Colonel William King, an officer of the War of 18 12 .



From this point we quote

"King and Bruce got into the carriage together and had a

long conversation with Morgan. The whole transaction was

gone over and Morgan gave his assent and concurrence there-

with .

"On arriving near the fort, the driver (not a Mason) was

dismissed and the coach sent back . The ferryboat was ready

and the party went immediately on board . It was rowed by

Elisha Adams nearly opposite the fort and about a mile from

the Canadian village of Niagara . Leaving Morgan in the

boat, three of the party went to the village and met a com-

mittee of two Canadian Masons as agreed .

"No official inquiry has ever brought out the names of

these, and I shall ever be silent concerning them . We came

back to the boat, the Canadian brethren bringing a lantern .

Bruce called Morgan up the bank, out of the boat, and the

party sat down together on the grass . Now Colonel King

required of Morgan the most explicit consent to the move-

ments that had brought him there . By the aid of questions

from the whole party, Morgan admitted as follows :

" ` ( i ) That he had contracted with Miller and others to

write an exposition of Masonry, for which he was to receive

a compensation .

" ` (2) That he had never been made a Mason in any

lodge, but had received the Royal Arch degree in a regular

manner .

" `(3) That Miller and the other partners had utterly

failed to fulfil the terms of the contract with him .

" `(4) That Whitney had paid him $so, as agreed, and

he had agreed to destroy the written and printed work as far

as possible and furnish no more, and that before leaving

Batavia he had done what he promised in that way .

" `(5) That it was impossible now for Miller to continue




the "illustrations" as he [Morgan] had written them . If

he published any book, it would have to be made from some

other person's materials .

" ` (6) That he had been treated by Chesebro, Whitney,

Bruce, and all of them with perfect kindness on the journey .

" ` (7) That he was willing and anxious to be separated

from Miller and from all idea of a Masonic expose ; wished

to go into the interior of Canada and settle down as a British

citizen ; wished to have his family sent to him as soon as

possible ; expected $500when he reached the place, as agreed

upon ; expected more money from year to year, to help him,

if necessary .

" `( 8) Finally he expressed his sorrow for the uproar his

proceedings had made, sorrow for the shame and mortifica-

tion of his friends, and had "no idea that David C . Miller

was such a dcoundrel as he had turned out to be ." '

"We had ascertained at the village that the Canadian

brethren would be ready to perform their part and remove

Morgan westward by the latter part of that or the first of

the succeeding week, but objected so strenuously to having

him remain among them in the meantime, that it was agreed

that he [Morgan] should be taken to the American side until

the Canadians should notify us that they were ready .

"This was explained to Morgan, and he agreed to it . It

was then understood that he was to remain in the magazine

without attempting to get out until matters were arranged

for his removal . The party then rowed back, and Morgan

was left in the bomb proof of the magazine .

"The party then left, breakfasted at Youngstown, and

went up to Lewiston on the Rochester boat that passed up,

with passengers for the Royal Arch installation that occurred

there that day . There was quite a company of us there, and

the intelligence was freely communicated that Morgan was



The Abduction of William Morgan 209

in Fort Niagara, and the greatest satisfactionwas expressed at

the news that the manuscripts and printed sheets had been de-

stroyed, and that in a few days Morgan would be effectually

separated from the company that had led to his ruin. During

the day it was reported to us at Lewiston that 'Morgan had

gone into theatricals,' and was shouting and alarming the

people in the vicinity . Nothing would quiet him except rum,

which was given him .

"Lawson, Whitney and a few others remained in the

vicinity until Sunday night, when the two Canadian brethren

came over, received Morgan, receipted to Whitney for the

money [$5oo] and crossed to the west side of the river .

"They travelled on horseback-three horses in the party ;

Monday night they rode some thirty miles farther to a point

near the present city of Hamilton, where the journey ended .

Morgan signed a receipt for the $5oo . He also signed a

declaration of the facts in the case .

"We supposed we could at any time trace him up . Wefelt that the craft would be the gainer by our labors . Wewere prepared to send his wife and children to him as agreed .

We supposed that that was the end of it .

"What a tremendous blunder we all made! It was scarcely

a week until we saw that trouble was before us . It was not a

fortnight until Colonel King sent a confidential messenger

into Canada to see Morgan and prepare to bring him back .

"But alas! he who had sold his friends at Batavia had

also sold us. He had gone. He had left the village within

forty-eight hours after the departure of those who had taken

him there . He was traced east to a point down the river not

far from Port Hope, where he sold his horse and disappeared .

He had doubtless got on board a vessel there and sailed out of

the country . At any rate, that was the last we ever heard

of him."



MASONIC GRAND LODGES IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH AMERICA(From the World Almanac)

The returns of the Grand Lodges of the United States and British America for 2905-1906were as follows : Whole number ofmembers, 2,062,425 ; raised, 81,386 ; admissions and restorations, 28,255 ; withdrawals, 22,008 • expulsions and suspensions, 659; sus-

pensions for non-payment of dues, 12,76o , deaths, 16,223 . Gain in membership over preceding year, 58,177. Membership in 2906,

2,129,001 ; gain over the preceding year of 66,576.

These Grand Lodges are in full affiliation with the English Grand Lodge, of which the Duke of Connaught is Grand Master,and the Grand Lodges of Ireland, Scotland, Cuba, Peru, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and also with the Masons of

Germany and Austria . They are not in affiliation and do not correspond with th e Masons under the jurisdictio n of the Grand

Orient of France ; they, however, affiliate with and recognize Masons u nder the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council . Freemasonryis under the ban of the Church in Spain, Italy, and other Catholic countries, and the membership is small and scattered .

*2905Report

GRANDLODGES

NoMembers,

x906

GRANDGrand Secretaries LODGES

No .

Members,1906

Grand Secretaries

Alabamarizonarkansas*ritish Columbia

Californiaanada . . (oloradoonnecticutDelawareistrict of Col . , .

Floridaeorgiadahollinoisndianandian Territory

Iowaansasentuckyouisianaaineanitobaarylandassachusetts . . .

Michiganinnesotaississippiissouriontanaebraska

x6,667x,29226,x552,85932,6x9

35,00010,99729,346z,6687,3656,02925,2892,05674,74142,6276,36335,7292,5,986

26,9928,96025,3074,786x2,05746,79051,87220,28712,24440,9834,01314,71()

G A. Beauchamp, Montgomery NevadaJ . Tucson New Brunswick*

F. (Hempstead, Little Rock New Hampshire .R B . Brett, Columbia New JerseyJohnson, San Francisco New Mexico

Hugh Murray, Hamilton New York. H. ~acobson, Denver North Carolina, .

John fi . Barlow, Hartford North Dakota . . .

. F. Bartram, Wilmington Nova ScotiaArvine W. Johnston, Wash . OhioP. Webster, Jacksonville Oklahoma

A. Wolihin, Macon Oregonheop. W. Randall, Boise Pennsylvania . . . .

J. H . C . Dill, Bloomington Prince Ed . IslandW Prather, Indianapolis Quebec. S. Murrow, Atoka Rhode Island . . . .

N. R. Parvin, Cedar Rapids South Carolina . .

Albert K. Wilson, Topeka South Dakota . . . .H B . Grant, Louisville TennesseeLambert, New Orleans Texas

tephen Berry, Portland Utahames A. Ovas, Winnipeg Vermontin. M . Isaac, Baltimore Virginia. D. Nickerson, Boston WashingtonL B . Winsor, Reed City West Virginia . . . .

T. Montgomery, St . Paul Wisconsin. Speed, Vicksburg Wyoming. R. Parson, St . Louis

Cornelius Hedges, Helena Totalrancis E. White, Omaha

110302,204

9,565

213,4871,484

x39,20614,5785,2534,42762,6365,9767,32267,7066o8

4,7096,4287,937

5,95729,42038,7201,213

1153515,8468,99720,221

21,2512,8og

1,129,001

C. N. Noteware, CarsonTwining Hartt, St. John. D. Woodbury, ConcordT. H. R. Redway, TrentonA A. Keen, AlbuquerqueE. M. L. Ehlers, New York CityJohn C. Drewry, Raleigh

J. Thompson, FargoThomas Mowbray, HalifaxJ. H. Bromwell, CincinnatiJ. S. Hunt, Stillwateras. F. Robinson, EugeneWm A. Sinn, PhiladelphiaN MacKelvie, Summerside

Will. H. Whyte, MontrealS. P. Williams, ProvidenceJacob T. Barron, ColumbiaG A. Pettigrew, FlandreauJohn B. Garrett Nashvilleohn Watson, W acoC. Diehl, Salt Lake City

H. H. Ross, BurlingtonG. W. Carrington, RichmondHorace W . Tyler, Seattle

H. R . Howard, Point PleasantWm. W. Perry, MilwaukeeWL. Kuykendall, Saratoga



The Forest, the Prairies, the Mountains I

HOW our blood warms and tingles over these romances of the frontier 1The brooding twilight of the woods, the flash of the mountain stream,the illimitable sweep of the prairies, the moaning of the night wind

among the pines, the sifting of the snow against the log cabin, the sunlightstealing through the forest arches, the shadowy trail, read like an open bookby the masters of woodcraft, the matching of the white man's skill againstthe cunning of the red Indian, the encounters in the dismal wilderness, therelentless advance of civilization upon savagery-these are themes thatquicken the pulse and hold the interest of the reader enchained .

In these tales of the early pioneers by Edward S. Ellis, we catch the odorof the bark on the trees, of the leaves under foot, and the fragrance of thewild flowers ; we hear the soft sweep of the Indian's paddle and the arrowyflight of his birch canoe ; through the somber solitudes steals the bird-like

call of the warrior, and we feel the tragedies in the depths of the forest. Inthose games of marvelous woodcraft, the stakes were human lives, and notalways did victory abide with the brave, the chivalrous and those skilled be-yond other men in the ways of the woods .

Best of all, these stories are clean, wholesome and manly in their tenden-cies and teaching . Parents who wish to furnish good reading to their chil-dren (and what parent does not wish to do so?) can make no better selection

than those named below. As a prominent authority remarked, no motherneed hesitate to place, unread by herself, any book written by Mr . Ellis, in

the hands of her boy or girl .

BOY PIONEER SERIES3 vols. 121110, Cloth . Illustrated .

NED IN THE BLOCK HOUSENED IN THE WOODSNED ON THE RIVER

Price per volume

Price per set 3 volumes

LOG CABIN SERIES3 vols. I2mo, Cloth. Illustrated .

LOST TRAILCAMP-FIRE AND WIGWAMFOOTPRINTS IN THE FOREST

Price per volume

Price per set 3 volumes

$1.00

3.00

$1.00

3.00

DEERFOOT SERIES3 vols. 121110, Cloth. Illustrated .

HUNTERS OF THE OZARKCAMP IN THE MOUNTAINSTHE LAST WAR TRAIL

Price per volume $1.00Price per set 3 volumes 3.00

NEWDEERFOOT SERIESEach volume illustrated by eight

original half-tone engravings by J .

Steeple Davis .

3 vols. I2mo, Cloth. Illustrated .

DEERFOOT IN THE FORESTDEERFOOT IN THE MOUNTAINSDEERFOOT ON THE PRAIRIE

Price per volume $1.00Price per set 3 volumes 3.00

THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.,

PHILADELPHIA, PA.



The Story of the Greatest Nations

THESE are days of momentous events . The world is sweeping forward

in its stupendous progress as never before . Wars and rumors of wars,

movements of far-reaching significance, national complications, threatened

revolutions, startling discoveries in science, and the promise of still greater

discoveries in the fields of investigation, the unveiling of nature's most

mysterious secrets, the broadening spheres of knowledge-all these fill the

mind of man with awe and wondering expectancy .

We stand upon the verge of the mightiest achievements of mankind . Thekey to the limitless storehouses lies in the history of the deeds of peoples who

have risen to the loftiest heights of splendor and then have faded out and left

only a memory, or are still pressing to the goal that will mark the furthest

bounds of human power and attainment .

What a wonderful record is comprehended in «The Story of the Greatest

Low Twelve ES Ellis 1907 298pgs SEC SOC

Documents

Transcript of Low Twelve ES Ellis 1907 298pgs SEC SOC