FE Unlimited Money Script | Military Tycoon | H...
Having arrived in Santa Fe late Saturday evening I did not report untilnext morning, and about noon an orderly brought to the hotel my ordersfrom the Chief Medical officer directing me to report to the commandingofficer at Fort Selden, New Mex., for assignment to duty. This wasstartling news, for Fort Selden was the last military post beforereaching the Mexican border and I had only $2.50 in my pocket and myhotel bill to pay. Being new in the service and something of atenderfoot I did not want to go to the other officers for help. I leftmy room and went down to the hotel lobby and among others who were therewas the gentleman who got on the stage at Cimarron. We had traveledtogether from Cimarron to Santa Fe with hardly the exchange of the usualcourtesies. I was not a good mixer and he had nothing to say, but mycase was very desperate. I had to talk to someone so I asked if he wasacquainted in Santa Fe and he said "some." I told him my troubles andthat I had a good watch and a good pistol (that pistol was a hoodoo bythis time) that I would put up as security for a few dollars to pay myexpenses on the way to Fort Selden. He said: "Well, nobody would[Pg 16] giveyou anything for them things. If I had the money I would let you haveit." This in a rather slow drowning voice. I took this as a matter ofcourse. Anybody would talk the same way, I thought, whether they had it or not.
FE Unlimited Money Script | Military Tycoon | H...
The first thing of special interest on this march was when we had goneinto camp about sixty miles north of Fort Sill, which was the second dayout. This was about four o'clock in the afternoon, to give the horsesand transportation mules a chance to graze. I happened to look back inthe direction of our march and saw a small black object far in thedistance that I could not make out. I borrowed field glasses of one ofthe captains and discovered it to be a horse and buggy. I became quitecurious about it, as I did not think any sane man would travel throughthat Indian country alone for any consideration. I would not have doneso for all the money in the mint unless in military dress. He camedirectly to our camp and I walked out to meet him. He proved to beFather Poncelona of Osage Mission, now St. Paul, Kansas, who had beendown to Fort Sill to baptise the children and give what comfort he couldto the followers of his faith at that post. He was very tired for he hadstarted before daylight, and had driven all day hoping to find our campsomewhere, but he did not know where. I took him to my tent and insistedon him lying down on my cot, which he did under protest, and I broughthim some brandy which he drank with seeming relish, and by the timedinner was ready he was ready to join us. I asked him how he came totake such chances alone. He said it was part of his work and that therewas a higher power (pointing his finger upwards) that would take care ofthose who were doing God's service. He was past middle age and had spentmost of his life since taking orders as a missionary among the Indians.He had a benign faith-abiding expression of face, such as I have neverseen on any other man, and his voice was low and musical, and his mannermost winning. I had some difficulty in getting him to take my cot forthe night, he insisting that he was used to sleeping on the ground anddid not mind it. I finally told him that I was boss of the ranch, and hemust do as I told him. To this he smilingly assented, and said that ifit was orders he would have to obey. We always had breakfast and brokecamp early in the morning[Pg 71] and aimed if a suitable campground could befound to go into camp by four o'clock in the afternoon. The priest hadexpressed a wish for an early start, and I had ordered his horse andbuggy to be ready for him, and he had breakfast with us and went his wayacross the prairie and was soon out of sight in the direction of CampSupply where he intended going. I have often thought of this andwondered at it. Why did he do it? It was not for money for he was poorand had spent years at the work. What motive had he? What guardian angelaccompanied him and kept him from harm? If it is true that there is adivinity that shapes our ends, why are they shaped so differently, andwhy is it that some are immune where others fear to tread? Right here Ithink it proper to say that the Catholic priests have always been thepioneers in religious matters on the frontier. 041b061a72