He
Also Declares That Faye Kicked Him When He Was In The Guardhouse At
The Post.
Of course anyone with a knowledge of military discipline
would know this assertion to be false, for if Faye had done such a
thing as that, he might have been court-martialed.
The sheriff was actually afraid to make the arrest the first time he
went over, because so many of Oliver's friends were in town, and so he
came back without him, although he saw him several times. The second
trip, however, Oliver was taken off guard and was handcuffed and out
of the town before he had a chance to rally his friends to his
assistance. He was brought to Las Animas during the night to avoid any
possibility of a lynching. The residents of the little town are full
of indignation that the man should have attempted to kill an officer
of this garrison. He is a horse thief and desperado, and made his
escape from their jail several months back, so altogether they
consider that the country can very well do without him. I think so,
too, and wish every hour in the day that the sheriff had been less
cautious. Oliver cannot be tried until next May, when the general
court meets, and I am greatly distressed over this fact, for the jail
is old and most insecure, and he may get out at any time. The fear and
dread of him is on my mind day and night.
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY,
December, 1873.
EVERYONE in the garrison seems to be more or less in a state of
collapse! The bal masque is over, the guests have departed, and all
that is left to us now are the recollections of a delightful party
that gave full return for our efforts to have it a success.
We did not dream that so many invitations would be accepted at
far-away posts, that parties would come from Fort Leavenworth, Fort
Riley, Fort Dodge, and Fort Wallace, for a long ambulance ride was
necessary from each place. But we knew of their coming in time to make
preparations for all, so there was no confusion or embarrassment.
Every house on the officers' line was filled to overflowing and
scarcely a corner left vacant.
The new hospital was simply perfect for an elaborate entertainment.
The large ward made a grand ballroom, the corridors were charming for
promenading, and, yes, flirting, the dining room and kitchen perfect
for the supper, and the office and other small rooms were a nice size
for cloak rooms. Of course each one of these rooms, big and small, had
to be furnished. In each dressing room was a toilet table fitted out
with every little article that might possibly be needed during the
evening, both before and after the removal of masks. All this
necessitated much planning, an immense amount of work, and the
stripping of our own houses. But there were a good many of us, and the
soldiers were cheerful assistants.
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