New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-27
Inf.r.e.tlng frpm Arlzeno.
The ST. LOUIS hef"''fo'n An''l'Ai07 ttng


letter:
Tucson. March 5, lS61-It is not NV ass;re n
draw exaggerated pictures of tb' irving situation
in which the citizens Of Arizo' "a nrn 2aSad Nv the
constant forays of unfrier Nv Indians nor is It ne.
eessary 10 draw upon .he Imagination for thrilling
sketches, Waeh Tue reality which surrounds startes
even the boldest treatersmen, and causes the cheek
OF the braVesa TO blanch with fear even al the
thought OF our condition, Houses lald Ia aSnes,
abandoned ranches, corpses OF FRIENDS VINO nape
Hen victims to the hatred of the foe, manned ana
| wounded men, shot by parties in amonsh-are not
these Sufficient materials, drawn from our real ac-
| tuaI everyday life, to constitute material for
writer. without resortiug TO any colorlng!
| The Eastern stage arrived here yesterday morn
| inc bringing dates from ST. Louis to the 10th ult,
| It brought passengers, and the driver and CON
| iuctor were alone. Between Tucson and the first
station east, at point about % miles from here,
the road passes through canon of some length.
Canon, as your readers are aware, is but another
name for long, deep ravine, and such places are
always considered dangerous in an Indian country,
from the fact that the party attacked can only
cape by going ahead, or whipping in the fight.
The two men with the stage were accordingly on
the alert while passing through the canon, but,
having attained elevated ground without seeing
any signs of indians relaxed their vigilance, and,
when congratulating themselves upon their safety,
were fred upon by party Of Indians in ambush.
The driver, Mr. Chas. Clifford, was severely wound
ed, the ball entering behind and passing through
the right side. The conductor at once seized the
reins and by fast driving succeeded in escaping.
After proceeding some distance, he stopped the
stage and assisted his wounded comrade to the in
side of the stage, where he was made as comfort
able as possible till they arrived at Tucson. There
were not less than fifteen Indians in the ambush.
-Four of them were armed with rifles. Clifford lies
in critical condition, but hopes are entertained
for his recovery.
Considerable feeling exists in our community
against the policy of the Overland Mail Company
in haZarding the lives of employees and passengers
by running the stages through the Apache country
wit an tyyha fho TpHi
such fearful atrocities. The Company receives
bonus of $4,000 per annum in addition 70 contract
price, conditioned that it shall furnish its pro-
lection, and its expenditure has not heretofore
been required in the two and half years that the
line has been running 1t is said by passengers
from the West that the agents at San Francisco
were industrously circulating reports that all was
quiet, and the route quite safe again. in order to
induce travellers to take the Overland route This,
if true, is very culpabe conduct; but it seems to
be confirmed by the fact of the stages arrv'ng
from the West filed with passengers, although the
report of the troubles existing had been published
in the California papers. Some of our citizens yes
terday threatened to detan the stages for the East
if any attempt was again made to start through
without guard. Only men of desperate fortunes
can be induced to engage with the company, as
drivers or conductors on the eastern division and
it well illustrates the depressed condition to which
we are reduced, that men are compelled thus to
rush into danger for means of livelihood.
Settlers are extremely cautious about exposing !
themselves, and only urgent necessity will induce |
4 man to start for Tubac or one of the military
posts when quite alone. We have had cause to
complain of the Indians for the last three months
but their acts since the opening of the present year
have exceeded anything in the annals of the past,
both in number and atrocty.
The eastern stage, which arrived here on Satur-
lay, was one day behind usual running time A
of Secession Rangers, in Texas, near |
Fort Belknap, had seized quantity of forage al
some of the stations, and the conductor being en-
rusted with a considerable amount OF money in
i.
gers had departed lest the coin should be confs-
lated to the public benefit.