Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-09-29
CORRESPONDENCE.
FoRT MASON, ARIZONA,
July 9th, 1866.
Editor Sunbury american.

was this day the happy recipient
OF four copies OF your paper also other mail
matter, all of which was very acceptable
We are supposed to get q mail once per
week, but this was the first we had for
month. Its arrival here depends upon four
contingencies, to wit: The sobriety and vi
GLANCE of the mail rider the powers of
endurance of the Jackass carrying It; the
hostile Indians, and the inclcmency of the
weather.
noticed in your paper an article referring
to an Indian massacre, supposed to have
occurred at Fort Goodwin, Arizona. 1t was
false report. 1t originated from the fact
that there are about eight hundred Apaches,
warriors, women and children, at Fort Good
win, who are now being fed under treaty at
that post by the United States Government.
These same Indians are known to have COM
mitted depredations upon citizens at dis
tanco of one and two hundred miles from
the Fort since they entered into treaty
there. The fact of them being fed and pro-
tectcd ut that Fort, in order to enable them
the better to commit their unprecedented
cruelties upon citizens and detached parties
OF other posts, enraged may people to such
an extent, that the report originated simply
because it was father to the wish.
The Apaches are at present exceedingly
troublesome. They are not brave, but cruel,
cunning and treacherous. They invariably
attack from ambush, never run any chanches
unless they have good prospect of captur-
ing herd of stock. They have frequently
been known to tic grass and bushes to their
bodies, and in that manner creep up to
man unperceived, till they came near enough
to jump up and run a lance through him.
Fort Goodwin has three companies of the
14th Z. S. Inf, stationed there, and is com
mandeded by Col Chaplin Fort Grant, AT,
has two companies of the 14th Infantry, and
is commanded by 1t. Col Ilgis.
Fort Wallent, A. T., one Co. 1st U. S. Cav
and one Co. 14th Inf, commanded by Capt
Brown, 14th Infantry.
Fort Mason, A. T., one Co. 1st U. s. Cav.
and one Co. 14th Infantry, commanded by
Capt Dunkelbergcr
Fort Mcdowell, A. T., one Com. 1st Cav
airy. Two Companies IA Infantry, and one
Co. Cal. Volunteers, commanded by Col.
Benet.
Tucson, A. T., one Co., 1st Cav, comman-
der by Capt. Dean.
Fort Yuma, one Co., IA Infantry, com
manded by Major O'Connell.
You see by the above that you was not
correctly informed in regard to the COM
manding officer Of Fort Goodwin. Arizona
is not a country that a sane man would vi
sit for the purpose of either comfort, plea
sure, or health. We arc not only banishcd
from friends and society; but we are in con-
tinual danger of being jumped by these mis-
erable Indians. 1t is unsafe to go outside
of the garrison, even for mile, without an
escort The climate is very delightful, but
the water is not only scarce, but also miser-
ably poor, warm and mixed with alkali,
| (,a lN- ho,n i'm
once per year, and that is during the months
of July and August Whilst the low ravines
abound with all manner of vegetable matter,
the table lands and mountains are entirely
barren, all they produce is Indians, rattle
snakes, lizards, horned frogs, tarantulas,
santepedes, and other reptiles too numerous
to mention. The inhabitants are nearly all
MeXicans, they speak the Spanish language.
In habits, appearance and disposition there
is but very little difference between them
and the Indians, and what little difference
there is, l am inclined to think, is in favor
of the latter. They seem to have holy
horror for anything like cleanliness. Nothing
seems to please them more than to be able
to treat a horse or other animal in o brutal
manner. They have no regard for virtue,
honesty or integrity. They are cowardly in
the extreme, and yet more treacherous even
than cowardly. In their daily avocations
they make the most miserable and pitiful
shifts. For instance, have seen them 60
after wood with pick, crowbar and sledge
plant corn with an axe; cut hay with hoe,
and plow with stick. They build their
the sun, called adobes Just such mud cakes
l imagine, as the Israelites in Moses time
made for the Egyptians.
They iuvaria blv sit on the prOunl carry
water ON their heads in Ollas, in short they
seem to have adopted the Oriental style in
living, with all their vices and none OF theil
virtues. Do.
This Territory is very rich in minerals
gold, silver anc copper. But owing to the
small quantity of water and the large quan
tity of Indians, it is very difficult to develop
its resources. / know of some very rcl
ledges within eighteen miles of Fort Masor
as yet unclaimed; but the heighth of my am
5ition is to get out of this country. 1t i:
the Siberia of America, and should only bt
used for the banishment of criminals. w,
live in miserable adobe houses--mud walls
mud floor and roofs. We are minus friends
and society of any kind. We have just abou
enough of the substantial to keep the ma
chineries of life going. The mail is very ir
regular, and when the mail rider does comt
he very frequently comes with an "empty
mail bag" having missed the connection
some few hundred miles Off
expect to go on an extensive and lone
campaign after Cacliese's band of hostile In
dians. may be absent from the Fort owe
a month. l am ordered to take one hundred
mounted men, two guides, and eight Mexi
can packers, to take charge Of the pack
mules. Upon my return you may expect t.
hear again from PHocIAN
eE5@ SEE A WOMAN, IN another column
picking Samburg grapes for speer's Wine
1t is an admirable article, used in the hospi
tails and by the first class families in Pari:
London anG New York, in preference to oil
Port Wine. 1t is worth trial, as it give
great satisfaction sale by W, A. Ben