The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-19
sketch OF Gravel.
CAMP LIFE IN ARIZONA.


tbp ~~N-~~'I
We reached Tucson just IN tllne 10 attend
tI,at MONT. / quite forgot that l was in Arizo-
ma THE bride was faultless in white MORE
nnt;oue. blonde veil, and satin slippers. Wives
of the military officers and civil dignitaries of
the Territory were not behind in elegance of
dress and appointments, and the gay uniforms
and regulation epaulettes of the officers male
up, altogether, what Jenkins would have call
ed brilliant and recherche assemblage."
the General, on whose arm bad been lean
ing during the performance of the ceremony,
was the flrst to salute the bride; and then the
oand lsix or eight "musically organized" sol
oiels on furlough from Camp Grant, struck
up one of those soft, thrilling waltzes that on
ly the dark-eyed Mexicans could have taught
these susceptible individuals. L am afraid
that was less interested in the dancing than
IN the supper, which was source OF unllmit-
ed wonder to me; but accounted for, perhaps,
in part, by knowledge that the groom was
Quartermaster of the United States Army,
and the father of the bride one of the oldest
and wealtbiest citizens of Tucson.
was to spend the summer IA camp Ip,,i so,nI
sixty miles below Tucson; and the Coroner,
his wife. and started out on the following al
ternOon with dozen caValrymen as escort,
and reached camp just as guard-mount the
next morning. The officers who had not been
fortunate enough W OUtcil Tile IOSI OOm-
mander's permission to attend the grand we'd
ding soon called at the Colonies quarters to
hear the news in general, and accounts of the
festivities in particular. The ColonePs Junior
Lieutenant had been particularly anxious to
attend, and had been pining away, he said.
since the day the Colonel had left camp with
out him. The commanding officer himself
called while he was still complaining; and, to
make amends for his cruelty to the youth, the
Captain requested that should choose him
1.-THE Lieutenant) to act as escort and cavalier
on my first ride. The Lieutenant declared
himself amply satisfied with the PREPARATION
made, and started joyously to prepare himself.
when we were a little surprised to see him turn
very abruptly, and re-enter the room some
what quicker than he had left it. Behind him
appeared Brun, the cook, beating the ground
1urlousy with heavy piece of wood, and
screaming, at the top of his voice, "Look out |!
look oat! he's half dead, but he can crawl
yeti" And crowding to the door we saw
most beautiful specimen of an Arizona rattle
snake, some six feet long, trying to escape
from Bruins vigorous blows. But the blows
had been well aimed, and the snake soon lay
motionless on the corner of the adobe kitchen,
inside which Brun had first discovered it, curl
ed up on the flour-sack.
Some time after, when left my tent, equip
ped and ready to mount my horse, noticed
that he stood just where the snake had breath
ed its last: but, since 1 no longer saw it there,
concluded it had been taken away from I'M
der the horses feet, and thrown out among
the weeds. What my screams were like when,
on retiring to my tent for the night, stopped
to look under the bed pursuant to time
honored Custom) before getting into it, and
there found the snake curled up for a COM
Portable nights sleep. will leave my lady
readers to imagine they brought half the gar
rison to the spot. The snake was killed over
again and buried in the ground, six feet deep.
People are accustomed to think and speak
OF Arizona, as though the whole Territory
were one waste of sand and dust. Yet, could
out that fearful scourge, the Apache, be re-
moved, there are portions of this country that
would soon vie, in life and beauty, with the
most populous sections in California-only
small portions of it, must acknowledge
here, at the foot of the grand old mountain
overlooking our camp, was such spot. The
grass and wild flowers are always fresh and
green, from the showers of rain that fall al
most every week during the summer months
here; and the sun, as it sinks slowly behind
the mountain, tints the sky with brilliant, yet
delicate hues, such as have never seen else
where. Riding forth on such evenings, moth
ing could exceed the sense of unbounded joy
and freedom felt, Notwithstanding nv fear
OF the Indians, whom always expected to
find behind the first little h;llock, or the next
clump OF trees, which the Colonel had forbid
Gen us to pass. Sometimes we would play
"Central Park" on these rides-the Colonel
ana ms VIE, my companion and myself, and
al the onrcers who did not hadpen to be on
duty' Keeping within the lines of the Post
Commander had designated as "safe," we
would pass and repass each other-some on
horseback, some in ambulances, others on foot
assuming all the style and air of New York
elite, as we bowed and saluted afresh, every
time we met. -. --.
The Colonel was the only married officer
in camp, so it was matter of course that the
General-who was expected on a friendly
visit at the post-should be entertained at our
quarters. Not that we had room enough TO
invite him to share our abode-his bachelor
friends might give him quarters-but we
would give him a state dinner, on the day of
his arrival. The ColonePs quarters consisted
OF one adobe room, which served as parlor,
sttlng-room, bedroom, and dining-room, in
wet weather and on festal occasions. Besides,
it was the the tent devoted to my use; and
opposite both stood what had once been an
other adobe house, but was now a roof1ess
ruin, with crumbling walls, containing gaps,
here and there, marking the places where doors
had once been projected. This was our kitch-
en-, as large, open fireplace in one corner,
big pile of ashes in the other, and large
homemade table in the middle of the mud
floor, plainly told.
Did say this structure was roofess? beg
pardon: there was piece of canvas or tent
cloth spread over that part of it where the
cooking operations went on, only it was not
long enough nor strong enough; and when it
rained, the rain-water, that gathered in pool
directly over the Fireplace, was always sure
to break through and come down, extinguish-
ing the fire and all hopes of dinner, just as
Braun would get ready to serve that meal.
1t was comical to watch Braun, after such
mishaps. With his India-rubber blanket
thrown over his shoulders, he would pick his
way, through the deep puddles af water on
the noor, IT, the ashpile, opposite the fireplace
ana there seat himself; and, with his shaggy
mead supported by his smutty hands, would
grimly stare at the pots and pans, filled and
despatched with ashes from the recent cloud
burst of canvas.
Our supply of canned fruit and vegetables
had almost given out, when the time was set,
definitely, for the Generals visit; and we de-
voutly hoped that the Commissary train might
come in from California before the Generals
arrival. But when it came, we found that the
usual amount of toll had been taken at Fort
Yuma; so that there was very little left for
the military posts in Arizona. Among the
dishes served for dinner were baked beans, and
meat-pie. The latter the General CALAMITY
took to be chicken, when told that had had
finger in the pie; but the desert was excel
lent, for we had still some fruits and jellies
left, with plenty of sugar spice, and wine.
have forgotten the exact words of the old
saying, that, "no mortal must prize himself
happy before his days are ended;;" but I know
that the,C olonePs wife and myself were just ex-
changing congratulations on the success of our
dinner, in an undertone, while placing dessert
on the table, when an orderly stopped at the
door, and, dismounting, announced the arrival
ofthe Major from the neighboring post, togeth-
er with his wife, his Lieutenant, and his Lieu
tenants wife. The ambulance was already
at the door-the Coloners wife held up her
hands aside in horror-Brun rafting along
the dishes at fearful rate: where should we
get dinner for the newcomers, if he had made
away with the remnants of the feast? But,
thanks to Braun, very soon warm dinner
graced the table, and the gentlemen-who
had left their meal and dessert untouched, on
the ladies' arrival-unwittingl assisted us in
serving quite handsome repast to the late
arrivals.
The next day was devoted to visiting some
curious springs, not far from camp. The
Captain sent large escort with us, as the
place was not considered safe from Indians;
but we forgot all danger while viewing the
scenery along the banks of the creek, OR river,
into which the springs emptied. 1t was grand,
although desolate in its utter loneliness and
silence. The petrifactons made by the water
OF the springs were, possibly, still more re-
markable. No sculptor could chisei more del
icately, from marble or stone, than the leaves.
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