Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-07-25

Through seen and unseen dangers, | have run
the gauntlet from Tucson here. Ilet the la ter
place on april Sd, for CaIup q aut, passing oyel
a very rugged and picturesque country with the
Snta Caarina mountains ON our right, then
tops enyelOped in a grand thunder storm.
Whilst We were enjoying the sunshine and balmy
air, change came DER us, in the shape of
violent dash of hail followed by All imported
Eastern February drizzle which accompanied
us to the camp and rendered the dreaded Canyon
Do oro even more forbidding than usua. This
canyon consists of a narrow passage through the
mountains. ten miles in length, with pteep slop-
ing, and in some places, high perpendicular
sides, where those passing are completely at the
mercy Of the concealed foo above No person,
however, had been attacked since the Apaches
were collected at Camp Grant last September,
and the road was considered cOmparatiN ely safe,
Arriving, wet, cold and hungry, We were
warmly received by the officers. the command
ant proving to DO an Old friend, with whom
| had served IN Texas slX years ago. Thus we
ever meet IL the army farewella are unknown
there, a cheerful goodbye In sad to the dearest
friend, for whle thousands Of miles may sopa-
rate them. they know, If Hpareu, theyw i'll meet
gam, by constant changes IN the service.
Next day we were favored to All interview with
" EskiInlnzin "'SantO, and Eshimile three
Apache chiefs with their constituents at tho
chief at the Reservation, aud evidently has much
ability. lie weighed carefully all that was said
to him. but would make no replies or promises,
until he had thoroughly digested the subject
matter by nghts talk and conference with his
people Ia private.
He Is short and stout, not Noble Red at all,
with regular features and small res less eyes
together with a peculiar stammer ia his speech,
the hrst Indian 1 have seen 10 affected.
lie has adopted the dress OF civilization, but
L.. .laaa
Indian 1t was scarcely less comical than one
VINO dressed himself few days ago in stove
pipe hat aud pair OF knee boots, person gave
him, having no use for such articles in this
country. These constituting lis only articles OF
dIess save Ills brecch clout gave decidedly airy
appearance.
Eskiminzin narrowly escaped massacre al
the butchery there last year, and lost tlree
wives, sO Is very much ~ijoHer, having only
one lett.
they express a strong desire for peace, but lis
salts action al the recent removal OF an agent
wanted mOte food and agricultural implements
desired peace with all ineh especially with the
Pima and Papago tribes of Indians, upon whom
they had largely aubsisted heretofore.
They were lelt with promises that their wallte
should he attended to, and subsequent confer
ence arranged.
Whist there rode out to the scene of the
massacre about live miles distant. All the re-
mains had been inferred save a woman skele.
ton which lay hidden IN cumpo bushes, whore
she had evidently hidden after being wounded.
rher little piles Of wood cooking Utensils, and
nuts still remained al they left them.
Leaving Camp Grant VIC started for Camp
Mcdowell. The first part Of the road to Flor
ence has boeR noted ~ enc Of the worst IN the
Territory, aud our driver cncered tts 10y pointing
out all the spots whore parties had been killed
by the Indians. 1t grew mOnotonOus finally
aud we were glad after tiuggling through ace
puas and mud to find ban room iloor to
spread our blankets on The inclpient town,
having NO entertainment for man or beast.
We borrowed fireplace in the house, quickly
made coffee in the most approved style, which,
served with clndered beei-steak, and bread,
| made a capital breakfast.
This settlement Is in a rich agricultural region
irrigated with water from the CHA River and
| produces very fine grain. Its green heids were
| grateful and sudden change from tue rocky bar
| rens and sandy wastes surrounding them. Our
road was pleasantly shaded by the trees growing
ON the bitches, for five miles, whore another
settlement has sprung up around flour mill
| recently erected, and doing large business.
| few weeks before All attempt to arrest the muir
| deIer OF an American here, resulted III the death
| Of three whites, and four Me&lcans, the house
| being blown up to disodge the latter,
Out again from here on the shadeless desert
| soon one of our escort galloped up with a
message from person lie plet Tor us TO keep
close lookout, on the left hand side OF the road
| for "a case of brandy :" As We have not met
many men in this country who would allow such
| a thing TO lie around on desert road sides. the
| message was incomprehensible, until the bright
idea struck one OF our party that tie CASA
| frauden ruins were meant The poor soldier
| was sadly disappointed when told OF nls blunder
| after his elatiOn in prospect of drop. We soon
| came in sight of the rulns, about two miles south
| of the road, and mounting horse WIS quickly
there, but alone, my companions curiosity not
aifurdiug sufficient stimulus for the necessary
| eXertiOn. 1he sight we'll repaid me 1t Is first
described by the Jesuts who passed through the
country, founding missions, as being rum IN
| 1883. Much of It has since fallen. The portion
standing is about fifty by forty feet, with walls
Of concrete. two feet thick aud four stories high,
surrounding a central portion five stories III
height. The latter appeared to form an obse :
yatury. There are no windows III It, and one
door only in the lower stony. The wood work
has been destroyed by fire, but most OF the pas-
terng remains hard and smooth. Parts OF the
interior and exterior are painted, the latter in
diamond shaped divisions OF bun and stone
color.
the ground of finer quality and pattern than
any now made by the natives. Large Acequias
| can still be traced Tor miles over the ground,
showing that all the land susceptible of cultiva-
uon in Arizona has been used by these strange
| people pow lOst to history.
RegTetfully leaving place OF such interest in
haste to overtake my companions, L took the
| wrong road, and found myself, after gallopng
| live hours, still Alone night approaching, noun
| taus, desert. ana CACTUS everywhere, ana no
water on that road for seventy miles. l after
wards discovered there was nothing to eat and
Int little to wear. | had no matches and nc
Weapons, and Los Apache" tracks were soaring
ly f. esl. Climbing up mountain side to looA
Tor water signs and seeing none, my horse,
dog and took counsel together The former
/ was somewhat tired, after forty mile lope, aud
! poor Bfulus had the hiccoughs from want oil
| water and excess of dust. Oar only hope was
| i'm reaching the Gila and taking the Polar Stal
as guide, we travelled until clouds obscured it,
. | then stopped to rest, bnt discovering some lu
: | dian fires at a distance querled at first whe the
: | it was not best to throw myself upon their hos
| pitality, but knowing it would be at the expense
a.. | of my borrowed horse, and perhaps my top
. knot. | concluded to travel on.
. By this time had found out that was lost
~ | and felt as badly as, when chap OF hve years
| was lost in procession at Tenth aud hlnt
streets. but kindly rescued by Friend llilles.
J. Striking a road about daylght. detetmlneI
d TO stick to it, and in few hours was reJOice
Il with the sight of an Indian who after mnc
)t ,ersuAsiuu and I'm Peso permitted me and tn
dog TO moisten our lips from his Caabasas 0
N warm water. Never did it taste 80 good. IL
ID then took me up a mountain, and pointed ou
T. NIouteZumas Face, from which 1t was easy I
ID | take my bearings. l felt a sudden sinking, whe
IL M there on seeing him draw Colts pistol, bu
only. as II appeared to show his wealth. wa
4 | careful however, to keep behind him, until
,f | parted which made me as happy as our meeting
a. Reaching the Pima Reservation at T. Al
~ | after tWenty-ix hours riding, was received q
"a | one from the dead. One party had Just refurne
il, from the Casa Grande for an ambulance to brln