The Shasta courier., 1872-03-09
CHEFS, THE GREAT APACHE CHIEF.

Next in importance to Magnas Colorado
as a warrior and counselor is Chefs errone-
ously called Cachise and Cochise. Chefs
means "wood," and he was SO designated
because of his tough, springy frame, and
his inyariable selection of a'wooded country
in which to fight. He will retreat to any
distance before an apparently insignificant
force. until he finds the shelter of the for
est. when he makes his stand, and gener-
ally with success Chefs is about five feet
ten inches in height; with high forehead
strong Poman nose; wide mouth thin,
close.set ears well cut lower jaw small,
ferret eyes and prominent cheek bones.
His complexion is swart ; and his body
bears the marks of several severe wounds
His limbs exhibit no marked muscular
development, but are finely corded. No
Apache warrior can draw an arrow to the
head. and send it farther than he Every
thing about the man shows the possession
of wondrous continuity rather than strength.
The celebrity Of his movements is unequal
ed. A hundred miles 10 one day is no
uncommon march for Chefs and his band
Next to Magnas Colorado he evinces the
greatest ability to collect, feed, and keep
together large number of followers for
several weeks in succession. s
Peace and quiet reigned in the CHR
icahui, until the arrival of Lieutenant
Ba,com with conpaoy of United States
Infantry. The approach Of these troops
were observed by the indians several hours
before their arrival, causing no little con-
sternation among them. Chefs inquired of
Wallace, why they were coming into his
country but, as Wallace was himself
ignorant of the reason he could make no
reply Then Chefs bade him go and find
out, and brirg him back the answer as
soon as possible. Wallace mounted his
horse, and met Bascom at place known
as Ewelps Spring some fifteen miles from
Apache Pass. Bascom informed him, that
no hostilities were contemplated against
the Chiricahui people, but that he was
pushing forward to the Rio Grande, having
been ordered to reinforce the garrison of
Fort TIL rne. Wallace assured him that
the Indians were not only peaceable, but
friendly and we'll disposed; whereupon he
was told, that nothing would be done to
interrupt the existing harmony. Chefs
and his people were made acquainted with
what had occurred, and their fears quieted
to somo extent, but, when the troops enter
| ed the pass, not an Indian could be seen.
Bascom holsted white flags, and by other
means, gave the Apaches to understand
that he desired TO have a talk with them
while they, con6ding in what Wallace had
said, yielded to his wish Bascom's wall
tent was pitched, and Chefs, with his
brother, and three other leading warriors,
were invited inside. After conversing for
some tine, Bascom suddenly gave the
Indians to understand that they were his
prisoners hereupon Chefs loc ke1 out
and saw the tent surrounded hy soldiers
under arms. lie immed ately drew his
knife, split open the back part of the tent,
and dashed out, bidding the others 10 TO-
low A number of shots were fred at him,
but only two took effect, inficting painful,
but not serious wounds Twenty minutes
later, he appeared on horseback with Wal
lace sitting behind him, the latter's arms
bound, and one end of raw hide riotD
round his neck, the other being hitched to
the saddle-bow. Hailing from convent
ent distance on the top of steep hill, he
proposed to exchange Wallace for Bascom's
prisoners, but the latter refused to give
more than one man. To this, Chefs repli-
ed by thrusting Wallace off the horse, and
putting the animal to full speed down the
declivity, in plain sight of all, dragging the
quivering body over rocks and through
bushes, and literally tearing it to pieces.
A couple of volleys were discharged at him,
without effect. Bascom, infamed by this
act, Immediately hung the four prisoners
aud left the pass From that moment
Chefs has been one of the most bitter,
most active and unrelenting Of foes, losing
no opportunity to destroy life and property
lie is much the ahlest and most successful
leader now existing among the Apaches,
who regard him as invincible, and flock to
his support whenever needed.-From
"Some Savages," in the Overland Monthly
for March.