The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-05-01
SHE NRlBUNE.
a RACE FOR LIFE.

Ga the End day OF December, 1865, a
little more than year after the found
ing, by Gov. Goodwin, of the town of
Prescott. and the locating of the capital
of Arizona thereat, and while the India n
were still harassing and numbering the
length aud breadth of the Territory,
William Brady and the writer started
from Prescott City across the country
east TO Santa Fe, New Mexico. dis
tance Of FIVE hundred miles. where We ex
peeted to take the stage for the East.
We were eqipped with plenty of arms,
ammunition. two good horses, pack
mule, plenty of blankets. and provisions
for fifteen days, by which time at most
we expected to reach the settlement on
the Rio Grande.
The weather was delightful-sucb
weather as is only seen upon the pla-
teaus bordering on the Great Cordilleras.
We expected no snow for at least one
month, and it was with few regrets, and
consequently ligt: hearts. that we rode
along that morning. leaving perhaps for
ever, the country where, for more than
tgo years, we had struggled in our ef-
forts TO develop the rich resources of the
region, and, with the four or FIVE hun.
bred co-laborers, suffered untold priva-
tions--at times almost dying of hunger
and thirst, constantly harassed by hostile
Indians, with little prospect of sUccor
from tina Government Although our
journey lay through a country infested
by hostile tribes for over two hundred
miles, we had become so used to the
dangers of savage warfare that the fact
scarcely gave us an uneasy thought. We
looked beyond the danger, beyond the
plains, into pleasant homes, from which
We had been absent for two years and
visions of happy greetings which we ex-
pected to receive within the month took
the place, for the time, Of all other
ihoughts.
Nothing of special interest occurred
until the second day out, when we met
small party of soldiers, who, with the
United States express, had the day be-
fore been attacked, the expressman
killed, and two others of the party
wounded. Discouraging as this intelli-
genee would seem to be, We determined
10 press forward as rapidly as possible.
so as to reach by little before nightfall
the dividing line between the Apaches
snd Hnalipis, the latter of whom prefer
red to be friendly to the whites. We
were yet distance of twenty miles to
the above named point, and it was then
p. NJ. Several times during the after
noon oUr attention was attracted to white
lines of smoke rising at different points
in answer to each other, the language
ofwhich we understood to portend evil
TO us-perhaps the most horrible OF
deaths.
At p. M. we reached the place where
the attack had the day before been
made. a few broken arrows and or-
ZION OF the charred remains of the unfor
tnnate expressm0n were the remaining
evidences of the bloody deed. We did
not tarFy long here, for the reader will
readily understand that the sight of
these evidences Of the brutality of those
who were then logging our footsteps
we're sufficient to very materially increase
our desire to reach place of safety as
speedily as possible.
Just as the sun sank beneath the
western horizon We passed into the
Haalipi country, and sgain breathed
freely.
Reaching suitable place, we camped
for the night. TIE next morning the
wind was blowing gale. which con-
tinued all day, interfering with our
progress SO much that it was night when
we reached Antelope Springs. at the
foot of the San Francisco Mountains.
eighty-four miles from the city of Pres
colt.
During The Gay lowering clouds mad
stretched from horizon to horizon, and
there was every evidence of an approach
ing storm, a circumstance which appals
the brayest heart. A storm In the
mountains, without protection, is some
thlng the horrors of which cannot fully
DE described. And this was a new dan
ger, something we bad not expected.
something for which we were not pre-
pared. When morning came, the snow
had already began to fall. and our better
Judgment prompted us to return TO Pres
colt. But there is feeling of pride in
abe breast of every pioneer, which for
bids him giving over an enterprise when
once undertakeu-forbids a retreat, what
dangers soeyer may interfere with his
advance. SO we again mounted our
horses and continued our journey.
At night we reached Cosnina Caves, a
distance of sixteen miles, after travelling
hard all day. The snow had already
fallen to depth of ten inches, and was
still falling. Here we turned our horses
loose, that they might fad something
upon which to subSist, end, seraping
away the snow, We kiudled fire, cooked
our supper, and speeding our blankets
upon the snow. crawied between them.
and were soon lost to the gloomy pros
poets which surrounded US. Upon
awaking the following morning, we
were wet with Precipitation, and weighed
down with eight inches of snow which
had fallen during the night upon our
blankets. the snow still falling rapidly.
Those who have never had such ex-
perience may try TO imagine our feelings
s. wee contemplated the situation-the
snow almost two feet deep. aud still fall
ing. no feed for our animals, less than
two weeks provisions FOR ourselves. with
every hope Of retreat now cut off By the
accumulation of snow in the mountains.