The weekly Arizona miner., 1873-09-27
Fatal and Mournful Event.
Killing of J. B. Townsend, by Apsohes

All citizens Of this Territory who knew that the notorious Del-Che and some of his follower, had stolen away from the Verde. reserve, were prepared to hear bad news, of some kind. Few, however, permitted them. selves to think that, in . few days after their escape, a brave, well-known and beloved cit- izen would fall victim to the savages. Such, however, has been the sequel to the emeats from Verde.
 It was late in the afternoon of Friday, the 18th inst, after our paper had gone to press, that a chilling rumor reached our ears, to the effect that J. B. Townsend, of Lower Agua Fria, bad been killed by the Apaches. It was thought so from the fact that bis horse had returned home, riderless. Now, while felling, deeply, that sad truth might be at the bottom of the painful rumor, we hoped, for Mir. Townsend's sake, for the sake of bis good wife and five little children their rela- atives and friends; aye, even for the sake of the Apaches, that the horse had ran away from his owner, who would soon turn up, all right. But, alas vain was our hope I as subsequent news from the Agus Fra settled, forever, the truth of the n,ourhful news.
 And, now tor the facts, as relxted to us by Mr. T. W. Boggs, and Mr. vickers, fa,her-in- law of deceased. The morning of the l6th saw Mir. Townsend mounted on his faithful hunting and war-horse, whose head was turn ed;in the direction of Bradshaw mountains. Townsend was, of course, we'll armed, and prepared to hunt and kill game Or Indians. Previous to leaving, he informed bis wife that he would return before night, which came, passed, and still no Townsend. Itwas then that T. W. Boggs and D. K. Poland started in search of their friend, trailing him as far as Antelope Spring, which place is about fou- miles northeast of Dripping springs, and about eight miles west of Town sends place on the Agua Fria. The springs being in the midst of bare cement formation, they were unable to pursue his trail further, and returned home. A fresh start was taken on the morning of the 18th, and their walk ing and watching were soon rewarded by . sight of his trail, going toward Black Canon creek. Following it . short distance, they soon discovered footprints of Indians, and deeming it unsafe to press on, they went back and, on the morning of the 10th, they, with Willard Rice and N. B. Bowers, started back, with the intention of solving the mystery which shroude6 the fate of their missing white brother.
 A point on Turkey tor Wolff creek, near the Blackberry camp. was soon reached, and they succeeded in finding . spot where the missing man had psrtaken of lunch, which be carried with him in an old copy of Moore's Rural New Yorker, which paper was found near by. From this lunehing camp, Mr. T. had turned in the direction of Big Bag creek. His trail was followed, in that direction, for about 10 miles, when they camped, to rest and refresh themselves, during the night. The morning of the 20th dawned upon the anxious trailers, who lost no time in prep.- ration for the sad, serious work before them, but, going in the direction of the Agua Fri., soon came upon the dead body of Mir Town send, not far from Dripping Springs, which is in section of country almost every step of which is as familiar to us ss the MINER of. flee. When found, the body was in the fol. lowing position Face downwasds; left arm underneath, right extended. His gun, Hen. " rife, was gone the glass, which We, long ago, loaned him, was found some distance from the body, which, strange To say, had not been mutilated or stripped. He wa. found at 10 in the morning of the 2Oth, and digging grave, his sad friends and forme, companions, placed him in it, secure from the coyotes and other fesh-dovouring creatures With the burial party were Messrs. Lovejoy Rees and Heintzelman.
 The ground around the body was torn UT by the hoofs of Mr. T.'s horse, which faithfu animal stayed by his master until instipc. and sense of smell made him understand .aat b. for whom be had such love would never agair ride him to victory over Apaehes or to . sue cessful hunt for game.
 Circumstances satisfied Mir. Bosgs and par ty that Townsend first saw the Indians. ir the face of the mesa, close to Dripping Springs that he (Townsend) was on foot, at the time and, mounting his horse. rode, as fast as pos sible, to level ground the surface of th, m<sa--where he received his death woun, from bullet which passed through bis body The ground showed where he had charged ol the Indians. --r ~b.srt.s. a.s
 Deceased was q native of Tex@. Sine coming hsce, in the fall of 1867, he had, fl fair and and open combat, killed 36 Indians He must have killed some more in his las fight, M two or more shells of bis catridge were found. Fear was feeling with whici he was entirely unacquainted. Brave, ever to rsshness, he never faltered, even wher alone, in attacking any number of Apaches Relatives, friends, all, had frequently eau toned him to be less rash in his onslaught on the foe, but it was not his nature to so de port himsels, and he died, as be lived, th, bravest, most dauntless white man that ha, I A