The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-04-18
miscellaneous.
ARACE FOR LIFE.

On the I'd day OF December, 1865
a little more than year alter th
founding, by Gov. Goodwin, of tn
town Of Prescott, and the locating o
the capitsl of Arizona thereat, ant
while the Indians were still bsrassiu!
and numbering the settlers and mi
ners throughout the length aa(
breadth OF the Territory, WillIar
Brady and the writer started from
Prescott City across the country cas-
to Santa Fe, New Mexico. distance
of five hundred miles, where we ex-
pected to take the stage for the East
We were equipped with plenty oi
arms, ammunition, two good horses,
pack mule, plenty of blankets, and
provisions tor fifteen days, by which
time at most we expected to reach
the settlements on the Rio Grsnde
The weather was delightful-such
weather as is only upon the plateaus
bordering on tie Great Cordilleras.
We expected NO snow for at least
one month, aud it was with few re-
grets, and consGquutly light hearts,
that We rode along that morning leav-
ing perhaps forever the country
where, for more than two years we
had struggled in Our efforts to devel
op the rich resources OF the region,
with the four or five bundred co la
borers, suffered untold privations-
at times almost dying OF hunger and
thirst, constantly hsrsssed by hes
tile Indians, with little prospect of
succor from the Government. A.
though Our journey lay through a
country infested by hostile tribes for
over two hundred miles, we had be-
come so used to the danger o. saw
age warfare that the fact scarcely
gave US an uneasy thought. We look-
ed beyond the danger, beyond the
great plains, into pleasant homes,
from which we had been absent for
years and visions Of happy greet
ings which we expected to receive
within the next month took the place
for the time, of all other thoughts.
Nothing OF special interest occurred
until the second day out, when we
met a small party of soldiers, who,
with the United States express, had
the day before been attacked, the
expressmsn killed, and two others
of the party wounded. Discourag-
ing Gs this intelligence would seem
to be, We determined TO press forward
as rapidly as possible 50 as 10 reach
by little after nightiall the dividing
line between the Apaches aad HuaI-
ipis, the latter OF whom preferred to
be friendly to the Whites. We were
yet c distance of twenty miles from
the above nsmed poiGt,. snd it was
then l p. m. Several times during
the afternoon our attention was at
tracted To white lines of smoke rising
at different points in answer TO each
other, the language of which we un-
derstood to pOrtend evil to US per
haps the most horrible of desths.
At 4 p. IN. we reached the place
where the attack hsd the day before
been made. A few broken arrows
and portion Of the charred remains
of the unfortunate expressman were
the remaining evidence OF the bloody
deed. We did not tarry long here,
for the reader will readily understand
that the sight Of these evidences OF
the brutality OF those who were then
dogging our foo steps were sufficient
to very ma erially incressa our de
sire to resch place of safety as
speedily ss po; ;sible,
Just as the sun sank beneath the
western horizon we passed into the
Huailpi country, and agsiu bresthei
freely.
Reaching suitable place, we camp
ed for the light. The neyt morning
the wind was blowing a gale, which
continued Ell day, Interfering with
our progress 50 much that it vas
night when We reached Antelope
Springs, st the loot OF the San Fran
cisco MoOntsins, eighty foIr niles
from the city OF Prescott.
During the day lowering clouds
hsd s'reched from nor zon to horizon,
and there was every evidence OF sn
spprC aching storm, circumstance
which sppsls the braveat heart. a
storm 10 the mounteins, without
protection. is something the horrors
of which cannot be fully desCri5='i
And this wss q new danger, sonC -
thing for which we we.e no plepar-
ed. When morning csme, the sEOT
had already begeu TO isli, end our
better Judgment promp el Us u re
turn 70 Pre- scott. But trere Il fee
ing of pride IL the breast OF every
pioneer, which forbics h,n giving
over an enterprise when once u3"er
taker--f, rJids Il r tre a, what daI-
gers soever msy interfere win a.
advance So We again mou1lci Our
horses and continued cur journey.
At night We reacaed Ccsr.aa
Caves, a dis a ci Is xteen mile IF er
'raveiing hard q! day. The SNOW
had sIretdy fa..rn TO depta o. zen
inches, ai'i was sill falling. Here
We turned our horses loose lhas tney
night fad something upon which to
subsist, and, scrsping away the
snow, we kiBdltd fire, cooked orr
supper, and Il reldug Our bl,nkets
upon Inc suOw, C as led het 7een them
and were -Oon 10 % TIE gloomy
pros pects W On ,urr, undcd us. UDoa
a"aAing TIE ioloH ing morning. We
we're e. with persp re ;on and weigl
ed down with eIgut inches o; snox
which Lsd fallen during the night
upon our blanket the s5og iii
falling rapiill. Tio5s aho have
never hsd such expert nee Inay irY
to ina .ine our f=e.i gI IS We Goa
templ.tsd the sit1a ion tue snox
almOs. two Ices de p, and s-ill fdi-
ing, no teei TO- our aim n4is, ,iiss thaI
two weeks PROVISIONS iOr ourselves,
wi b every hope Of re.r,ss now cut
of by the accumulation of ruo" N
the mountains, our acvsoce nesr'y
barn Ell by tn. same cause, and TIE traii
nearly oblilerated. To Ie DAln ~as
csr.a'n dea.b, q I'd tn oniy p ssI'.,i'l
or escspe was to fnd scms lace "a it
wonId Ierye as shelter until the