The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-02-06
CHAPTER Y.
I..nIAS AFFArRs IN ARIzo,s ,

IsDIAS AFFAIRS N ARIZONA
Fort Kellogg, in Arizona, Is not I'm A,
peculiarly inviting situation, occupying
as it does, a bleak and barren plain
with nOthingin view, even in the dis
tance, except some low, reddish mound
OF earth, which look as though they
might be dissolved bTick-kilns. Between
these flow, in the rainy season, turbu
lent streams Of muddy water which fine
their way through a still lower country
to the Gila. But IL is summer now, anC
everywhere the earth is baked with
drought, except in the small stream
which runs close by the fort.
The air is so still and breathless that
the heat, as of a furnace, makes wavering
lines through the atmosphere, sugges-
tive Of evaporation, though there can
not be anything, apparently, to evapo-
rate. The low adobe walls lnclosing
the garrison, and the low adobe houses
inside the walls seem to radiate heat.
In the corral the mules and horses
crowd into any bit of shadow they can
find. The sentinels at their posts are
provided with shelter from the sun, and
nobody else of the garrison seems to be
living or moving for it is but little past
midday yet, and the inmates will not
venture out before four O'Clock.
And yet out there in the blazing sun
some object is moving-is creeping
slowly along toward the Fort. One
drowsy sentinel after another sees il,
and word goes to the officer in COM
mand. Reluctantly Colonel Kellogg
arouses himself from his siesta, and
giving field-glass to a subordinate, or
ders an examination of the strange OBJ
ject. Directly he is informed that a
man, apparently an American alone
and on foot, and probably either sick or
wounded, is making his way toward the
Fort.
'Been another massacre, suppose.
D-n the Apaches! Send detachment
of six men and bring him in" was the
growing response.
A detachment was accordingly sent,
and the man brought in By evening
1t was known to all the inmates of the
garrison that there had been massacre
within few miles of the Fort, in which
considerable party Of Texan emigrants
had been killed and captured, and their
property appropriated by the Indians.
The sufferer who arrived at the Fort was
3 young man, whose desperate courage
and determination had enabled him to
drag himself from the scene of the
murders where he had been left for dead,
to a spot within sight of succor, but un-
happily, too late. That night mortifi-
cation set in, and in the morning he was
dead On the wooden tablet placed at
his head was inscribed, ''BooNE MILES,
Aged 90"
1t appeared from the information
young Miles had given, that the indians
were not In very great force, but had
surprised the emigrants at supper and
thus overcame them without much re-
sistance; and it was thought that they
might be overtaken by good cavalry
as they were encountered with stock anC
the plunder Of the wagons. A com
mand was therefore sent out TO follow
on their trail as soon after the informa
tion was received as the troops could b'
mounted and equipped, which was moi
until thirty-six hours had elapsed after
the massacre, for all of which loss o.
time nobody was to blame.
During the absence of the troops, who
were under Major Floyd's command
there was a good deal Of excitement
among those remaining in the Fort, first
because any event furnished excitement
in that dreary desert; second, because
somebody might get killed in the expe-
dition, and lastly because the Fort wa.
left in rather a defenceless condition by
the absence of so many troops.
Mrs. Kellogg, wife of the Colonel, anC
Mrs. Stewart, wife Of the Surgeon, tn,
only ladies at Fort Kellogg, spent tn,
day together cOnversing from thei
hammocks, and alternately deplorinI
the state of the thermometer and tn
state of the country.
"OnIy think of itu' said Mrs. Kel
Iogg; "there were women and childre
in the train, and young girls, probably
to be carried into captivity like tina
Oatman girl. The horrible, disgustin
wretchesp
at is dreadful" returned Mrs. Stew
art. 'T do hope they were all killed;
would be so much more merciful to th
poor things. l do wonder if the Gov
ernment will ever furnish men enougl
to fight the Indians with"
"Well, it is quite certain 1t never has
It is all farce, our staying here in thi
abominable desert with only handful O
men who can do nothing but take th
traip after the Indians have got out @
reach. 1 do not suppose that Majo
Floyd will ever see one of those crea
lures unless when they come about th
Fort playing good Indian aud wantin
ammunition, and it would never do I
kill them then! It would not be Inn
name"
Mrs. Stewart sighed, and let her ia
drop moment. She was not of a sa,
castle turn of mind, and could not ri
herself Of disagreeabls or painful emo