Arizona citizen., 1877-06-09
Indian Murders Near Camp Bowie
 and Scouting.
CAMP BOWIE. ARIZONA. June $

! lew lines relative to the recent Indian troubles here might be of interest, l will give a short account of them. On the 29th of May the mail rider was at tackled and killed about three and one half miles from this post at 10 a. m. The mail (buckboard) from the west passed through here about noon and upon arriving at the place where the rider had been killed, saw hls horse lying dead by the road, and returned and gave the report. Lieut. West went out with a detachment of SIX men and
 two Apache scouts, to recover the
 body, which they found about four hundred yards from the horse. The
 body was not mutilated, but stripped except the shirt, and was sent to Bowie by the blackboard mail, and the detach- ment started on the trail to ascertain the direction the Indians had taken. They followed their trail about two miles, where they commenced to as cend a small mountain, when all at once and unexpectedly, a shot which was followed by a volley was fired at them by the Indians, who were discov- cred to be within about two hundred yards of them. The detachment with drew about seventy yards to gulch and secreted themselves as best they could, when a few shots were exchang- i ed The Indians ascended the hill to better their position, when the Lieuten- ant gave orders to retreat which was followed by volley from the Indians. The Lieutenant returned to the post, near 10 which he was met by about forty five men anxious for fight with the Indians, having learned from the telegraph operator, who started to the post when the shooting began, that the Indians had been found and the fight had commenced.
 The troops seemed very much dis appointed to meet him, and surprised 10 learn that the Indians had been Jeff, when they could so easily have been captured by the force ready to oppose them. In fac:, but four Indians were seen, and they arose and shook their blankets and hollowed when tue troops started to retreat. A dispatch (tele- graphic) was sent to Camp Grant for troops, and two scouts detailed To u. Fucker, who with about seventy-fiveI men, including scouts, were camped on Turkey Creek. It. Rucher arrived on the following day and directed his scouts Tn the direction supposed to- have been taken by the hostile Indians. The scouts returned for supplies in the evening, having struck the traIl, and reported but five Indians as having done the killing
 On the morning of the 31st, a man known as Texas Ward, the new mail rider, was killed near the Pass. The blackboard mail coming in from the west, was corraled about four miles from the Post Signal fires were made by the escort to attract the attention of the Post, but we suppose that the con- manding officer did not understand the signal. The mail was, however, relieved after four hours delay by the, arrival of the telegraph party en rouleI for Camp Bowie from Point of Noun tam. AS soon as the news reached camp, Ut Fucker with about the same number of scouts and men as he had Tn his former party, started in pursuit of the hostiles, aLd had it not been sol late before the news arrived Tn camp, he would have been most sure to have oyertaken them the same evening, but he did all he could that evening; and finding that the traIl appeared to be circular, he cut across by the camp (Bowie) to intercept it, while some of the scouts followed it up- Upon his arrival at camp in the morning, he was informed by Capt. Wallace, command ing, that a dispatch had been received from headquarters that no more scout Ing would be done by the troops of this post, It. Rucker being on the fresh trail and satisfied that the Indians were still in the vicinity, did not think it advisable, in any sense, to leave the fresh trall and allow the Indians to re- peat their depredations immediately, [ and he continued after them until the scouts reported that they had crossed the valley to Stein's Peak mountains, whereupon he returned on June ? to Bowie
 This morning Lt Touey from Camp Grant, (who by the way arrived here from Grant May 31, with twenty-twO mem took up the trail this morning. with his command and a few scouts. We sincerely hope that something may be done to put 8 stop to these Indian outrages, for at present it is unsafe for parties to pass through this section of country, unless in large bodies and well armed. It Rucker is fine young officer, highly respected by his men as also by the citizens at this post He has proven himself to be adequate to the occasion, if his hands are loose, and he is supplied with troops, scouts, etc.
 The author of this was an eye wit