Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-02-22
Nesterm sketthes.
Correspondence Of the SENTINEL.
COCHISE'S CANYON.

OOOlllOI NJ OIA1N l. O1Ns
The name of Cochise, or "Choz" as
he is generally called among his own
tribe, is well known to many, if not all,
the residents of the Pacific coast. To
the old Californian volunteer, who now
quietly sits in the club rooms of the
Pioneer Society, slipping his hot whisky,
and relating for the thousandth time his
adventures and feats of arms at ella
Bend, Maricopa Wells and Picache Point,
the mention of the great Apache Chiefs
name will awaken recollections of mid
night stampedes, which may be far from
pleasant. To the hardy prospector, the
Pioneer of Civilization, who with pick
and rife ventured along the craggy
Sieras of our Southern frontier Cochises
name will bring forth the expression of a
sentiment more forcibe than refined, and
the Renaissance of Indian surprises and
hard-fought ways of escape from Apache
tortures may cause the running of thrill
ling sensation through our Arizona ar
gouant; but Cochise is no more, and
lives only in the recollection of a long
career of rapinc and plumber
Fuit Cochise! And though having lived
by the scalping knife, and exposed him
self daily to the bullet of the American
pathfinder, the Biblical saw, "He who
lives by the sword" etc. can find no APP
plication in the termination of Cochise's
existence. The veteran scoundrel and
robber died the death of the just in the
midst of his own tribe and surrounded
by score or more of haggish squaws.
Geographically speaking, the scene Of
Cochise's dcpredations is rather extern
sive in area, and the rapidity Of his
change of base apparently endowed him
with faculty of ubuiquitousness not at
all reassuring to the first settlers Of the
Territory; but like every other military
commander of ancient or modern time
shades of Alexander and Napoleon, par
don me the expression The knew of a
certain spot to which, when pressed too
hard, he could fall back upon, locus IN
quo, from which he could battle the com
bined efforts of the scout and the mill
tary, and whence he often drove them
back, badly whipped and worse scared
band and this is the spot which chance
having offered me the opportunity to
visit | will attempt to describe.
There is no Boosting propensity on my
part at having trod upon this historical
ground. The feat was performed with
out any danger to life or property, the
only risk we run being. perchance, that
of suffering few hours for a cooling
draugbt of water, for thanks to a well
conducted military administration aud
the kindness of Providence in removing
to happier hunting grounds the soul of
this mongrel representative Of the old
Aztec race, the only noise that wakes
the echoes of the subject of our sketch is
the occasional crack Of a prospector's rife
tired Of "bacon straight"
Cochise's stronghold, as this barely
accessible spot is called, is situated near
the northern end Of the Dragon Noun
tains, and extends through this range
from the Sulphur Spring Valley to that
of San Pedro. 1t is craggy break,
whose bold and rugged aperture strikes
the eye from the summit of the Chirica-
hua Mountains, fifty miles away, and
which increases in uneyenness and as
perity as the traveller approaches it. We
had often heard from some Of the scouts
that "A visit to this Canyon would amply
repay the admrer of wild and wierd
scenery, but as the trail to tho more ex-
tensive southern portion Of the Terri
tory does not lay through this pass, and
there seems to be serious doubts as TO
the possibility of striking water in the
stronghold, we should have undoubtedly
passed it by had not lucky circumstance
induced us to change our proposed route
AT Camp Bowie we happened to meet
Lieut.. Robert Hanna. Of the Sixth
Cavalery, with a company of Indian
scouts, on bis way TO the Huacbuca
Mountains. As we we're vending our
way in the same direction, and as there
is always certain sense Of security in
travelling under the @gis Of the stars and
stripes. we very gladly accepted the
Lieutenanfs proffered hospitality, and
for the first time ia life enlisted in the
line. Lieut.. Hanna being in a hurry,
which ] find is a peculiarly Of U. s.
officers, thought we would take the short
est cut across the Dragon MouDtains,and
decide upon attempting passage through
Cochise's Canyon, water or no water. -
Every one Immediately assented and
was glad even to risk the possibility Of
dry camp, TO be afforded a view Of the
graDdest scenery in Southern Arizona
We accordingly broke up camp At day
break and hurrying across the Sulphur
Spring Valley reached the mouth Of the
Canyon at noon. a beautiful grove