Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-02-22
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING %,

of live oaks lures you into the more in
accessible portion of the Canyon, and if
you have faith in maps-you will see on
the map-a beautiful spring which bears
the name of Cochise Spring Tho dried
up water hole was there, but from the
geographical appearance | would be will
ing assert that the fountion scources
had given out long ere the youthful
Cochise romped in childish sport on the
verdant carpet before us, and practiced
on lizards and peewees with his little
bow. Through this beautiful woodland
scenery an old Indian trail winds slowly
up gentle activity and taking an abb
rupt turn, brings you suddenly to the
mouth of the Canyon, which owing to
the proximity of its sides and an arched
tendency in the rocks above, reminds
you forcibly of Dante's dark entrance to
the Inferno, and you unwittingly look
above for the lines in which an invita-
ton was extended to the visitor to leave
all hope behind.
One looks appalled, at this pass as a
strategetical position. and cannot help
thinking of the recklessness that must
have characterized our countrymen who
dared to track Cochise in his lair, and
venture within the range of his rife.
Every rock is a redoubt every boulder
fortress, from behind which the mur-
derous Apache could hurl deiantly his
primitive means of destruction, as well as
the more modern one. Learned from
constant warfare with the whites, and
from which at the least wavering sign
on the part of the assailant he could at
his chieftian's bidding dash out and APP
ply the scalping knife to his hearts con-
tent. Layers of rocks still more pre-
cipitous and rugged, form series of safer
retreats in case of need but doubt if
ever they were used, save against mimi
cal Indians, who may have fought the
Apache in his own peculiar mode. A
small and narrow passage, barely wide
enough for pack mule, winds its tor
tuous way through this second strong
hold, and finally opens into sort of a
basin surrounded by noble peaks, which
bear luxu:iant vegetation.
We found the trail impossible in
many places. owing to the fact of its not
being travelled for many years, and was
consequently obstructed by brush and
projecting limbs of trees but passage
was soon cut through by our Indiar
scouts, and We managed to squeeze
through at the expense of some of our
outer garments and an occasional refusa
to proceed by our mules. In this BASH
lies the bed of a creek. through which
in ordinary seasons lively stream mus
undoubtedly flow, but owing to the ex
traorGinary drouth which has visited tn
Pacific coast for the last year, the creel
was as dry as the travellers, and with
"same old story" muttered around, w
gave our mules squirting invitation t.
climb the mountain in front of us. Halt
ing on the other side, we stopped in al
immense rocky cavity, from which .
beautiful view of Sulphur Springs Val
ley could be had through sort of lunett,
about twenty feet wide. The rock
seemed to be placed by natural convul
ton into an oval frame Of the dimension
above given through which the eye coulc
gaze miles around into the valley, ant
from which, undoubtedly, the Apache
videttes watched the approach Of the
Mexican trains on their way to the NOR
northern portion Of the Territory Ga
command tarried here quite while, 81
enchanting was the contrast between TIN
cragginess around us and the smooth un
dulated valley beyond For a mile O.
so beyond, the scenery partakes of M
particular feature until the painted rock
are reached at the southwestern portion
of the canyon as it opens into the Sar
Pedro Valley. The few rays of the set
ting sun which can penetrate the canyon
were just tinging the tops Of the pecu
liar formation and brought out conspicu
ously the metallic colors which permeate
these rocks in multitude of crossing
and recrossing filons, the whole present
ing picturesqueness seldom to be found
among the freaks Of nature. At the
base of these painted rocks we found
water in sufficient quantity to supply
man and beast, and Immediately made
the necessary preparation to camp there
that night
The most interesting part Of our story
is now to be told Indian nature from
time immemorial has been noted for the
superstitious element which pervades its
character. They have their bugaboos,
their good and evil spirits, their perennial
appearances of ghosts, and their medi-
cine man, who seems to exercise gem
eral supcrintendency over the supernatu-
raj. One of their beliefs concerning the
translation Of the spirit into another
world is, that the soul ascends with the
smoke Of the funeral prayer and is waited
TO cave. Sometimes the spirit of the
deceased enters the body Of coyote or a
noble animal, according to bis rank but
judging from the number Of coyotes in
Arizona we are led 10 believe that the ple-
beian element predominates largely with
the Apache tribes, and that the "Big
Cbiefs" are few in number. Sometimes
il 80 far materializes itself as 10 be seen
by the medicine man. This is looked
upon as good omen, and portends sue
cessful hunt or bountiful crop Of Mexi-
can ponies TO be hereafter stolen from the
valley Of Sonora. The entrance 10 the
cave is generally supposed TO be guarded
by an immense toad or a serpent.
During the course Of the evening and