Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-02-06

Capt. II. K. Parker, ihe Chief of
 Indian Scouts in New Mexico, made
 famous by his attack upon and al-
 most complete rout of Viclorio's
 band last year, is now iu Tucson. A
 brief reminiscence of his encounter
 with the murderous gang will not be
 without interest Co our readers, inas-
 much as he will be again called into
 the field to suppress the hostile rem
 nan,s Of reDegudrs now committing
 daily Outrsges within the borders of
 our sister Territory, and whom 'he
 military seem powerlesS to combat.
 On May 23d, 1850, Capt. Parker,
 with 59 scouts, having obtained per
 nilsson of Gen. Hatch tO act inde-
 pendent of the military, sighted Vic
 torio's band on the head of Palomas
 river, in the Black Range, 30 miles
 miles from the town of PalOmas, on
 the Rio Grande. They cautiously
 watched the movements of the red
 devils, whose numbers aggregated
 about 300, including 100 women and
 children, until nighlfall, when they
 approached the camp in three divis-
 ions. So adroitly was this accom-
 plished that when the scouts opened
 fire upon the host,ies at daylight of
 May 24th, the Indians were taken completely by surprise, and their con
 fusion and cOnsternaliUn al finding themselves so completely curralled,
 with no possible avenue of escape, was so great that they finally resolved to make the most of their desperate sIt. uatiOn and fight it out to the bitter end.
 Hemm, d in on all sides by tow ering cliffs, with the several outlets guarded by but handful of Iesolule men, the pets of inc Interior Depart l nent exercised all their devilish cum ming and brutal bravery 10 escape l IheIr mamie, fate, but in vain. During | the whole day continuous fire was | maintained on both sides, resulting in | sending some 27 or 30 red skins 10 | the happy hunting ground, without q single fatal casualty on the part of | the scouts. The scouts unfortunately | ran short of ammunition by night, | and despatched courier for a further supply, but after waiting three days | for 1t to arrive, were reluctantly com pelled 10 withdraw their force without having fully accomplished their self imposed task. They captured 160 head of horses, and drove them safely into Palomas.
 ParalyzeG by such a daring attack, and fearing another onslaught, Vic torio's band made all possible speed 10 cross the Rio Grande into Mexico. On their way Ihither Capt. Parker with a squad of scouts again attacked | hem, killing VIctOrio's son and two This practically ended the of the hOstiles, and it was only after the disbanding Of Capt Parker's company of scouts that de- achments of the once notorious band again appeared in their old haunts, ,susing widespread terror among the Iettlers of southwestern New Mexico. The recent outrages there committed nave inspired Capt. Parker to again ake the field in obedience To the de- ire of the people of New Mexico, and with his shrewdness, ability and gen ral Knowledge of the country, if he loes not succeed in rldding the Ter itOry of the murderous Apaches now it, the cause thereof will est with other parties.
 Capt. II. K. Parker was born in Corpus Christi. Texas, on the Cult of Iexico, in November, 1854, and is therefore in his twenty-seyenth year f age. He IS stands slightly more han six feet in height, is spare in z esh, brown hair and light beard, cen gray eyes, and weighs l60 1 . ,ounds. His actions are all deliber- ! tely made, yet he exhibits nervous \ characteristic of frontiers . len. He has passed his life upon !. he frontier of Mexico, New Mexico | nd Arizona, and is familiar with the abIts and haunts of ale Indian tribes 'apt. Parker says the scouts have an tier contempt for ihe manner in mich the United States troops hunt indians. They have not been diSci- U lined to the hardships and privatione ecessary to hunt them after their VII manner of warfare-iO sleep -ithout camp fires, and to subsist on y le meagre fare upon which Indians lrive. The Indians also speak of le troops with great deTision and vince but little fear of them. Capt Parker will start for Silver i' ity the first of next week, and we c 'ok for good reports of his crusade.