The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-04-15
SAVED FROM SAYAGES.
THRILLING ADVENTURE AMONG THE APACH-
Es-RESCUISG WHITE WOMEN FROM
THE INDIANS IN ARIZONA


est, have few parellels in the pages of his
tory or romance. Last summer a few DAYS
after VictoriO and his piti!ess band had made
one of their ruthless incursions upon set
tlement near the Maricopa Wells, on the
ella road word reached Tucson that two
white women were captives in an Apache
camp in the Santa Cruz mountains some
seventy-fve or eighty miles distant. How
the report was brought cannot say. There
was certainly no regular communication be-
tween the city and the camp, by telephone
OF telegraph, mail or express. suppose. as
is usually the case, the squaws circulated the
rumor, and gave it such impetus that it was
carried to Tucson, where it was fairly cred
tied, and it proved true enough. 1t made
good deal of excitement in the city, and the
general sentiment was that something ought
to oe done to effect the rescue of the captives.
But what steps should be taken no one at
first seemed capable of suggesting. The
force at Camp Crittenden was small and
even had it been numerous it would have
availed nothing, because on the approach of
troops the Indians would have fed to mac
cessible Businesses of the mountains, and per
haps murdered their unhappy prisoners.
The subject was discussed in all its phases,
and every plan proposed for the relief of the
unfortunate women had been rejected as i'm
practicable, when suddenly some one asked
''Where's Charlie Dupont? He's the man
we want for an occasion like this. If any
thing possibly can be done Charlie will do it,
and make no fuss about it, either
The suggestion was eagerly caught up and
assented to, and search was at once COM
menced for Charlie Dupont. He was of
French extraction, his mother being a wOm-
an of the Aricaree tribe, among whom his
sire had trapped, traded an hunted for many
years. Charles was feminine looking young
fellow, whose dark, slender mustache barely
relieved him of the appearance of effeminacy
and whose soft, musical voice and quiet
movements betrayed nothing heroic in his
composition, yet he was was regarded by
] those VINO knew him as every inch a herO-a
! terrible fellow in fight or at a fandango
/ and one Of the most daring and successful
/ scouts our troops had ever employed in their
! warfare against the scourges of our Terri
! tory, the bloodthirsty Apaches. For months
/ he had been in almost constant service as
/ scout, but was now, for some reason, spend
| ing a few weeks in Tucson. He was at
/ length found and conducted to the fonda,
where the principal citizens were still en-
gagged in discussing the topic Of all-absOrb-
ing interest He was quickly made acquaint-
/ ed with the situation, and was then asked
''What do you say, Charlie ? Can you do
anything for these women 2"
Eyes, / think l ca1,' he replied deliber-
ately and contemplatively. "Give me good
man to so with me, and l will see what l can
/ do
1t was not a very difficult matter to find
men willing to accompany him on his propos
I ed perilouS expedition, so much reliance was
placed on his courage, coolneSs, skill and
judgment. He selected as his companion
Billy Tailman, a reckless sort of fellow when
in the white settlements, but whom long
and dangerous experience as a driver on the
/ Tucson and Mesilla stage route had render
/ ed cool and wary when among the haunts of
the savages. He was a man totally different
from Dupont in manners and personal ap-
pearance, but, like him, would "do t. tie to-
under any circumstances and amid any sur
roundings peculiar to an unsettled commu-
nifty.
In very short time the two adventuIers
were equipped and mounted for their enter
prise. Good horses were placed at their dis
posal. Armed with their trusty Spencer car
bines and Colts revolyers, and provided
with small quantity of provisions and hav-
ing ascertaiued as nearly as might be the To-
cation of the camp they proposed to visit,
{ they sprang to their saddles and were soon
riding rapidly across the mesa, threading
their way among the cact, and pursuing as
straight a course toward their destination as
the nature of the ground permitted. Their
| horses were fresh and they kept steadily to
their work, enlivening their way with song
I ana Jest, or with serious conversation con-
cerning the delicate and important mission
they had undertaken. 1t was scarcely noon
when .hey started, and by nightfall they had
covered more than half the distance they had
to traverse. Then, as their steeds showed
signs of weariness they halted, picketed the
animals, ate a frugal meal wrapped their
/ serapas about them, lay down upon the
ground, and were howled to sleep BY the
( shrill voices of scores of hungry cayOtes.
After a refreshing slumber, in spite of the
cowardly beasts which dared not approach
within effective shooting distanced by the
starlight, the two adventuTers were awake
and alert with the early dawn, and having
breakfasted, saddled their horses and pro-
gan to ascend the mountain slopes, when
their progress became slower and more toll
some They were now approaching the
camp Of which they were in quest, but OF its
location they knew nothing accurately, and
must trust to luck and accident to reveal tC
them its whereabouts They now proceeded
more carefully, keeping their eyes vel
about them, discoursing only in whispers
and favoring their horses by selecting the
easiest grades and smoothest ground for the
ascent of the mountain. Fortune favored
them, as she sometimes, not always, favor'
the brave. Having reached considerable
elevation, they were making their way thro
a wooded dell when they came upon a hal
, naked savage, who, after hasty observa
, ton of the intruders, turned and ran direct
ly from them, waking the echoes with hi
shouts, evidently intending to alarm tn
camp.
| ''What shall we do 2" said TalIman
"Folow him close replied Dupont, an'
t giving their horses the spur they ran the flee
t lEg redskin into the camp, which turned on
, in confusion to ascertain the cause of the uu
) roar. But few males made their appearance
r however, and those mostly old and decrepit
( while considerable number of squaws an
children were seen scampering towards tn
| rocks and timber. A few shots from thei
t carbines scattered the males, and then, sec
IN