Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-04-30
AH0RRIBLE TALE.
A Graphic Description of tn, sanguinAry Affair
 al Stevens Ranch, by a Child who Escaped
,a.,i,I cor,e-popdence of the CITIZEN.

Special CorrespOndence Of the CITIZEN.
 SAFFoRD, A. T., April l9.-If it be true that bad news travels fast, then this will reach its destination speedily.
 Little Stani. laus Mestas. aged nine years has just arrived here from Stevens sheep camp, 9 miles distant from this this place with the following blood curd- hng story of Indian massacre upon his baby lips:
 "Yesterday morning 18th inst.) be- fore daylight the Indians attacked our camp whilst We were all asleep, my father and five other men who were there at tempted to get their guns, but too late, the Indians rushed in from all sides and overpowered them before a shot could be fired. The work ofslaughter then be- gan and was frightful whileit lasted. An Indian put the muzzle of his gun against the head of one man and fired blowing his brains against the floor and walls. saw them kill my mother and two little brothers by beating their brains out with stones. They killed five. They tied my father and tortured him most dreadfully. He begged them to spare him, but they only tortured him the more. When they were tired of tortur- ing him one of them split his skull open with an ax. An Indian squaw, wife Of one Of the four friendly Apaches. sheep herders, who worked with us, saved my life by holding me behind her and begging them to spare me. When all of the Mexicans were dead except me, the Indians left, taking with them our foui friendly Apaches as prisoners. But they soon were sorry that they had spared ne, for they sent a party hack to the house to kill me, but the squaw begged so hard for me that they said that they would go back and tell the Chef that they could not find me. They then went away again, and when they were gone far enough the squaw and l left the ranch, and travelled all day and night until we reached Stafford"
 The face of little Stanislaus is indica- tive of great suffering. Horror is de- picted upon it's every feature, and his eyes protrude as if the horrors of yester- day, were still before them, while he tells his terrible story with a graphic elo- quence that pen canLot depict.
 The child's story is complete, and if i, does DO other good. the mothers of the Eastern States, when tucking their naughty little ones in bed, may frighten them to sleep by repeating the sad story of poor little Stanislaus.
 The Indian squaw who arrived here with the boy says there were nnety-three warriors in the attacking party. The, called themselves ChiIicahuas and said that they were going straight to the San Carlos Agency to kill all of the whitee and get more Indians to join them. They also declared tbat they would kill all O. the inhabitants of this valley as the pop
  ulation of the valley did not value on, cent in comparison with their numbers and the Indians at San Carlos would join them. The hostiles frequently de clared that their whole desire was to kill in retaliation for the three Indians exc cuted recently at Fort Grant.
 Ten persons in all were killed at the sheep camp and ten horses stolen. Stev- ems sheep, numbering over 6.0G0 head left to themselves are scattered in all di. rectiOns.
 The people for miles up and down thi, valley have gathered here for safety anc Occupy the county building. Citizen, and friendly Indians are mounting guar5 tonight while the women and children are sleeping. W. F. c.