The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-05-06
THE HELMS RANCH AFFAIR
Nothing Hut Pure Imagination or
 Cussedness.


 Cussedness.
 Captain Harris and command arrived here yesterday morning from Helms ranch whIther he went in response to the infor- nation given by Henry Nevin that the hostiles had taken up position in Co., chise's old stronghold in the Dragons AS stated yesterday the Captain was in camp when the courier arrived, and had already planned q scouting expedition for the following day. Immediately Oil :e. ceipt of the information the shrlil bugle warned the command to rouse themselves from slumber and prepare to march. The Captain asked Nevin the distance from the camp to where he saw the Indians, and was informed that eight miles would cover the route. The horses were saddled in a few minutes and the command ready to march. Neyln suggested that breakfast be prepared and partaken of before the de- parture, but the commanding officer de. murred to this in consequence of the close proximity of the enemy. Nevin then stated that the distance might possibly be twenty miles. Captain Harris, to make sure of this inquired of the ranehero at the springs and was informed that the distance was certainly forty miles. The Captain then ordered breakfast prepared, and after nasty repast the command departed for Helms ranch. The dis tance was full fifty miles, and whea the command reached there Charley Helm and hls two companions proved to be the worst Injuns in sight. At Dyer's the com mand was informed that the Indians were certainly in the vicinity, and the people in momentary danger of being massacred To sustain this statement the excited peo- pie pointed to the smoke yet rolling sky wards iron the expiring camp fires. At this juncturc man arrived at the ranch, bringing the information that the supposed Indians were nothing more dangerous :han detachment of the Tombstone Rangers This statement abated the excitement and the command proceeded to Helms, pass ing through the wood camps in the noun. tains, where they met two men who had been chopping there since last January, and neither saw nor heard of Indians. When the command reached Helms they found Captain Witney's company of the Sth infantry already on the ground, hay ing come thith,r from Summit station on receipt of the report that the hostiles were working in that direction. Helms folks were completely undisturbed, and were astOnished when they heard the excitement that existed in this city regarding their fate. Captain Whit ney and command departed for Summit Station, and Captain Harris went to Syca- more water works, where he had agreed to meet his wagons. From there the com mand came to Tombstone The captain has been scouting between here and Ruck. protecting the settlers in case of attack by the hostile. When questioned by an EPI- TAPH man the captain expressed an Opin- ion that all the hostiles were over the line by this time. There may be few lurking in the Chiricahuas. Two different com mands went there on the 2Sth and 29th, Captain Overton's command from Galley vile, and Lieutenant West with Chatfee's company. These troops went for the pur. pose of thoroughly scouting in the vicinity of where the Indians were supposed to be. Captain Harris thinks that unless another Ss5eei 6S eaS ttasses plaess an lhereservatiob the troubles are for the present over and people should quiet down and not keep the country Tn T state of perpetual tur. moil. The captain departed for Soldiers Holes soon after his arrival He belongs 10, lhe, .lst Cayalyy, and came with his |d0f1 nr1 s1nbm {fori36 s1cInt aft1r <ne5
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