Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-29
APACHE MATT, THE SCOUT.
Famous Frontersman's Reason for Wagng
War Upon the Indians.

Famous Frontersman's Reason for Waging
War Upon the Indians.
Matthew Johnson reached Denver City
from Fort Hualapai, and will leave for
his old home In New York state, there
to spend his remaining days. Several
years ago he was living with his wife and
several hildren near Hualapai. One
early morning, while the father was alb
sent at the military post, the band of
Moiave Indians, of which Delshay was
chief, attacked the ranch, outraged the
mother and tortured her and the three
children to death. When johnson re-
turned his cabin was in flames and the
blood of his dying family yet warm.
Almost crazed, he went back to the fort
without even waiting to inter the remains
of his wife and children and briefly told
the awful tragedy. Within fifteen min
utes detachment of Company K of the
fifth cavalry were mounted, under the
command of Col. Mason, and on the
trail of the coppersklnned devils, john
son going along.
On the morning of the third day the
cavalry entered the Black Hills, at the
headwaters of the Verdi River, the home
of the wild Apache Mojaves. That
evening the camp was made near the
Verdi and scouting party further fol-
lowed the trail, which appeared to be
only few hours old. In small clump
of cotton-woods and near marshy por-
ton of the river the smoke of the Indians
was discovered. It was too late to at
tack the Indians, as the darkness would
afford them an escape. The had APP
parently located with the intention of
remaining a few days and hunting. so
the assault was deferred until the morn
ing, the cavalry coming up, however,
and putting out sentinels. On one of
the posts Sohnson stood keeping vigil
through the night. In the morning the
cavalry swooped down upon them. Sur
prlsed IN their stronghold, and with their
arms scattered carelessly about, the In
dians could do nothing better than fly;
and fly they did toward the river, the
soldiers picking them off one by one in
the chase. Delshay was more cunning
and self-possessed than his followers,
making up the river through the thick
cottonwood. The six Indians were killed
before one of them had reached the
stream, but Delshay, the seventh, had
such a start that the cavalry almost gave
up all hope of overtaking him. They
spread out, however, and made Skin
mish through the cottonwood forest.
When they brought up in little glade
1p the stream couple of miles, they
were astonished to find Johnson leaning
over the dead body of an Indian chief,
hacking and cutting it with a huge
bowie-knife In insane frenzy. The
body lay upon the river bank as if it had
hoo - - a r
the death-wound. The head was nearly
severed by a stroke of the knife, and
johnson had scalped it. It was many
minutes before his fury had spent itself,
the soldiers never interfering with the
horrible satisfaction which the widowed
husband and childless father was taking
for his wrongs. Finally, when he had
grown calm enough to explain, he told
how he had seen the Indian making up
the river, and, resolved that none should
escape, he followed as best ne might.
When he got through the timber he
found the trail, and although it was done
with much difficulty, he succeeded in
tracing it to the river bank. There it
became lost, and, knowing the Indian
could not have crossed the stream with
mt having been seen on the opposite
side, which was open and denuded of
rees and underbrush, he concluded that
he Indian was secreted In the bank.
While walking down the bank head
vas protruded from pool near the shore
was Dalshay taking air. Stealthily
ghnson approached, and befoSe the In
ian could realize that the avenger was
Ugh, he was grasped by the hair and his
hroat was slit from ear to ear.
When the fort was reached, johnson
equested to be employed in the scouting
service, and was engaged. He became
he bloodiest and most relentless of the
order scouts, and figured prominently
ali the campaigns against the Apaches
10 to the recent one, which Gen. Carr
cd, earning the title of "Apache Matt. "