The colored patriot., 1882-05-04


which Delshay was chief attacked
the ranch, and tortured The mother
and the three children 10 death.
When johnson returned the cabin waa
in flames and the blood of his diving
family yet warm. Almost craxed. he
went back TO the fort without even
waiting TO inter the remains of his win
and children, and briefly told the awful
tragedy. Within fifteen minutes de.
tachment of Company X of the Fifth
Cavalry were mounted, under com.
mand of Col. Mason, and on the trail
of the copper-sAin devils. Johnson 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 Mojayes.
That evening camp was made near the
Verdi. and scouting party further fol.
lowed the trail, which appeared to be
only few hours old. In q clump Of
cottonwoods and near marshv portion
of the river the smoke of the Indian
fires was discovered. 1t was too late
to attack the Indians, as the darkness
would afford them an escape. They
apparently located with the intention
of remaining few days and hunting,
so the assault was deferred until the
morning, the cavalry coming up. how
ever, and putting out sentinels. On
one of the posts johnson stood keepiI
vigil through the night. In the morn.
ing the cavalry swooped down upon
them. Surprised in their stronghold,
and with their arms scattered carelcssly
about. the Indians could do nothing
better than fly, and fly they did toward
the river, the soldiers picking them of
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 Oi
them had reached the stream. but Del
shay, the seventh. had such start that
the cavalry almost gave up all hope ot
overtaking him. They spread out,
however, and made a skirmish through
| the cottonwood forest.
When they brought up in little
glade up the stream couple of miles.
they were astonished to find johnson
leaning over the dead body of the In
dian chief, hacking and cutting it with
a huge bowie-knife in insane frenzy.
The body lay upon tho river bank rs It
had been pulled out after the infliction
of the death wound. The head was
nearly severed by a stroke of the knife,
and johnson had scalped it. II was
many minutes before his fury had
spent itself, the soldiers never interfer-
ing with the horrible satisfaction which
| the widowed husband and childless
father was taking for his wrongs. Fl
nally, when he had grown calm enough
to explain, he told how he had seen the
Indian making up the river, and re-
solved that none should escape. he fol-
| lowed as best he might. When he got
through the timber he found the trail.
and. although it was done with much
difficulty. he succeeded in tracing IL 10
the river bank. There ii became lost.
and, knowing that the Indian could not
have crossed the stream without having
been seen on the opposite side, which
was open and denuded of trees and un-
derbrush, he concluded that the Indian
was secreted i'm the bank. While walk
ing down the bank head was protrud-
ed from pool near the shore. IL was
Delshay taking air. Stealthily John
son approached. and before the Indian
could realize that the avenger was nigh
he was grasped by the hair and his
throat was cut from ear 10 ear.
When the fort was reached Johnson
requested to be employed In the scout
ing service, and was engaged. lie be-
came the bloodicst and most relentless
of the border scouts and figured promi-
nently in all the campaigns against the
Apaches up TO the recent one which
Gen. Carr led, earning the title oi
apache Matt. - Denrer Tribune.