San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-06-15
AN APACHE AMBUSH.
John Mssrudsr's Experience In the wss''--sa'sd
BY Mule.

John Mssrudsr's Experience In the "ss'--sa's'
byahuis.
Mr.. John Magruder, OF Georgetown,
whose proyidential escape from the In
dams nears Clifton. A. T., month ago
was n matter of such great rejoicing
among his friends East, is young man
about medium heigt, slenderly, but
compactly built, with very handsome
face, quiet and courteous manner ana
AN mir of resolute nerve, which his very
eyentful life of the past few years am
ply confirms. he graphically told the
story of the ambush. He had made a
detour from the trail toward Antoines
cabin TO warn the two men there TO get
their arms, and consequently was IN
the rear of the party when the ambush
took place. Mr.. Risque, who had famed
his knee, was riding mule Maagru-
der. with Capt. Slawson, toll, large
man. had Just come up with the party.
"The ambush" said he, was on the
Eagle River side OF the San Francisco
Mountains, at the head of Gold Gulch.
We we're going to Trescotts CABIN a
little space beyond the place OF ambush.
The county is an open one, the grass
noening up here and there above the
bare ground, and tree and a rock here
and there over tho surface. There are
mountains all around, but sloping down
to the point we had reached: ms
point was a clump of cedars and jun,
pers. perhaps fifty yards through, ana
directly through it the trail ran, Tres
colts cabin was about 300 yards the
other side of this clump. Risque, ana
Prescott and Frink entered the clump
first. As pulled out my watch to see
what time it was-11 :2O-Slawson Threw
up his arms and said: Look there
are your Indians, Magruder! My at
tention was then directed particularly
TO him. for he stood still, as if petritied.
I looked for Indians but could not see
apy, and then heard the reports OF sew
eral rifles. Frink rushed from the
thicket and cried that Risque was shot'
and then I heard poor PRESCOTT sob out:
aMy God, boys, my legs!" l saw him
struggle a moment and fall. He was
shot through the thighs. Several more
yolIevs come. Slawson disappeared,
and / broke from the trail for tree:
As T reached it rifle bullet whizzed
by my head on either side. l remained
a moment behind the tree looking TOR
indians, but was not able to see any OF
them. Then Trescott's mule came
along and halted about twenty feet from
me. determined they shouldn't nave
that mule, and raised my rifle to shoot
il. when the mule wheeled around and
cooked up his ears. l Immediately
turned. and there, not forty feet be-
hind me was an Indian with his rifle
leyeled at me. He fired and at once
bounded toward me thinking was hit.
I took deliberate aim with my WIN
chester and pulled the trigger. L re-
that as I fired I felt peculiar
satisfaction in recalling the fact that l
was pretty good shot. The Indian
threw up his arms and tumbled back
ward. l took no further interest IN
him. but made for another tree, which
I reached, several more bullets keeping
me uccomfortably close company.
was badly frightened, and had very
little doubt I would be killed like the
others, but all the same determined L
would fight to the end. It was tough
race up the mountain, lodging behind
boulders and trees, throwing myself flat
On the ground every now and then, and
rendered still harder and more unpleas-
mt by having the air around me whls-
ling with bullets whenever left cover.
At length 1 reached Antoine's shanty:
Here we were again exposed to fire, and
'or while was in more extreme dan
yer than at any lime during my race up
20 the mountain. We finally got into
he shelter of some timber and were
afe."
"How did you feel the next day, when
It last you knew you were safe?"
81 felt no reaction OF nerve, simply
because was too busy. All the next
Law T was hard at work making a Case
n which to convey Mr.. Risque's re-
mains East"
"And how many times have you es-
aped?'
This is the fourth time have got
way from the hostiles, although this
vas, perhaps, the highest squeeze OF
IL. do not count the open fights
AVE had with them, for then l simply
ook my chances"
"And do you propose to go back
here?"
Certainly" was the answer. MY
profession is that of mining engineer,
nd to work at it 1 must go where
nines are they will not come to me-"