The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-06-30
HUNTING APACHEs.


the San Francisco Bulletin, reads very
much like the recent experiences of Gen.
Crook with the Apache renegades in the
Sierra Madre, south of the Mexican
boundary:
"Sepd Sergeant Winser here with
scouts" IS the low-toned order that falls
from the captains lips, as he and Mr..
1ruscott stand, watch in hand under the
tall cottonwood at the edge OF the glade;
and, obedient to the summons, tall
splendid built soldier with bronzed
face, clear-cut features, and dark,
thoughtful eyes, steps forward, and,
quietly saluting, stands in silence before
his commander. Following him came
half dozen Apache scouts, their coarse,
matted hair, bead-like glittering eyes,
and snaky movements giving them, de-
spite their temporary and enforced alle-
glance, an inoeinable something that
makes the beholder wary and distrustful.
These fellows, though, have been proved
in many trying scout and skirmish
through the mountains, and their strange
Apache names have long since been
dropped for the shorter, less romantic,
but far more pronounceable titles given
by their soldier comrades. Toyah has
become Popcorn, Kithaymi, Hopkin
latter discharged soldier to whom he
had become very much attached). Tom
awarecha i" Whiskey, though he doesnt t
know the taste of the article, and viii
lainous looking young scamp with the
appalling name of Ulyakoshorah, is
dubbed Jocko for short. And here, too,
is Arahawa-Washing Charley-and
he takes his place by the sergeant's side
as Interpreter, should interpreting be ne
cessary.
'Lieutentant Truscott will lead you
and the scouts, sergeant. He found
signs six miles down the valley, and we
will follow the trail wherever it goes.
Ready, Jack?" he asks. Truscott mods,
throws his carbine over his shoulder,
and without word strides off down the
brook side. Sergeant Winser beckons
to his Apache scouts and away they go
at his heels. Then Tanner turns to his
troopers.
"All ready, sergeant?"
"All ready; sir.
''See to it, mep, that your canteens
don" rattle. Keep in the shade as much
as gossible. Come on" And with Ray,
Dana and the doctor close behind him,
the captain follows on the trail of the
scouts, and after them, in no tactical or
der whatever. butin perfect silence and
readiness, the men of the two troops
trudge along briskly For little while
the trail is so narrow and winding that
they move in single file, but little by
little the valley opens out, broader
glndes appear, the trees sparse, except
close along the bed of the stream, and
soon they ure able to spread out to the
right and left and see about them. To
the right the foot hills roll off north
ward in wave like undulations. To the
left only short distance from the valley
down which they are rapidly marching.
high. jagged precipitous cliffs and
''hutes" rise against the southern sky,
all dark and forbidding.
For over an hour they plunge along,
and the pace is beginning to tell upon
some of the heavy weight towards the
rear; but Truscott and is Apaches way
to the front know we'll that there is no
time to be lost in getting on the trail of
the Tontos They must be followed to
their lair before daybreak. If it be far
from the valley whittier they had come
for their supply of water, then every
hour will be needed. If near, then
there will be plenty of time to res: after
they get there. At last, tow ard eleven
O'Clock, some time after leaving the
banks of the stream, and while pushing
ahead among the foothills of the tall
cliffs to the south, the rearmost men find
themselves closing upon the leaders, and
now the command is feeling its way.
Before them lies the dark ravine. To
the left front towers rugged slope that
seems to reach to the skies. Across the
ravine to the right there lies another,
and right between these, into the gorge
itself, the scouts are noiselessly, stealth
lily creeping. Tanner motions his men
to keep back underethe trees, and taking
Ray with him, crouches forward to
where Truscott is kneeling among the
rocks.
'In there, do You think?" he whispers.
Truscott shakes his head and points
upwards.
''They are much higher than this, I
take it, and farther in; but the trail
seems to lead this way"
Under the rocks the darkness is in,
tense, and only slow progress is made;
but every now and then patches OF
moonlight are found, and these are
eagerly scrutinized. Two of the Indians,
Kithaymi and Wawamecha, seem to hunt
in couples. Side by side they crawl
along, pointing their bony fingers at OBJ
jects that seem fraught with deep mean
ing to them, but that would never at.
tract the attention of white. man. At
last an opening appears in the rocks to
the left of the deep ravine in which they
are working. 4 broad sheet of moon.
light streams across the front. and
Washington Charley, his eyes cleaning
with excitement, his white teeth flashing
through his lips, points aloft.
"Got 'em,-plenty Tonto," he whis.
pers to Tanner.
"How far up?"
mo sabe,-mebbe SO top" is the an
swer.
''Go ahead anyhow. Ray. bring ur
the men," Is
Aud now the climb commences in ear
nest. Noiselessly the scouts swarm ur
over rock and boulder, peering cautious
~ ahead all the time, creeping on al
fours to every ridge or projecting point
and warily studying the objects beyond
before venturing farther. Close behind
the foremost Indians Truscott and tht
sargeant slowly follow. Back some dis
tanee down the jagged slope comes Tan