The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-05-30
Ambushed Apaches.

Ambushed Apaches.
Dark telegraphic headlines have
recently told the people of the more
settled and secure portions of our
country that the skulking Apaches
had again begun their raid of MUIR
der and outrage, with the prospect
that they would continue in their
horrible enjoyment until, pursued
and pressed by bands of suffering
settlers, they sneak back to the fos-
tering protection of their reservation,
to laugh over the rage of their pur-
suers, stopped on the sacred pre-
cincts of San Carlos by solid COL
umns of United States troops. To
one who has seeen the broad, black
line of misery and distress that
marks the passage of these devils
over the country of New Mexico,
Arizona and Sonora, or has climbed
the mountain trails, dotted at every
quarter OF a mile with little piles of
pebbles, the graves of Indian victims,
more affecting and appealing in
their loneliness than the most as
piring tomb of marble; or has rid
den to the little hacienda through
the thousands of fertile acres, and
looked in vain for the contented
people that should have filled the
adobe houses, and the bands of cattle
that should have dotted the hills
to such a one the diffidence and
apathy of the people Of the North to
the sufferings of those of the North
west seems almost cruel. To US the
news of an Indian outbreak is but
the unrolling of our daily paper and
a glance at the disjointed and made
quate telegraphic accounts.
Down on the cline" town is star
tied by the sound of galloping
mustang, and the weary courier,
wounded, perhaps covered with
blood, stops in the main street, and
from his saddle tells the old story of
cowardly surprise and horrible mas
sacre. Then comes the mastering
oftroops, the distribution of rations,
all with methodical slowness, and
from fifteen to twenty hours after
the escort reaches the spot only to
find the multilated bodies of the
victims. Miserable experience has
shown how futile are the slow move
ments, the martinet regulations and
the customary tactics OF the regulars
to cope with the Apache brave" if
We can use such misnomer. These
towards, unlike the noble of their
race, the Sioux and the Indians of
the plains, never attack unless the
destruction of their victim is certain
and their own escaped assured.
Against such enemies the bravery of
our troops avails nothing, and they
are like men stung by invisible in
sects. Apache pick them off from
his secure hidiDg-place. In this
fighting the Mexican troops bave
had greater success, not from su-
perior courage, but because they
fight the Indian with his own tao
tics. To them belongs the honor OF
having struck the Apache raiders the
only mortalstIoke that they have re-
ceived for many along year. To-day
the most admired military man in
Northern Mexico is Col. Garcia and
his popularity rests on single sue
cess, known as the Surprise of the
Dasa Grande.' No full account ofthis
affair has been published in the
North, and in view of the recent ex-
citement a circumstantial one to
not but have interest. Within four
weeks last past the writer had the
good fortune to travel one hundred
miles-from the town of Oposura to
the heart of the Sierra Madre Noun
tains-with Colonel Garcia, COM
manding about 500 men, and on his
way to the Rio Aros country, where
he hoped to surprise some Indian
villages. 1t was after long days
march over thirty-five miles of a
mountain trail, along which the slow,
serpentine file of the troops in their
white, Turco-looking costumes could
be seen encircling and winding in
GRACEFUL curves for a mile or
more. The bugle han at last sound
ed the greatful hault for the night,
and the men stacked their arms and
camped on a rolling hillock, where
the country could be seen for miles
around. On each corner of the
square in which the troops camped
was lighted a fire. and in the center
stood the solitary tent of the colo
mel. Here, thanks to Mexican hos
pitality, were grouped our party of
two Americans, the commanding
officer and the captains. The bright
fires showed the Mexican women
engaged in making the ''tortillas'
and cooking ''frijoles" for the scanty
meal. The soldiers, forgetful to the
days fatigue and regardless of to-
morrow's danger, were some arguing
over the trifles that among them
always can provoke ardent discus
sion, and others chanting with great
display and little musical effect some
fervent love song. At interlals the
rythmatical "Uno," Dos. Tres, :"
"Quartro," of the tireless picket SEN
tinel rang out clearly. The conver-
sation Jagged around the fire, and
the moment seemed opportunity to
get an account from the actors them
selves of the Mexican victory at Casa
Grande.
To our request Colonel Garcia
said that he had been witness to
only part of the engagement. But
you, Captain" he said, turning
around, "were in the midst of it."
The officer spoken to was tall, slim
young man, with the beautiful eyes
and delicate, girl-like features so
often seen among our tropical neigh
bors. He, courteously drawing his
"serape" a little closer, and lighting
a fresh cigarette, began: You must
know that not long since we were
scouting with four companies near
the dead line," between Chihuahua
and New Mexico. The heat for
days bad been excessive, and our
search after the willy Apache fruit
less. The men were dispirited. and,