Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-09
A Great Fight with Indians.
san Rraneiseo Examiner.


To-day the most admired military
man in Northern Mexico is Colonel
Garcia, ard his popularity rests on a
single success, known as the Surprise
of the Casa Grande."
To our request Colonel Garcia said
that he had been witness to only part
Of the engagement. But you, Cap
tain" be said, turning, 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 neighbors. He, courteously
drawing his serape little closer, and
Lighting a fresh cigarette, began:
You must know that not along since
we were scouting with four companies
near the dead line" between Chi.
hauhau and New Mexico. The heat
for days had been excessive, and our
search after the willy Apache fruit
less. The men were dispirited, and
their provisions being exhausted,
the Colonel demanded our return
to the mountains and the near
est town. 1t was typical trop-
ical day, and the men moved
silently under the scorching sun. We
had travelled since daylight, and about
noon reached where the trail began
to climb the mountains through nar>
row canon. Here one Of our Babispe
scouts, who had been riding in rear
of the file, spurred his Indian pony
along the train, and reaching the
Colonel, pointed to cloud of red dust
on the horizon, saying: "The
Apachesl" The column Of dust was
ten miles of, but our scout was a
faithful one, and we trusted to his
warning. Entering the pass the men
we're directed to climb the canon and
hide themselves. How quietly they
lay, almost cleft to the rocks, fearing
almost to stir in the dread that the
cunning Indian nature would scent
the trap and balk the ambush. Al
most every man had some murder to
avenge, some outrage to repay. In
two hours the Apaches came hurrying
on, to the number OF one hundred and
sixty warriors, the squaws following,
driving the stolen stock. To us
the haste of the Indians was
a mystery, but looking again we
saw, about two hours behind, the
American troops in hot pursuit. But
the pursued imagined themselves safe.
as they had reached the mountains.
Unsuspectingly they crowded through
the pass until our bugls gave the sig>
nal for the first volley. For one mo-
ment the Indians stoed astounded,
but then their wild nature came to
the rescue. With one accord each
man sprung to the nearest cover, a
rock or stump. 1t was useless. Our
men we're perched above them, and
for four hours every Apache head
that showed itself below was a target
for dozen rifles. To us it was a day
of reckoning for years of violence,
and each mans aim became steadier
as he thought of some murdered
brother or friend. Gradually the fire
from the bed OF the canyon ceased.
except from one spot. There, shell.
tered and intrenched behind boulders
and safe from our rifles, lay seven of
the Apache chiefs. The bayonet was
our only recourse for dislodging them.
-Four times the bugle sounded the
charge; three times were our men
driven back. and every time the un-
erring Indians claimed one dead sol.
der each. On the fourth charge our
men swsrmed over the rocks from all
sides, and their bayonets tossed the
bodies of the enemies in the air. From
that night but twelve of the Indians
were supposed to have made their
escape. We killed in all perhaps l7Ol
men and women; but no loss inflicted |
on them repaid US for the killing OF |
our thirty two brave men. Both the |
fate Of those victims and the fate oil
our oountrymen who went before them |
shall be remembered in the Mexican
army until not an Apache pollutes the
fair face OF our country" As the
officer stopped he rose and left the
IRE. For a moment silence hung over
the party, until Colonel Garcia, turn
ing to US with smile, said;
Our young friend does not look
ike person who could be very blood |
thirsty or savage" No" we an
Iwered, I'VE would, on the contrary,
say he had nature that was particu-
arly gentle and sympathetic, yet"
continued the Colonel, in that same
that boy threw aside his re,
peating rifle, came out from behind
his ambush, and, climbing to the
edge of the precipice, lifted large
rocks and dashed out the brains Of
the squaws and papooses orouched in
the canyon below. He received two
bullet wounds, and | was compelled
to send three of the men to compel
him to retire to shelter. His two
brothers were killed year since by |
The Apaches, and he has sworn re-.
venge. Who Of us can say that nj,
PROPAGATION was not great, and his
claim of justification wruna.