Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-08-22

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Territory---The Temperature at lIs and not
Drop of Water 10 Drink--.The Experience of
Soldier who was in the Apache Campaign.
CFrom the Cleveland Leader.J
90 can tell you something about the
country through which General Crook
has been chasing the devlish Apaches,"
said gentleman who served five years
IN Company [, First Infantry, United
States army, to a Leader reporter yes
terday. From the conversation which
ensued the following thrilling account
of a march across the desert In Arizona
was CLEANED:
"On the 9Th of July, 1892" said the
soldier, sit was well known at Fort
Grant, A. T., that the White Mountain
tribe of Apache Indians had made an
outbreak on the San Carlos reservation
and murdered the chief of police and
three of his force. Hourly we expected
to be ordered 10 move, but no summons
came until the morning of Sunday, the
9th. Wagons were not obtained until
the afternoon, and then only two could
be secured to carry the luggage of two
companies, I and D, and the large
amount taken by the captain in CON-
mand OF the battalion, Brevet Major
Fergus Walker. Ate O'Clock that night
the command set out for the San Carlos
Agency, with no water wagons and the
casks underneath the wagons, dried and
cracked by the sun.
There was but single canteen Of
water to each soldier, excepting Major
Walker. who had half gallon canteen
and three holding a quart each. while
his negro servant carried two of the reg
ulation size. The wagons were over
loaded and top-heavy, and scarcely had
the fort been left In the rear two miles
when the road crossed the bed Of a dry
creek, and down. came the wagon load
OF knapsacks, the tongue OF the wagon
having broken. 4 sergeant's guard was
sent back 70 reload the wagon. At the
point where the halt was made twOroads
met, and the commander, instead of
taking the road to the left, as instructed,
took the one to the right, and marched
his command through mountain path
till break of day, coming out but three
miles from where he started, and met
the train, after having traveEsed nearly
ten miles. This was In the cool Of the
morning, when he should have pressed
on to Cedar Springs, some sixteen miles
distant, where the halt for the day was
to have been made and water secured.
s But he rested and started on the march
III the heat of the day. The major and
his servant had plenty Of water, but the
canteens of the men were nearly empty
from the long march OF the night. The
sutferings Of the day were terrible, but
nothing to be compared 10 those Of the
day following. Cedar Springs was
reached at 10 o'clock on Monday night,
twenty-five miles having been marched
in about that number OF hours. AT
o'clock the next morning the command
answered reveIlle, and after eating
meal Of bread, salt pork, and black cot
fee. resumed The marcn, with the next
watering place at Fort Thomas, twenty
four miles away. Thirteen miles we're
made up to 10 o'clock, when the order
to halt was given at the entrance of a
ravine IN which was eneamped a
Mexican team loaded with charcoal,
en- route to the Globe mines. Senior
Renoz, the greaser, kindly offered
water to the command, he having sew
eral barrels, but Major Walker said
MOI" and put guard over the water
wagon, with bayOnets on their rifles.
The canteens were yet pretty full, the
morning having been up to this time
cool and pleasant, and the march to
Fort Thomas could have been made
easier than it was; but Major Walker
Z INQUIRED Of the Mexican how far It was
out the ravine to where he procured the
water. and was informed that it was but
three miles. Three Mexican miles are
about equal TO FIVE American miles, as
the troops found out. Walker ordered
the men to 60 up the raYine and repien-
ISL their canteens. In going up the
men drank ali the remaining water III
those vessels. They were re6Iled at the
spring, but the fatigue Of tramp1ng over
the rocks in the hot sun In coming down
nearly enptied them before the hating
nlace was reached. This was reported
to Walker, and although it was suicidal
ia undertake to reach Fort Thomas I'M
der such circumstances, he gave the or
der. and the command marched forward.
About two miles from this spot two
wagons were met coming from Fort
Thomas bound for Wilcox with pigs of
lead. These wagons we're well supplied
with water and barrel was kindly prof
tered to Major Walker, who gruf1y
answered that he guessed he could get
ali the water he wanted at Fort Thorn
a. To this a teamster as gruffiy re-
plied. Il guess your tongues will be
ont before you get there and don't you
FORGET it, Aud so it proved. a couple
more miles were passed and then the
suffering began. The SUP was beating