Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-18

sign, SD0Qb some I16Bl6 b1Ln0 WAbu buo 6d4AA Indians, who come aEJotit as near civilization as any tribe in America The chiefs daugh- ter, Maina, and I became great friends. She was very pretty girl, graceful as q fawnt and as modest as she was pretty. used to sit for hours in her fathers little stone house the Zunis live in sort of walled city-lis- tening to the quaint legends and historic facts relating to this curious race of people
 tsOne day Shusan, the chief, and I were out huntings and the Apaches swept down on us like whir2wind- We emptied two saddles before they mads ns prisoners, with the cheerful prospect of being put to the tor ture on the day following.
 "Toward morning managed to free my self and cut the rawhide through that con- fined old Shusan's wrists. Then we fought our way out, and Shusan thinks I saved his life by knifng big Apache who was about to brain him as we made our escape.
 f'We got away under cover of the night, and on our return to the zdni settlement old Shusan's gratitude knew no bodnsis, while Maina's thanks were most enthusiastic.
 ''You shall have silver more in value than all the lands thaG stretch out before us, the old chief said to me gravely in the Zuni tongue, as we sat together looking out over the vast extent of rich, rolling prairie which extended for miles and miles around.
 'tAnd then, after swearing me to secresy, Shusan told me of the existence of silver 1hE dhdJ OO AOAUhJ "hACA of years ago had been worked by the Aztecs, from whom the Zunis have probably de seended.
 s'The Indian tribes in the vicinity guard the secret of it's location with jealous vigi- lance; and more than one party of prospec- tors have fallen victims to their desire for gain having penetrated the interior with a view of searching for the lost mine, the ex- istence of which has been known for years to the whites, though it's location was of course unknown.
 ''We made all the arrangements for taking our departure, and at her earnest soicita- ten, Maina was allowed to accompany us.
 ''She had been her fathers constant com papion in many of his hunting or trapping expeditions, though this time he hesitated before giving his consent; but Maina was strangely bent upon going with us, and Shu- san finally yielded to his daughters entreat ies.
 three sturdy Indian ponies and armed to the teeth-even Maina having light rife siung over her shapely shoulders
 "For three days we travelled due north and then made a detour to the west, following the course of deep canyon, at the bottom of which rapid river swept swiftly along thousand feet beneath us.
 ftWe were now in the very heart of the Apache country, and were obliged to move with the greatest caution-not even daring to light fire lest the smoke be seen by the enemy.
 tsToward the close of the fourth day we reached 8 high bluff, in the side of which, concealed by a heavy growth of mequite and greaserwocd, was the lateral tunnel leading into the bowels of the earth, from which, more than two centuries before, thousands of pounds of precious metal had been taken to enrich the coffers of Montezuma.
 "Unsaddling and picketing our ponies, early on the following morning we entered the cavern or tunnel, first having provided our selves with torches of the resinOus fatwood.
 'Welln said Bannon, drawing a long breath, as he tossed the stump of his cigar over the rail, "Tve seen some strange sights in my travels, but never anything so wonder fu1 as the interior of that silver-studded tun- nel
 ''The light of the torches was reflected from the veins of the virgin silver that everywhere formed perfect network through the sides of the mine.
 sfThere were thousands of dollars within the reach of my hand that could be dis lodged by the blow of pick. l had never dreamed that such fabulous wealth could be found in any one mine of Arizona, and I was almost suffocated by my emotions.
 --t' You shall load the pack mule with sill ver, said the Zuni, with grave smile, as he pointed to the Jumps of crude ore that lay scattered on every side.
 Suddenly Maina uttered an exclamation, and unslinging her rife with a rapid mo tion, took nasty aim in the direction of the entrance and fired.
 'tThe report was followed by a blood curdling yell, and a dusky form fell crushing through the mesquite bushes and down the steep declivity without.
 "A glance showed that we were caught like rats iu a hole. At least twenty mounted Apaches were gathered at a little distance, watching the entrance to the tunnel.
 ''The worst feature was that both Shusan and myself, not dreaming of the proximity of the Indians, had left our rifles outside.
 'sSeizing Maina's light rifle, took careful aim at the nearest savage and dropped him from his saddle.
 :'EA volley followed, but the bullets flat tened against the cavern walls, we being comparatively sheltered from their fire by the inequalities of the rock. Another and another shot from Maina's rife followed, and two more Apaches fell.
 ftInfuriated at the loss of fo1r of their warriors, the Apaches, after brief barley, made simultaneous rush forward.
 "A brawny chief led the van, carbiue in hand Maina's rifle hung fire for the first der the Indian took rapid aim at my heart, when, quicker than flash, Maina threw herself directly before me.
 t'The sharp report echoed through the cav ern, and with faint cry poor Maina fell to the ground, having received her death woundI
 ssWith wild yell old Shusan rushed upon the Apache, and in another moment had sheathed his scalping knife in the redskins heart.
 Clubbing the little rife with the courage of desperation I awaited the onset, when To! a ringing shout brought thrill of joy to my heart as I recognized the well known yell of the Tucson Rangers, and in another moment hand to hand encounter was going on with out.
 Raising Maina in my arms, strove to staunch the blood, out quickly saw that it was hopeless. Looking up in my face she smiled faintly.
 C 'AIaina is going to meet the Great Spir it. sEe whispered, as her breath came in fee bic easps, but before she goes she-- tells the young white chief that she is glad to have paid the debt she owes him for her fathers life, for the poor Indian girl has dared to love-n
 ssShe never completed the sentence. Very tenderly and reyerently I bore her to the outer air, but her spirit had fled forever.
 "A mile away the Rangers were pursuing the living foe, while, hiding his face in his hands, the Zuni chief kne1t in speeches. grief by the body of his dead daughter.
 stBut am spinning my story out longer than intended,'' said Bannon with an eff fort, land 1t IS sufhclent to say gnaG, aIke1 burying the body of poor Maina, we mount ed our ponies and retraced our steps, hav- ing secured some of the smaller Jumps of the precious metakso dearly purchased.
 "We saw no more of the Rangers, but learned afterward that they made complete rout of the enemy.
 s'Had they known of the existence of the deserted mine they probably would have re- turned My object in going to Santa Barba- ra is to get up party, properly armed and equipped and bring away some of the silver from the tunnel, Apaches or no Apaches; and in about fortnight expect to have the expe ition under way"
 i thanked MT. Jack Bannon for his inter esting story and shortly afterward retired to my stateroom.
 We arrived at Santa Barbara next day and I bade Mir. Ramon good bye.
 Six weeks later in the Tucson Herald read the following:
 We regret to learn that MT Jack Bannon, who it will be embered, headed a party with the intention of reaching the old Aztec silver mine that so p'any have sought m vain. was shot and instantly killed last week by a band of Sioux Indians, about twenty miles from Eureka, the party being com pletely routed owing to vastly superior num- bers of the Indians. Mr. Lannon's body