Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-11-05
.ACUP OF WATER.

The ApacIeS oio IhS h'oSt SuoIie
r,dians on the American Continent.
Time and again they have outwitted
ne veteran compaigners sent against
them; ard the skilful scouts, Who have
son their spurs elsewhere, have been
,ompletely endorsed by those peerless
Knights Of the plains.
Some years ago, when a lieutenant
o~fcava!ry, | commanded the escort of
,little train on its way through the
eastern portion OF Arizona from New
Mexico. We were in the Apache coun-
try. and consequently were without
any excuse for beingtaken ofOurguard.
When | add that We rode over a
p~erfectly dry and level prairie,
With only the blue line Of
the Zuni Mountains visible
AGAINST the distant horizon, it will be
supposed that the last danger we had
10 fear was from the rcd men. All
our company were lndoldian fighters;
but while We were passing across the
parched plain, with the cattle train
A hall mile to the rear, and with our
selves on the alert, we areutterly out
wittad, and our friends 'd~isastrously
ambusCaded.
We rode within a hundred yards OF
large force of dismounted Indians
without once susPecting the astonish-
inc fact. Some time later, when we
we're startled by sudden firing behind
Us, welOoked back and saw our friends
engaged in a fierce fight with "A party
Of Apaches. Where the swarthy as
sailants came from passed conjecture.
The country, for miles in every direc-
ton, as | have said, was Il blrstered
plain. A jack rabbit would hayeLe
detected, as he whisked like a ray Of
light across the yellow surface, and
vet more than a score ofwarriors had
hidden themselves from our sight when
scarcely Il stones throw away.
We dashed back 20 the help of the
endangered no. semen, but before we
could reach them several we're badly
wounded, and the Cqttle were skurry-
ing southwark in u cloud ofdust. We
kept up a running fight for several
miles, butsthe raiders, a number OF
whom h&d secured horses; got away
without losing n stolen animal, or
leaving a wounded warrior behind.
The Apaches, as we afterward learn
ed, knowing the route we were totake,
along the trail. Their scant clothing,
snd their bodies We're the color OF the
sarth upon which they lay hat and
mctioRless. The dry, stunted grass
was gathered about their heads and
shoulder with such dizziness that, as
Ihave sho,sn, we rode by the party
without the Slightest suspicion ofdan-
ger.
In the autumn o. 1882, Captain
Arthur Burnham md fourteen
eavalrymen, accompanied by the
young son Of the officer, We're
ridingat a leisurely pace along thefCat,
hills to the west OF the San Francisco
FOUNTAINS, which for many miles eX
tend between New Mexico and Arizona.
The ella range lay farto the vest. and
the destination OF the littie-company
was Fort Apache, half a hundred miles
to the northwest.
The squad vas fired upon from the
rocks, aud one of the soldiers was
wounded. Suspeetipg.from the sound
OF The guns, that their assailantS were
weak IN numbers, Captain Bnrnham
and his men wheeled their animals.
charged as far asthey could be forced.
and then, leaping to the ground, dash.
cd among the boulderS.
The warriors numbered only six who,
hndlng they could not hold their
ground, turned and fed. Several were
struck, but all escaped, excepting one,
Sho was made captive.
The taking OF Indian prisoners isnot
q po,nular occupation on the border,
and it hay be doubted whether Cap
tam Bun. ham would have followed
The course " hiCh he did, but for pecu-
har rea8ons. The Apache upon whom
he liked his attSntion was an Indian
iad no more than Is or 10 years of
age. He was %crouching behind n rock,
which partly sheltered him, and re-
L'ained there until the captain was
wit vi twenty PAGES. He then rose to
his feeE, took deliberate aim, and pull
ed the Il NIer OF his gun.
An extra ordinary occurrence saved
the life of the officer, Dating the brief
but lively skirm. 'sii. the hammer OF the
Young Apache's RTE was broken by u
stray bullet, without the owner dis
covering the fact. h..s companions
had fled, when he cody ievelled ms
piece and attempted to fire, The o 4
eilck OF thehammer followt,i. Tut there
was no report. With the s's.ne won
uerful self-possossion, he lower6,t the
weapon, glanced down, and observl.N@
the cause Of the failure, flung it aside
md turned to run.
Don't shoot" shouted the captain.
Hes minein
ne officer was unusually feet oil
i0ot, and having leaped from the sad
aie, ne ran after the young Indian
WITH the impctuosity Of n panther.
iet with all his cleverness he would
Rave failed. but for another curious
niisbap. The moecasin OF the Apache
J, 'pped on a stone, which rolled under
hin. and he fell on his side. tic was
,p 40 Mn like u flash, when tbecaptgin
struck MID Letween the shoulders and
tent him Nywswling on his face. Asec-
md time !, 9faa bounded TO his feet,
,ut the iron. ~ N the pursuer was on
j arm. He :, SGSk = vieious blow at
he captain with Dts kmss, which mar
'owly missed SLASH Inc captain
ace but the weapo.a waF MreaiJp
,wayTand the writhin7 youi'' N
VAS helpless.
heprisoner expected nc mercy, -"
= would not have asked " had ne
It would have been ,giantea;
men he was piniored, and couia
',ruegle no more. he submitted Win
ne sullen stoicism Of his race
There's no Trusting fhe spitflre
'aia the captain, retaining his hole
assuring himself that no Weapons