The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-08-25

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the rocks through which the approach,
ing Indians would have to enter the val
Icy. Already the savages had disap:
pearcd behind the rocks and stunted
shrub5ery beyond the pass, and in few
minutes more they would be in the val
ley.
While they hesitated, Stoncwall W
sprang up, and declaring that he would
see no woman murdered without making
an effort to save her, threw the Ladder
over the wall and began to descend, ritlt
in hand, for it was he who had retained
his rifle. His companions called to him
to come back. that it was too late to
reach the women and return b fore the
Indians would he upon him.
But they might rs we'll have called to
whirlwind. Every spark Of chivalry
was aroused in the young man, and had
i ne known the Apaches would capture
him, it IS doubtful if he would have re-
turned then.
In another moment he was upon his
horse, flying across the plain toward the
solitary house. AS his companions
watched him from the housctop, they
broke into hearty cheer. 1t was truly
gallant deed. A soldier may charge
the cannon's mouth without t1inching
when two armies arc watching, and he
knows his gallantry will be blazoned to
the world; but to dare such tends as
these, almost alone in the great wilder
ness, for the sake of two unknown
women, was truly heroic.
These women were the wife and daugh-
ter of man named Dan Dubois. This
man had come from Wheeling, West
Virginia, number Of years before, and
having married Mexican women, set
tied here upon the iuai River.
Throughout the frontier country Du-
bois had make such name for bravery
and daring that his presence carried more
terror to Indians and thieving MeXicans
than whole regiment of soldiers. Many
marve' 'ous fcats are credited to him, but
certain it is that he could draw his re-
volyer and shoot so quickly that the eye
could not detect the movement of his
hand. He rarely missed his aim, and
fear was unknown to him.
The Mexican woman whom he married
was of family that for generations had
suffered from the Apaches. Her ances-
tors as far back as the records show had
been killed by them, and the natural
timidity of the Mexican had been 80 in
tensifed in her that the sight Of an
Apache was sufficient to throw her into
terror.
Stonewall's companions watched him
till he had ridden across the intervening
plain to Dubois house: they saw him
spring. fIom his horse and enter the house,
and as yet the Apaches had not appeared
in the pass.
II found the Mexican woman engaged
in some household work." said Stonewall
afterward, "while the baby was playing
near her on the floor. Her daughter,
handsome girl of sixteen years, was
seated by the door drumming guitar.
'"Run for your lives!' said; the
Apaches are coming
Scratching the baby in her arms, the
woman dashed out of the door, never
pausing for q question nor once looking
back for the girl.
81 turned to follow her, for each mo-
ment was expecting to hear the yells of
the Indians about the house, but glanc-
ing back, observed the girl casting
after her mother such look of scorn as
have never seen on any other face, and
instead of following, she quickly took
down a rife from the wall and fastened
q belt of cartridges about her waist.
"'Runn 1 called to her in Spanish,
thinking she had not understood; the
Apaches are in the pass"
"I will not run y she replied, in Span
ish; Il will fight them heren
Enlightened as was, I almost forgot
the danger in admiration for this girl.
Born of a Mexican woman, she was afire
with her Virginia fathers blood. Amo-
ment before I had been thoroughly
scared, but her spirit Was contagious,
and now was heartily ashamed of my
fears.
81 remembered now to have heard of
this girl at the fort, and that she was
fine shot with the rifle.
"l'll remain with you, said, for no
man could have left 80 brave girl to
fight alone. No time was to be lost,
and we quickly barricaded the heavy
door.
"Nothing further was said, but her
Quick, nervous movements showed her
alive for the fray, and I do not be-
lieve thought of fear had crossed her
mind.
sThe door securely fastened, we
climbed out upon the top of the house,
which, like those of Zuni, was fiat and
had stone psrapet for defence. AS we
came out above, the leaders of the
Apaches were just appearing through the
dctile in the rocks. To approach us they
would have to pass overa thousand yards
Of level plain, and with the two rifles We
hoped TO do some execution among them
before they reached the house, and then
defend ourselves as long as possible from
behind the wall upon the roof.
"When the savages had entered the
valley they paused as in consultation.
There were forty-three of them. They
were evidently surprised at seeing d
white man there, and we're considering
if it were Dubois, for had they not
thought him to be in pursuit of the
Mexicans, they would not have ventu: ed
to make an attack.
"Presentiy they began to advance very
cautiously, creeping upon the ground so
as to expose as little of their persons as
possible to our fire.
"Thcy knew the man they saw was
not DuLois. was aware that VIC were
in imminent danger, with scarcely e.