The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-24
ATTACKED BY APACHES.

In the northwestern corner of New
Mexico, nesting in n of the fertile
valleys that dot those great deserts, is
found the Indian village of Zuni.
Around it are nigh table lands and
those duties so peculiar to the west,
and not far away the horizon is bounded
By the Zuni mountains, a part Ct the
great continental backbone. Emil
grants have gradually settled wherever
n fertile valley has invited a plough
share or a grassy hillside a ranch, but
this reservation has for the most part
remained intact.
The village where the Zuni formerly
aWelt was built upon the top of q
butte which stands near by in the re-
s~ervation. 1t was an impregnable
stronghold, and for untold centuries
these people held it against the hostile
tribes around them. The meadows
alOng the river at the foot of the butte
supplied their wants with little labor.
and as fast as the harvests ripened,
ahey were slowed away in the grana-
Kes upon the top of the mountain.
But in their security they lost their war
Like qualities, and just in proportion
rs agriculture and the ruder arts pro-
crossed among them, they have grown
less savage and more timid.
Their houses are built of stone and
san-baked brick, with the entrance
through the roof, just as they were a
thousand years ago. The householder
climbs up upon a ladder, and then
draws it after him. The dwellings
were 80 constructed at first as a pre-
caution against enemies, and even now,
with all the protection the federal
government al give, the custom is
often useful, as the following incident
viii show.
In August, 1881, a party of men con-
Aected with the territorial surveys was
stationed for several weeks at this
place. The day before their arrival q
hand Of marauding Mexicans had
ernssed the border, and made a raid
HP0n the adjacent ranches, and driven
away some ponies and cattle. The
Zani, having recovered from their
fright as soon as the Mexicans disap-
Beared with the booty, had hastily SUM
mOned their white neighbors, and
we're organizing for pursuit.
Eat there we're only . few good
weapons in the whole party, and when
tAe young men arrived with their rifles
and heavy reyolyers, they were re-
qnested to lend them to the Zuni In
dams during the few days necessary
5ox pursuit. Owing to the bad feeling
which universally prevails against the
thieying border MexicanS and the hos
Pitable reception which had been ac-
corded the young men, they were
easily persuaded TO lend their arms
One of them, however, refused to part
with his rife. and several OF them re-
sained their revolYers. while allowing
the indians to take their other arms to
aid in recapturing their property.
The following day. while the young
men were scattered about the town,
ONE reading, some sketching the
gaaint objects around them. they were
startled suddenly by q woman bowling
and screaming from one of the house
tops. Immediately the cry was caught
mp and repeated. as other women hur-
ned out upon their houses, until it
seemed that the whole town had gone
mad From one end of the village to
The other arose the cries; eight hum
&red women and children bowling,
screaming, beating their breasts and
tearing their hair.
Xhn wrrnn y..ar ~a(ho~o1 ~ sAnt~
camp in alarm. and inquired the cause
q Che uproar. A band Of Apaches was
comingl The woman had espied them
some distance down the river, creeping
stealthily upon the town. Evidently
they had learned that the men were
away, and. tired Of being good, they had
put on their war paint, left their reser
Walton in Lincoln county. and were ont
on = raid. They were coming now to
butcher the defenseless women and
children, and carry of whatever plum
Ter they could find.
There was . hurried consultation.
Some Of the young men advised tina,
they should mount their horses and
escape as quickly as possible, leaving
Vie women and children to look out fol-
themselves; for IL they remained, wha'
defense could half a dozen boys, armes
xith reyolvers. make against seves
times that number OF menf
But a young fellow. whom we vii
call StonewaU W.. demonstrated 81
yshemently against deserving th
WON IN and children that the rest OF til
part, Welded. and they resolved to re
main and make what defense the
could. Hastily collecting their weap
= and ammunition, they climod up o