The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-05-16
BILLY, THE SCOUT.

One of the best known characters in south
ern Arizona is Billy Long, one Of the pluck
lest little scouts that ever pumped lead"
into band of blood thirsty, throat cutting
Indians. He was with Capt, Lawton, who
rounded up that willy red skinned diplomat
Geronimo, and did such splendid service dur
ing the almost endless chase after the Apache
chief that he was especially mentioned in the
official report Of the campaign.
The "Little Scout as he is sometimes
called, is a Texan by birth, and as far back
as he can remember he has been on the from
tier driving cattis, fighting Indians and PLAY
ing hide and seek with nature in search of
her precious metals. He is still young, being
only 25 years old, yet he has the reputation
of being quick on the trigger, and, it is said,
he never misses what he draws on
Several years ago, when that well known
pioneer, Charlie Benham, was making a
great effort to develop the silver mines of
northern Mexico, he employed Billy to drive
| stage running between the city of Herno-
sillo and one of his mining camps in the
Canonea mountains, and also to act as
wagon master for bullion trains coming in
from the mines. Billy was employed in this
capacity an the spring of 1885, at which time
Geronimo and his band of renegade Apaches
started on their bloody raid through Sonora
The news Of the fresh Indian outbreak was
telegraphed from Arizona to Charlie Benz
ham at Hermosillo, and he knew at once that
his camp in the Canonea mountains would
be one of the first places raided, as it was
situated in the very heart Of an old Apache
stronghold. An Indian outbreak had not
been expected, and the men at the mines had
only few guns and were in utter ignorance
of the impending danger. No time was to
be lost, as the Indians were known to be
heading south and travelling day and night.
Selecting two of the best horses in his
corral Benham had one loaded with Win
chester rifles, Colt revolvers and ammunition,
and begged Billy to make all haste in reach
ing the unsuspecting miners in the noun
tains. 1t was long, lonesome ride, through
a rugged country, but Billy was eager to
make the trip. He had passed over the trail
so often that every landmark was familiar
to him, and he prided himself that he could
find his way ON the darkest night, Ho set
out from Eerinosillo late in the afternoon.
All that night he rode and the next day
and the next night, never stopping to sleep
or give his animals moments rest. On the
morning Of the second day he reached the
foothills of the Canonea mountains, twelve
miles from the camp. His horses were badly
jaded and he was beginning to felt the effects
of his long ride himself. A small water
hole was reached, where there was an abund-
ance of grass, and he stopped and let his
horses Craze an hour or two. Leisurely he
saddled up, and was just preparing to mount,
when he noticed his horse watching some
thing in the distance.
Billy turned in the direction his horse was
looking and discovered a band of Indians
scarcely half a mile away coming over a low
hill which had hitherto shut them out from
view. The Indians were not long in sighting
him, and began spreading out to encircle
him. Billy OWNED their intentions, and
knowing that an open fight against such
odds would be certain death, mounted his
horse and started on dead run toward the
mouth Of big canyon, through which
passed the trail leading up to the mining
camp. For some minutes therewas an exeit-
ing chase, with Billy in the lead and the
Apaehes rapidly gaining. His horses were
too badly tired to hold out long. He knew
the animals, il left to themselves, would
make their way TO camp, and, dislnounting
at the mouth of the canyon, pulled the
brides Off the horses and giving each one a
sharp blow with the reins, headed them for
the camp.
The Indians, who had been watching closely
thtiv NstS ttahihb plftcSi saw loluJ HdS RO-
ing to make a fight and dismounted. Under
cover of rocks and bushes they began to close
in on the pile of rocks where he had taken
refuge. This was by no means Billy's first
fight with Apaches and he knew just what
to expect. He knew they would keep them
selves carefully concealed aud wait to catch
him Off his guard, and he determined to fight
them according to their own tactics He sue
ceeded in making his way unobserved TO
high pile of rocks further up the canyon, and
from this point he got better view Of what
was going on below. Soon he discovered an
Indian creeping along under cover Of little
knoll
The chance could not be missed, and with
the sharp crack Of the little scouts Winches-
ter a good Apache died A volley from all
sides answered the shot, but the bullets only
flattened on the rocks close around and, with
out harming him, sung unpleasantly close to
his ears. For three hours this trying fight
kept up, when the clatter of hoofs up the
canyon told that aid was coming, and the In
dams, who were not to be taken by surprise,
hastily made off, carrying number OF dead
bucks with them.
Billy's timely arrival saved many miners
who were scattered around through the
mountains from being surprised and muir
dered. The Indians continued to hover around
the place, and it was unsafe for any one to
venture outside of adobe walls. Soon after
the first Indian raid Benham was murdered
in Hermosillo by one of his drivers, and this
event, coupled with the uncertainty of life in
the mountains, caused the Canonea mines to
be abandoned. Billy being out of employ
ment, asked for and received a position as
scout and guide for the forces which had
- Yt..I.
serving as courier for Lawtons famous b
Troop, of the Fourth cavalry, he soon at
tracted the attention OF army officers by the
daring rides which he made alone through
mountain ranges which were known to be
full of hostile Indians. He was sent on many
dangerous missions, and, although he had
some very narrow escapes, he was fortunate
enough TO pass through the campaign UNI
harmed.
On one occasion Billy, with two other
scouts and four soldiers, was sent from Fort
Huachuca, in Pima county, A. T., to join
Isawton's command, which was supposed to
be somewhere in the Azul mountains in
Sonora. One of the soldiers was half breed
Sioux, who had just enlisted in the north
west and been sent down TO join the Fourth
cavalry. At the post the fellow was so unruly
that every one was glad to get rid Of him,
and it was hoped that some hard experiences
In actual service would quiet him down He
had hardly got out Of sight Of the fort before
he became very boisterous, refused to recog-
nize any ones authority, aud made himself
generally disagreeabie. He brought along
with him two bottles Of whisky, which he fire.
quently sampled, and at the end Of the first
days journey he was IN u beastly state OF
intoxication. He did not change his conduct
next day or the day following, and every
body began to feel that matters were fast
approaching crisis. The heart Of the Indian
country had been reached, and there were
fresh signs on every side. The utmost eau
ton was necessary, but Billy's best laid plans
were continually frustrated by the half
breed. He was jeopardilng the lives Of the
whole party.
Toquiet matters down Billy ordered him to
fall back IN the rear OF the party and to keep
Ia that position during the balance OF the
way. He obeyed with evident reluctance,
and it could easily be seen that he was bent
upon mischief Of some kind Presently he gave
a iof1d Sioatx xvar vvhooT, which ro1lfd have