Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-12-14
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CAUGHT BY SUN FLASHES.
Use of the Telegraph in Gen. Miles
Apache Campaign.

Apache Campaign.
At this stage of the campaign Gen.
Miles decided to make use of the signal
service, and to this end requested the
chief signal officer to provide him with
detail of men from the corps to report to
the commanding general of the depart
ment of Arizona for military signal duty
in the field Signal stations were located
on the highest peaks along the line of
communication. Each station was equip
ped with from two to four operators, ac-
cording to the amount of business which
passed through it. In addition to these
operators there were lookout men who
swept the surrounding country and
neighboring peaks with powerful field
glasses. While on duty operators and
lookout men were guarded by detach-
ment of infantry, the numerical strength
of which depended upon the location Of
the station, having reference to its liabil-
ity to attack by hostiles.
Messages were transmitted from peak
to peak and down into the valleys by
what is known as the photographic system
of signals. The Telegraph, or sun
writer, consists of an arrangement OF
mirrors mounted on tripod, and so
throw a flash of reflected sunlight on
distant point with mathematical exact
ness. In making signals long and short
sun flashes take the place of the IDIOTS"
and clashes" of the magnetic sounder,
the same call being nsed for both instru-
ments. In clear atmosphere signals
made by this instrument can be easily
read by the naked eye at distance of
eighty miles, and by an expert operator
at the rate of fifteen words per minute.
To and fro across the valleys and
lower mountain ranges fitted the mes
sages which told of the recent where
abouts of the hostiles. and close upon the
heels of those messages came others or
oering the troops in pursuit.
presume it would be difficult task
to try to imagine the surprise that the
Indians felt when they suddenly saw that
they could not move without finding that
almost Immediately their trail would be-
cut by scouting cavalry. They saw the
light of the Photograph flashing across the
valleys, but they did not at first compre-
bend its true significance. AT last they
began TO associate those flashes with the
fact that they were constantly being
pressed and harassed, and within two
weeks from the date of the establishment
of the Photograph they fled southwark
across the Sonora border, there to remain
until chased back again by Capt. Lawton
to the place of surrender.
For nearly two months following the
flight of the hostiles into Mexico not a
> sound came back from the shadows OF
the Sierra Madres, into whose depths pur-
sued and pursuers had disappeared. AT
last, on n scorching hot morning near the
close of August, Mexican courier gal.
loped into Bisbee-a mining town near
the border-with the intelligence that
Geronimo and band were in the mount
aims about twelve miles from Fronteras
Mex, wishing to treat with the authori-
ties of Sonora.
There was Photograph station at Bis.
bee, and the information furnished by
the 'Greaser" was flashed promptly tC
Fort Bowie, seventy-ive miles away
Within two hours from the time Of the
arrival of the Mexican courier at Bisbet
five troops of cavalry were making
forced marches on Fronteras Wher
, Geronimo had escaped from the net tina
= the United States troops sought to weave
, around him Mt Fronteras, and was flyinl
n CtiotWdlus Puioucu W an tilo III
the field, whisper passed along the lin,
that negotiations had been opened look
ing to the surrender of the hostiles
, Consequently all signal men were ON TIN
a tptoe of expectancy.
. One evening, about the list of August
= the operators at a station in the Swiss
! helm mountains were nodding lazil,
= under the shelter of their tent fly, whel
p, suddenly from the highest peak in tn
. Chiricahua range came the flash of
= helograph, and the following messag
was received:
Send a blackboard to meet me q
>, Scott Whites ranch. shall be il
. Bowe tonight. and shall bring some In
; dams with me. :"
. This is the modest manner in whicl
!, Gen. Miles announced the surrender o
:, Geronimo. That the employment of tn
. Photograph was most important facto
- - in bringing the campaign to speedy an
-" successful issue is generally conceded. =
Sergt. Whitney in Louisville Courier
Journal.