The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-08-18

va q CAupdl8us StIlhe UduU
Navajoes, kill the warriors, an
bring the women and children hom
for servants. The rivalry anon
the young men to prove their coul
age led to exploits no whit behin
the doughtiest Of chivalric deeds
1t was no uncommon thing for
young Cebolletan warrior to spu
ahead of the company, seize Nav
ajo warrior by the hair and try t,
drag him from his horse and brin,
him back alive-:l recklessnes
which sometimes succeeded.
In January, 1850, Don Ramor
Luna was returning from a big cam
paign against the Navajos lat thu
head of about 1000 New Mexican
volunteers. The weather was fear.
fully cold and it was showing heav
lily. Col. Luna encamped at Los
Alametos (now Grants Station, or
the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad J,
giving orders that his men should
keep close together, as the Navaioes
were hanging on their flanks. Capt
Pedro Chaves, however, was very
headstrong fellow, and, he and his
thirty men being in a hurry to get
home to Cebolleta, they quietly left
the command at nightfall and rode
35 miles north. They camped late
in the beautiful canyon at San Mi
guel and played monte till nearly
daybreak. No sooner had they fall
EN- asleep than 800 Indians fell upon
them and massacred them to man,
but only after desperate resistance,
in which many Indians fell. Jose
Manuel Arragon, father of the wife
of the Hon. Jose Leon Telles, sur
vived his wounds eleven days, and
had been dead but a few minutes
when searching party from Cebol-
leta reached the spot. Capt. Chaves
head was found on top of the noun
tain. His white-haired widow still
lives in San Mateo.
In 1859, Juan Jose Baca, brother
of Don Roman, was in an expedition
of 1000 men, led by Col. Chaves,
against the Utes., The command
was campcd in the woods, and pres
emily some sentinels saw a young
Indian approaching on horseback.
His bride was mass Of silver, and
his black buckshin suit was resplen-
dent with silver buttons. 1t was
plain that he was the son of some
chief. They were going to notify
Col. Chaves, but young Baca said:
wait; I will catch that fellow"
And mounting his own fine horse,
he rode stealthily through the woods
to meet the unsuspecting Ute. Hay
ing decided what course the Indian
would take, Baca concealed himself
behind big cedar and waited.
When the Indian was within forty
feet Baca put bullet through the
brain of the horse, and, charging
forth before the astonished savage
could disentanglc himself from his
fallen steed, Baca seized his long
hair, wound it around the horn of
his saddle and galloped into camp,
his notable prisoner, whom
he turned over to Col. Chaves.
An interesting incident illustra-
i've of the GOODNESS of Col. Chavcs
and of the perils of the day occurred
n 1860. Col. Chaves was at the
ambing-camp of Salada, forty miles
east of the Rio Geande, when an ex-
.ited messenger arrived from Hon.
Cheves with the news that |
100 raiding Apaches were heading
hat way. Col. Chaves had 40 men, |
including his wife's step-father, and
lis own eldest son, Hon. Amado
;haves, then a boy of ten. Not at
III disturbed by this erewsome news,
which frightened the shepherds out
# their seven senses, Col. Chaves
aw that the muskets were in good
rider, and gave the necessary direc-
ions. No alarm came that night,
nd the New Mexicans slept on
heir arms. Early in the morning a
hepherd came running back from
lis ataje, saying that he saw the
Apaches coming. Col. Chaves rode
70 to a little knoll, and with his
ield-glass counted twenty-five In
ians with seventeen rifles. Return
ng to camp he told the men that
here were but twenty-five Indians
n sight, but that the whole 200
'ere doubtless near, and they must
e prepared to meet them all. He
hen assigned to each man the tree
g should take shelter behind,
,arned them not to fire till the In
ians were within fifty feet, and then
rdered breakfast to be prepared.
here had been a holy day just be-
ore, and his wife had sent him a
OK of cakes and other dainties.
'hese he now produced and dis
to the badly scared shep-
erds, who felt little appetite, as
aey could plainly see the murder
us Apaches rapidly drawing near.
lot till the Indians were within 500
ards did Col. Chaves allow the men
, scatter to their trees, and having
zen them all properly stationed he