San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-11
AMONG THE APACHES.

The eXterm1natlon OF Une DuHdlO was the
death blow to the hostile Indian. Added to
that the building of the railroad lines flooded
the west with emigrants, miners, hunters
and tourists, and the Indian found himself
hedged in by circumstances. The red man
is no longer a warrior; he is down and down
pretty low, and it is the beginning of the
end. He is doomed TO follow the buffalo,
and his total extinction will be regretted only
by the few philanthropists who argued for
him as theory and never came in physical
contact.
No human being ever came nearer being
devil than an Apache Indian. The Pawnees,
Blackfeet and Cheyennes were wicked enough,
but the Apache had traits of his own-a devil
ishness which other tribes might initiate but
could not equal He was born crafty and
cruel He never had the slightest feeling of
mercy or pity from the cradle to the grave
He was never so much amused as when as
sisting to torture some living thing. He was
never so satisfied as when planning to take
life
A year previous to the time Gen. Custer
was ordered west to begin vigorous cam
paign against the Indians the Apaches were
in their glory, and they boosted that they
could defeat any force of soldiers sent against
them was scouting and mail carrying in
Texas for the government, and after many
close shaves was finally captured by the red
devils. 1t is of that incident | am going to
write.
month before my capture was out on a
scout on the Rio Pecos river, our party num-
boring eighteen men. We were well mount
ed and moving quickly from point to point.
One day at noon we went into camp i'll a
grove of cotton woods, and before had I'M
saddled the lieutenant in command in
formed me that he had lost his revolver
from its holster during the last mile
of our ride, and asked me to ride
back in search. Instead Of riding | re-
turned on foot, and had the luck to find the
weapon only about quarter OF mile away.
then cut across an elbow to reach the grove,
and when within a stones throw came sud
denly upon an Indian pony in dry gulch,
and at the same instant discovered his owner
crouched behind a bowlder iii Lis back to
me and his face to the grove | had him
under my rifle before he could turn his head.
Indeed, my finger was on the trigger when
saw that he was boy. He had a rife in
his hands, but called out to him to lay it
down or would fire, and after Il moments
hesitation he obeyed. Then, as | kept him
covered at a distance Of only seven or eight
feet, | called to the men in the grove, and
several of them came hurrying down in re-
spouse.
had captured q SOL of Black Cloud, chief
of one of the Apache bands, and the boy was
named after his father. He was only IA
years Old, and his presence there ezemPlifed
the ruling traits of Apache character. Three
hours before he had discovered our party
while out hunting with party Of his own,
They dared not make an open attack, bat the
young chief had sent his people away and
then cut across the country to the grove,
planning that we would halt there Single
handed and alone he was going to pick off the
lieutenant, and then make his escape to boast
of it.
We had splendid horses and were all old
campaigners and the boy would not have
had one chance in ten to get away. He must
have realized it, and yet he was willing TO
run the risks He was greatly chagrined and
cast down by his capture We had finished
our scout and were on our way back to Fort
McKavett, and we determined to carry him
in prisoner When he was informed of this
he earnestly begged me to kill him, saying
that he could never hold up his head among
his people again. Had he been wounded and
rendered helpless it would not have been SO
bad; but to be taken as he was would forever
disgrace him. We bound him fast to his
pony, secured the animal against break for
liberty, and set out for the fort.
The boy was sullen and defiant for time,
refusing to answer any questions, but after
a while, when had told him that he would
not be harmed, and that his capture under
the circumstances redounded to his credit, he
thawed out a little. Three hours after his
capture we got sight of single Indian a mile
away to our right on a knoll, and as we
halted young Black Cloud informed re that
it was one OF his tribe, who wanted to have
talk with us. Signals were exchanged be-
tween the two and the stranger soon came
GallUpiug in. He was one of the hunting
party, and had been doggng us for twenty
miles to find out If the boy had been cap
tureI He was a fine looking fellow, and as
he matted in our midst, and saw the iGnoble
situation Of the boy his first thought was to
fight for him called his attention to the
fact that any move of his would result in the
death Of both, and then explained how the
youth was captured.
Knowing the concait of the tribe, | spread
it on very thick, alleging that it required our
whole force to make the capture and it was
not accomplished then without hard fight.
This fasehood made the boy my friend for
life, while it put the other in better humor
stated that young Black Cloud would be
taken to the fort and held prisoner until ex
changed for some white captive, and gave my
word that he would be well treated mean
while. He sent q message to his father to
the effect that he was not afraiu, and hoped
to be at liberty in a few DAYS, and two hours