Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-12-13
SAVED BY coy CHIEF.
A Government Scout Falls Among
the Apaches.

""pPi NooihS ~. hc tAltfUlluullOn OF
the buffalo was the death-blow TO tho
hostile Indian. Added TO that, the
building of the railroad lines flooded the
West with emigrants. miners. hunters
and tourists, and the Indian found him
self hedged IN by circumstances. The
red man is no longer warrior. lie is
down pretty low, and it is the begin
ming Of the end. He is doomed 10 fol-
low the buffalo. and his total exit notion
will be regretted only by the few phi
lanthropists who argued for him as IL
theory. and never came in physical con-
tact
No human being ever came nearer
being devil than an Apache Indian.
The Pawnees, Blacl1feet and Chevennes
were wicked enough, but the Apache
had traits OF his own-a devilishness
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 assisting TO torture
some living thing. He was never so
satisfied as when planning to take life.
y year previous TO the time when
General Custer was ordered West TO
begin vigorous campaign against the
Indians, the Apaches were in their
glory, and they boosted that they could
defeat any force OF soldiers sent against
them. Twas scouting and IN ,il-carry-
ing 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
A mouth before my capture | was
out on scout on the Rio Pecos
our party numbering eighteen men.
We were well mounted and moving
quickly from point 10 point. One day
at noon we went into camp in grove
OF cotton woods, and before | had I'M
saddled the Lieutenant in command in
formed me that he had lost his re-
volver 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 a quarter OF Il
mile away. ! then cut across an elbow
TO reach the grove, and when within
stones throw came suddenly upon an
Indian pony in dry gulch, and at the
crouched behind a boulder with his
back TO me and his face to the grove.
! had him under my rifle before he
could turn his head. Indeed, my fin
ger was on the trigger when saw that
he was n boy. He had a rifle in his
hands, but | called out to him TO lay it
down or | would fire, and after mo
menCs hesitation he obeyed. Then, as
/ kept him covered at distance of
only seven or eight feet, | called 10 the
men in the grove, and several of them
came hurrylng down in response.
| had captured a son of Black Cloud,
chief Of one Of the Apache bands, and
the boy was named after his father
He was only II years old, and his pres
ence there eXemplified the ruling traits
of Apache character. Three hours be-
fore he had discovered our party while
out hunting with "A party of his own.
They dared not make an open attack,
but the young chief had sent his people
away and then cut across the country
TO the grove, planning that he would
halt there. Single-handed and alone
he was going TO pick off the Lieuten-
ant, 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
10 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 were
determined TO carry him in prisoner.
When he was informed OF this he
earnestly begged me to kill him, say
ing that he could never hold up his
head among his people again. II d he
been wounded and rendered helpless it
would not have been so bad; but 20 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 a
time, refusing TO answer any questions,
but after while, when | told him that
he would not be harmed, and that his
capture under the circumstances re-
bounded 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
lllc llldb ~ was OuC VI VIC luz, WlO
wanted TO have talk with us. Sig
mails were exchanged beween the two,
and the stranger soon came galloping
in. He was one of the hunting party,
and had been logging us for twenty
miles to find out If the boy had been
captured. He was fine-looking fell
low, and as he halted 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. Know
ing the concet OF the tribe, spread it
on very thick. alleging that ii re-
quired our whole force to make the
capture. and il was not accomplished
then without hard fight. This false
hood made the boy my friend for life,
while it put the other in better humor,
i stated that young Black Cloud would
be taken 20 the fort and held prisoner
until exchanged for some white cap
tive, and gave my word that he would
be we'll treated meanwhile. He sent