The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-11-13

the renegades, Joined by gang Of the
utterly ''unreconstructed" Chiricahaus,
are taking things easily and making
raids on the helpless ranches that lie to
the right or left Of their line Of march.
Fortunately for the records these are
few in number; had there been dozens
more they would only have served to
swell the list Of butchered men, Of plum
dered ranches, Of burning stacks and
corrals, Of women and children borne of
to be the sport of their leisure hours
when once secure in the fastnesses Of the
Sierra Madres far south Of the line.
Death could not come too soon to the re-
lief of these poor creatures, and Lane
and all his men had been spurred to the
utmost effort by the story Of the railway
hands that they had plainly seen several
women and children bound to the spare
animals the renegades drove along across
the iron track.
Among the passengers in the pillaged
stage coach were the wife and daughter
Of an Indian agent, who had only recent
ly come to this arid territory and knew
little Of the ways Of its indigenous peo-
pie. Nothing had since been seen or
heard Of them. Capt. Rawlins and two
soldiers, going up as witnesses before q
court martial at Grant, were found
hacked almost beyond recognition, and
the driver, too, who seemed to have
crawled out among the rocks to die.
Verify the Apaches had good reason to
revel In their success! They had hood
winred the bureau, lodged the cavalry,
plundered right and left until they were
rich with spoil, and now, well to the
south Of the railway, with a choice Of
either east or west side Of the range,
their main body and prisoners are halted
to rest the animals, while miles to the
rear their faithful vedettes keep watch
against pursuers, and miles out to the
west the most active young warriors are
crying havoc at the ranch Of Tres Her
manos. It is the red glare Of the flame
towards the sunset horizon that tells
Lane the Apaches cannot be far away.
The instant he and his comrades issue
from the gorge and peer cautiously to
the right and left not only do they see
DAhAkG HCAOdo NlO NAuo NhlANyB Uub
northward, not more than half a mile
away, there rises upon the night wind a
sound that they cannot mistake-the
wsr chant Of the Chiricahuas.
Thank God," cries Lane, I'VE are
here ahead of themr'
Half an hours reconnaissance reveals
to him their position. Far up among the
bowlders Of the range, where pursuing
horsemen cannot rush upon them in the
night, they have made their bivouac, and
are having a revel and feast while await
ing the return Of the raiders or news
from the rear that they must bemoving.
The range Is rugged and precipitous
north Of the gorge; cavalry cannot pene-
trate it; but Lanes plan is quickly laid.
He will let his men sleep until 2
O'Clock, keeping only three sentries on
the lookout, one of them mounted and
west Of the gorge to give warning should
the Indians move during the night. Then,
leaving the horses concealed among the
rocks south of the stream, with two men
to guard them, he will lead his company
up the heights and as close as possible to
the Apache camp, lie in hiding until it is
light enough to distinguish objects, then
dash down into their midst, rescue the pris-
oners in the panic and confusion that he
knows will result from the sudden attack,
send them back as rapidly as possible,
guided by three or four men, to where
his horses are corraled, while he and
his little band interpose between them
and any rally the Apaches may make.
Knowing well that they are armed
with magazine rifles and supplied by o
paternal bureau with abundant ammu-
milton, knowing that they outnumber
him three to one, knowing that by sun
rise the whole tribe will have reassem-
bled and must infallibly detect the pitt
full weakness Of his own force, 1t Is q
desperate chance to take; but 1t is the
only one-absolutely the only one-to
save those tortured, agoniEed women,
those terror stricken little ones, from a
fate more awful than words can portray.
By or 0 in the morning, he argues, K
troop must certainly reach him; he
knows them to be fresh and strong; he
Knows that they have had only short and
easy marches and therefore can easily
come ahead all night long and be round
ing the Pyramid spur by daybreak. he
knows Mason well and can count on
that young officer doing his "level best
to support him. AlAsi he does not know
that Mason is compelled by this time to
fall back to second place and that the
last man on whom he can possibly count
Gin pinch" Is now in command Of the
looked for troop.
The night wears on without alarm.
Well nigh exhausted, Lane has thrown
himself at the foot of q tree to catch
what sleep he may, and he feels as
though he had not closed his eyes when
Corp. Shea bends over him to say it Is 2
O'Clock. Noiselessly the men are arous-
ed; silently they roll out Of their blan-
kets, and obedient to the low toned ''fall
In" Of the first sergeant, seize their arms
and take their place In line. There Lane
briefly explains the situation; tells them
Of the position Of the Apache bivouac;
details Corp. Riley and four men TO
search for, secure and HE away with
the prisoners, and orders all the rest to
fight Ike the devil to drive the Apaches
h6lter SHELTER into the rocks.
LET not one word be said nor q trig-
ger pulled until we are right among
them. Wait for my command, unless
we are detected and fired on. II we are,
blaze away at once; but never stop your
rush; get right In among them. Let
Riley and his men make instant search,
be sure they leave neither woman nor
child behind, and start them back here
The rest Of rs will fall back slowly,
Keeping between them and the Apaches