Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-05-20
PERILOUS BUSINESS.
Row Plucky Officer Counted IN
dams in Arizona.

A parallelogram formed by line
rom Camp Verde eastward to the W mite
Mountains, south to the San Carlos, con-
tnued westward to Camp Mcdowell
and thence north to the point first
named, would contain fifteen thousand
square miles of rocky mountain-peaks,
deep canyons, heayily-wooded mountain
streams and dark pine forests. Here
and there beautiful little valleys and
parks are found, each an isolated oasis
and it is in this isolation and the inter
rening barriers that the peculiar diff
culties Of the region for campaigning
purposes are discovered.
After incredible upward toll along the
zigzag trail the scouting party reaches
the sharp rocky ridge, whence the al
most preci pitous descent begins to the
pleasant camp ground far below, and it
is plainly seen from the commanding
height that the beautiful grassy plain
is OF very limited extent, and
shut in on all sides by almost
impracticable mountains. Thus are an
cipations of rest and refreshment
somewhat dashed by the prospect of the
interminable, Misunderstanding. rock
climbing struggle to begin again at
daybreak. In most wild mountain
regions the narrow BERNIE on the edge
Of streams, or the bed of the stream it
self, is the only passable route, but here
the mountain torrents that pour out in
every direction from the great ranges
pass for the most part through dark
precipitous box canyons which cut off
communications between the parks,
strung together like beads by the pure
clear deep streams, and all who would
penetrate the mountain ranges must do
so by painfully climbing their rugged
sides
In this Apache paradise many varieties
Of climate are found. From the cool
shade of the pine forests on the Black
Mesa to the burning sandy wastes that
form the valleys of the Salt and ella
rivers, one passes from one extreme to
the other. but would prefer rather to re-
main in the worst than encounter the
torture OF journey over the miles on
miles OF confused and jumbled masses
OF rocky mountain-peaks to reach the
better
The theater of operations thus family
outlined, as we'll as adjacent portions of
the immense Territory of Arizona, has
been for many years the scene of innu--
merable conflicts between the troops
and the many Apache tribes. A record
carefully compiled by the historian of
one Of the cavalry regiments which took
its share of the sutferings and hardships
Of the mountain scouting between the
years 1Sil-75 shows that in that period
the regiment had ninety-seven combats
with the marauding sayages.
Early in the year 1s72 it became evil
dent that portion of the Arivipa
Apaches were using Camp Grant as a
case of supplies and pushing their ma
.auding parties out in every direction
into the settled parts of the Territory.
The dread entertained by the settlers
for these marauders is best appreciated
when the character and mode of war
fare of the mountain tribes are under
stood. As an old wagon-master re-
marked to cavalry officer; I'VE have
horror OF them that you feel for ghost
We never see them, but when on the
road are always looking over our Shout
ders in anticipation. When they strike,
ali We see is the flash of the rifle resting
with secure aim over pile of stones, be-
bind which, like a snake the red muir
derer lies at full length.
All the Apaches are footmen, mountain
Climbers, They will steal horses and
use them, but when driven into the
mountains the horses become part of
Their rations. Graceful well-formed,
with legs of steel wire, light and active
As cat, the Apache on the rocky hill
ade is unapproachahle, and to fight
aim' with any chance OF success, he has
10 be attacked with skill and great
caution at gray dawn in his biyouac far
upamong the rocks. Many a surprise
mas been effected by night marches
against natural fortresses absolutely
uhassailable in the daytime by any
number of men. and where, if the In
Uans had discovered the ascending col
umhs' even in the night they could have
fepulsed them with great slaughter.
AS llrst step in the campaign, the
eommanding General directed that all
SafrIors receiving rations should be
49," every DAY at place to be Sc
tc'ed' within five miles of the post.
~ order that the officer detailed for this
S'Hcate and dangerous duty might be
abe % IDENTIFY and keep a record Of thc
5oQls men, metal tag stamped with /
aUhoer was issued to each Indian o
usnang age, Many of the Indians e
''Fed the order with sullen dissat's
1"'lon' because, if carried out. ii check
Iatsu their rovings, Seated on thei
WIS IN Increasing concentric circles Il
'Vht OF tine General the erouching atti
t"lt ana the steady glare of their bril-
t'N' pead-like eyes made them resem
e snakes 1oiled ready to strike, and
"a, %4a plain that when opportunity offere'
my Noald resist by the most deadl
~saRs ihi5 effort to scotch them.