Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-26
That Casts a Spell Over Supersti-
tion Mountain in Arizona.
A STRANGE TRIBE Of DWARFS
With a Beautiful White Queen That Re-
pelIed Hostile Attacks.
SOURCE OF HER WONDERFUL POWER

only the hardy hunter and prospecting
miner ever walk, is lone mountain peak
that extends high into the sky and which is
called Mount Superstition, a name given it
by race of Indians that at an early period
roamed over this part of the country, which
at later epoch became the hunting ground
of the savage and treacherous Apaches.
AT the extreme western edge, on the sum-
NIT of this ghost-haunted mountain, can be
seen to-day the crumbling ruins of an old
stone fort, from which grand view of the
country is to be had. Within the inclosure
that surrounds the walls of this old fort is
perhaps an acre of land, or rather rock.
This mountain is the possessor of strange
Indian legend, and has for years been held
in such veneration by the red men in Ari-
zona as to prevent even the most intrepid
warriors from hunting upon or even visit
ing it.
A Tribe of Dwarfs.
In the early ages, prior to the establish
ment Of missions, which the archives show
to have been more than two centuries ago,
there came up the Salt River Valley a
strange tribe of Indians, who settled at the
foot of Superstition Mountain. They were
not a race of giants. Instead their stature
was about 4 feet, and they came into the
valley ], 900 strong, and brought with them
a drove of strange enthusiastically sheep.
AT this early age Arizona was the home of
the warlike Papago and Pima Indians, who
held in fee simple the valleys, while the
mountains were held by the savage
Apaches.
These strange invaders were peaceful and
followed the avocation of farming, and the
Apaches regarded them as possessing SUPER
natural powers and as holding strict COM
munion with the Great Spirit; and for this
reason the squatter tribe was not molested.
The Indians at once began work by irrigat-
ing and tilling the soil. On the summit of
the mountain they built stone wall,
where at night they slept in security from
the encroachments of warlike neighbors.
The religious rites Of the strangers sur
prised the Apaches. When the sun rose on
and, facing the orb of light, stand notion
less until it had risen above the mountains.
Then they would lie face downward for sew
eral moments. during which incantations
were performed by the medicine men, after
which they would rise and 60 about their
daily work.
White Queen of the Dwarfs.
The dwarfs occupied their little domain
for five years, when the Apaches, who had
traded with the "little men" were given a
surprise. The Apaches had often noticed
that the central figure in all the religious
rites of the dwarfs had been woman much
taller than the dwarfs, commanding in ap-
pearance, with white skin and long flow
ing light hair. In their ignorance and su-
perstitiop, the Apaches attached to this
queen supernatural powers. During the five
years they had never seen this woman in the
valley and they noted that the little Indians
regarded her as deity.
About the middle of the summer of the
fifth year the Apaches learned that body
of armed warriors were marching into the
country from the south. They prepared for
defense, but learned that the coming
warriors were only in search of the dwarfs,
and they abandoned hostilities.
In the meantime the Apaches noted the
agitation of the dwarfs, and saw them max
ing preparations for resisting q foe. Great
piles of stones were piled on the edges of
the precipices overlooking the valleys, the
sheep were driven into the mountain and the
rude farming utensils taken to the summit.
The Apaches, who are natural born assas-
sins, had no grievance against the dwarfs,
bnt were not displeased with the prospect
of war. for they thought it would be to their
gain.
AWoman in the Case.
The chief of the Zunis, as the invaders
called themselves, told strange story to
account for the hostilities of the tribe
against the dwarfs. He said that dozen
years before, the priests of his tribe had
journeyed to the waters OF the rising sun.
Here they found among tribe of Indians
beautiful pale-faced squaw. By barter
the priests secured the woman and brought
her home, where she was held in high ven-
Grafton and reverence. The tribe regarded
her as possessing supernatural and divine
powers. The chief now in command of the
invaders proposed to wed her, but she fled
and took refuge with the dwarIs, who were q
branch of their tribe, which was an Off
shoot of the Pueblo Indians.
The chief commanded the dwarfs to sur
render the pale-face squaw, but they par
leyed and migrated. The chief had now
come to secure the woman aud punish the
dwarfs. The invading warriors were about
700 strong, and were armed with bows and
arrows, rough spears and stone battle-axes
The dwarfs were scarcely armed at all, and
the Apaches figured on easy victory for the
invaders. The armed warriors followed the
mountain ridge, and approached Supersti-
ton Mountain without attempting to scale
its steep sides.
Weird Picture of Beauty.
1t was on bright warm afternoon that
the invaders approached the fort. Not
person was in sight but one, and she, the
white woman, stood outside the rough walls,
by the side OF a muddy pool, about 100 feet
from the wall. She knew that not an arrow
would be shot or spear thrown at her, and
she stood there, her hair streaming in the
breeze, a picture of beauty that even the
untutored Indians could not help but ad-
mire. fitting gauntlet of battle for the
knight errants of old.
Urged by their chief, the Indians made
wild rush toward her; but she stood still,
the most perfect confidence marked in every
feature of her beautiful face. When the foe
was but short distance awav she picked up
an alla-or eafthen jar-and emptied the
contents into the pool, then ran quickly,
scaling the wall by ladder that was drawn
up alter her.
In a moment balls of fire seemed to roll
over the mountain. Many of the Indians
fell dead on their way to the fort; others,
terror stricken, jumped over the precipices
and met their death. The chief was one of
the first killed, and the disorganized band
retreated, while the Apache sentinels, who
had been stationed to watch the battle, fled
in terror. Several hundred of the invaders
perished, and not an arrow was fired.
Awed by the White Squaw.
The Indians who escaped said at once
that their de!eat was brought about by the
Great Spirit, aud returned home. After
this the wonderful powers OF the white
squaw were spread through the country into
every Indian tribe, and was sufficient for a
time to protect the dwarfs. Two years after
this band OF Chiricahua warriors, the most