Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1890-01-29
AMONG THE APACHES.
The Story Of a Government Mall
- \ Carrier.
by Judicious Lying He Won the Friend
ship of n Captive Chief, which After
ward Saved His Life-Days og
Suspense.

A year previous to the time General
Custer was ordered West to begin vigor-
Gus campaign against the Indians the
Apaches were in their glory, and they boast
ed that they could defeat any force of sol
diers sent against them. was scouting
and mail-carryng in Texas for the Govern
ment. and after many close shaves was
finally captured 10y the red devils.
A month before my capture I was out on
scout ON the Rio Pecos river, our party
numbering eighteen men. One day at noon
we went into camp in grove Of cotton
woods. 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 l returned on foot and
had the luck to find the weapon only about
a quarter Of a 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 same instant discovered his owner
crouched behind bowlder with his back to
me and his face to the grove. had him I'M
der my rifle before he could turn his head.
He had rife in his hand, but called out to
him TO lay it down or would fire. and after
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 hurry
ing down IN response.
| had captured son of Black Cloud, chief
Of one Of the Apache bands. and the boy
was named after his father He was only
fourteen years old, and his presence there
exemplihed the ruling traits of Apache
character, Three hours before he had dis
covered our party while out hunting with a
party OF his own, They dared not make an
open attack, but the young chief, single
handed and alone, was going to pick off the
Lieutenant, aud then make his escape to
DO st of it. He was greatly chagrined by
his capture. We were on our way back to
Fort McKavett, and we determined tocarry
him in prisoner When ne was Informed OF
this he earnestly begged ne to kill him, say
Ing that he could never bold up his head
among his people again Had he been
wounded aud rendered helpless it would not
have been SO bad; but to be takee rs he was
would forever disgrace him. We bound HIM
fast TO his pong and set out for the fort.
Three hours after his capture we got
sight of a single Indian a mile away to our
right on a knoll, and as we halted young
Black Cloud informed mo that it was one OF
his tribe, who wanted TO have q talk with
as. Signals were exchanged between the
two, and the stranger s9en came galloping
in. He wax or OF vhc hunting party. and
had been doggng US for twenty miles TO
find out If the boy had been captured.
As lie halted IN our midst, and saw
The gnoble sitllatien of the boy, his first
thcucht was to fight tor him. called his al
ianlioR 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 conceit Of the tribe, spread
IL % very thick, alleging that it required
cur whole force to make the capture, and it
was hot accomplished then without a hard
fight, This falsehGod made the boy my
friend for life, while it put the other 10
better hnmor. | stated that young Black
Cloud would be taken TO the fort and held
prisoner until exchanged for some white
caUtive, and gave my word that he would be
well treated meanwhile. He sent II mes
sage to hls father 10 the effect that he ygas
not affsio, and hoped To be Vt liberty in
few days, and two hours later we mad him
safely lodged in the guard house at the fort.
Two wecas after the capture OF young
Black Cloud was called INTO the coonel's
Office one evening and asked If thoughti il
possible 70 geJ through TO Fort CVDch0