Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-28
ANIMPRlsONED FAMILY.

/
While in command of a small scouting
party in Arizona, says writer IN Drake 5
| Magazine, | went into camp one bright
| day on the RIO Puerco, very near the New
| Mexico line. The tents had been pitched
and the animals sent out to Craze under
strong guard, and was walking before
my tent, impaueutly waiting summons
to dinner, which | knew by the strong
ouor waited from an adjacent coffee
pot would not be much longer delayed
We were about ninety miles from the
nearest fort and hundreds from any settle
ment. There were no ranches whatsoever
in this part, only some cattle and sheep
belonging to Mexicans which were heIded
through the territory. These were IN
charge Of the MeXicans, who live much
the same kind of life as did their STOCK.
| Their blanket was their only house, and
when night came on they would lie down
wherever it might overtake them. For
! miles around the land was as level as the
bed of billiard table. Mountains were
seen in the distance, which were inhabited
by Indians. But my little command
and few Tattieanakes and tarantulas were
the only living things near.
Dinner is ready, Lieutenant, was
the welcome summons with which my
cook greeted me, and | WAS soon doing
! Justice to field dinner of bean soup and
''slapJacks.
was in the midst of this savory repast
when | noticed a stranger approaching
me He was well-built, powerful
looking man, about 40 years of age
his face was intellectual and extremely
| handsome; he wore full beard and
moustache, both of which were iron grey
He was coarsely clad, and carried no
weapon. The latter circumstance was the
most remarkable thing of all, for in those
days in Arizona one scarcely moved with
out his arms.
Nearing me, be as ked, in "a pleasant,
quiet manner, if ] was the commanding
officer.
replied that was
Il came to see if you could lend me a
pistol or a carbine for few lays, he
said.
You don t mean to tell me that you are
entirely without arms p said, not unreas-
onabIy astonished.
Yes; have nothing of the kind" he
answered. Il nave been annoyed for the
past three months by those internal Cali
fornia lions, and if had a shooting iron !
might kill some of them.
Are you camping near bere?" | asked,
II live Just around the bend of the
river; will you walk down with me ?"
Greatly astonished, ! asked if he lived
there quite alone.
con, no." he replied, ''my wife and
mother live with me. "
Little dreaming ! was so near a resi-
dence, | eagerly accepted his invitation,
and filling my pipe and leaving the ser
geant in charge of camp, ! started forth
with my new acquaintance. As we made
the turn in the river saw a large shelly
ing rock rising from the level prairie. 1t
was not more 100 yards from the river 5
bank and was really quite inn sing il
its dimensions. 1t struck me as so pc
Guitar, so entirely out of place, that
expressed my surprise to my companion.
Yes" be answered, 81 fancy it is a
meteOrite. ! am under great obligations
to it, whatever it is, and however it came
here, for it has protected me TO. months.
That rock is my house
BY this time we had reached the natural
dwelling. AT what might be termed its
opening, the rock was ten feet or more
from the ground, and it sheltered a space
about twenty feet IN breadth, gradually
sloping backward. As stepped under the
protecting roof | saw two women sitting
| at work.
My host presented me to his mother and
wife respectively, and saw at a glance
lhat they were Mexcans; not of the class,
however, known as grassers, but repre-
sentatives of much higher grade. Like
most Mexicans they were disinclined 10
converse in any language but their own,
but when they learned that my knowledge
OF their tongue was too slight TO enable me
10 understand them, they overcame their
reluctance, and we chatted quite pleas
antly.
learned that they had been living there
for three months. They cane with ~
intention of farming, and latter proposed
to erecting a suitable dwelling.
The Indians had not moIested them.
but they were worried by the lions, which
came by twos and tnrees nightly to the
opening of their habitation, and there
howled till daylight. when they returned
to the mountains.
They told me it was necessary for one
OF them TO be up all night 10 keep the IRE
burning, which was their only protection
from these monsters
/ Consequently they had taken turns sit
ting up nights for the last three months.
! Having listened TO graphic descrip-
! ton Of their far from pleasant neighbors,
/ told them frankly that if had a pistol
/ or carbine Of my own / would willingly
! lend or give them one, but all the weapons
I in the command, even those on my person,
! belonged 10 the government, and that the
orders respecting them were so stringent
that | was utterly unable to accommodate
! them.
Il had a pistol when came here. said
( ms host. but lost it crossing the river
Since then you are the first person who has
/ been this Wy.
! ] felt real sorry for him, and also felt
/ that they might think had given very
/ fiimsy reason for refusing the loan they