Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-04
THE STORY OF COCHITA.

vorsation turned upon the recent heavy
fl DDS of the ella and Colorado rivers
One Of the men, who had soldierly 2p-
pearance, was deeply interested listener
to the conversation, and he began to shift
uneasily as the talk proceeded, AS if he, too.
had story to tell He was John LAWYER,
and was formerl y trooper in the Sixth
Cavalry, having served several years in the
district Of Arizona. At last he told the
following story:
Your reference to Yuma and the trou-
bles in the southwest has reminded me of
a very singular and romantic incident OF
the war with the renegade bands that fed
from the agencie, and, for a long time,
suhsisted on the cattle # the defenseless
settlers in spite of all our efforts to subdue
them. My troop, part of the Sixth Caval-
r.. under Colonel Eugene A. Carr, was
then stationed at Fort Thomas, post on
the ella river, the stream which has been
doing so much damage of late. We were
within the limits of the great San Carlos
agency, and In a good position to obtain
immediate and reliable information of the
Indians. Yet in spite or our diligence,
they stole away and began the terrible
depredations that cost so many lives and
such vast amount of property.
Under the skiIlfuI guidance of Juh
and Geronimo they scattered all over the
territory and laid waste many wel-stock-
ed ranches, killing everything that had
life and burning the rest. We were sent
out after them, and for many weeks ex-
perienced all the horrors and hardships
of predatory warfare. Col Carr, at the
head of his regiment followed one band
across the territory in the forests over the
swollen streams to the lava beds of the
country where the volcanic rocks form
almost impreenabIe forts for the saVages
The incident [ mentioned arose from
one of. the fights we had in the heart of
the volcanic country, the Indians having
pursuits. One day we leaned from our
were encamped at the outer edge of the
forest, and that we might possibly take
them by surprise, thing very diff
ficult to do.
A detachment under Captain White
side, consisting of three troops. was de-
tailed to make the attempt and if possible
get IN the rear, while the main command
under the colonel would advance from the
HUN. we SOU away dDOuU ucy DI6tth duU
for the first day saw no trace of the enemy,
but as we were about to go into camp on
the evening of the second, the advance
guard rame in and reported a body of In
dians at no great distance. OF course all
idea of rest for the troopers was abandon
ed, and stepts taken at once to ascertain
the exact location and strength of the
band.
Il was assigned to duty with a small
detachment, who were instructed to de-
veIop the position Of the Indians, but in
no case bringing on an engagement until it
was definitely known how many there
we're of them. We were under the i'm
mediate command of lieutenant Curtis,
one of the most daring and accomplished
officers of the servicee He disposed his
little hand and with the night fast COM
ing on, stole upon the Indians, who were
yet unaware Of our approach.
1--WE were marching under shodows of
the woods when we suddenly came to the
extreme edge, and as suddenly drew brck
when we discovered the Indians sitting
around their campfres only short dis
lance away We had accomplished the
feat of reaching the very limits Of their
encampment without disclosing our pres
ence. Our commander at once determin-
ed to attack them, believing that in the
fast approaching darkness our inferiority
of number would not be noticed. The
little detachment was accordingly drawn
up in line just within the cover of the
tree, and. at the word, rifles we're unslung,
pistols lO0sened, sabres drawn, and with a
wild hurrah, we charged upon them, fir
ing as we rode madly forward.
''ln the first shock of their surprise the
Indians tumbed over each other trying to
escape from the rain Of bullets we sent in o
their midst, but as we charged through
the camp they rallied, and under the lead
erahip of a Young chief, made determin-
ed stand, forcing US to use the steel as we
returned. AS we cut our way back saw
the chief run towards the woods, throw
up his hands, and fail to the ground. The
warriors, when the leader fell, took to TIE
hills, and, crouching behind the rocks,
commenced damaging fire. Our fellows
took to the woods and made preparations
to retreat upon the main column, when we
were startled at a shot that was fred al
most in our faces. Lieutenant Curtis
cap was sent flying into the air cut in two
pieces.
LAS | sprang from my horse, | saw a
girl standing astride the body of the dead
chief, armed with winchester, which she
was In the act Of firing again. | threw
the rife aside and grasped the girl, who
! fought with great fury, utterlng strange
cry. Finally she was bound and taken up
| by one of the men and carried to the rear.
We were successful IN rejoining the main
| body, and in the great struggle OF the lava
| beds lost sight of our prisoner. After
| the conclusion Of the campai gnl was sent to
| Fort Yuma, where the concluding Incl
dents of my story took place. The strange
history and still stranger end of the beau
| tiful Cochita-for that was the name she
was known by-lends very romantic col
| oring to the desperate fight she made over
the remains of the dead chief at the battle
at the foot of the lava beds.
| "Cochita was not an Indian girl. but
was the child of Spanish family of Slna-
| loa, the Northwestern state OF Mexico.
She was exceptionally pretty, of a small
but v5ry trim and graceful form, clear
olive complexion, and bright black eyes
that have the soft Andulusian loneliness in
them. When captured she was only II
Years old, and her native beauty was but
little diminished by her enforced associa-
tions with the savage Apache. She had
been taken by the Indians when a baby
of 3, and all her family had been killed.
Her life was saved by squaw of the chief,
who took fancy to her and kept her as
her own child.
she was given the name of Cochita,
the diminutive of Chochise, the most
famous of the Apache chieftalns. She was
tutored In the ways of the savage people,
and when taken by us, combined the wild
ness of the antelope with the feroeity of a
tiger cat After she was taken to Yuma
the wife OF our post surgeon took charge