The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-06-05
AN ARIZONA ADVENTURE


bright day on the Rio Puerco. very near
the New Mexican line The tents had
been pitched and the animals sent OUT
to Craze under a strong guard. and was
walking before my tent impatiently
waiting summons to dinner, which
knew by the strong odor 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 set
Element There were no ranches what
soever in this part, only some cattle and
sheep belonging to Mexicans. which
were herded through the territory
These were in the charge of Mexicans.
who lived 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 dis
tance, which were inhabited by Indians
But my little command and a few rat
tlesnakes 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 full
Justice to an army field dinner of bear
soup and 'slapjacks.
was in the midst of this savory repast
when | noticed stranger approaching
me. He was a well built, powerful look
ing man, about forty years of age; his
face was intellectual and extremely
handsome. he wore a full beard and
mustache, both of which were iron gray
he was coarsely clad and carried no
weapon. This latter circumstance was
the most remarkable thing of all. for in
those days in Arizona one scarcely moved
without his arms
Nearing me he asked, in a pleasant,
qniet manner. if were the commanding
officer
l replied that | was.
i came to see if you could lend me a
pistol or a carbine for a few days" he
said.
You don't mean to tell me that you
are entirely without arms?'' said. not
unreasonably astonished
Yes; | have nothing of the kind he
answered. Il have been annoyed for
4he past three months by those Internal
California lions, and if l had shooting
Iron might kill some of them"
Are you camping near here?' asked
Il live just round the bend of the
river. Will you walk down with me?'
Little dreaming was so near resi-
&ence, | eagerly accepted his invitation
and filling my pipe and leaving the ser
eeant in charge of camp, started forth
with my new acquaintance. AS we
made the turn in the river | saw a large
shelving rock rising from the level prai-
ne. 1t was not more than a hundred
yards from the rivers bank. and was re-
ally quite imposing in its dimensions
1t struck me as SO peculiar, so entirely
cut of place, that expressed my surprise
to my companion
Yes, he answered: Il fancy it is a
meteorite | am under great obligations
70 1t. whatever it Is and however it came
here, for it has protected me for months
That rock is my house.
Greatly astonished, | asked if he lived
there quite alone
Oh. no" he replied. My wife and
mother live with me"
By this time we had reached the nat
ural dwelling. At what might be termed
it's opening the rock was ten feet OF
more from the ground. and it sheltered
a space about twenty feet in breath
gradually sloping backward and down
ward As | stepped under the protect
ing roof | saw two women sitting at
work
My host presented me to his mother
and wife respectively. and | saw at
glance that they were Mexicans: not of
the class, however. known as greasers
sut representatives of a much higher
grade. Like most Mexicans, they were
disinclined to converse in any language
but their own. but when they learned
that my knowledge of their tongue was
too slight to enable me to understand
them. they overcame their reluctance
and we chatted quite pleasantly
learned that they had been living
there for three months They came
with the intention of farming, and later
proposed erecting suitable dwelling
The Indians had not molested them
but they were worried by the lions
which came by twos and threes nightly
to the opening of their habitation, and
there howled till daylight. when they re-
turned to the mountain.
They told me it was necessary for one
Of them to be up all night to keep the
fire burning. which was their only pro
lection from these monsters.
Consequently they had taken turns
sitting up nights for the last three
months.
What surprised me most was the
absence of all defensive weapons and
farming implements Not an article OF
the kind was in their possession. saw
enc horse grazing near by. and dilapi
dated wagon. Neither shovel. AZ nor
pistol was to be seen
1t was very apparent that the man had
known better days. But in that wild
country inquisitiveness often cost ones
life To be sure, felt no fear with a
good cavalry company at my back. but