Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-20
LANCED BY APACHES.
A Woman's Horrible Sufferings in
Central Arizona.
SHE CRAWLED TO A CAN0A RANCH
Bruised With Stones and Left for Dead on
the Desert Sand.
SIXTEEN MILES TRAvELEDIN NINEDAYs

SAN FRANCISCO, July 19.-Mrs. William
Page, of Phoenix, Ariz., tells a story Of ter
rible suferings and marvellous escape from
the Apaches.
1t appeared that William kirkland Page
and few more Americans had established
camp in the mountains in the rear of the
Canoa ranch, whence they sailed forth every
morning for the purpose of cutting timber
in the mountains, returning in the evening
to camp. Mrs. Page and Mexican girl
aged about IL years, we're with them in the
camp attending to the cooking. One day in
the latter part of February, shortly after the
men had left for their work, band of In.
dams, said to have consisted of II, swooped
down upon the camp, taking the woman
and child with them.
A week later the Indians had surrendered
to Captain Ervell, had delivered the Mexi-
can girl uninjured, and Ervell had placed
eight or ten of their number in irons
and sent them under strong guard to Fort
Buchanan.
The Indians Thrust Lances in Her.
It appears that Immediately after captur-
ing her the Indians had laneed her in vari-
GUS places, and then had thrown her into a
gully and thrown rocks at her until they
thought life was extinct. The night follow
ing being rather cool, she had regained con-
sciousness and as soon as her senses had SO
far recovered as to be able to decide what
course to take, she commenced her terrible
march, or rather crawling, fainting every
now and then, until at last she reached the
haven of security, Canoa ranch.
An eye witness to Mrs. Pages suferings
says: "a courier had arrived in Tucson,
requesting DR.. Hughes to proceed at once
to Canoa ranch, as Mrs. Page had found her
way to that place after having been out
days, subsisting on grass, roots, ETC., and no
water on the route. / hastened to Canoa
ranch with DR.. Hughes, but he being on
tine horse and 1 on a mule, he hurried on
alone. I made the best time could with
my macho, however, and arrived at Canoa
only 40 minutes behind him. Thirty-five
miles in little less than four hours is
pretty fair for a mule macho. There I saw
the poor woman. But what sight!
She Was Also Bruised With Rocks.
Glance thrusts in both breasts and in
numerous other places, bruises from rocks
thrown at her by the Indians, almost every
where covering her with blood, emaciated
beyond description, her hands and knees
and legs and arms a mass of raw flesh
almost exposing the bones, caused by crawl
ing over the cruel rocks, up hill and down
hill. for nine days, she being unable to
stand on her feet. Sixteen miles in nine
days. You can imagine what she must have
suffered No water to quench the burning
thirst, no water for her gaping wounds.
"The doctor, though having little or no
hope, stayed with her faithfully until recov-
cry was assured. Her strong constitution
and the tender care bestowed upon her by
DR.. Hughes and his family, who had hur-
ried to her bedside, did wonders, and after
several months she was entirely cured.
Shortly before left the Territory to join
the 'Cornfed Army met her in the Son.
otto Valley, at some ranch, and if had not
known the lady never would have recog-
nized in the blooming woman before me the
horrible sight which met my eye on that
never-to-be forgotten-night. 3"