The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-06-26
SAD STORY OF COCHITA.

Some time ago a group OF men
were sitting around a fire in a
waiting room OF one of the cable
roads in Kansas City, Mo-, and the
conversation turned upon the re.
cent heavy floods OF the Gila and
Colorado rivers. One of the men,
who had soldierly appearance,
was deeply interested listener lC
the conversation and he began Ia
SHIFT uneasily as the talk pro ,eed
ed, as il he, too, had a story 10 tell.
He WAS John Llwler aud was
formerly trooper in the sixth cav
airy, having served several years
in The district of Arizona. AT last
he told he following story:
Your reference t. Yuma and the
troubles in the southwest has re.
minded me of a very singular and
romantic incident of the war with
The renegade bands that fled from
The agencies and for long time
subsisted on the cattle of the de
len-eless settlers, in spite of all
our efforts to subdue them. My
troop, part of the sixth cavalry
under Col. Eugene a. CaIr, was
then stationed at Fort Thomas, a
post on the Glla river, the stream
which has been dong so much
damage OF late. We were within
the limits of The great San Carlos
agency and in IA position 10 obtain
immediate and reliable inlorma.
lion Of the movements Of The In
dians; vet, in spite of our diligence
they stole away and began The ter.
rible depredations that cost so
many lives and such vast amount
of property.
Under The skiIlful guidance Of
Juh and Geronimo The scattered
all over he territory and Land waste
many wel.-olocked ranches, killing
everything that had lie and burn.
ing the rest. We were sent out
after them, and for many weeks
experienced all the horrors and
hardships Of predatory warfare.
Col. Carr, at the head Of his regi-
ment, fnllowed one band across the
territory into The forests, over the
swollen streams aud to The lava
beds of The northwestern portion
OF that broken country, where the
volcanic rocks formed almost i'm.
preguable 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 taken to the
hills 10 AVOID. our persistent pur.
suit. One day we learned from
our scouts that a small band of
about 100 bucks we're encamped at
The outer edge of The forest, and
that we might possibly lake hem
by surprise, thing very difficult
to do. A detachment under Capt.
Whilesides, consisting of three
troops, was detailed 10 make The |
attempt, and if possible TO get in
the rear while the main command,
under The colonel, would advance
from the front. We got away about
ard for The first day
saw no trace of the enemy, but as
we were about 10 go in:o camp on
the evening of the second, the ad-
vance guard came in aud reported
a body of Indians al no great dis
lance. OF course all idea OF rest
Tor lhe troops was abandoned, and
steps taken at once 10 ascertain
The exact position aud strength OF
lhe band.
| was assigned 10 duty with a
small detachment who were in
slructed Ia develop the position of
Ihe Indians, but in no case bring
Oh AN engagement Until il was def
niiely known how many there
we're Of them. We were under the
immediate command of Lieut..
Curtis, one uf the most daring and
accomplished officers in The SER
vice. He disposed of his little
ban6 Of skirmishers, aud, with the
night fast coming on, stole upon
Ihe Indians, who were yet una
ware of our approach.
We were marching under The
shadow Ut the woods when sudden
ly came IN the extreme edge, and
as suddenly drew back, when we
The Indians, sitting
around their campfire. only short
distance away. We had accom-
plished the feat OF reaching The
verv limits of their encampment