Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-06-18
AN ARIZONA ADVENTURE

While in command of small scoutin,
party in Arizona went into camp on
bright day on the Rio Puerco, very nea
the New Mexican line. The tents ha,
been pitched and the animals sent on
to Craze under a strong guard, and wa
walking before my tent inpatient,
waiting a summons to dinner, which
knew by the strong odor waited from al
adjacent coffee pot would not be mucl
longer delayed.
We were about ninety miles from tn
nearest fort and hundreds from any set
tlement. There were no ranches what
soever in this part, only some cattle ant
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 a
did their stock. Their blanket was thei
only house, and when night came OF
they would lie down wherever it NIGH
overtake them. For miles around tn,
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 onl,
living things near.
Dinner is ready, lieutenant" was The
welcome summons with which my cool
greeted me, and was soon doing full
justice to an army field dinner of bear
soup and "slapjacks."
Twas 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; hi.
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 M
weapon. This latter circumstance wa:
the most remarkable thing of all, for il
those days in Arizona one scarcely moved
without his arms.
Nearing me he asked, in a pleasant
quiet manner, if were the commanding
officer.
Ireplied that was
Il came to see if you could lend me q
| pistol or carbine for few days." he
said.
you don't mean to tell me that you
are entirely without arms?" said, not
unreasonably astonished.
Eyes; have nothing of the kind" he
answered. Il have been annoyed fol-
the past three months by those internal
California lions, and if had shooting
iron | might kill some of them"
Are you camping near hereY asked
Il live just round the bend of the
river. viii you walk down with me?"
/ Little dreaming was so near q resi-
dence, eagerly accepted his invitation,
and filling my pipe and leaving the ser
geant in charge of camp, l started forth
with my new acquaintance. AS we
made the turn in the river saw large,
shelving rock rising from the level prai-
rie. 1t was not more than hundred
yards from the rivers bank, and was re.
ally quite imposing in its dimensions.
1t struck me as 80 peculiar, SO entirely
out of place, that ! expressed my surprise
to my companion.
YES" he answered; Il fancy it is q
meteorite. am under great obligations
to it, 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. sMy wife and
mother live with me"
By this time we had reached the nat.
ural dwelling. Atwhat might be termed
its opening the rock was ten feet OF
more from the ground, and it sheltered
space about twenty feet in breath
gradually sloping backward and down
ward. As stepped under the protect
ing roof saw two women sitting al
work.
My host presented me to his mother
and wife respectively, and saw at s
glance that they were Mexicans; not ol
the class, however, known as greasers
but representatives of 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 latel
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, ant
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 turn
sitting up nights for the last thret
months.
What surprised me most was thl
absence of all defensive weapons ant
farming implements. Not an article oI
the kind was in their possession. I saw
one horse grazing near by. and dilapi
dated wagon. Neither shovel, ak MOI
pistol was to be seen.
It was SoYy apparent that the man hat
known be ar days. But in that will
country in4uisitiveness often cost one'
life. To be sure, felt no fear with
good cavalry company at my back, bu
in most cases it was better to be salts
fed with what was told me and what
saw.
Having listened to a graphic descrip
ton of their far from pleasant neigh
} bors. told them frankly that if l had /
pistol or carbine of my own l wouit
willingly lend or give them one, but al
. the weapons in the command, even thos
on my person, belonged to the govern
| ment, and that the orders respectin,
them were SO stringent that was utterl,
unable to accommodate them.
81 had pistol when / came here,
said my host, "but lost it crossing tn
river. Since then you are the first per
son that has been this way"
felt really sorry for them, and ais
felt that they might think had given
very fimsy reason for refusing the LOAF
they asked.
That three human beings should b
annoyed night after night by wild beast
and company Of cavalry unable to Civ
them protection seemed incredible, ye
such appeared to be the case.
At length happy thought struck me
II tell you what viii do" said. q
will send the company in charge of th
sergeant about five miles farther dow
the river to encamp, then win brin
Curley with me, and we will stay her