The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-06-26

that Ill the last approaching. dark
ness our inferiorily in numbers
would not be noticed. The little
detachment was accordingly
drawn mp in line just within the
cover OF The trees. and al The
word rifles were unSlung, pistols
were loosened, sabres drawn. and
with wild hurrah we charged
upon them, firing as we rode mad
ly forward.
In he first shock of their surprise
the Indians tulnbled over each
other, trying to escape from the
rain of bullets we sent into their
midst, but as We charged through
the camp they rallied. and, under
The leadership OF a young chief,
made IA determined stand, forcil o
MS 10 use the STEEL rs we returned.
As we cut our way back ! saw This
chief run toward the woods, throw
up his hands and fall to The ground.
The warriors. when the leader fell,
took to the hills, and, crouchlng
behind rocks. commenced dam
aging 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 fired almost in onr faces.
Lieut. Curtis cap was sent flying
into the air, cut in two pieces.
As sprang from my horse | saw
II girl standing aslrlde the body of
The dead chief, armed with IA Win
chester, which she was in the acl
Of firing again. | threw The rifle
aside and grappled the girl, who
fought with great fury, ulIering IA
strange cry. Finally she was
bound and taken up by one Of The
men and taken to the rear. We
were successful in rejoiuing the
main body, and in the great slrug-
Gle of the lava beds lost sight OF
our prisoner. After the conclusion
Of The campaign | was sent TO Fort
Yuma, where lhe concluding Incl
dents OF my story took place. The
strange history and still stranger
end of The beautiful Cuchila, for
that was the name she was known
by, lends a very romantic coloring
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 Sinaloa, The northwest
ern State of Mexico. She was ex
ceptionally pretty, of a small but
very trim and graceful form, clear
olive complexion and bright black |
ey, that had the soft Audolusian
loneliness in them. When capLur-
ed she was only II years old, and
her native beauty was but little
by her enforced associ-
aiions with the savage Apaches.
She had been taken by the Indians
when baby of three, and all her
family had been killed. Her life
was saved by a squaw OF the chief,
who took fancy TO her and kept
her as her own child.
She was given the name Of Co.
chila, The diminulive OF CochlSe,
The most famous of the Apache
chief aims. She was tuiored in the
ways OF the savage people, and
when taken by us combined The
wildness of the antelope with The
ferocily of the Tiger cat. Alter she
was taken 10 Yuma the wife of
our post surgeon took charge OF
her and did everything to induce
her 10 return to civilization, but
with Indifferent success. The gill
vas quiet enough. but seemed TO be
I victim of settled melancholy.
She soon remembered enough
Spanish, in which language her ,
mistress was very proficient, 10
ell all she could recOllect of her
'arly life, but she was not more :
han three years old when taken
rom home, her mind refused 10
ecall the details of the massacre
md her abduction.
Enough was CLEANED to indicate :
he truth of the story as | have
.iven it and The additional fact :
hat she was in love with the chief =
ver whose body she made such a r
desperate fight. She never gave
Is any trouble, yet never appeared
t ease. She was given the free
ON of the post. and would wan
er restlessly about, cycling the
nen with a startled and often z
ines wonderfully intent gaze. !
,he would go 10 the banks OF tn e L
colorado and sit for hours gazing "
oward the north as If pining for c
er lost freedom, but making no =
fort 10 regain it. !,
To the north of Fort Yuma The II
i'll grows more imposing u:,til The y
rand canyon of the Colorado is D
cached and The regions of eternal y
now are encountered. Tie fort is D
ituated on the banks of the n
colorado, almost at the mouth Of o
he Gila. The banks are sufficient !,
Y high on the west TO prevent any q
verfiow, while away 10 the south =
hey sink into The valley that opens a
nto the gulf of California. AT !,
hort distance above the fort these Il
anks are some 80 feet above the
'ater, wl:ic.. boils in constant ed
les below, flowing with a rapidi- il
v unknown in the rivers of The ,
asst. Navigation is almost impos- y
Ible. as the fall is some 5000 feet s.
/, 100 miles. The mountains 10 p
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