Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-29
AN ARIZONA ADVENTURE

While in command of small scouting
party in Arizona went into camp one
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 strong guard, and was
walking before my tent impatiently
waiting a 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 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 bean
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; his
face was intellectual and extremely
handsome; he wore 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 pleasant,
quiet manner, if l were the commanding
officer
replied that was.
Il came to see If you could lend me a
pistol or a carbine for 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
the past three months by those internal
California lions, and if l had shooting
iron l 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-
dence, eagerly accepted his invitation,
and filing my pipe and leaving the SER
geant in charge Of camp, 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 a hundred
yards from the rivers bank, and was re-
ally quite imposing in its dimensions.
1t struck me as so peculiar, so entirely
out of place, that expressed my surprise
to my companion.
"Yes, he answered; II fancy it is a
meteorite. lam 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. my wife and
mother live with me-"
By this time we had reached the nat
ural dwelling. At what might be termed
its opening the rock was ten feet or
more from the ground, and it sheltered
a space about twenty feet in breath,
gradually sloping backward and down
ward. AS l stepped under the protect
ing roof l saw two women sitting at
work.
My host presented me to his mother
and wife respectively, and l saw at a
glance that they were Mexicans; not of
the class, however, known as greasers,
but 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 overcape their reluctance
and we chatted quite pleasantly.
ASoA LIEU tudL tucy IltO D6tu llNlQ8
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 cnly 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. l saw
one horse grazing near by. and dilapi-
dated wagon. Neither shovel, ak 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
good cavalry company at my back, but
In most cases it was better to be salts
fed with what was told me and what ]
saw.
Having listened to graphic descrip-