The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-05-27
AN ARIZONA ADVENTURE

L
the New Mexican lima The tsnts had
been pitched and the animals sent out
to graze under a strong guard, and iva.
walking before my tent impatiently
waiting summons to dinner, which
knew by the strong odor waited from IN
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
eoSYer iii this part, only some cattle and
sheep belonging to Mexicans, which
were herded through the territory.
These were in the charge of Me1cans,
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
lance. which were inhabited by Indians.
But my little command and a 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
wheniI noticed stranger approaching
me- He was well built, powerful look
ing man, about forty years Of age; his
face was intellectual and extremely
handsome; he wore q 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 a pleasant,
quiet manner, if were the commanding
officer
replied that was.
II 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
Eyes; 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 a shooting
iron 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 80 near a 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-
RE. 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 80 peculiar, 80 entirely
out of place. that expressed my surprise
to my companion
YES" he answered; Il fancy it is a
meteorite. lam under great obligations
to it, whatever tt is and however it came
here, for it has protected me for monthA
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
it's opening the rock was ten feet OF
more from the ground, and it sheltered
a space about twenty feet in breath,
gradually sloping backward and down.
ward AS | stepped under the protect
ing roof saw two women sitting a,
work
My host presented me to his mothe,
and wife respectively. and | saw at 9
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 languag,
but their own: but when they Learned
that my knowledge Of their tongue wa
too slight to enable me to understand
them they overcame their reluctanc,
and we chatted quite pleasantly.
learned that they had been livinl
there for three months. They cam,
with the intention Of farming. and late
proposed erecting a suitable dwelling.
The Indians had not molested them
but they were worried by the lions
which came by twos and threes night,
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 on,
of them to be up all night to keep tn,
fire burning, which was their only pro
lection from these monsters.
Consequently they had taken turn
sitting up nights for the last thre.
months.
What surprised me most was tn
, absence Of all defensive weapons ant
farming implements. Not an article O
{ the kind was in their possession saw
, one horse grazing near by. and dilapi
dated wagon Neither shovel. Ak no
pistol was to be seen. t. !.
I 1t was very apparent that the man hat
, known better days. But in that wilt
country inquisitiveness often cost one
life. To be sure, felt no fear with
good cavalry cOmDany at my hack h1