The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-02
TOUGHEST OF MANKIND.
Almost Incredible Stories Of Apache
Endurance and Cunning.
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A9AA0hA uA4CO hiAb SNAlA1AAks
From the Minneapolis Tribune.
1 saw Geronimo and a dozen Of his
Apaches do something in Arizona in 1887
which l would never have believed possible
had not witnessed it with my own eyes.
The Apaohes are, unquestionably, che
most dreaded tribe OF Indians on this con-
tnent They are tougher, more enduring
and more unconquerable than any other Of
their rnce.
An Apache can lope up the side Of a
mountain with the thermometer marking
1905, and when he reaches the top he won't
show drop Of extra perspiration, nor will
he breathe a whit faster than when he
started. He will go for days without NOR
sci of food or a drop of water; he will live
on snakes, mice and refuse, or If the worst
comes to the worst he wilk shoot his horse
and eat what he wants of him raw. Set
out to pursue a band of Apache RAIDERS, and
II they are hard pressed they will separate
each one to himself, SO that the only way to
keep up the pursuit is to follow them indi-
vidually, in which case the Apache is sure
to have the best of the contract. When the
hunt is over the dusKy misoreants will come
together at some point twenty or thirty
miles away.
There we're twenty-five of us cavalrymen,
returning from one of our fruitless pursuits
worn out and 80 were we. 1t was one Of the
hottest days l have ever known in that
throbbing furnace of country. We had
several miles of baked alkali plain still be-
fore reaching the fort, where we could secure
shade and water, and what we needed most
Of all-rest.
Whew but it was hot Had not the air
been perfectly dry, neither man nor beast
could have stood 1t. The metal work on
our guns was SO heated that no one coul
bear to touch il with the naked hand The
dir shimmered and throbbed as IL does over
a newly plowed field at noontide of a sum-
mer day. North, east, south and west was
one level stretch Of plain, on which not a
| tree, shrub, or even a blade OF grass grew
| Far to the westward could be seen the out
lines Of the fort. oddly distorted, through
the quivering atmosphere, but in every
other direction was the naked, burning
| desert.
We were strung along for distance Of
several hundred yards. In fact, there was
a squad Of five horsemen much further than
that to the rear All the animals were
Flooding slowly through the sand, which,
it seemed to me, was hot enough to roast
eggs, their heads dropping, while we were
simply enduring 1t, grimly closing our
teeth; holding out 70 reach the post.
Was there anything to be apprehended
from Geronimol Could we old campaign
ers be entrappedl Low, level sand on every
hand. Well, right there in the midst of that
flaming plain, with its horrible sandy waste,
In which no spear Of grass could fluid root,
that trightful Chieftain and his Apaches
ambuscaded us. 1t sounds incredible, but it
is the fact.
Suddenly 1 heard rifle firing at the rear.
It had a dull, cold sound, but was close at
hand, and as l turned in the saddle saw
that the squad furthest away was engaged
In daeDaraGn nOht with a " ~
who were on foot, shooting, striking, and
darting hither and thither like 80 many
demons.
We instantly wheeled and hurried back as
fast as we could to the help of our comrades,
but before we could reach them three sad
dies were emptied, and Geronimo and his
warriors were scurrying across the plain at
speed greater than any to which we could
force our exhausted ponies. who sunk TO
their fetlocks at every step. We gave them
a parting volley, which wounded several,
but they managed to limp off with the help
of the others, and all were soon beyond
danger. don't know how far they Travelled
! of over that burning desolation, but il may
/ have been many miles, for they were capa-
BILE of doing it if they chose.
Those Apaches must have discovered our
approach while we were a good way off.
Knowing we were on our return TO the post
they could easily calculate where We would
pass. Then they burrowed in the mud COW
ering themselves entirely with the blistering
particles so that only their snake-like eyes
peered forth. Thus we passed within a few
rods Of them without suspecting their
| presence.
In conversation with Gen. Crook about
the extraordinary event, the old campaigner
smiled and said
II am not surprised. / have seen them
do the same thing myself but the Apache
| is the only Indian that can do it"