The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25
hNOA MAD SAND.
A Gambler who Gave His Life to Save His
wife and Baby,

a company of ranchmen sat about the
railroad station in Pomona the other
afternoon waiting for the belated over
land train for Los Angeles. Every man
I'm the party knew the Others and there
being an hour or two to wait. story tell
ing Of the early days on the border and in
Arizona and California came natural.
Stories Of old times, when Indians were
bad and the white pioneers knew what
bravery meant, were related. John Will
son, OF FL Monte. told the most absorbing
story Of the hour:
Talk about sand in man, gentlemen!
1 am telling you that it takes sand Of the
genuine article in any man to try and
stand off singlehanded forty or fifty
Apaches. when he knows just how the
scrap will end and that the end will be
his own death. But that was just the
kind OF sand that was in Felix Knox
when he was killed by the Apaches. You
see Knox was an all-round gambler such
as the tender-foot from the East scorns
80 much and knows so little about, but
he had a heart in him bigger than any
tenderfoot's head Well, II was in the
spring of 10 Knox, with his wife and
baby and a Mexican driver was coming
firm Silver City TO Clifton. down in Art
II.
is on the ella river, about thirty miles
from Clifton, all right but were told
there that signs Of Apaches had been seen,
and that they had better go I'm camp
there for few days, but Knox-who had
fought the Apaches dozens OF times and
didn't know what fear was-said he want
ed 10 make Clifton that day, Indians or
no Indians
''Well, the Knoxes drove on. When
they were about two miles from York's
ranch. sure enough a big buck Indian
came from behind a low, round-top mesa.
Knox knew there were plenty more Of
the red devils hid there. and that Il meant
a fight 70 death with him. He was as
cool as n cucumber. He jumped out of
the wagon, filled his pockets with two
boxes Of cartridges. and then kissed his
wife and baby for the last time. hut say
ing that he would have the red skins
queted In few minutes. He ordered
the Mexican driver 10 lash the team for
all he was worth. and TO drive back TO
YQrk's ranch as fast as the horses could
Snip. Then Knox waved his hand 90 his
wife and said he was going 10 stand of
few Apaches-although he was sure
there was a big band OF them As the
team and wagon few back 10 the ranch
Knox rifle I'm hand. started toward the
NIL Tor MS last Nsni. lie turned once
and waved his sombrero 10 his wife and
child and then strobe on to his certain
death.
"The Apaches a second later rushed ont
from behind the Hill where they were
secreted. Knox faced his foes and stand
Ing stock still, pumped lead at them
until he fell down dead. The next day a
PARTY Of as was made up. and we went
out where the fight took place Knoxs
BODY lay there amid the cactus I'm the
sun. The Apaches. contrary to their
usual custom, had not mutilated the fell
lows body In the least They had taken
a clean pocket handkerchief out Of Knox's
rocket and carefully spread II over his
facc. ard had fastened II there by put
tInr a small stone on each corner Of It
TO hold IL in it's place and keep the hot
sun from the dead mans face. That was
their tribute 10 the sand In Knox. Seven
ty empty shells were found that had been
emptied from Knox's Winchester, and
one Of the raiding Indians afterward said
that their party numbered forty-two. and
that Knox had killed seven OF them
Pomona Progress