The herald., 1893-09-10

cepted and totally destroyed one of the
flying bands that had escaped from
Woolsey. As Woolsey was not required
to make any report to the government
respecting his proceeding, 1t is thought
that the report relative to his killing the
women and children reached army
headquarters through the officer COM
manding the detachment. Arizonans,
however, never lost any sleep or shed
any tears over it, even ii 1t did have the
opposite effect on some, who, 5000 miles
distant, knew no more about the Indians
than they did about the best method OF
their management.
Among the many stories related of
King Woolsey in connection with the
pioneer days of Arizona, one told by his
acquaintances at Aqua Csliente, illus
trates more than any other his utility Of
resource and the bravery by which he
was enabled more than once to cope, al
most single handed, and to successful
iesue too, with the bloodthirsty and
savage Apache.
About the close OF the war Woolsey
was living at Aqua Caliente. the place
where he made his home when he first
came to the country and which still be-
longs to his estate. The spring was like
an oasis in the desert and WAS q fine
resting place for the overland emigrant
on his way to California. The trip was
long and laborious through New Mexi-
CO, every train was harrassed by the In
disns, and they usually improved the
opportunity to recuperate themselves
and animals for few days.
In the summer of 1866 two Texans
came through and camped several weeks
at Woolsey's place. They talked long
and loudly of fights they had taken part
in with the Comanches OF Texas and
insinuated that as compared with them
the whole Apache tribe was very tame
affair. Woolsey heard this till he grew
tired OF IL, and doubtless thinking that
like most loud takers they were cow
ards, made the proposition that they 60
With him into the Bradshaw mountains
and examine some mining claims he
had. assuring them that they would un-
doubtedly get chance at some Apsches.
Woolsey was man by no means fool
hardy, and if he had had any idea of
their going he perhaps would not have
proposed the thing, knowing full we'll as
he did that the mountains we're filed
with Indians, and going there was little
less than certain death. The Texans
accepted, however, and there was no al
tentative but to go.
Packing three burros with supplies to
do them several months, they started,
themselves on foot. It chance6 that
they met no savages till they got beyond
Wickenburg, but when they did come,
they came in large numbers and to the
average man there would have been
little hope of escape. The fight lasted
from early in the morning till or 4 in
the afternoon. Two of the burros had
been killed, and their packs had been
hidden in the rocks. but the whites were
cut off from water, and knew that il
the Indians did not press them it would
only be question of a short time till
they would have to expose themselves,
then they would be shot down. This
was what the Indians were waiting for.
They never crowded white man, espe-
cially if he had gun and plenty of
ammunition, and there was any hops OF
etarving him into the open.
1t is said of Woolsey that when every
other resource failed he would ask for a
talk" and through these talks he often
LudQC CcCopCc, OthCl W leo lApOcblDlcs
On this occasion he asked for talk"
he put a sack of pinole-a kind OF
and with it thoroughly mixed the larger
part OF bottle of strychnine that ne
carried with him. He knew full we'll
that the old chief was aware of their
straits and that he would never let them
out, and his object was only to
gain time and give the Indians
chance to display their in
herent adaptability of stealing. While
the conference WAS going ON the whites
took care that the burro got behind,
and concealed from them by a ledge
of rocks. No sooner did this occur than
the warriors crep out and stole him.
Pinole was fayorite dish of theirs, in
fact it Is of Indian origin, and having
had nothing to eat all day they began
improving their time, making way not
only with the meal but everything else
the pack contained. Without letting
it be known Woolsey was keeping one
eye on the proceedings, while he con-
tinued his pslaver with the chief,
hoping to gain time till the poison could
begin to take effect. In little while
the guZzling warriors began to have fits
in manner to which their companions
were wholly unsccustomed. While one
would be looking on and wondering
what was the matter with his fellow,
his limbs would begin to draw up, and
in few minuses he too would
be dead. Pretty coon in their super
stition they came to the conclu-
sion that the whole thing was bewitched,
and such as were able ran away in a
panic. When the fright struck them,
Woolsey and his companions took
refuge behind the rocks and opened up
a fusillsade on the fleeing savagss. In
half an hour they came out, hunted up
the buro, loaded it from the two sacks
concealed in the rocks and started back
to Aqua Caliente, having had enough
of the Apaches.
Several years later Woolsey met the
came chief and asked him how many
warriors he lost. In crestfallen tone
for he attributed the whole thing to
Woolsey anyway-he said, MANY. In
dian can't fight any more till warriors
grow up" R. E. L. ROBINSON.
The Destroy l.ss Gr4cke.s An idaho.