Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-05-13
The Bullard Peak Indian Fight :
 Fred. Hughes Corrected.
GLOBE. A. T.. May 2rd, ISo


 published in the Arizona Dali, Citizen, of April 18th, gives al account of what, MT. Fred. Hughe calls the "Kid's early history" My recollections differ somewhat iron that gentleman's. He makes thu statement that in 1870, Git was two years later, in IS72) Ca party ot settlers of the country around SlI yer City fell upon and massacred ; band of Apacbes, near the heads ol the Gila."
 MT. Hughes fails to state the causes which led up to the killing and is wrong in his location oi where 1t occurred. It Is true : number of men, mostly citizens o1 Silver City, went in pursuit of the Indians, but itwas not an unprovok' ed, cold blooded massacre.
 In the fall and winter of 1871. the Warm Spring Indians had made frequent raids upon prospectors and settlers; had killed quite a number of people, stolen stocksand commit ed so many depredations that pa tience had ceased to be a virtue, and when, on the night of Feb. 3rd, 1872, they came into Silver City, cut down Harry Whitehills corral and stole nine head of horses, there was a meeting of the citizens held, and it was determined to pursue and punish them, if possible.
 A picked company of thirty men, who were known to be experienced, cool and deliberate, and who would not turn back at the yell of an Indian, under the leadership of that intrepid and daring pioneer, Cap tain John Bullard, left Silver City on the I3th of Feb. After nine days of trailing they came upon them, the morning of the 22nd, camped near what is now known as Bullard's Peak, about 40 miles northeast of Clifton. The snow and storm prevented the Indians from seeing our approach, and they were housed in their wickiups with their squaws and children, evidently thinking they were safe from pur- suit. With a rush we were upon them. The fight was short one; fourteen of their number were kill led, only four escaping.
 Of our men Captain Bullard was the only one killed. When it be- came known that this noble life had been sacrificed the men became so enraged that they begun to tear down and burn up the wickiups. And it was here that the Silver City Kid was found, not standing upon the summit of a high rock, about a hundred yards distant, waving has little fist defiantly," but rolled up in some blankets, fast asleep. When pulled out, he proved to be a child about three years old. His life was spared at the request of James Copley, who took him to Silver City and boarded him at William Eckles' hotel.
 There was pet coon kept at the house, and the little Kid was much interested in it. One day while they were playing ill the sitting room the coon sliped down a hole in the floor, and refused to come out agair and the Kid was discovered with matches and paper trying to smoke him out, regardless of the danger or burning the house down. This must have been, "The attempt to burn up the whole settlement" referred to by Hughes.
 However it was thought desirable to find him another home, and he was taken to MT. Campbell's, at Lone Mountains. He had been there but short time when one day growing angry with the little baby of the house, a (child not able to walk he picked up hatchet, and creeping up behind the child, was about to split Its head open, when Mrs. Campbell came in and rushed to the rescue of her child. Again another home had to be found for Kid. General (not Captain) Ward well with hiswell known kind-heart- edness, determined to see what he could do with him,and took him to his home where he remained until he was given back to his tribe. Kid was at this time between fiv and six years of age.
 MT. Hughes says he knows his (the Kid's) parents well, but he must be mistaken as it is not proba- ble that of the four Indians who escaped, two of them were his parents. There has always been a story told, that after he came to live at San Carlos, some one told him it was Jack O'Neal who had killed his parents, and the Kid had made threats that he would some time kill O'Neal. The death of the gentle man, some years ago, saved him from such fate.
 ONE Who WAS THERE.