Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-06-28


iu'ng--considering the circumstances
quite IL miles away from the group of cot
tonwoods that marked the Alamo. He
camped his detachment in the first conven-
lent small canyon, where little fairly good
grass RECALLED his horses, and where small
tank of rainwater, held by rocks in the
bed OF the little canyon, gave, by economic
but not stingy use, sufficient drink for stock
| Ind men.
Weaver had camped in the same canyon
before during previous months when on
| hunting trips from the then cantonment of
his troop at Niejo pass and now considered
himself in great luck, as well he might in
ard western Texas to find water still there
The men, by using branches of scrub live
oak trees to be found there, cooked break
fast without overmuch smoke There was
no flour. Army hardtack was the human
grain provender. The meat ration can fried
the bacon right enough, and the army tin
cup served neatly to boil the coffee in and
to drink the coffee from. There were no
other luxuries. There had not been even a
drop of mescal at Eagle Springs, of which
fact the corporal after diligent inquiry was
personally aware.
After breakfast the four Pueblo scouts
were sent to the front on foot in slightly
different directions toward the Alamo The
rest of the detachment remained in bivouac,
with videttes posted
The Indian scouts returned an hour or
two before sunset. As usual with the
Pueblos, they had seen nothing, although
they claimed to have worked down as far
as the Rio Grande. The Pueblos have never
been star actors as scouts They have al
ways meant well enough perhaps, but their
Interpretation OF correct meaning has in
yariably fallen far short of correct action.
The Apache himself, the one of the friend
ly order, has been the only Indian scout or
scout of any race from whom General Crook
or the government ever received at any
time any practical benefit in any campaign
against the Apaches. And General Crook
was really the only American officer of high
rank who ever seemed to appreciate that
fact-newspaper highly colored anecdotes
as to other strategical planners of the sort
TO the contrary notwithstanding. General
Crook during his lifetime never utilized
newspaper reporters or newspapers to any
great extent.
Corporal Weaver decided to wait until
the moon rose at about 3 a. m and then to
march toward and beyond the Alamo with
his entire command. He ordered two
sonable distance and placed Tockes in
charge of these scouts. The two other
scouts he assigned as flankers to his little
column to the right and left. No definite
distances, of course, by reason of the
ground, were ordered in either instance.
The advance was begun not much after 3
o'clock and moonrise. The march was
quite slow, everybody keeping a strict look
out. There were many halts on account of
bad ground and for consultation and con-
sideration. Before daybreak the Alamo
was passed, and by sunrise the river was
close ahead
1t was just about this time that Private
George Tockes galloped back to the cor
poral.
II sees 'em, Weaverl" he cried, "the
whole durn outfit Must be the whole of
100, but they looks like 1000 They're
right in front of us and on this side of the
river. Don't know if they've seen us yet,
but there they am anyhow"
But the hostiles had made out Tockes
and his two scouts. They came at first
quite warily, until they recognized the
weakness Of the force opposed to them.
Then they developed extreme bravery.
Scattering in every direction, but each
direction convergent on Viewers small |
shooting, yelling like demons,
they tried to surround and take in the de- |
tachment.
Weaver had only 12 men all told against
Victories 100 warriors. Armament was in |
a standoff, not counting num- |
bers. The Apache renegades had quite as |
good firearms as the soldiers had. The four
Pueblo scouts gave the game up from the
very first. Some mounted some dismount-
a.. oil ctr A.
own instructive accord for the mountains
The Pueblos were lost to Weaver for all |
time and eternity. There were only eight
then, all of the colored variety,
to face all of Victories braves.
OF course Corporal Weaver was Obliged
TO make a run toward Eagle Springs. 1t
was sunlight now, and he could see and
use his way. His minor tactics, although
perhaps intuitive, were splendid
"All 1 could think of, lieutenant" he
said in afterward narrating his expert
ences, was to make the next highest rise
on the back trail. There I'd halt, dis
mount and shoot into the hostiles, and I'd
stop them little every time. Then I'd
mount and strike out for the next back
RISE"
These tactics were continued for more
than 20 miles. When he arrived at Eagle
Springs at half past o'clock p. m. Aug.
3, Weaver himself and two Of his men had
bullet holes through campaign hats and
flannel shirts, one of them actually hit
through the ball of his foot, and more than
one horse was badly wounded.
1t was during one Of the retreats after
1ne of the last halts ON one of the rises"
by Corporal Weaver that Pri-
vate George Tockes left the detachment.
Tockes was in the act of mounting his
horse the animal was grazed or hit by
hostile bullet. His comrades noticed the
TACT even in their hurry and called out,
knowing the temper Of the brute, Look
1ut, Tockes; your pony has been hurt"
Tockes swung into the saddle, but he soon
saw that it was impossible for him to fol.
ow his retreating friends. His horse, mad
lened by pain and by the noise and excite
nent, began to buck from the outset. The
lostiles were crowding up from the rear.
Their bullets whistled by him. His horse
1 /