National Baptist world., 1894-10-12


ZN,4eA
~ ~ LTHOUGH the
~ deadly hostili-
- n II n ty of the Apa-
N c h e to the |
~, - NsAzzs- settlement |
!; !: !: ! !: !: !:
rssf .EAI7 --- Arizona by the |
M ~ MMn|.- whites has re-
hH WIN W suited, in the |
ta@ long run, dis
M astrously to
W A tn 9 rmer,
they could boast of many temporary
triumphs during the years preceding
their final subsection, and it was sell
dom that their bloodthirsty bands,
returning redhanded from the slaugh-
ter of the unprotected, were overtaken
bv immediate and adequate punish
ment. So swiftly would they swoop
down on the unsuspectlng settler
murder, burn, destroy and disappear
that pursuit was nearly always frult-
less, and though, in time, punishment
was meted out after fashion to the
whole tribe, the individual perpetra-
tors almost invariably escaped identi-
fication and justice, When Gen. Crook
subdued them and placed them on res
ervations, it was not by any one
pitched battle, but by hunting them
relentlessly from their mountain fast
nesses and keeping them constantly
on the move until there was no longer
a hiding place in all the land where
thev could be safe from pursuit.
Then they sued for peace, which was
granted them, but which they only OBJ
served when it was convenient to them
selves.
In spite of Christian teachings the
human mind still clings instinctlvely
to the law of retaliation and refuses
to be satisfied when those who have
taken human life are left in posses
sion of their own. 1t is consequently,
saws the st. Louis Globe Democrat
pleasure to recall one instance at
least in which brutal band Of Apache
murderers were Overtaken by a sWl1t
and terrible retributiOn. The instance
here related is history un-
written, it is true; nor can all the par
ticu]ars be found in the records of the
advisable in those days to report the
killing of many Indians for tear OF
raising clamor among the boston
philanthropists, so called, class in
the east who could hear of the mas
sacre of settlers and their wives ano
r children unmoved, but who never
, failed to shudder and raise wall al
9 the death of poor Indian" The rale
D on the Hassayampa is only too wei
3 remembered by many residing In Arl
r zona to-day, for it was one of the las
/. Indian Outra0es committed in northern
D Arizona.
$ The few score of citizens of the llttl
j mining camps sprinkled along tn
l. Hassayampa river were commenclh'
e to breathe easier. 1t was nearly lou
n months since Gen. Crook had gathere'
s in the numerous bands of maraudln
a Apaches and placed them under mil
g tarv control on the reservation, ana
h was now possible to lie down at night
:. or even to travel from place to place
|. without fear or trembling. Forme
! horrors were forgotten and men Wer
d at their ease and off their guard. Bu
e the poor Indians were suffering 1ror
Is ennui. So one day a large band o
y them stole away from their reserve
% ton on the Verdi river and headed 1o
20 the mining camps on the Has 'ayampa
l. They had some squaws with them &c
?. they intended to take a good long hOi
n dav and the gentle squaws could nc
d bear to foreg the pleasure Of torturln
II the white prisoners, of whom 1T wa
hoped there would be many. They b.
h lonped to that branch of the Apache n;
D. ton known as the Apache-Mohave' an
TO there were just 125 of them in all.
e. It was midafternoon on the 18th {
n May, 1878, when the snake-llke proce'
re sion wound down through dark ma
o. row ravine to the deep canyon OF tt
a Hassavampa. and crossing qulckl
O. over the dry bed Of the stream, lisa
d. peared noiselessly among the hus
IN bolwders that lined the opposite SIC
rs and covered the abrupt slope OF u
be overhanging mountains -Four mile
st below was Smiths mill, ten-stan
n quartz mill that had just been COZ
s. nleted, and five miles above was
ho Lambley's ranch, where the water
III the river CAME W CllC SUI law AOA - 'AAO
to distance before sinking again IN Il
lis sandy channel. There was no one
al sight as the Indians waited behind Il
powders, but wagon road passed
"a the canyon from Smiths mill
lie, Lambley's ranch, and thence to t
he mining camp of Wickenburg, st
he farther above. Soon Gus Swain cal
ire driving his mules slowly along t
he sandy road, his rickety wag
ut, filed with empty barrels. AS
ret neared the group of powders 1t
is strange that his mules did not give h
in warning that death lurked behi
un them, for his off mule was noted
an it's intense dislike for Indians. Pe
ng SWANS body was found the next d'
un mutilated in an unspeakable mann
ou living in the sand beside his desert
'he wagon. But there was the wound
ate a big musket ball in his breast, a
lg- thew breathed easier when they S
that proof that death had saved h
from torture. The tracks showed h
mo the Indians had swarmed around
wi. wagon, and that they had led aW
or- one of the mules, but had butcher
mo the other on the spot. Not trace
~. the latter was left on the ground