The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-19

had gain buffalo. Ho spoke Of meeting
mary old friends. Did you see Arkaytah
thcrc'" inquired one Of his hearers. Ar
kaytah was an old medicine man of tho
tribe who had been dead many years. He
had been a wonderful parsonage among
them, and there had been confidence and
reliance in the supernatural powers he was
supposed TO have possessed. Yes saw
Arkaytuh," answered Yavapai; and
told him Of our fight with the lion and
that many Of the wild animals had been
driven from the hills by the great storm.
He said stranger thing would happen
that before summer this town would be
deserted by all its inhabitants and that
wild beasts would roam Its streets as of
old before the white man came TO Arizona
t0 mine for gold and to irrigate the val
leys"
That night Yavapai passed away, or
died again" a. the Indians said, and the
next morning, news of this having spread,
his funeral was attended by every one in
Pioneer. 1t was supposed by the intelli-
gent whites that the old Indian had in his
weak state sunken into a trance and thai
the fresh air and motion had revived him
at the time of the first attempt to carry
him to his grave. But he was dead at last
Tho white physician, after examination,
teSllHti W llitt, anu tIIt ItDuI
was held some distance from town and
was of rather mixed description The only
minister in tho place preached short SER
mon, and the Indians chanted death song
Then Ynvapai's painted body was laid at
rest, not according to the custom of any
other tribe as each has It's own methods;
not placed in u canoe and left to float down
the river, nor on funeral pyre to be
burned, nor shut out under clods Of earth
from the world he had loved, but with his
blankets tightly girded around his body
was fastened in the strong branches of the
tallrst tree, with his face to the free winds
of heaven.
The Ave Sunpais have shown remark
able disposition for Indians in refusing
rations or other supplies from the govern
ment, as this course would compel them
to remain upon reservation. They love
their liberty above all things and appear
to wish even in death to be untrammeled
and uninclosed by any space. 1t is a touch
ing sight to see them on journey stop
under some tree where lost one has been
swung to rest. The body may have dried
up and blown away, perhaps only few
fluttering rags are there, but the mourners
will chant the death song and will lay
around branches of their sacred plant, tho
yucca, which is their pathetic way of Sig
nifying to the heaven ascended spirit that
they desire still TO be remembered
The snow melted, and the Ave Suapais
returned to their canyon home. The
Indian prophecy of the abandonment Of
the mining town was repeated to the
whites and received with ridicule. Tho
gold Of the great mine, on which tho life
OF the town depended, seemed inexhausti-
bic. What could happen to disturb theiP
increasing prosperity 1t was only coin
cidenco, of course that before summer
lived again, from secret and unexpected
channels among the hills, there came q
delugo which flooded mine and town with
water. Many persons were drowned, and
those saved, sickened and discouraged, left
the place. The great expense of removing
debris and the fear Of that hidden danger
of flood have prevented the reoponing OF
the mine. For all l know the coyote and
the lion may prowl unhindercd now amid
the graves of tho forgotten dead upon tho
hillside, making their lair in deserted
houses along the desolhte streets or in the
abandoned prospect holes among those
lonely hills.-Francita Trujillo in Phila
dclphia Times.