People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-12-26


hills, whittier his men were now pur-
suing. Such, nj least, was his theory.
This, too, was 30 bc the tenor of his re-
port TO department headquarters, 10 DO
sent forward by detachment that
day. Already he was trimming his die
ton, and after few pcncilcd words 10
Raymond, bidding him hold the fort,
as he wasn't coming for the present,
at least, the major had borrowed o big
sheet Of the ordnance scrgcant's official
paper, and began:
"KELLY's RANCH, South Of Apache
Canyon, June 2, 1877. Assistant Adj
jutant General Headquarters Depart
ment OF Arizona:
Sir have the honor 20 report that
on receipt Of your dispatch notifying
me of the Apache outbreak, and direct
ing me TO guard well my working par
ties at old Fort Retribution and the
road connecting it with the new post,
l detached Lieut.. Crane, with twenty
Of Capt. Raymond's troop, and sent him
to camp'temporarily at the abandoned
corral, and also took steps to notify the
settlers north and south of the post of
the new danger. Deeming it possible
that the Indians might attempt to pass
around us and raid the ranches, had
caused beacon to be built on the sum-
NIT Of Signal Butte, and instructed
Lieut.. Crane to fire it If he learned the
Apaches were in the valley.
Last evening my sentres reported
firing on the Prescott road, north OF
the new post, and Capt Foster, with
his troop, was sent to investigate. He
reported by courier that he had come
upon two MeXicans, who claimed that
the Apaches had attacked them and
run off their mules, they themselves
escaping by hiding in a dark ravine-
They also reported a large party of
prospectOrs, etc, at Ration Springs, and
represented them as being in peril Of
similar attack, so Foster pushed on at
once to their succor, expecting to reach
them at midnight. At two-thirty a. m.
Trooper Ruckel, sentry on post No. 8
in the low ground to the north of the
post, was found dead, pierced by sew.
eral Apache arrows, and Capt Ray.
mond with his men made a search
through the chapparal as far as the
foothills without discovering anything
of the enemy. A few minutes later a
horse recognized as Private Rafferty's,
of c troop, came riderless and wounded
into the post, and had just dispatched
Capt. Turner with his troop at day,
break to scout the country along the
Prescott road, when the flaming signal
at the butte told that the Indians had
worked around to the valley to the west
Of us. Leaving Capt. Raymond with
the infantry and his half troop to
guard the post, proceeded with Troop
T Turner's to this point, reaching
here after a sharp trot in less than an
hour and a quarter, only to find the
Indians fled with some stock from
Kelly's ranch and Lieut.. Crane al.
ready in pursuit. The only casualty
in the valley thus far reported is one
Mexican herder killed at Kelly's, and,
regret to add, the probable loss Of q
gallant little fellow, Leon MacNutt,
whose pony was found a few minutes
ago at the foot of the butte with three
Apache arrows through him. 1t is
feared that the boy has been killed or
run off by the Indians, who are report
ed TO have fled into the Businesses OF
the Socorro, to the north of us. If so,
between Capt. Fosters troop, already
in the field, and those here at hand,
hope to make short work of them.
And here Maj. Thornton was inter
rupted by the entrance of the ordnance
sergeant. 1t must be remembered now
that old Kelly had served in Arizona in
his dragon days, before the war, and
had Just completed another period Of
five long years with the Eleventh cav
airy, the predecessors of Thornton's
regiment. Like every other old sol
der, he was inclined to the belief that
newcomers had very much to learn
and, as we have seen, the Indians them
selves were taking advantage of this
inexperience. Kelly couldn't be dis
respectful to an officer, but he had
much to say, and there was no time 10
be lost.
MAY 1 speak to the major?" was his
abrupt request, as he stood erect at the
doorway, his hand raised in salute.
Thornton wheeled round in his chair
and looked up in quick interest.
Certainly, sergeant. Go ahead"
"As / understand 1t, sir, Lieut.,
Cranes party followed the trail into the
canyon, and would 60 on through in
pursuit"
"That's my understanding also" said
the major.
"And did the major order the de-
tachment that followed Lieut. Crane "a
20 ON till they came up with him?"
Eyes He couldn't 60 very far, you
know; he took no rations-"
81 know, sir; but from what I hear
the lieutenant rode straight into the
canyon and expected to find the raiders
there somewhere. Once into it, SIR,
there's no way out but through it."
Every true"
"Wel, what I'm afraid Of, sir, is this
the Indians who have run that stock
into the canyon so as to make trail to
draw the troops in pursuit are only two
or three in number, but II there are
more Indians in those hills-and the
chances are there are" and Kelly
| y>ointad Significantly IN the rupoed