Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1895-10-30
A FRA TICE MARCH.
Prom Mhipple Barracks to the Natural Bridge and Return From the Diary
 Kept by R. H. sIcEingeT.


 Clear creek possessing the facil- ities for a model camp, the com maud remained there the fifth day which was spent m bathing, clean ing clothes, hunting and visiting runs of the ancient cliff dwellings about mile away. While out hunt ing some of the men discovered up the creek several schools of fish. They returned to camp and made known their discovery. Then was the old adage Necessity Is the Mo her of Inveniion,' ,' practically illustrated; four gunny sacks were ripped open hen sewed together; a breast chain taken from the harness served as a drag, while for poles two small maple bougbs were tied to each end of the weir; with this ap- paratus they started for the scene of action; arriving there, at a shal- low place m the creek, two of the men waded in aud stretched the weir across the stream; two others went further up the stream and drove the fish down. When a sui fcient number of "bony tails were in the tolls the fishermen would haul them out. When they had caught enough fish the men re turned to camp well pleased with the result of their experiment. The camp artists" the barber, chair two bundles of alfalfa, and the shoe maker bench, a 'Jocky-box;' their shop large willow tree, were kept busy throughout the day. During the evening some of the men gave vent to their vocal powers in song, and when the sweet strains of Some Day I'll Wander Back Again came floating from a tent at one end of the camp it was taken up and the camp was soon ringing with vocal music. The singing was kept up until the trumpeter at the guard tent sounded the "slumber song taps.
 The sixth day was one of the most eventful of the march. Leaving Clear creek at 6:45 q. m., in fight marching order, i. @. without knap- sacks, the command marched in an easterly direction. After three hours marching across the uplands of the Verde valley the Mogollon noun tains were reached. At 10 a. m. the march up Saw Log canyon, a wind ing path leading from the valley up in the mountains, began. This canyon, though not so long as Cop per canyon, Is nevertheless remark able for the grandeur of it's scenery. The Verde and Mogollon mountains seen from the head of the canyon present a magnificent view. Look ing of to the south range after range of bare rocky undulating hills, want ing Tn color and outline-a dreary expanse of dessolatiOn--are seen, while the green fields of waving al falfa, the orchards, the cultivated farms down in the valley, the river itself of the Verde valley--a silver thread glistening in the sunlight presented a beautiful view of eul- tivated nature. The march up the canyon was very irksome. Owing to the narrow rocky road much trouble WAS had with the wagons, one of them near the top of the canyon narrowly escaped upsetting; two wheels slid from the road bed and the wagon was only prevented from going down the canyon side by a large boulder on the edge of the road; mules were unhitched, the wagon unloaded and dragged with ropes from its dangerous position. To tighten the loads the knapsacks were ordered carried, necessitating the unloading and rrpacking of the wagons. About three miles beyond the canyon a wagon tongue snapped of short; another was, without de- lay, substituted. The troops reached camp at Mud Tanks about dark. The wagons got there at 9:20 p. m.; the last five miles were made in darkness, the teamsters keeping the road by signals from men walking ahead. The distance travelled was eighteen miles. The night spent in camp at this place was one long to be remembered by those who were there A terrible wind was blowing and temperature down to the freez- ing point; the camp was among a few struggling pines, W hich afforded shelter from the wind. No wster being found i'll the "tanks" nothing was cooked and the men had to go without that much needed beverage coffee, or without water to wash down their food As the men sat about the fires eating their cheerless meal-bread, canned corned beef, tomatoes, salmon and cheese the irrepressible recruit realized, for the first what"dry camp" was. After the meal was finished each man was issued three piuts of water Drought from Clear creek) to quench his thirst on the coming days march. So severe was the weather that hardly any tents were pitched. the men sleeping on or covering them selves with them. Fires were Tn every direction and anyone seeing the men in overcoats, wrapped in blankets huddled about the fires would imagine that it was an Indian outfit. In his anxiety to warm him self one man accidentally sat on some hot coals, suffering only the loss of some flesh and a portion of his trousers just below his coat tail. While all sympathized with the un- fortuuat.. fellow, none could offer him oth her pair of trousers so he was compelled to reinforce" the damaged. The cold during the night was intense and the men and animals all suffered, the former in spite of the many fires burning about the camp. So anxious were the men to leave the dessolate Mud Tanks that after breakfast (similar to the previous meaD was eaten the wagons were loaded as rapidly ass possible and the command set out at 6:45 a. m., many of the men wearing over coats, for the atmosphere was very chilly and the ground covered with frost. The cold wind sweep