The morning call., 1895-01-04
SERGEANT SYDOW.
He Was the Apaches
PinCushion.
The Way the Color Sergeant Got
His Nickname = Eight Arr
rows in His Back.

The canteen is the soldiers club. Around
the big red-hot stove here in winter many
story OF Indian fighting has been told by veter-
ans. Among them all few are stranger than
the explanation of the way Pincushi0n Sydow
got his name. While the Thirteenth Infantry
was here Sydow's back was available as EVIL
dence of the truth OF the story.
Officers who fought side by side with Sydow
have referred to him as "the brayest soldier
they ever saw" Sydow was born in New York
State and he enlisted in the army twenty years
ago. He was made a sergeant eight months
after his enlistment for bravery N resculng a
white woman and her baby from five Indians.
He is one Of the best Shots IN the army, having
made splendid records at the annual competi-
lions at Chicago. He is a magnihcently built
man, 6 feet inches tall. Across his forehead
is broad scar. His left hand shows where an
arrow pierced 1t, leaving long. ragged cca-
Irix. On his back, between his broad shoulders,
are eight scars similar TO that on his left hand.
Each one marks an Apache arrow wound.
When the Apacbes broke out on their famous
slaughter path in June, 1885, from the San
Carlos Reservation, in Arizona, the Thirteenth
was stationed in New Mexico, at Forts Wingate
and Stanton. Geronimo led the Apaches On
Sunday morning, May 2, 1885, The Thirteenth
TOOK the field, together with the troops OF the
Fourth and Sixth Cavalry. Sam Duval, the
famous guide, led sydow SEQ company, under
Cavalry. under Captain Wallace, and 100 Mes
calero Indian scouts, under Captain Rogers,
across the Baby Mountains, through Milafi
Springs. over the SaDAndreas Mountains, 10 the
head Of Cedar Canyon-the very heart OF the
Apaches' retire I. A permanent camp was made
near Rhodes ranch. The meh reached there
lat in June.
The troop Of cavalry held the camp. ready
for emergency. while the Indians and the Tbir-
teenth men secured the country, Traces OF the
Indians were frequently found but they could
not be located until The second week of July
AT O'clock on the night Of July Is Muchacho
Graudo, one of the Indian scouts, hurried into
camp ana reported hOi trail OF at least twenty
warriors. Squads of scouls werp immediately
sent out. Sydow and five OF his men were
picked out TO go straight into the canyon. up
which The trail LED. The opening of this can
| yon Is known as Hacheta Gap.
Sydow left camp at O'Clock. He carried
| only his rife and revolver. He reached the
| canyon. eleven miles north OF the camp three
| hours later. He scattered his five men and told
| them TO work forward until they reached the
| Bears Den trail. six miles ahead when they
| should turn on. IL and meet at VOLTS Rock
| about 500 yards from the den itpelf. This den
| is known throughout the entire Southwest as
| tunnel-like cave, which served as a retreat for
| the biggest bears IN the Sierra Andreas Noun
| tainS The march OF Sydow'S men up the
| mountain was most arduous. Huge bouiders
| and bluffs and sand drifts blocked their prog.
! ress. Sydow. himself took The trail up the
| CANYON, scaling precipices and climbing and
| digging on all fours up the sand drifts.
About O'clock In the morning he came upon
| the fresh trail of The Apaches. Their mecca
Slned IeeI lett their imprint plainly In the SAND.
| Sydow buckled to the trail and pushed ahead
| Ii was slow work. IL took him four hours TO
| travel two miles. The trail led straight up the.
canyon toward Bears Den Sydow traced IL
| easily until within mile of the famous cave II
vanished. He searched high and low, but could
| find no trace of IT, Finally he decided 10 push
| ahead to VOLTS Rock and meet his men there,
| and with them try TO pick up the lost tran.
| In order 10 reach VOLTS Rock from the eany on
| he was forced TO work his way beyond IL and
double back to 1t. passing within loo teet
OF Bears Den.
| He began TO. climb the bluff TO the level OF
Bears Den about O'clock in the afternoon.
| He reached The level alter an hours steady
| work. Cautiously lie crept up beyond Bear $
! Ben. This den opens at the bottom OF the Dlun
| ct the top of which is VOLTS Rock. About
/ twenty feet above the den there is an offset in
/ the bluff, making shelf about ten feet wide.
I Between this shelf and The den the Dlun Is al