The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-12-05

and Randy wrote in eager delight to
tell the news.
This was about mid-June. Blazing
hot and dry were the days and breeze
less the nights, most unfavorable
time for travel to and fro across the
Arizona deserts, but Maj. Cullen was
losing not an hour He was man
who had seen much service among the
Apache Indians, knew their haunts
and habits, and was both feared and
trusted by them. No sooner was the
old regiment fairly out of Arizona, and
before the new one was fairly in, there
flew u hurried dispatch to San Francis
co that was flashed on across the Sier-
ras and Rockies and caught the new
major at Omaha. In brief words it
told him that there was universal up
rising among the Apaches and asked
how soon he could return, as the gen
eral commanding held open for him an
important command. In twenty-four
hours the reply was at Drum barr rks.
Start this morning. Expect me by
25th."
One week later courier from Pres
colt, riding post haste with dispatches
| to the new commander at Retribution,
| warned him that he must guard his
working parties and the road between
the old and new post. The Tontos had
dumped" Now, Tonic in the Mexican
| dialect means fool or idiot, but the
| Tonic Apaehc was 70 fool. The craft
lest, cunninGest Of Indians he, and well
| had Sne chiefs ard young men reasoned
that &. good time to strike would be
just as the old and seasoned regiment
J left the territory. end before the new
one, utterly untutored in Apache STRAIT
agen and lzountain scouting, could be-
gin to get down to their work. And SO
all through the wild hunting grounds
in the Sierras their var fires and sig
nails blazed by night and puffed in
smoke cloud by day. All across the
rocky chasms and among the pine
crested ranges from the hGurts Of the
| Hualpais in northern Arizona down
through the valleys of the Verde and
the IIassayampa, the home of Apache
Mohavc and Apache Yuma; across the
broad basin between the Mazatlan and
the Black Mesa and southwark to the
Sierra Ancha, the Tonic Apaches had
sent their messengers urging Instant
and united action, and down from the
mountains, on stage road, trail and
mining camp, swoopcd the savage foe
men, and all Arizona walked to new
reign OF terror.
Among the first mines abandoned as
the result of this sudden raid were
those on the Santa Anita. The first
refugee to claim the protection of the
commander of new Fort Rctribution
was Muncey, speedily followed by half
dozen others-all with fearful tales
of massacre and pillage. 1t was hot
June evening, when they gathered at
the edge of the bluff looking westward
from the adjutants Office over the
southern foothills of the. range, to
where, faint and dim, the guard lights
of the cid post could just be distin-
g,lished through the rare Arizona at
mosphere, twinkling feebly in the low
lands of the Sandy, ten long miles
away.
Row many of our people are left
down there under care Of the guard?'
asked Capt. Raymond of the stern
faced Old soldier in command.
"Only the ordnance sergeaht's family
and the workmen dismantling what's
left of the post"
mo women or children beside.
Kclly's?"
None. The last were moved ,ovel
to-day-unless we count MacDuff
Leon said he wanted to stay with ole
Kelly to the last"
"Leon!" exclaimed the miner Munccy
in apparent amaze. why, l though
that boy was-was safe in Sonora will
his rao,hcr's people," Whcrcat two o
his fellow miners looked lleenly into hi
, face and then exchanged quick and ex
prcssivc chances.
T, "That boy said Capt. Foster, ii
like cat. He found his way bacl
frora Tucson to the old post. aud stick
: to it so long as there's shingle left
Loci, here, lie continued, pointing to
iaggcd conical shaped height clcarl
defined against the soft hues of th
! linrerinc twilight. Wonders Sigma
+ Butte, ovcrhanging the old roolzerie:
and kelly ranch is a mile beyond that
Now suppose the Apaches did wor
around to the west of us and were t
swoop down on the Sandy, suppose on
people were able to get up there an
{: signal, how long would it take us t
r turn out fifty horscUcn and gallop owe
/. those ten miles, and how much woul
be left by the time VIC got there?"
y The commanding officer stood in.dee
thought fer q moment without replying
e He had sent to the old site only lie,
4 tenant and twenty men. This would b
- sufficient to protect the property sti
unshipped and the lives of those sti
. detained there on duty, but there wen
= two ranches in the valley within
. couple of miles of the posts; there wa
the camp of Jose's bull train, there Wa
, Sergt. Kelly's little farm on the slop'
u of the south gate of Apache canyon. a
+ beyond rifle shot of the guard. Kell
,r was an old First Dragon man, a We
Gran who had fought Apaches quartz
of a century before, and declared til;
az deSPised them His wife and tv
daughters lived at the ranch, an
though bitterly disappointed at the r
moval of the post, were by no. meal
afraid. But no such outbreak as til
had occurred before. The Apaches we
more daring and better armed. al
down in the bottom of his heart NJ