The herald., 1895-04-21
A Thrilling Story of Early Life
in the Territory
GRAIN CROPS VERY SHORT
Phoenix Enjoying an Abundance Of
Cheap Fuel
Important nineral Developments.
Interesting Personal Notes

PHOENIX, A. T.. April l9.-The re.
ported outbreak of Dandy Jim or rather
TO speak more correctly, the attack made
on old man Blevims and son in ella
county recently has revived dormant rec.
elections Of the days when the Indians
were sure enough dangerous. Not that
such Indians as those pardoned by Gov
ernor Hughes are not to be dreaded now
as much as they were, but because a
sense of security exists even in and close
to the reservations such as never did exist
anterior to, the forced exile of Ger
onimo and his band of villanous CHR
ichua Apaches. and Wassiet. the father OF
Dandy Jim. who is now in the Yuma
sspen. daily expecting to be released be-
cause he sired the Dandy whom Governor
Hughes pardoned because he had con-
SUN ption. Since the facts have got out
touching the reasons that executive Gle
mency was granted to the Tonto Apaches
great deal of discussion has taken place
among those who have lived on the from
tier in early days. One of those lisa lady
of this city. In talking about the Indian
news she said: IF some of these people
who have SO much kindly feeling for the
murderers had experienced life on the
border as + have. they would be long
blfuG ptiOTc q lCClIlS VI OOHu HocSiOh WIN
be. entertained. The writer wondered if
the little lady had any such experience
as she animated, and thereupon pro-
ceeded to find out what it WAS, and by de-
Rrees the following interesting story was
told. Said she:
little creek called La Garita. in New
Mexico. The old Good night cattle trail
passed the house about half mile east
erly.
Our nearest neighbor was sixteen miles
away and the only people we would see,
This was in 1874 1t was a lovely spot
with q salubrious climate. Deer, ante
lope, turkey and bear were plentiful,
quail came in focks to the very door aud
the knocking birds made the welkin ring
with melody. Oh would like to have
lived there forever, but the shock got
from band of Kiowa. Comanche and
Cheyenne Indians. when Bertha was a
child. caused me to prevail on my hus-
band to leave. Being in a reminiscent
mood she digressed by saying. John Ell
kins. . brother OF Stephen B.. and the De
Freez boys used often to come from their
ranches. John Elkins lived at Mesa TIC
sheep ranch. The De Freeze boys were
neighbors of L. B. Maxwell, who lost a
cool 100000 in the railroad that Tom
Scott was to. build from San Diego" Get
ting her back to the story, she continued:
''One morning in the month of July
was sitting by the front door sewing.
CHANGING down the road in the direction
that my husband and two boys had ridden
about an hour previous, | saw what
looked like cowboys riding among the
milk cows. Watching them a few min
utes, curious to know what they were do
ing, not suspecting anything except that
they were looking for stray cattle from
other herds held in adjacent canyons.
1t was not many moments however
before my suspicious became aroused
from their peculiar actions. After cavolt-
ing among the cattle they cut across the
road on .gallop toward our horses. which
were grazing opposite to our house. They
gathered the horses in bunch and
started them on dead run towards the
west. ] spoke to Mexican boy that was
working for US and asked him what it
meant. The same thought struck us both
simultaneously, as We both exclaimed in
the same breath. Redskins on a raid!''
Florencio. the Mexican. asked for d gun
gave him SPENCER rife and a belt of
cartridges. He made for the foot of the
mountain, in hopes, he remarked. to cut
off one OF them who was cantering up
the road on large, magnificent black
horse. The Indian outeeneraled him.
the house, thereby cutting off any show
to get back. Florencio, seeing his danger,
ran to the rocks, lodging as best he could
the thick-tying bullets. l watched him
until lie disappeared hoping for the best.
fearing the worst. Imagine my horror
when turned to go into the house to SIC
the painted demons coming straight to-
wards me. | had seen them first. This
alone saved me. II gave me chance to
slEer before being shot down.
During all this time DIR. McVane was
gazing at them. white from terror, though
1a6 moi 10 nm Have Nd he
danger. At that moment everything
seemed AWFUL quiet The birds even had
ceased to sing. my pet antelope that fol-
lowed me everywhere was nowhere in
sight. Eve, the two big Newfoundland
dogs which | had always looked to for
protection had disappeared. 1t really
seemed that everybody and everything
animate and lnanimate had become .er-
rorl2e. Well, the Indians circled round
the house and stable. taking a good
look at the house. They seemed to be
locating my doors and windows and to be
thinking which was the best way to APP
proach. After returning to the front of
the house they circled within tive nty-five
yards and signaled their desire to dis
mount and enter. | was standing lust
inside of the door with a needle gun in
my hand prepared for the attack l knew
would ne made. unless relief came, which
was really my only hope of escape from
horrible death at that moment. S matters
looked.
I'VE kent a government agency and
used to receive mail for the cowboys that
were employed for miles arounG. But
this day the help-perhaps it was not ac-
cidental, it might have oeen work OF
Providence whose wonders are performed
in a mysterious way--the help never
came. | understood the Indians signals,
also their sign language. having lived
on the frontier so long. I could also tell
the different tribes apart by their mode
wearing their hair and the cut of their
buckskin clothes. My visitors in front of
the house were two chiefs. One a Kiowa,
the other a @Comanche. The kiowa's
hair was taken to the top of his head,
and where the crown is, commenced
three strings or braids which were
plated with pieces of brass and tin. Oc-
casionaliy beads were woven in. He
rode bay pony whose tail was also dec
GRATED with bright red strings and pieces
of string cut out in fancy and fantastic
shapes and braided in. The Birdie. too,
was mounted full OF tinsel and looked
more like silver chain than anything
else. He was painted in regulation styIe..
though he wore frlnged buckskin that
fitted. him skin tight. The coIors around
his eyes. cheek bones and forehead made
him look hideous- horrible 1t was
moment that / felt really uncharitable
towards Indian sympathzers and wished
they occupied my place. After going
into further details as to the Indians
L. o,,I tail Ell,