The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-06

to string out or break into pieces as we
climbed the mountain trail II was
strongly within the range OF the prob
able that we we're haunted by Indians,
who only awaited some careless sep
aratlon OF our little force or some two
or three TO lag behind to make swoop-
Getting out from Fort Apache we
had to cross a range Of mountains IL
was my purpose to make the summit
of the range the first day out. We
were making slow work however. OF
our push I'D the mountain. The tran
was narrow and bad. after the fashion
OF mountain trails Then. again, when
we got well along up the ascent the
SHOWS became deeper; fairly up to the
wagon beds. in fact. As a result we
were making a snaiFs Journey of 1t.
1T was about o'clock in the after
! noon and we still had a long. bad pull
before us 10 make the summit. Trouble
broke out up at the lead wagon; strain
ed an axle or something. The train
| came to a halt and l got out OF my
/ ambulance. which was in the rear. and
went forward to aid in putting mat
/ ters to rights. After bit we again
/ started.
II walked leisurely back 20 my am
bulance as the three wagons and the
escort went on. As I came up told
the driver 10 hold his mules while l
lighted my pipe. 1 got my tobacco bag
| out OF the ambulance and filed up:
seating myself meanwhile at the foot
| OF a pine tree.
| II took my time about Il. and pend
ing the filling and lighting of my pipe.
| the three wagons and the escort turned
| a corner of the mountain. My ambu-
| lance and / were left alone, although
the balance of the outfit wasn't 10 min
utes ahead.
1T struck me at the time that L
| II. d my
that there was danger In falling behind
even this slight distance.
II had lust started up TO get into the
| ambulance and 20 forward to overtake
the others. when a slight noise below
US on the trail attracted my attention.
1 looked back over the road. and there,
not so yards away. were coming some
IL Apaches
They were afoot. for the Apache Is
! not a morse back Indian. and charging
for me on the dead run. hostile 70 the
er-es. l could see they meant blood,
and realized In an instant how thor
oughly they had me freed. l was I'M
armed for the pistols were In the am
/ buiau-e. and there / stood. unable TO
fight a hv. and too far from my escort
Tor them 10 even be aware OF what was
going on. let alone return TO my aid
There was no way out. l saw that In
an instant. an1 1 inwardly said Good
.bve' 10 my wife and babies 1000 miles
away / mad had many a Craze before.
nut this was the first time had been
. realty convinced uhGt l had arrived AT
Gre END ID my trail.
..rtr..f-,ed and unable TO avert my
fate. j nade a virtue OF what / could
not neIp and stood facing the IL
Apaches as they came running up.
, 'sThe leader. seeming y the CHIEF, held
! a lance, whereof the government had
conveniently furnished him on some
, former day the blade. at oIrm's length
: | abova his head ready ito hurl IL through
! me- AS he charged on fun TIT ne VI
brated II from blade to butt as II stor-
ing IL with angry energy for its night
| Vtcle | stood there watching them
come on could already in anticipation
feeg the pang OF his lance passing
Through my body. .
!. MY interest conferred naturally IN
, the lead Apache with the lance. Inc
others trailing along behind noticed
I less As the leader came within 10 feet
= ~ me Ghe halted. The time had come.
I Thought, when / was ITO be sp'ibted Ike
: a chicken. StIll gazed squarely In his
= eyes.
: hesitate He was staring as bluntly al
y me as / at him. As we 'gazed. little py
: little saw the lance blade turn TO one
side. Suddenly. without word or sign
whether OF war. peace or submission
e ne reversed his lance and rendered me
:, the butt of the weapon.
II lost no tame In taking II and gave
him no chance to change his mind on
matter so Important l took his lance
> and shouldered It. He came forward
n v,sith a hoarse Howl and shook hands
,rhe Others followed his amiable suit
| There were a dozen 'Hows! and hant
shakes. Then. shouldering the lance.
d ordered the ambulance-for the driver
d like myself, had stood through IL all
u TO drive on. When my ambulance over
" took the wagons and the escort 20 min
" utes later / was marching at the heas
ID OF my IL hostiles with the lance a
he right shoulder
e mo: there was no farce: no tok
10 about II. These Apaches were on tn
A. hvarpath: hostile as mad dogs; II OF tn
n most savage brutes In the hills.
~ why didn't they kill me when Il
re their power? From a paleface stand
ls point il IS not 70 be accounted for.
ID / had fed / wouid have been slain.
c Ia had my pistols and resisted.
u would have been over with me In a.
instant. But for me to wait there with
IN out a move, whether TO run or rests
and all motlonlesS. stare fate in IN
face. appeared TO strike their savag
appreolation as the very climax OF coui
~ age. and instead Of throwing his lane
- through r1e. as was his first full tnten
Of this Apaele knight. 70 display his az
IA pro,-sl. paused in mldpurpose and PR
W | serted me with his weapon. IL b wa
as anything white man can pin a nam
&c 10 n was a fashion OF sublime savag
n | pOliteness.
al These IL Apauhes ate with US tina
Ne evening and slept all about my ter
an that night. In the morning fed thel
en- again. and then we separated Wit
much of mountain pomp and respec
they going their way. we going ours.
Hamilton smith
of Nelson. b. c., Miner. Hamllto
Smith. upon the strength OF whose r.
port a London syndicate has purchase
~ a fourth interest in the Anaconda min
al Is now IN the SLOGAN. where II is hope
n ne Will find further interests worth
y OF his PRINCIPALS money.