Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-26

malu. WQen we arrived mere, jose val
dez and the maid went into the other
cabin with the animals nu..!e tIme II.
the night they ram away, and we saw
them pursued into the forest by los bar
/ baros.
''They were mounted, of course?"
Isl, senor, they took the best horses. "
"Was the mans horse pinto brand
ed IT. V.T"
1.-THE same, senior.
"Horse and rider lie dead in the
wood"
"Valgame Dios! Where is Juana?"
"Quien sabe? We saw nothing of
her. She must be captive of the In
dians.
"Pobrecita Juanita! She has paid
dearly for going with that rascal Jose. "
An examination of the packs showed
that the runaways had robbed their
mistress of her jewelry and other prop
erty. During the examination Raymer
learned all the particulars concerning
the events of the day
The Mexican party originally consist
ed of two old ladies, maidservant and
an escort Of three men and boy. They
were journeying from Abiqui to Jemez
by way of Los Wales Grandes. All were
mounted on horses, and their luggage
was borne OH three pack mules. When
the party reached small hamlet u
league north of Los Ojos Frios, one OF
the ladies fell sick and was left there.
The journey being resumed, the trav'
elers were approaching the cabins at the
springs when a band of Navajoes at
tempted to cut them off. By a vigorous
use of spur and whip the Mexicans sue
ceedcd in reaching the cabins without
receiving shot. They then sent Ramon
Vaca to the camp i'll the valleys for aid.
They saw him disappear i'll the forest
beyond the opening, followed by two
Indians. AS the two purSuers soon re-
turned trophyless, the Mexicans sup
posed the boy had accomplished his er.
rand. Not long afterward Jose and
Juana made O dash for the great val
ley's trail and appeared to have escaped
without injury.
Then the siege began. Bullets were
fred through doors and window shut
tiers, but without effect The house, be-
ing built OF adobe, with earthen roof and
chimneyless. was literally fircproof Its
only vulnerable points were at the door
and windows, and those could not be
approached without exposing the be-
siegers to tho fire of the besieged. After
a long lull in the firing the occupants of
the main cabin We're startled by hearing
q tramping upon the roof, followed by
digging
Had these hunting lodges possessed
chimneys the Savages could have
thrown their brands and leaves down
them and by covering the tops with
blankets smoked out the occupants.
But to accomplish this they were
obliged to dig hole in the roof. The
smoke had become sufficiently suffocat-
ing to greatly distress the Mexrans
when the soldiers fired. The sudden ces-
sation of the warwhoop, the thud of a
falling body and the descent from the
roof proved that friends were near.
The moon was now well up i'll the sky,
and surrounding objects were plainly
visible. Raymer told the Mexicans to
get ready to accompany him to camp,
and in short time they appeared with
their pack and saddle animals ready for
the road. A woman, clad i'll black, her
face concealed in hood, mantle and
veil, walked feebly out Of the cabin,
leaning upon the arm Of all attendant
and apparently bowed by the weight of
years. She was speaking to him IN
low voice, and at the conclusion of her
remarks he turned to the lieutenant and
said, LA Sonora Vieja wants to know
if you found any of her property on the
body of the rascal JOSEF"
Eyes, sonora; I found this caskct,
replied Raymer offering her the box
which he had taken from his saddlcbag.
The old woman made Il gesture to the
man beside her to receive it, ut the
same time murmuring something too
low for any one else to hear. When she
had finished, tho man said. La Sonora
Vieja returns her thanks.
The frequent repetition of La Sonora
Vieja-tne Spanish for old lady-struck
the lieutenant as odd, but rejecting
that it might be custom of the class to
which the lady's attendants belonged he
dismissed the matter from his mind
and gave his attention to preparations
for the return march. The column then
left the cold springs and entered the
wood.
The moonlight enabled the party to
keep the road without difficulty and
make good progress tthe place where
Raymer had caused the body of the
rascal Jose" to I've suspended i'll tree
halt was made long enough to lower
and bind it to the back of mule, that
it might be taken to camp for burial.
Arrived in camp, the lieutenant first
proceeded to make the lady comfortable
for the remaining hours Of the night.
He offered her the use of his own cabin,
intending to move into the unused
kitchen before referred to, but Ia Sc
nora positively refused to accept the
courtesy and asked through her spokes.
man if there was not more retired
cabin which she could have, or could