Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-11-22

into pieces rs we climbed the mountain
trail 1t was strongly within tho rnngc
II the probable that we were haunted by
Indians who only awaited some careless
separation Of our little force or some two
or three to lag behind to mako a swoop
Getting out from Fort Apache we had
TO cross u range OF mountains. IL was my
purpose to mako tho summit OF the range
the first day out. We were making slow
work, however, Of our push up the noun
tain. Tho trail was narrow and bad, after
the fashion Of mountain trails. Then,
again, when we got we'll along up the as
cent the SHOWS became deeper, fairly up
TO the wagon beds, in fact As q result we
were making snails journey of It.
II was about O'Clock in the afternoon,
and we still had long, bad pull before us
TO make the summit. Trouble broke out
up at the lead wagon; strained an axle or
something. Tho train came to a halt, and
got ont Of my ambulance, which was in
the rear, and went forward TO aid in put
ting matters TO rights. After bit we
again started.
"G walked lcisurely back to my ambu-
lance as the three wagons and the escort
won't on. As ! camo up 1 told the driver
to hold up his mules while l lighted my
Pipe. / got my tobacco bag out of my am
bulHucc and filled up, seating myself
meanwhile at the foot Of pine tree.
II took my time about It, and pending
the filling and sighting Of my pipe, the
threo wagons and the escort turned cor
ner OF the mountain and were out of
sight. My ambulance and l were left
alone, although the balance Of the outfit
wasn't ten minutes ahead.
at struck me at tho time that I might
was danger in falling behind evon this
slight distance.
81 had just started up to get into tho
ambulance and go forward 20 overtakc the
others when n slight noise below us on the
trail attracted my attention. looked back
over the road and there, not 80 yards
away, were coming some l9 Apaches.
"They were afuut-for the Apache is not
a horseback Indian-and charging for me
on the dead run, hostile to the eyes l
could see they meant blood and realized in
an instant how thoroughly they had mo
troed. / was unarmcd, for my pistols were
in the ambulance, and there / stood, una.
bic to fight a fly and too far from my es
cort for them to even be aware Of what
was going on, let alone return to my aid.
There was no way out. / saw that in an
instant, and l inwardly said 'Goodby' to
my wife and babies ., 900 miles away. L
had had many a grazc before, but this was
the FIRST time had been really convinced
that had arrived at the end Of my trail.
"Unarmcd and unable to avert my fate,
made a virtue Of what l could not help
and stood facing the IL Apachos as they
came running mp.
The leader seemingly the chief, held
/ n lancc--whcrcof the government had COM
. nlugp1fl,s fHppilbgI hin, a, ~
/ day the hladc-at arm S lcngth above his
head ready to hurl it through me AS he
charged on full tilt he vibratcd it from
/ blado to butt as If storing it with angry
cuorgy for iis fight Whiu 1 stood thore
watching them come on could already
in anticipation feel the rang Of this lance
passing through my BODY.
My interest conferred naturally in the
lead Apache with the lance. The others
trailing along behind | noticed less. AS
the leader cpme within Ii feet of me he
halted. Tho time had come, thought,
whom was to be spittcd like n chicker.
Still l gazcd squarely in his eyes.
GAS / looked at him nc seemed to hcsi.
tate. He was staring as bluntly at mo as
| at him. As we gazcd, littlc by little |
saw the lance blade turn to one sidc. sud
denly, without word or sign, whether d
war, peace or submission nc reversed hi,
lance and rendered me the butt of til,
weapon.
II lost no time in taking it and gave
him no chance to change his mind on
matter SO important. took his lance and
shouldorcd it. He camc forward with q
hoarsc Howl and shook hands. TIE
others followed his amiablo suit. There
were a dozen 'Howsr and handshakes
Then, shouldCring the lance, l ordered the
ambulanco-for the driver, like myself
had stood through it ALTO drive on
When my ambulance overlook tho wagons
and the escort 20 minutes later, l was
marching at tho head of ~ hustilcs with
the lance at right shoulder.
mo. There was no farce, no joke about
it-thCse Apuchcs We're ON the warrath,
hostile as mad dogs, twelve of the most
savage hrutcs in the hills
"Why didn't they kill me when i'm tholI
power? From a pa!eface standpoint it is
not TO be accounted for. If / had fed, !
would have been slain II I'd had my
pistols and resisted, it would havu beer
over with me in an instant But for me
to wait thnre without move, whether tC
run or resist, and all motionluss stare fate
i'm the face, appeared to strike their savage
appreciation as the very climax of courage
and instead of throwing his lance through
me- as was his first full intent, this Apa
che knight 10 display hi approval pauset
in midpurpuse and presented me with lil
weapon. If it was anything white MAJ
can pin name to, it was fashion Of sub
hmo savage politonoss.
These II Apuchcs ate with us tha
evening and slept all about my tent that
night. In the morning fed them again
! and then we separated with much o
mountain pomp and respect, they goihs
their way, we going oJrs '-Exohange