The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-16
AN APACHE PERIL.

There are streaks in the Indian make
up" said Paymaster General Stanton,
mot to be understood by the paleface. In
illustration 1 might tell an adventure
which happened to me long ago in Ari-
shaves of my life. 1t will serve to exhibit,
however, a side to the Indian charaeter
not readily to be explained.
This was in the winter of 1871. I was
paymaster for the troops just then engaged
in fighting the Apaches in the far south
west. One morning left Fort Apache on
a pay trip. My outfit was made up OF
three wagons, an ambulance for myself,
with an escort of 20 men.
There was plenty of snow on the
mountains. Still, for all that, the region
was thick with hostile Apaches and no
mans life was safe moment 40 rods from
the command. l knew all this, and for
that very reason kept my wagons, ambu
lance and escort well together and did not
permit the outfit to string out or break
into pieces as we climbed the mountain
trail. 1t was strongly within the range
of 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 make swoop.
Getting out from Fort Apache we had
to cross a range OF mountains. It was my
purpose to make the summit of the range
the first day out. We were making slow
work, however, of our push up the noun
tain. The 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 a result we
were making a snails journey of it.
II was about 3 O'Clock in the afternoon,
md xUpc haH had hof HT1
to make the summit. Trouble broke out
up at the lead wagon; strained an axle or
something The train came to a halt, and
I got out of my ambulance, which was in
the rear, and went forward to aid in put
ting matters to rights. After bit we
again started.
II walked Ieisurely back to my ambu-
lance as the three wagons and the escort
went on. AS 1 came up told the driver
to hold up his mules while 1 lighted my
pipe. I got my tobacco bag out of my am
bulance and filled up, seating myself
meanwhile at the foot of pine tree.
Il took my time about it, and pending
the filling and lighting of my pipe, the
three wagons and the escort turned cor
ner of the mountain and were out of
sight. Ny ambulance and 1 were left
alone. although the balance of the outfit
wasn't ten minutes ahead.
cit struck me at the time that might
better close up with my people; that there
was danger in falling behind even this
slight distance
Il had just started up to get into the
ambulance and go forward to overtake the
others when slight noise below US on the
trail attracted my attention. l 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 horseback Indian-and charging for me
on the dead run, hostile to the eyes. 1
could see they meant blood and realized in
an instant how thoroughly they had me
freed. I was unarmed, for my pistols were
in the ambulance, and there 1 stood, una
BILE to fight 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. I saw that in an
instant, and l inwardly said 'GoOdby' to
my wife and babies 2, 900 miles away. 1
had had many a graze before, but this was
the first time had been really convinced
that 1 had arrived at the end of my trail
"Unarmed and unable to avert my fate,
I made a virtue of what could not help
and stood facing the ~ Apaches as they
came running up.
1.-The leader, seemingly the chief, held
q lance-whereof the government had com
placently furnished him on some former
day the blatle-at arm s length above his
head ready TO hurl it through me. AS he
charged on full tilt he vibrated it from
blade to butt as if storing it with angry
energy for its flight. While stood there
watching them come on 1 could already
in anticipation feel the pang of this lance
passing through my body.
My interest centered naturally in the
lead Apache with the lance. The others
f7saiI irrr oil hob 7 AS
the leader came within Is feet of me he
halted The time had come, thought,
when 1 was to be spitted like chicken.
Still gazed squarely in his eyes.
'sAs 1 looked at him ne seemed to hest
tate. He was staring as bluntly at mo as
I at him. AS we gazed, little by little
saw the lance blade turn to one side. Sud
denly, without a word or sign, whether of
war, peace or submission, no reversed his
lance and rendered me the butt of the
weapon.
Il lost no time in taking it and gave
him no chance to change his mind on "A
matter so important. I took his lance and
shouldered it. He came forward with a
hoarse Howl and shook hands. TIE
others followed his amiable suit. There
ware a dozen 'Hows!' and handshakes.
Then, shouldering the lance ordered the
ambulance--for tho driver, like myself,
had stood through it ALTO drive on
When my ambulance overlook the wagons
and the escort 90 minutes later, I was
marching at the head of II hostiles with
the lance at right shoulder.
mo There was no farce no joke about
it-these Apaohes were on the warpath
hostile as mad dogs, twelve of the most
savage brutes in the hills.
why didn't they kill me when in their
power? From a paleface standpoint it is
not to be accounted for. If 1 had fed, 1
would have been slain. If I'd had my
pistols and resisted, it would have been
over with me in an instant. But for me
to wait there without a move whether to
run or resist, and all motionless stare fate
in 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 flIll intent this A pa-