Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-09

his tribcsmen, the MohavCs Of the great
Colorado, ever raised q hand in anger
against tho whites.
II heard this story from the lips of the
chief actors in it and as Bill Williams and
1rataba were as truthful as they were
brave you may be sure that the facts arc
in no way exaggerated.
AT the time of which speak Arizona
was still part of New Mexico, and much
Of that vast territory was set down on even
our latest MAPS as UNEMPLOYED
1.-THE Mohaves had learned the value of
gold, and there were traditions in the tribe
that the precious metal could be found in
abundance along the Little Colorado, par
ticularly near the point where the smaller
river enters the mighty canyon.
bill Williams was with the Mohaves
when the tribe was excited and eager to
search for gold to the north of the san
Francisco mountains. Williams, who had
been adopted into the tribe and could
speak the language even better than he did
his mother tongue, prevailed on the chief
to verify the traditions by an actual search.
THE whites like furs and fish and
venison, said Williams, but there is MOTH
ing that will so win their hearts as gold.
To get gold they will give up all else they
possess and even risk their lives
g If we get gold, then the white men
will sell US all the rifles and all the whisky
we WANT said Irataba.
Yes replied Williams, and most OF
the white men would sell their souls for
the same metal
Neither Irataba nor any of the Mo-
hayes had any clear of hot a
soul was-indeed they were inclined to be-
licve that souls were peculiar TO white
men. as such things had never been heard
of till the coming of the missionaries many
years before, and these missionaries did
| not long remain on the arid banks of the
great red river.
After much discussion Bill Williams
star ed north with 1ratata and q score Of
| young braves. There was still game in
| the hills, SO that the little band did not
| burden itself with provisions. They laugh
| ingly said they would reserve their strength
to carry back gold, which they would trade
| to the whites at La Paz or Yuma for guns
and whisky and it may lie for some of the
| blue glass beads of which their women
| were 81 fond.
| The women wcpt when they saw the
young men leaving with their tail, hand
some chief, for they well knew that the
country into which their friends We're 60
ing was the hunting ground If the fierce
mountain Apachcs, at this time command
ed by CocEisc, Il chief destined To make his
name terror and 70 set at defiance all
the available forces Of the United States.
There never had been time when the
Mohaves and Apachcs were rot ut war.
They wore each others scalrs even before
the coming of the whites, and tradition as
sociatcs every hill and canyon in that wild
land with defeat or victory
| We are out for gold and not for
scalps,' was what Bill Williams urged on
the young braves when they came upon
signs that told them the Apaches had re-
Gently been over the same ground.
1t was the harvest season Of the Zunis
and Pueblos to the cast. and mt such times
the Apaches left the mountains and can
yons to despoil their more industrious
nciGhbors. The chief ard Bill Williams
drew comfort from this knowledge. One
day they came upon three Apache women
and Il number of children. After the Gus
tom ri their kind the Nohavcs would have
killed these people. but Williams, who was
an orator. saved the party
These women said mat all the warriors
were away tn the east. and they confirmed
inc 4-'ps> u INC ft'"icttprs ny GIVING
them some large nuggets of gold. which
the children had picked up in canyon
| near the mouth of the Little Colorado.
Much encouraged. Williams and his
friends resumed their journey All I'M
dsrstood the difficulties that lay before
them. Sterile Nlesas and treeless noun
Gains blocked in the horizon. and the
streams and rivers dropped lower and low.
, or into the earth. till from tho towering
, hanks the turbulent water looked like
threads of waving silver far, far below.
/ Only bird could cross those profound
E chnsms. Men have died of thirst in that
: land " Thin sight Of the inaccessible water.
- The gold i AT the bottom Of the can
g yons' That i what Iritaha and his No.
HAYES said, and that ,s what Bill Williams
, believed, and so they descended to the Dot.