The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-01-16

IL
and neither he nor his men had seen
single Indian; neither had he news of
Foster, nor tidings of any kind, yet
with the events of the night still fresh
in his mind, with the death of Ruckel
and Rafferty, and Kellys Mexican as
sistant and the loss of Leon to mourn,
the major felt convinced the Indians
had swooped in force upon the valley,
and would have killed, burned and de-
stroycd everything in sight but for his
prompt answer to the signal which his
forcthought had caused TO be provided
at the top of the butte. The Apaches
had desisted from their attempt only at
his approach, and had fled into the
hills, whittier his men were now pur-
suing. Such, at least, was his theory.
This, too, was to be the tenor of his re-
oort to department headquarters, to be
,cnt forward by detachment that
lay. Already he was framing his die
Z ion, and after few penciled words to
raymond, bidding him hold the fort,
IS he wasn't coming-for the present,
It least, the major had borrowed big
sheet of the ordnance sergeant's official
paper, and began:
"KELLY's RANCH. South of Apache
|anyon, June 2, 49, Assistant Ad-
utant General, Headquarters Depart
nont of Arizona;
'Sir-I have the honor to report that
II receipt of your dispatch notifying
ne of the Apache outbreak, and direct
70 me to guard well my working par
les at old Fort Retribution and the
Dad connecting it with the new post,
[ detached Lieut.. Crane, with twenty
IF Capt. Raymond's troop, and sent him
TO camp temporarily at the abandoned
corral, and also took steps to notify the
settlers north and south of the post of
he new danger. Deeming it possible
chat the Indians might attempt to pass
lround us and raid the ranches, had
aused beacon to be built on the sum
at of Signal Butte, and instructed
Lieut.. Crane to fire it if he learned the
Apaches were in the valley.
Last evening my sentres reported
firing on the Prescott road, north of
the new post, and Capt Foster, with
us troop. was sent to investigate He
eported by courier that lie had come
lpon two Mexicans, who claimed that
he Apaches had attacked them and
I'M off their mules, they themselves
scaping by hiding in dark ravine.
hcy also reported large party of
3rospectors, etc, at Ration Springs, and
represented them as being in peril of
nnilar attack. 50 Foster pushed on at
,nco to their succor, expecting to reach
hcm at midnight. At two-thirty IN.
Trooper Ruciel, a seiltry on post No. 5
IN the low ground to the north OF the
post, was found dead, pierced by sew
eral Apache arrows, 2&d Capt. Ray
mond with his men made search
through the chapparal as far as the
foothills without discovering anything
of the enemy. A few minutes later a
horse recognized as Private Rafferty's,
Of C troop, came riderless and wounded
into the post, and had just dispatched
Capt. Turner with his troop at day
break to scout the country along the
Prescott road, when the flaming signal
at the butte told that the Indians had
worked around to the valley to the west
Of us. Leaving Capt Raymond with
the infantry and his half troop to
guard the post, proceeded with Troop
Z (Turner's) to this point, reaching
here after sharp trot in less than an
hour and quarter, only to find the
Indians fled with some stock from
Kelly's ranch and Lieut.. Crane al
ready in pursuit. The only casualty
in the valley thus far reported is one
Mexican herder killed at Kelly's, and,
regret\to add the probable loss of a
gallant little fellow, Leon MacNutt,
whose pony was found few minutes
ago at the foot of the butte with three
Apache arrows through him. 1t is
feared that the boy has been killed or
run off by the Indians, who are report
ID to have fled into the Businesses Of
the Socorro, to the north of u.s. If SO,
between Capt, Fosters troop, already
in the field, and those here at hand, L
hope to make short work of them"
And here Maj Thornton was inter-
rupted by the entrance of the ordnance
sergeant. 1t must be remembered now
that old Kelly had served in Arizona in
his dragon days, before the war, and
had just completed another period of
five long years with the Eleventh cav
airy, the predecessors of Thornton's
regiment. Like every other old sol
der, he was inclined to the belief that
newcomers had very much to learn,
and, as we have seen, the Indians them
selves were taking advantage of this
inexperience. Kelly couldn't be dis
respectful to an officer. but he had
much to say, and there was no time to
be lost.
"May speak to the major?" was his
abrupt request, as he stood erect at the
doorway, his hand raised in salute.
Thornton wheeled round in his chair
and looked up in quick interest.
Certainly, sergeant. Go ahead!'
"As understand it, sir, Lieut..
Cranes party followed the trail into the
canyon, and would go on through in
pursuit"
That's my understanding also" said
the major.
'And did the major order the de-
tachment that followed Lieut.. Crane tc
go on till they came up with him?"
Eyes. He couldn't go very far, you
know; he took no rations."
II know, sir; but from what l hear
the lieutenant rode straight into the
canyon and expected to find the raiders
there somewhere. Once into it, sir
there's no way out but through it."