The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
WIRES TO TRAP INDIANS.
ARENA RENEGLDES TO BE
WTTH 4 Il re RLPH LINE.
A Plan That VIII Ennbio United States
Troops to Cut on the Retreat oil Itnidinu
indians Making for the Chtricnhua
Mountains with Their Heavy Spoi..

indians Making for the Chiricnhua
Mountains with Their Heavy spoi..
DENvER, Dec. Capt. w. A. Glassford,
chief signal officer OF the Department OF the
Colorado. hns returned from the border country
between Arizona and Mexico. where he has
been engaged In building n military telegraph
line, which is n part Of Gen. Wheuton's plan to
solve the problem of how to stop the periodical
Indian raids. Military telegraph lines in timo
of peace have been constructed heretofore only
where garrlsons and established posts have
been beyond the reach OF the commercial tele-
graph. In Arizona there are isoloted valleys,
t%rending north and south between low ranges
OF mountains, where q small band OF In
dlans may roam for hundreds of miles
before their presence can 10 made known to
the military authorities, while before pursuit
can be undertaken they are many miles away.
and travelling through a country where they can
easily disguise their trail. With n view to aiding
in tho transmission of information relative to
Indian depredations. Gen. Wheaton conceived
the plan OF constructing military telegraph
lines into those secluded ana isolated valleys.
The opportunity for the construction OF ex peri
mental lines camo with the abandonment of
Fort Stanton in eastern New Mexico last year.
A military telegraph line. ninety miles in
length. connected that post with the railway
line. and the Iron poles, wire. and other mate
rial were taken down and stored, awaiting Q
call foc use elsewhere.
With n portion of this material a telegraph
line was constructed from near Fort Grant
across the Galiero Mountains into the San
Pedro Valley. These mountains and the foot
hills on the San Pedro Valley slope have been
a favorite highway for Indians travelling be-
tween the reservation OF the Rocky Mountain
Apaches and Mexico. Soon after this line was
built its efficiency was tested. A band OF rene.
Rade Indians appeared. pillaginR the ranches
and robbinR and killing white people. An
alarm was rclec raphed to Fort Grant. word was
quickly passed to the ommands near the bor- !
der. and 4. hot chase was made. The Indian
found their retreat cut off by the prompt APP
finally made their escape through the rough
Chiricahua MOUNTAINS. where 1t was practically
impossible to follow them. 1t was then deter
mined to use the remainder of the Fort stanton
telegraph material In building another infor:
nation line below these rugged mountains. and
IL was this work that took Capt. Glassford into
The Chiricahua Mountains trend north and
south along the eastern line Ot southeastern
Arizona. and the range extends across the
tSe mo,t rn ,Rse 1 TO- be- tou uhe' in mountains NOV mar,isn are re
the country. Soldiers soon become completely
exhausted rb In Try Irving to penstrate heir fast
them like an open book. and slip over the rocks
and through narrow defles with their mocca-
sins. leaving no trail that even Indian scouts
can follow with any degree of certainty. II Is
important for the successful movement of the
ing bands of Indians be intercepted before they
reach their retreats in these mountains.
Nv uCuitllu Ndllty vi DtTltTulnO lleA
just west of this range OF, mountains. An
immense ranch. known by the same name. &C.
old Mexican land grant. 1t is owned BY a IA
nous pioneer OF Arizona named Slaughter
rather a suggestive name. when ii is known that
the owner of the san Bernardino ranch has the
reputation OF having killed some seventeen men
thirsty man. OF slight figure ana mild and
quiet In manner. he possesses determination
respected. Living as he has done for many ma
years on the border. his experience has made
Sheriff of his county for several terms. and it
has been while in the discharge of his duties
that he has shot down horse thieves, murderers.
and desperahoes until his narnc is n terror 10
eyildoers. He lives in that isolated valley .
king among n loyal people. The nearest rail-
mountains. forty-five miles distant. 1t is by
connecting this ranch with the telegraph line
at Btsbee That information for quick military
operations is to be given in future. a troop OF
cavalry has been stationed at san Berrard.no.
they are again round prowling about the coun-
try to the northward.
runs in a southeRsterly direction To a United
States Custom House on the border. bringing
world. This Custom House is a place OF some
importance, as 1t Is the entry point for great
Bisbee. From here the line runs twenty.four
miles parallel with the boundary across the
springs valley. and across the valley to the base
OF Niger Head Mountain. The line then passes
through III Niger Head Mountain range along
out upon n wide mesa. thence dropping down
into San Bernardino. In the mountains the build
tion. holes having to be drilled Ia the granite
rocks and blasted ouswith dynamite for tho
iron poles. while the construction of q wagon
road for the purpose OF bringing in the supplies
made much additional labor.
The value OF Indian guides and trailers upon
this peaceful expedition was demonstrated q
number Of times. Whenever an animal isap-
peared at night the Indian scout by makinga
circuit OF the camp could invariably locate tho
point where the a final wandered of; and then.
Ing the missing stock. The horses were often
more miles and then left them. The Indian
scout could always tell by the appearance of the
trail whether the animal had grazed as It went
or had been ridden away on II trot or gallon.
An Indian guide was needed upon another oc-
casion. Capt. Glassford had gone ahead upon q
reconnaissance ole day. and when he was about
twenty miles from camp he observed that night
was iast approaching. From an eminence on
the side OF Niger Head Mountain he could look
down across tie arid desert to the camping
place. Eastward he saw the verdant fields and
comfortable dwellings of San Bernardino, and
a nights comfort there instead of returning to
the military camp, on the desert. That night he
rested in a line ped after a bountiful dinner un-
der the, hospitable roof OF Mr.. Slaughter. Mean
while the men in camp grew uneasy at the de-
lay OF their leader in returning TO his quarters.
Fearing that he had become lost. they built,bon-
fires and fired off volleys of mu-ketry during
the night, hoping thus to attract his attention.
When dawn came and the Captain was still
missing. an indian scout was put on his trail.
AS Capt. Glassford came out OF the ranch home
to take a look about the premises in the morn.
ing, lie was not surprised TO see the Indian scout
who had speedily traced him to that spot.
Last May. when a party Of soldiers were in
the Chiricahna Mountains chasing Apaches.
cRinpeh hastily. One squaw in her fright ran
away leaving n two-yenr-old child asleep In its
Bernardino., and Mrs. Slaughter and her daugh.
ter were so delighted with IL that they decided
most Hnnctinnnta n iGnn4tIInn ~ thn ---I