Arizona weekly citizen., 1896-01-04
Es-Kim.Iu.Zin Incident.

Inc bureau or Indian analrs at WASH
ipgton recently received a telegram from
San Carlos saying: "EskiminziD, one
of the most noted chiefs of the Apaches
at San Carlos reservation, Arizona, is
dead. He was long conspicuous in the
affairs of the tribe, and was regarded as
daring leader of the Apsches In their
attacks on whites many years ago."
Es-kim-in sin was chief of the Ari'
vsips Apaches, and most certainly was
'noted" chief in his day. On the 18th
day OF July, 1871, he led an attack on
I Captain Smiths company of infantry,
then en- route from Camp Lowell to
Camp Bowie, escorting government
wagon-train loaded with arms, smmuni-
ton and stores. The willy savage ex-
pected to make big haul by the capture
of this train of supplies, but was foiied
IN an unexpected manner. At the
Clenega. or to be more correct, about
three miles east OF il, and thirty miles
east Of Tucson, (the point selected for
the attack, Captain Smith with the
main body of his command were then
about one mile in advance OF tie train
of wagons. The ''rear guard" In charge
Of a non-commissioned officer did as
they usually do, when no commissioned
officer ia present, climbed into the
wagons, all of which were covered with
sheets. Es-kim-in-zin took in the
situation thought he had-and
seeing the soldiers so far in advance of
the wagons, supposed with proper man
agement there could not be any difficulty
in the way of capturing this rich booty
OF mules, arms, ammunition and stores.
At point on the road where dry wash
runs parallel with 1t for short distance
along the north side and not over
twenty yards away; in this arroyo the
red devils lay concealed, under the i'm
mediate conduct of a subtchief. Eskim-
inzin with thirty of his "gee-string"
warriors were posted behind knoll,
perhaps half mile or nearly so further |
on to the eastward, intending to inter |
cept Smiths company should it become |
necessary. Surprising no armed force |
with the wagons and no one to oppose |
them but the "mule-skinners," the sub |
chief had orders from Esklminzin not to |
use his rifles, but make the attack with |
bow, arrow and lance and only when ab-
necessary to use pistols. The |
object was to avoid making any loud |
noise. thereby warning the soldiers in
the advance. This "order" of ESkimin-
Yin saved the lives of the whites, and
accounts for only slight wounds receiv-
I'd.
In the early forenoon the unsuspect-
ing train approached the place of attack,
sll vas still as it usually is on the desert;
the red devils lying in the arroyo not
sixty feet from the road; the wagons
arrived opposite the point of attack;
not living soul in sight excepting the
helpless and unsuspecting drivers; when
with suppressed yell the Apaches
sprang out of the arroyo and poured
volley Of arrows into the train. At the
first yell of the Apaches the ''resr
guard" got out of those wagons in much
less time than when they leasurly crawl
I'd into them. Reader, did you ever
observe q man crawling out of cover
I'D government wagon? No, we'll, he
usually shoves himself out fee foremost:
20 did this rear guaro and as conse-
luence, nearly everyone received arrow
wounds in the legs but no place else on
The body. However, one soldier was
5illed in this fight, but he was shot
whilst standing behind a front wheel,
The bullet passing between the spokes Of
the two front wheels; he was buried at
he crossing of the San Pedro river. 1t
vas at this iuncture Of the fgh. "Old
Skimmy"-ae he was usually called
vas foiled ia his attempt on the wagon
rain; for so eoon as the rear guard had
gotten out Of the wagons, and began to
lse their needle-guns, the noise was so
great it reached the ear of Captain
smith, and without a moments hesita-
ion the company was started back on
double quick" time. Es-kim-in Yin as
before stated. was now to carry out his
part of the PIE arranged progrGEi Dy
making al attack on the advancing sold
ers under Smith, and endesvor to stop
Or at least draw them off and prevent
Them going to the assistance of the rear
guard; but the Captain was not to be
so easily deceived by this ruse of the
willy savage. AS the troops came down
The road on the run, Eskiminzin made
q desperate charge on them from his
place of concealment behind the knoll,
then gradually falling off and away
rom direction of the train, but as before
stated, all to no purpose the company
simply firing a volley at Eskiminzin,
bim in the left arm. and keep
ing right on for the train. Eskiminzin
his wound, seeing the
failure of his ruse, made dash after
the troops to prevent the humiliation OF
his sub chief and party then making a
desperate hand to hand fight at the
wagon train with the rear guard. The
affair terminated as usual in such cases,
discipline and stamina prevailed; Eskim-
inzin with his band of marsuders fed
back to the Grant resert alton; and as
was originally intended, the affair was
laid to the Chiricahu8s under old
Cochise, The casualties of this ''incid-
ants" we're: One soldier and 20 Apsches
we're killed; several soldiers were wound
I'd, a majority of them in their legs.
Quite number OF Apaches must certa
Inly have been wounded, but how many
[ never learned.
Query: How did Esklninzin become
acquainted with the fact that govern
ment would send that train, loaded with
arms and ammunition, from Camp Lowell
TO Camp Bowie? He knew this fact,
for long while afterwards he laughing
ly told me all about it.-Holbrook
Argus.
Confidential.