Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-01-25
AN APACHE PERIL.

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 l left Fort Apache on
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. / knew all this, and for
that very reason kept my wagons, ambu-
lance and escort we'll 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 range of mountains 1t 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 result we
were making a snail's journey Of it.
II was about o'clock in the afternoon,
and we still had a long, bad pull before lis
to make the summit. Trouble broke out
up at the lead wagon; strained an axle or
something. The train came to halt, and
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 leisurely back to my ambu-
lance as the three wagons and the escort
went on As came up told the driver
to hold UP his mules while l lighted my
pipe. got my tobacco bag out of my am
bulance and filed up, seating myself
meanwhile at the foot of pine tree.
II 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. My ambulance and were left
alone, although the balance of the outfit
wasn't ten minutes ahead.
''It struck me at the time that might
better close up with my people; that there
was danger in falling behind even this
slight distance.
II 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. looked back
over the road, and there, not 30 yards
away, were coming some 10 Apaches.
"They we're afoot-for the Apache Is not
horseback Indian-and charging for me
on the dead run, hostile to the eyes. l
could see they meant blood and realized In
an instant how thoroughly they had me
trsed / was unarmed, for my pistols were
In the ambulance, and there 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. 1 saw that in an
instant, and inwardly said 'Goodby to
my wife and babies 1000 miles away. l
had had many Craze before, but this was
the first time had been really convinced
that had arrived at the end Of my trail.
"Unarmed and unable to avert my fate,
/ made virtue Of what could not help
and stood facing the IL Apaches as they
came running up
'The leader, seemingly the chief, held
q lapce-whereof the government had COM
placently furnished him on some former
day the blade-at arms length above h's
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 l 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
trailing along behind noticed less. AS
the leader came within 15 feet Of me he
halted. Tho time had come, thought,
when was to be spitted like chicken.
Still gazed squarely In his eyes.
GAS looked at him he seemed to hesi-
tate. He was staring as bluntly at me as
lat him. As we gazed, little by little /
saw the lance blade turn to one sde Sud
denly, without word or sign, whether Of
war, peace or submission, he reversed his
lance and rendered me the butt Of tho
weapon.
II lost no time in taking it and gave
him no chance to change his mind on a
matter SO important took his lance and
shouldered it. He came forward with a
hoarse, Howl and shook hands. The
others followed his amiable suit. There
were a dozen 'Hows!' and handshakes.
Then, shouldering the lance, ordered the
ambulance-for the driver, like myself,
had stood through it ALTO drive on.
When my ambulance overlook the wagons
and the escort 20 minutes later, was
marching at the head of IL hostiles with
the lance at a right shoulder.
mo. There was no farce, no joke about
At-these Apaohes were on the warpath,
hostile az mad dogs, twelve Of the most
savage brutes In the hills.
why didn't they kill me when in their
poweri From a paleface standpoint 1t Is
not to be accounted for. II I had fed, 1
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 inotionless 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 full intent, this Apa-
che knight, to display his approval, paused
in midpurpose. and presented me with his
weapon. If 1t was anything white man
can pin name to, 1t was fashion Of sub
lime savage politeness.
These 10 Apaches ate with US that
evening and slept all about my tent that
night. In the morning fed them again,
and then we separated with much Of
mountain ponp and respect, they going
their way, we going ours. Exchange.
Malicious.
A.-When zee you, always think Of