Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1896-02-15
AN APACHE PERIL.

1lluStratlGn L nllPnG Cell an adventure |
which happened to me long ago in Ari
zona recall it as ono of the closest
shavcs of my life. 1t will serve to exhibit,
however, a side to the Indian character
not readily to be explained.
''This was in the winter of 1871. was
paymaster for the troops just then engaged
in fighting the Apaches in the far south
west. One morning left Fort Apache on
a pay trip. My outfit was made up of
three wagons, an ambulance for myself,
with an escort of 90 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. l knew all this and for
that very reason kept my wagons, ambu
lance and escort well 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
OF three to lag behind to make a 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 marrow and bad, after
tho fashion of mountain trails. Then,
again, when we got well along up tho as
cent, the SHOWS became deeper, fairly up
to the wagon beds, in fact. Al q result we
were making a snaits journey of it.
II was about o'clock in the afternoon,
-+;l Il I,1 III,
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 Il bit we
again started.
II walked leisurely back to my ambu
lance MS the three wagons and the escort
went on. As came up told the driver
to hold up his mules while | lighted my
pipe, got my tobacco bag out of my am
bulance and filled up, seating myself
meanwhile at the foot of a pine tree.
~ took my time about it, and pending
the filling and lighting of my pipe, the
three wagons and the escort turned a cor
ner of tho mountain and were out of
sight My ambulance and were left
alone, although the balance of the outfit
wasn't ton 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.
Il had just started up to get into tho
ambulance and go forward to oyertake tho
others when slight noise below us on the
trail attracted my attention. l looked back
over the road, and there, not SO yards
away, were coming some IL Apaches.
"1hey were afoot--for the Apache is not
a horseback Indian-and charging for mo
ON the dead run, hostile to the eyes. l
could see they meant blooda and realized in
an instant how thoroughly they had mo
treed. 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 Oh, let alone return to my aid.
There was 10 way out. 1 saw that in an
instant, and l inwardly said 'Goodby' to
my wife and babies 1900 miles away.
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,
I made virtue of what could not help
and stood facing the II Apachcs as they
came running up.
"The leader, seemingly the chief, held
lapce-whereof the government had COM
placently furnished him on some former
day the blade-at arm S length above IN :
head ready to hurl it through mo. AS ho
charged on full tilt he vihratcd it from
blade to butt as if storing it with angry
energy for its flight While stood there
watching them come on could already
in anticipation feel the pang of this lance
passing through my body.
''My interest conferred naturally in the
lead Apache with the lance. The others
trailing along behind noticed less AS
the leader came within 5 feet of mo he
halted Tho time had come, | thought
when was to be spitteu like chicken.
Still. I gazed squarely in his eyes
GAS looked at him he seemed to hesi-
tate. He was staring as bluntly at me as
/ at him. AS we gazcd, little by little J.
saw the lance blade turn to one side. sud
denly, without word or sign, whether of
war, peace or submission, he reversed his
lance and rendered me the butt of the
weapon.
II lost no time in taking it and gave
him no chance to change his mind on a
matter so important. l took his lance and
shouldered it. He came forward with Il
hoarse Howl and shook hands. The
others followed his amiable suit. There
were dozen Hows!' and handshakes.
Then, shouldcring the lance, l 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, l was
marching at the head of IL hostiles with
the lance at u right shoulder.
No. There was no farce, no joke about
it-these Apaches We're on the warpath,
hostile as mad dogs twelve of the most
savage brutes in the hills.
"Why didn't they kill me when in their
power? From paleface standpoint it is
not to be accounted for. If had fled,
would have been slain. If I'd had my
pistols and resisted, it would have been
over with me in an instant But for me
to wait there without move whether to
run or resist and all motionless 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 displIy his approval, paused
in midpurpose and presented me with his
weapon. If it was anything white man
can pin name to, it wasa a fashion of sub
lime savage politeness.
These 12 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 pomp and respect, they going
their way, we going ours. .'-Exchange.
Malicious.
A.--When l see you, always think of
the proverb: To whom God gives an Office
IN hin, ha yivps 11ut1nrS 4 n udinp