Arizona republican., 1896-12-13
CAVE OF DEAD MEMS BONES
DeSolate, GreWsome Spot Near
 the Four Peaks.
The Remains Of Human Bodies Left to Mark the Scene of a Desperate Battle Between the Apache S and White Men.

Peaks is a canyon surrounded by tow ering, precipitous cliffs. It is wild uncanny spot and seldom do the foot steps of the hunter or prospector ven ture into the dark and gloomy depths of this seam in the mountains. This wild region has been the scene of many conflicts in the days when Ari zona's fair name was plotted by the barbarous and cruel deeds of the mer- ciless Apaches.
 In the canyon, through which flows nameless stream, is cave-cave in name only, for the action of the stream when swollen by the melting snows from the Four Peaks has undermined the cliff, creating a large cavern.
 Once in awhile a daring adventurer winds his way into this wildly pictur esque and solitary region. The de- clivity in the cliff is noted and the ad- venturer scrambles blindly over the huge boulders that are strewn in front of the cave, totally unaware of what is before him. Reaching the mouth of the opening the climber recoils in horror and the first impulse is to flee from the place. Scattered thickly over the rocky floor of the cavern are innumerable bones, with here and there a skull In this desolate spot a feeling of fear overcomes the adven- turer, for in that chamber of death the rippling of the stream and the sOugh- ing of the winds do not penetrate; complete silence holds dominion over the gruesome spot.
 Propped against the wall of the cav ern rests a human skeleton, which sits undisturbed by the wild animals that abound in that region, or by relic seek CTS. Hundreds of cartridge shells and broken arrows may be found in the some fearful conflict years ago, and the whitened bones, guarded by the human skeleton, will probably remain for years to come, mute evidence of carnage and bloodshed.
 
 In '72 the Fifth cavalry was organ ized by General Crook at Fort Grant for the purpose of either subduing or eXterminating Masses. murderous band of Apaches along the San Pedro river. The Indians were terrorizing the entire country by their deeds of violence and Crook had been putting forth his best efforts to bring the cut threats under restraint through the powder and ball remedy. General Howard, on the other hand, was en- deavoring to secure peace by treaty but the savages showed their contempt for peace by continuing to murder and pillage Generals Crook and How ard had a conference, in which the for mer was for declaring war and the lat ter for a peaceful settlement with the Apaches.
 Shortly after the conference the re- port was received that one of the gov ernment employees at the agency had been killed General Crook immedi. ately ordered out the troops in de. tachments to take the trail. of the In dians. One of the attachments o1 forty men was in command of Major Brown With his detachment were assigned two Mexican scouts. These men were versed in the Apache Ian guage and their mode of warfare They had been stolen from their par ents in Mexico when children ant for sixteen years lived with the Apach es. They finally escaped from the In dians and entered the employ of tht government as scouts, their knowl edge proving of valuable assistance tt the troops in several instances.
 With Major Browns detachmen was detailed Hospital Steward Phi Sheridan, who was to serve in the ca pacity of acting physician. The de tachment had been out only a shor time when the lynx-eyed scouts discov cred the trail, which was persistent. followed to a place in the mountain now known as Globe. Here the troop camped for day and dined for tn first time in several days on beef, tn Indians having run a bunch of cattl into the hills, and the troopers coul, not resist a tempting repast of fresl meat.
 In the meantime the Indians hat proceeded toward Tonto Basin, where becoming aware that the troops wer on the trail, the band divided. Tn detachment again went into camp a Grape Vine Springs for two days an the scouts were sent out to reconnoit CT, on the night of the second day They returned shortly and reporte that the Apaches' signal fires wer burning on the Mazatal range clos by. The following morning the de tachment made preparations for pur suit and in order to make rapid pro gress the pack train was left behin with a guard.
 The scouts quickly found the trail C the Indians, which led down a canyo There was evidence that the Apache were near at hand and the scouts 500 learned that they were hiding in a cav in the canyon. The trail led directl