The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-13
AN APACHE CAPTIVE.
THE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF LIT
TILE ANlCETA CHAVEZ.

Captured by Gcronimo's Band ami Dragged
About For Two Months = Witnessed
Much of the s:.vngcs DIoody Work.
isrutally Trcntcd by the Squayys.
During the last Apache war, ended
ten years ago, there were two cases
where white children were taken pris-
oncrs by the Indians and aftcrward
were recapturcd and restored to their
friends" said southwestern mining
engineer.
Tho first of the children captured
and rescued ill the last Apache war was
Santiago McKin. The other was a little
1O-year-old Mexican girl, Aniceta Cha
vez. On June 20, 1856, a detachment
OF Mexican troops surprised Chief Gcron-
mos band 40 miles southeast of Mag
dalena, i'll Sonora. So sudden was thcii
attack that the Indians fled, scattering
TO cover and ut last making their escape.
AS the soldiers searched the scene of the
tight for the wounded and the plumber
they came upon Il little girl, ragged and
barefootcd, hiding among the rocks.
She was IL child of Mexican blood, and
when she was made aware that those
about her We're of her own race and
friendly she told them her name and
story.
She was Aniccta CHAVEZ. who had
been adopted into the family of Il ranch
man named Peck, living near Calaba-
sas, a. L. On the previous April p.
when Geronimo made his bloody raid
into the Santa Cruz valley, he killed
Mrs. Peck and hcr young child. but
carried Anlceta into captivity. That he
should 60 so surprising u thing as tn
spare her life was due probably 70 The
TACT that III case of ultimately being
compelled to surrenti,r to the United
States troops he might secure better
terms by having Il prisoner to deliver
up to the whites. So the girl was hur
ricd along with her captols and com.
PEELED to witness the other murders that
they committed after their slaughter IT
the Peck ranch.
1t was hard work for her to keen up
with her captols, but her life depended
lit. Several times that day the suuaws
would have killed her. but Geronimo
would not suffer IT, though he allowed
them to abuse and beat her To their
hearts content. But she was only AT
the beginning of her troubles From
the Santa Cruz valley the Indians
swung back to the Sierra Matlre, and
their long journey through mountains
and desert was Il rough and cruel one
The Indians, pursued ccasclessly by
troops on both sides of the Mexican Dor.
der, Travelled all day, never stopping
Tor two nights i'll the same place Their
one meal Il day, which they ate ut night
consisted usually of horsehcsh. but if
this We're lacking and they were not
too closely followed the band scattered.
the bucks i'll search of small game and
the women TO gather snakes. lizards
Grubs and edible roots and plants with
which TO make ont IL satisfying meal
Their only baggage, handled always by
the squaws, consisted OF blankets and
papooscs i'll baskets, together with any
plumber they desired to take along. The
bucks carried their rifles and two belts
of cartridges each Usually the Indians
had plenty of horses to ride, but ticv
Gid their fighting on foot. They had OK
cellent fieldclasses, captured from the
|. whites, and these they used constantly.
In travelling, one Indian rode i'll advance
OF the band, exploring for dangers
ahead, while another, mounted on a
specially good horse. rode far in the
rear 10 signal to the others information
OF amy signs Inc might see of pursuit
and ready ut the right time to spur for
ward and warn them.
The Indian bucks. while they took
little notice Of Anicct;, We're not mn
kind TO her, but TO keep up with the
party i'll its endless marching through q
mountainous country was IL fearful task
Tor Il child. Sometimes they followed
trails and again traversed Il tracklcss
region, often climbing heights so steep
that the Indians had to dismuunt and
lead their horses. When travelling afoot.
she was cautioned never to set her foot
on soft soil. but only on rocks or grass.
This was that her footprints might not
betray the route the party was taking.
When pursuit was not hot after them
and there was no danger i'll sight, Gle
ronimo would carry her on his horse. In
their flight the Indians found time for
considerable numbering and plundering
or the whites She found the suuaws
more b!oodthirsty and cruel than the
bucks, and they We're ever eager to hack
and mutllate the bodies of any white
person whom the warriors had killed.
Where the Indians travelled she had
no idea, except that they kept almost
altogether III the mountains. From the
character Of the scenery us she described
1t and the few buildings She saw the
Indians must have kept most of the
time wholly south of the Mexican hor-
der. 1t was the suddcmcss Of the at
tack by the Mexican troops that saved
the girls life, for if the squaws had not
been for the moment panic stricken they