Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-11-15


the rocks and stricken with terror. A
quarter of an hour before the five officers
had caught sight of cub bear on the 9th
er side Of the falls. They had gone up
stream a few rods and crossed on Il log,
but the shots we heard had not been fired
at the cub A band of 90 or more rene
gados who We're hiding in the foothills
had discovered the picnickers half an hour
before and were planning wipe out of ev-
cry soul when the officers moved. They
played right into the hands of the red men.
In their chase after the cub they left the
falls half mile behind and as they came
slowly back they found the Indians con-
fronting them. There was but one course
to make dash for it--and it was gal
lantly done The Indians were too strong
and too well posted, however. A lieuten-
ant was dropped dead in his tracks and a
major and captain wounded. That would
have left but two men against 20 but for
our presence.
The first move on our part, seeing that
the women and children were safe, was to
secure cover behind the powders and open
fire on the Indians. They had counted on
a sure thing, and their yells Of rage when
they knew Of our presence were loud and
long. We had them between two fires,
and yet SO well were they sheltered that
we could not get sight of a head. The red
skins knew that we had no means of know
ing that they had only two unwounded
men in front of them armed with revolv
ers. The women told us about the officers
going away in a body, but although there
had been severe firing we hoped none Of
them had been hit.
After we had fired three or four rounds
apiece the sergeant called out to know how
it was with the officers. The major an
swered, giving the names of the killed and
wounded. Three of the five were behind
the same bowlder and could use their re-
volvers. It was curious position in
which the three parties were placed, but
as the Indians were in such strong force
they could defend their front and rear at
the same time. If we left cover to cross
the creek, we would be exposed to certain
death. If they left cover to attack tho
camp, we had only to shoot them down.
What we feared was that they would get
out Of the trap by dashing upon the Off
GERS in front, or work to the left, and
finally take them in the rear. The women
and children could have been assisted
down the gorge and sent off at once but
no one thought of retreat until the order
came from the major. Three-quarters of
an hour after our arrival he hailed us to
say that Captain johnson, wounded by
the first volley, was dead. Lieutenant
Blaine, wounded at the same time, was
now helpless, and the Indians were work
ing to their rear on both TANKS The two
unwounded men-m fall back, carrying
the lieutenant with them, and hope to
reach a more secure spot. The sergeant
was ordered to send a messenger to the
fort and at the same time get the women
and children to the ambulance and off. The
escort was to see them to the fort, and tho
colonel would order out company to re-
turn.
A messenger was hurried off, and while
three men remained at the falls, the other
three helped the women and children down
and soon had them loaded up. Then two
Of the three men left at the falls appeared.
Sergeant Larkins had remained behind to
hold the bridge The sharp eyed Indians
would get on to the retreat in front and
rear, and they would no sooner become
aware Of the movement from the falls
than they would follow on. Both of the
sergeant had ordered them on, The am
bulance had scarcely turned wheel before
we heard the report Of his carbine and
realized that the Indians were seeking to
force the crossing. We counted a second
and third shot, and then started off, every
woman and child weeping and wailing.
At any moment we might run upon more
Indians, and it was not until we met
company of troopers within mile of the
fort that we felt safe. They halted for a
few seconds to ask for particulars, and
then tore ahead, and it was midnight be-
fore we knew the result Of their ride. AS
they reached the valley where we of the
escort had dismounted they heard occa-
sional shots from up the gorge. Most of
them were the reports Of winchesters, but
now and then they caught the heavier
sounds Of an army carbinc,
Sergeant Larkin was still holding the
bridge still waiting and hoping Fifty
dismounted men rushed up the gorge yell
ing and cheering as they went, and four
OF five Indians rose up from behind as
many powders and took to flight. Two
of them were brought down as they ran.
The others escaped. The sergeant had
scarcely been left alone when the Indians
attempted to cross by the log. He shot
two of them, and then q dozen or moro of
them worked up stream to another cross
ing and came crawling down on his side
He soon discovered what they We're at but
he would not retreat. They said he could
have passed down the gorge to the valley
and hidden away and saved his life but he
probably held his place under the idea that
ho srix fIn V,at1.a finfr ,fG
chance for their lives. Foot by foot the
Indians had crcpt upon him, and as the
cheers of tho rescuers were heard he re-
ceived the fatal bullet. He could speak
when they lifted his head.
"They are over that way" he replied as
they asked about the majors party.
Two minutes later, as his own captain
bent over him and spoke words of sym
pathy and wiped the bloody foam from his
lips, the sergeant asked:
did they reach the fort safely"
aYes'
II was afraid they would be wiped out
unless held the crossing She-she new
er spoke to me once and yet IL did it for
her sake-for her saker'
"For whose sake?" asked the captain
But the sergeant was dead
They found the major and his two COM
rades posted in the woods a mile away
waiting for rescue, but ready to fight to
the last, while the dead officers had been
spared the mutilation usually inflicted by
the heartless fiends At the fort some said
that Sergeant Larkins did not act with
good Judgment Others that he was a
hero. What Miss Bell said, If anything,
we never heard. She was doubtless thank
full as were the other ladies, but she never
suspected that the soldier loved her and |
died thinking Of her alone Some one
could have told her but he never did