The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-30


While he and Manuel finished tn
meager remains of our breakfast. Dol
Ramon gave an account of his own ad
ventures of the night before The STAN
pede of his mules had undoubtedly
saved the lives of all his party. Tn,
thirst OF the animals was the cause o
their breaking away, and they had gone
straight to the playa 10 follow anC
catch them had consumed the remaindel
of the night and the episode had boCl
the cause OF the absence of Don Ra
mons party from his camp at the tim,
it was raided by the Apaches
We proceeded to patch mp a haInes,
for the mules from such parts of THEN
gear as the Apaches had left. helped out
by lariats and bits of cord The carriage
when righted we found to be uniniured
for travel, and, after considerable labor,
we Were able to attach the mules to IT
and resume our journey eastward in
company with the Mexican party.
Our progress was necessarily slow,
and il was high noon before we reached
the san Simon stage station. There we
found the stock corrallCd and the sta
ton keeper and his herders at the house
They had received no news of an Indian
outbreak, but had taken warning by the
Apache fires in the mountains and had
driven up their grazing stock the day
before. No blackboard had come from
the west and they were anticipating
news of disaster. We were the first to
bring them news that the Apaches had
passed up the valley We were invited
TO dinner and arrangements were made
by which a set of harness was fur
nished Don Ramon. Accepting the cor.
dial invitation of the station keeper, we
decided to remain where we were dur.
ing the remainder of the day
The force at the station consisted OF
the keeper and two assistants. whose
principal duty was herding The &C.
cesslon of our party made IA strong force
for defense. In the afternoon the stock
was turned out to Craze in the immedi-
ate neighborhood, guarded by Felix and
one of the station herders. Don Ramon,
wearied with his vigil and exertion of
the night before, went to long siesta
on the mud bench that surrounded the
common room of the station. Carmen
and Dolores retired for the same pur-
pose to an inner apartment.
Manuel offered to assist in the guard
ing of the stock, but he, poor fellow,
was so tired and sleepy that Felix vol
unteered to go in his stead and give
him chance of repose. The rest of us
sat about the door of the station mend |
ing harness, smoking, talking and |
the plain. Occasionally some |
one climbed to the roof and made a care.
full inspection of the country far and |
near. A large party of men were in
sight coming rapidly on foot toward the
station from the west When they were
near enough to be distinguished, they
were seen to be Indians.
The men herding were signaled to
drive up the stock, which was soon
done and the animals corralled. Every
preparation was made for defense, and
in readiness to retreat within we stood
with our arms about the door of the
station watching the advancing party.
Some were mounted, and as they came
near were revealed as white men in the
address uniform of the United States
army
That's what thought all along"
remarked the station keeper. resting
MS rife against the adobe walls and
taking a comfortable chew of tobacco
There's no trouble from them They
are Apache scouts "
The Indians, travelling at dog trot.
we're 500 yards away, when an officer.
evidently in command, rode ahead and
nailed the station. He was a voung
man OF pleasant yet reSolute expression,
With a quick flashing eye, and his seat
n the saddle was superb His clothes
md slouched hat Were white with dust.
md his bronzed face showed that he
lad had much recent campaigning He
vas followed at little distance by two
'ther officers.
Have you water here for my horses ,
md mon:' he asked.
II reckon So" replied the station