The Van Buren press., 1897-05-15
FOR HIS FRIENDS SAKE

FOR HIS FRIENDS SAKE.
1t was in 1850 during my first over
land journey to California, that we ar
rived. shortly after shutdown one even
Jig. at the mouth of Crooked Pass, a
dark, tortuous rayine leading through
the ella Range.
As it was then too late to make the
passage before dark, our guide, Dave
Ingram, ordered us to eneamp on the
hank of a little stream, an afiiuent, |
believe. of San Carlos river.
At that time the cruel, bloodthirsty
Apaehes roamed everywhere over the
great plains and mountains of Arizona
(then part of New Mexicol numbering
and rebbing such helpless parties of
emigrants as they could take unawares
or oYerwhelm by superior numbers.
Though, owing to ineessant vigilance,
We had not yet lost a single one of our
g men, several of MS had received ugly
Errow-wounds in some of the numerous
scrimmagcs in which we had been,
from time to time, engaged so now,
being In a specially dangerous locality
we adopted every preeaution that the
veteran guides experience could sug-
Pest to guard against surprise. The
eight covered wagons were eorraled so
rs to form a hollow square into which
our little army of horses and mules
might be incosed after being tethered
ont TO feed for a few hours. arms and
ammunition were carefully inspected,
and the order duly arranged in which
the eight sentry squads, or four men
each. should keep one-hour watches
throughout the coming night.
Nearly all wild Indians of the Great
Plains. If they attack an encamped
party at all, generally do so just at
daybreak in the morning; but we knew
the Apaches sometimes broke through
this rule. When scalps and plumber
were in prospect, these ruthless saw
ages would frequently. in those days,
steal upon a silent camp at any hour of
the night, and if its occupants were
sleeping at the moment, few of them. in
deed, ever awakened this side of eternity
Hence, our astute leader left nothing
to chance, but always renewed the
ouadruple guard at such short intervals
that no man need become drowsy on his
post,
Besides our force of grown men,
there were two boys in the party-stur-
dy fearless young fellows of Is, who
felt much aggrieved at never having
been allowed to take part in the fight
ing, These youths, Walter Goodson and
Hugh Austin by name, though not at
all related, were bosom friends, and
each was always seeking some way of
showing his affection for the other.
Theirs was a friendship so unselfish, so
touchingly beautiful, that their re-
spective brothers, who were of the
party, often spoke of them as David
and Jonathan" And now had come
the time when both were to prove them
selves no less brave than those Biblical
heroes.
Our stock was that evening, permit
ted 10 Craze on the short, rich buffalo
grass until ten o'clock; then Walter
Goodson went out with his elder broth
er. both being unarmed, to bring the
animals into the corral. all the rest Of
the party, except the sentrics, having
lain down to sleep.
As was afterwards known, Walter,
being the more active Of the two, ran
On to tle end Of the line to draw the
lariat pins OF those horses which were
nearest TO the mouth Of the pass John,
the brother, having completed his part
CT The work. by forming the beasts he
was to secure into a string readyt 10 drive
u camp, waited some time fer the boy
10 come along with his drove, but could
hear no sound indicating it's approach.
ard the night was so dark that he could
se- nothing Mt a distance of ten yards
Impatient at the unaccountablc delay.
he at las. called out: Come. Walt.
hurry up You're too slow for any
thing"
There was no answer, and now he an
rrily shouted: Better quit fooling.
hoy, and bring the stock along quick.
It's time we were in bed. I've got to
stand guard from two to three. and
want some sleep"
Not word in reply. and, save the
qHerulous yelping Of prowling coyote.
no sound broke i'm upon the solemn still
ness OF the night. Greatly wondering.
though not yet seriously alarmed, Good
son now CROPPED his way to the farther
band of cattle. which should have con-
tanned six horses and the same num-
Der OF mules. Passing from one ani-
NAL to another. and counting ms be
went, he found but nine beasts I'm an.
Three Of the horses were gone, and no
SIGN OF his young brother could be
seen or heard, Then the fearful truth
daWncd upon him. As surely as II hc
had seen the deed. De felt convinced
that the horses and boy had been made
away with by Indians. though how 6,
lad been so silently done he could rot
imagine. especially as the outermost
Gentry pairolliue the line Of stock
ihouid have passed along Its whole
'-ngih al least four times iu the hour.