Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-03-20
AN APACIIE CAPTIVE.
THE TERRlBLE EXPERIENCE OF LII
TILE ANlCETA CHAVEZ.

Captured 10y Gsron;mo's Rand and Dragged
About For Two Months - Witnessed
Much of the enynscs' bloody Work.
Hrutally Treated by the SQuaws.
During the last Apache war, ended
ten wears ago. there were two cases
where white children We're taken pris-
oners by the Indians aud aftcrward
were recapnrcd and restored to their
friends, -" said southwestern mining
engineer.
1.-The first OF the children captured
and rescued in the last Apache war was
Santiago MclIin The other was Il little
l0-ycm-old Mexican girl, -Aniccta Cha
vez. On June 20. 1856, Il detachment
of Mexican troops surprised Chief Gteron-
mos band 10 miles southeast Of Mag
dalena, in Sonora. So sudden was their
attack that the Indians fled, scattering
to cover and at last making their escape.
AS the soldiers searched the scene OF the
fight for the wounded and the plumber
they came upon little girl, ragged ard
barcfooted, hiding among the rocks.
She was child Of Mexican blood, and
when she was made aware that those
about her were OF her own race and
friendly she told them her name and
story.
''Shc was Aniccta Chavez, who had
been adopted into the family of ranch
man named Peck, living near Calaba-
sas, y. 7. On the previous April 81,
when Geronimo made his bloody raid
into the Santa Cruz valley, he killed
Mrs. Peck and her young child, but
carried Aniceta into captivity. That he
should do so surprising II thing rs to
spare her life WAS due probably to the
fact that in case Of ultimately being
compelled to surrender TO the United
States troops he might secure better
terms by having prisoner TO deliver
up to the whites. So the girl WAS hur-
ricd along with her captors and COM
PEELED 10 witness the other murders that
they committed after their slaughter ut
the Peck ranch.
lit was hard work for her TO keep up
with her cartcrs, but her life depended
on it. Several times that day the squaws
would have killed her, but Geronimo
would rot suffer it, though he allowed
them 70 abuse and beat her to their
hearts content. But she was only ut
the beginning of her troubles. From
the Santa Cruz valley the Indians
swung back to the Sierra Madre, and
their long journey through mountains
and desert was rough and cruel one.
The Indians, pursued ceaselessly by
troops on both sides of the Mexican Dor.
der. travelled al day. never stopping
for TWO nights III the same place. Their
one meal 4 day, which they atc ii night,
consisted usually Of horsctlosh. tut If
this were lacking and they were not
100 closely followed the band scattered,
the bucks il search OF small game and
the women to gather snakes, lizards,
cruls and edible roots and plants with
which to make out Il satisfying meal.
Their only baggage, handled always by
the squaws, consisted of blankets and
papcoses in baskets, together with any
pluuder they desired to take along. The
bucks carried their rifles and two belts
OF cartridges each. Usually the Indians
had plenty of horses 10 ride, but they
did their fighting on fooy. They had ex
cellent fcl,iglpsses, captured from the
whites, and these they used constantly.
In travelling, one Indian rode i'll advance
Of the band, exploring Tor dangers
ahead, while another, mounted Gu a
specially coed horse. rode far il the
rear 10 signal TO the others information
Of any signs he might see of pursuit
and ready at the right time to spur for
ward and warE them.
THE Indian bucks, while they took
little notice Of Aniceta, We're not IN
kind to her, but to keep up with the
party in lis endless marching through q
mountainous country WAS a fearful task
for child Sometimes they followed
trails and again traversed Il trackless
region. often climbing heights so steep
that the Indians had TO dismuunt and
lead their horses. When travelling afcot,
she WAS cautioned never TO set her foot
on soft soil, but only Oh rocks or grass.
This was that her footprints might not
betray the route the party was taking.
When pursuit Was Tot hot after them
and there WAS 10 danger III sight, Ge-
ronin.o would carry her on his horse. In
their flight the Indians found time for
considerable numbering and plundering
Of the whites. She found the squaws
more bloodthirsty and cruel than the
bucks, and they were ever eager to hack
and mutilate 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 in the mountains. From the
character Of the scenery as she described
it and the few buildings she saw the
Indians must have kept most Of the
time wholly south of the Mexican Dor
der. 1t was the suddenness OF the at
tack by the Mexican troops that saved
the girl 5 life, for if the squaws had not
been for tie moment panic stricken they
would have Killed her to prevent her
being recapturcd. But fortunately, be-
coming separatcd from them in the con-
fusion, she remained i'll hiding while
t!ley fed When found BY the Mcxicans,
she was III good condition physically
and mentally, except that she was worn
by fati.ue and exposure, AID her face
was swcllei from the bcatiEss Of the
squaws. Seen aftor hcr lccapiule the
No,.ic.ns delivered Ter 10 fhc United