The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-08-20
A Brush With ApaCheS.
BY p. WILBUR SHOOP.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

IT. HE long string of pack mules
i wound down through the dark,
arrow ravine of the Hasayampae river
hnyon, and crossing the dry bed of
Ae stream disappeared behind ledge
i rocks jutting out from the over
Rnging cliff. 1t was a lonely spot.
en miles below quartz mill had been
||ected, and five miles UP the river was
) sheep ranch. But here no sign of life
&peared, save the sinuous line of
ples vending their way across a
etch of alkali plain to the foothills
t beyond. The alkali dust, dry as
1der, crushed under the feet of the
mals and was waited away in little
rs at each successive step.
he straps fastening the load to the
ek of one of the animals became
sened, and | stopped TO fix them.
other mules filed past and left me
but quarter of mile behind. AS l
Juggling away at the straps, with
mule occasionally looking back at
with quizzical expression showing
My on its face, | heard sound as of
e one slipping over the rocks above.
mule looked up, shifted the air,
e sudden lurch, wrenching the
Rps from my hands, and dashed
Fly off toward the animals in the
probably now mile ahead, and
bdy on the summit of the nearest
'hill The tin buckets, provisions,
that formed the contents of it's
were strewn over the ground quite
piscuously.
Re other animals in the train, who
lously had been walking along in
eepy, mechanical way, and only
fhing their ears and swinging their
to vary the monotoffy, seemed to
! fected with the terror of the ami
4 that had broken away from me,
Joined it in a mad disorder. |
I, Jed back under the overhanging
of rock, and gazed after the ami
= wondering as to the cause of their
II n fright. just then a sharp re-
y rang out. | felt singing SEN
in my right ear, and could hear
o. met ping" clapped my hand
v ear; it was bleeding. Then the
Al for the mad fear of the mules
y 70 me. A mule that has been used
m. Indians are around soon learns
. q by intuition, it seems, whenever
near and, as they have an Unborn
thy toward them, never lose any
Co getting out of the reach of their
This one had fred at me
MD n a crevice in the rocks, but had
20 damage save to clip off the
ar my ear.
le we're not then expecting an out
id few months before Gen. Cook
ltn p'hered in the hostile Apaches
sas aced them under military con-
..on Inc former horrors were for
W., and we were at ease and off our
NV The only weapon l carried was
II revolver, a poor instrument to
lth a rifle in the hands of q
irsty savage.
W. ICED up through the break in the
$50 'ou saw an Apache, in full war
a peerng down to ascertain the
MS shot. AS kept still, he
HN ne had finished me, and so,
,pLE ils caution in his cupidity for
..rSr ie 'entured out from behind the
~ began climbing down. This
& DO" opportunity, and | drew my
'h ana fred at him. and had the
, Nd at gruesome satisfaction Of see.
1 iall across a rock. His rifle
IN from his hands, bounded
~ an nj : rocks and fell at my feet. |
ii liDs' up. | had previously sup
RRD u 10 be alone, but now dozen
:, sHG Selis burst from among the
~ ID Knew that was in for it.
RSD close to the rocky cliff and
NEE rom bowlder to bowlder, 1 ran
n prs Instance up the dried-up bed
dons er unperceised. l hid as best
80 rnu looEA'd roack. There were
: warriors, it seemed to me,
Nv .ne place where has been
'e'. soasI SHOT was fired.