The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-22
SHREVD BRAVES.
How the Apache Indians Fool Uncle
Sam.
Incidents Which Make the Tender
foot Open His Eyes Very
Wide.

Six months on the Southwestern
frontier are always of interest, even to
the frontiersman, but when in period
OF that length a tenderfoot of the ten
0erest type sees duel, is drafted in as
courier during an Indian scare that
was too much of a reality to suit even
the pioneers, and is given a lesson IN
science by an Apache warrior, it is put
ting it mildly to say that he found his
stay in that section of the country very
interesting
In the spring of 1885 the writer, be-
ing DESTROYS of satisfying that intense
and painful craving for excitement and
adventure that takes possession of
nearly every man of that age-and l
use the word man" advisedly, for who
did not feel himself more of man at
Is than at 30-turned his back on the
conservative, staid and effeminate
East and started for Southern New
Mexico, which at that time had been
brought to the attention of the public
by reason of the raids of Billy the
Kid" My destination was Deming,
about ninety miles west of FL Paso,
Texas, and at the junction of the San
"a Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads.
anu consequently O1tc III tic 4IlCSl Iii
portant distributing points in that SEE
zion of the Territory. There were at
that time about 300 one-story frame
and adobe buildings in the place, beside
which the palatial union depot re-
minded one of a massive peak in the
midst of foothills
The majority of the inhabitants Of
the town We're Texans, the proportion
OF Norherners being SO small that it
could hardly be taken into account
Within a few days 1 learned that if a
man wanted to become immensely pop
MAR with everybody, he should attend
strictly to his own business and also
refrain from advertising the fact that
ne came from any particular part Of
the country. There were men IN the
town who had grudges against certain
places, especially their former resi-
dences, and to maintain unruffied Sc
Ienity al along the line I soon discov-
cred that Deming was the only place on
earth to the most of the inhabitants.
! readily became acclmated to the pre-
vailing temperament, and was soon
given opportunities TO make interesting
and exciting observations.
1t should be borne in mind that the
old residents Of Southwestern New
Mexico have only a hazy recollection Of
the appearance of meadow grass. The
town of Deming is located in the cen
ter of sandy plateau which is bound
ed by the Mogollon Mountains on the
north, the Organ Mountains Of Texas
on the east. the Floridas on the south,
and a high range near the Territorial
boundary line on the west. Und0ubt-
eddy the plateau was at one time the
bed of a sea. The only vegetation is
mesquite bushes. The high winds DRIFT
the sand to the roots of the bushes,
and there small lizards, or swifts. as
they are called, make their home. One
morning a friend invited me to accom-
pany him to the edge of the town and
promised to show me something that
would amuse. AS we walked through
the mesquite bushes / noticed the little
swifts darling here and there and was
told that they We're called "swifts'' be-
cause of their rapid movements.
Have a shot at one of them?' in
quired my friend, at the same time
pressing a 45-caliber Colt revolver into
my hand.
I accepted the gun, and after little
tie swift sitting on a mound of sand,
and pulled the trigger. To my intense
surprise / saw that the swift had lost
its tail by the shot.
Good shot" volunteered my COM
panion 1 agreed with him, but men
tally resolved to keep secret the fact