Evening journal., 1897-03-12
AN APACHE CAPTIVE.
THz TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF LiT-
TLE kNlcETA CHAVEZ.

Much Of the sasuges Eioody Work.
nrutaiiy Treated hy the squaws.
During the last Apache war, ended
ten years ago, there worc two cases
where white children were taken pris-
oncrs by the Indians aud aftorward
wcrc recaphrcd and restored 20 their
fi ,nds, said q southwestern mining /
engineer
"Thc first of the children captured /
and rescued IN the last Apache war was
Santiago McKin TIE ether was little /
l0-ycsr-old Moxican girl, Aniccta Cha
ycz On Junc 20, 1885, detachment /
1i Mexican troops surprised Chief GCron- |
imO's band 40 miles southeast Cl Mag |
dalCra, in SCLcra So sudden was their
attack that the Indians fled, scattering
10 cover and at last making thcirosc0pe.
As the soldiers searched the scene of the
Gcht for the wounded ard the plundcr
thcy came upon q little girl, ragged and
baICiooted, hiding among the rocks.
She was a child Of Mexican blood, and
wien she was made aware ihat these
al cut her were of her own race and
uicndly she told them her name and
story.
"Sho was Aniccta Chavez, who had
been adopted into thc family Of a ranch
man named Peck, living near Calaba-
sas, A. n. On the previous April 27,
when Geronimo made his bloody raid
into the Santa Cruz valley, ho killed
Mrs. Peck aud her young child, but
carried Aniccta into captivity. That be
should do 30 surprising a thing as TO
spare her life was due probably TO the
/ fact that in case Of ultimately being
compelled 20 surrender TO the Unitcd
/ States ucCps be might secure better
! terms by having a prisoner 20 deliver
/ up to the whites So The girl was hur-
red along with her captors and COM
/ PEELED 90 witness the other murders that
they committed after their slaughter at
the Peck ranch.
'It was hard work for her 20 keep up
WITH her captors, but her life depended
omit Several times that Gay the squaws
would have killed her, but Geronimo
would not suffer il, though be allowed
them TO abuse and beat her % their
hearts content But she was only at
the beginning Of her troubles From
the Santa Cruz valley thc Indians
swung back to the Sierra Madre, and
their long journey through mountains
aud desert was q rough and cruel one.
The Indians, pursued ccasolessly hy
troops on both sides of The Mexican bor.
Ger, travelled an day, never stopping
for two nights in the same place. Their
one moal "a day, which they aic at night,
consisted usually of horschcsh, bat II
this were lacking and they we've rot
too closely followed tie band scattered
! the bucks in search of small game ant
: the women TO gather snakes, lizards
, grubs and edible rccts and plants viii
. which TO make ont satisfying meal
Q Their only baggage, handled always b'
the squaws. consisted Cf blankets ar,
parcoses IN Baskets together with an,
plumber they desired 10 take alorg Th'
bucks carried their rifles grd two belt
of cartridges each. USUALLY tLQ Irliau
had plenty ci lCIscs Go ride, bat tlCl
d.d their Fighting on iCC. lLCy had ca
collont feldglasscs, captured from the
whites, and these they used constantly
. In travelling, one Indian rode in advance
of the band, exploring for danger
ahead while another, mounted ON
. specially good horse, rode far in th
Z rear TO signal 10 the others information
D Of any signs he might see Of pursui
= and ready at the right time TO spur for
q ward and warn them.
"The Indian bucks, while they tool
little notice Of Anicota, were not un
y kind 20 her, but 90 keep up with Oh
party i'm its endless marching through
a mountainous country was fearful tas
p for q child. Sometimes they followc
d trails and again tlavcrsod "a tracklos
region, often climbing heights So stcc
: that the Indians had 90 dismOunt an
lead their horses. When travelling afooi
:. sho was cautioned never Co SGT her foe
r. On soft soil. but only on rocks or grass
e This was that her footprints might nC
4 beuay the route the party was taking
Whom pursuit was net hot after thci
be and there WAS no danger in sight, G.,
s. ronimo would carry hcr on bis horse.
!, their fight the Indians found time fC
j. considerable numbering and plunderin
M of the whites. She found tho squav
r. uuc llocdthirsty and cruel thau Oh
81 lr,lf, ard ihoy were ever eager to hac
and uutilgte the bodies of amy wlii
pels whom the warriors had killed.
'N hero The Indians travelled she ha
7. no IDEA. except that they kept almo
NJ altogether in the mountains. From q
p character Of the scenery as she dccrihC
te it and the few buildings She saw q
IS. Indians must have kept most of q
in time wholly south of the Moxican bo
is der II was the suddonnoss of the q
Q, tack by the Mexicm troops that save
~ the girls life. for If the squaws had an
~ been for the panic stricken th'
i. would have killed her 90 prevent h
k. being rCcantured But fortunately, D
IA coming separated from them In ihc co
d. fusion. she remained in hiding whi
30 they lcd When found by the Mexican
ie she was in good condition physical
q and mentally, except that She was wo
ly fatigue and exposure and her ia
was swollen from the bcatings Of q
r. squaws Soon after her recupture q
f. Mexicahs delivered her 10 tho Unit