Evening journal., 1897-03-20
AN APACHE CAPTIVE.
THE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF LIT
TIE ANlcETA CHAVEZ.

During the last Apache war, ended |
ten years ago, there were two cases |
where white children were taken pris-
oners by the Indians ard afterward |
were recaptured and restored to their
friends, - sold a southwestern mining |
engineer.
"The first of the children captured |
and rescued IN the last Apache war WAS
Santiago McKin. The other was a little
lO-yesr-old Mexican girl, Aniceta Cha
vcz. On June 20, 1890, a detachment
Of Mexican troops surprised Chief Geron
imos band 40 miles southeast Of Mag.
dalena, in Sonora. So sudden was their
attack that the Indians fed, scattering
TO cover and at last making their escape.
As the soldiers searched the scene Of the
fight for the wounded and the plur6el
they came upon a little girl, ragged and
barofcotcd, hiding among the rocks.
She was a child Of Mexican blood AID
when she was made aware that these
about her were Of her own race and
friendly she told them her name ard
story.
"Sho was Aniccta Chavez, wEo had
been adopted into the family Of a ranch.
man named Peck, living near Calaha-
sas A. T. On the previous April 27.
when Geronimo made his bloody raid
into the Santa Cruz valley, he killed
Mrs Peck ard her young child, but
carried Aniceta into captivity That lie
should do so surprising a thing as to
spare her life was due probably to tie
fact that in case Of ultimately being
compelled to surrender to The United
States troops he might secure better
terms by having a prisoner TO deliver
up to the whites. Sc the girl was hur-
ried along with her capiors and com
PEELED TO witness the other murders that
they committed after their slaughter at
the Peck ranch
at was hard work for her to keep mp
VITA her captors, but her life depended
on it. Several times that day the squaws
would have killed her, Lut Geronimo
would not suffer it, though he allowed
them to abuse and beat her to their
hearts content. But she was only at
the beginning Of her troubles. From
the Santa Cruz valley the Indians
swung back to the Sierra Madre, and
their lcng journey through mountains
and desert was q rough and cruel one.
, The Indians, pursued ceaselessly by
troops on both sides Of the Mexican Dor
/ der, travelled all day, never stopping
r for two nights in the same place. Theil
one meal a day, which they ate at night,
} consisted usually of horsofesh, but il
this were lacking and they were not
10 too closely followed the band scattered
the bucks in search Of small game anC
the women to gather snakes, lizards
cruls and edible roots ard plants will
/, which to make out satisfying meal
: Their only baggage, handled always l.,
the squawg, consisted Of blankets an'
L papooses in baskets, together With an.
l. plumber they desired to take along. TIL
5, bucks carried their rifles and two belt
Of cartridges each Usually the Indian
had plenty Of horses to ride, but the
did their fighting on foot. They had ez
l. cellent feldglasses, captured from th
e whites, and these they used constantly
e In travelling, one Indian rode in advarc
!, OF the band, exploring for danger
- ahead, while another, mounted en-
specially good horse, rode far III u
rear to signal to the others informatic
Of any signs be might see Of pulsu
=, ~ ard ready at the right time to spur fo,
v ward and warn them.
\ 1.-The Indian bucks, while they tee
). little notice Of Aniceta, were not u
4 Kind to her, but to keep up with Il
ct party in its endless marching through
n mountainous country was a fearful tai
for child. Sometimes they followC
trails and again traversed a trackle
region, often climbing heights so stc'
that The Indians had to dismUunt al
ID lead their L,ugCs When travelling afco
she was cautioned rcvor TO set her fc
al cn soft sell. hut only on rocks or gras
L. This was that her footprints might II
l. betray Tie route the party was takin
~ When pursuit was net hot after the
he and there was 10 dungcr in sight, G
~ ronimo would carry her cn bis horse.
d. their fight the Indians fouEd time !
he considerable numbering ard plunderi'
r. of the whites. She found the squa'
he mere bloolthirsty and cruel tkan
he tucls, and they were ever eager TO ha
;e- and nlutilate the bodies Of any wb
lc- person whom the warriors had killed
en- - W mere the lnululh uoFS-So Sio -
oy no idea, except that they kept alm
o's altogether in the mountains. From
On character of the scenery as she eoscrif
III. it and the few buildings she saw
at Indians must have kept most OF
&c. time wholly south Of the Mexican b
lth der. 1t was the suddenness Of the
tack by the Mexican troops that sa7
is the girls life, for if the squaws had
tax been for tie moment panic stricken Il
do would have killed her to prevent
IA being rccaptured. But fortunately,
rec coming separated from them IN the
dc- fusion, she remained in hiding wi
om they fed. When found by the Mexica
rs she was in good condition physics
md and mentally, except that she was W
, to by fatigue and exposure, and her
90 was swollen from the beatings Of
rouaws. Seen after her recspture
70. Mexicans delivered her to the Uni
thc States authorities. who took measJ
ood TO restore her TO her friends. ] saw
ill coon after her return to Arizona
l., brown faced. dark eyed child handso