Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-09-20
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her intention of going back to Arizona
with her husband, and accepting the
warmly proffered hospitality of the
generals wife until their new quarters
should be in readiness. The mail. buck
board went on across the California
desert within an hour Of the Maritana's
arrival, and while Mrs. Cullen was
cordially welcomed by the little colony
of army wives and mothers at Whining
ton, her husband and her only son
hurried on to overtake the chief. 1t
was with infinite misgivings that she
let Randall go, but the boy pleaded
with all his heart and soul, Ind the
father decided. 81 promised hi-a that
he should cross the desert with me, he
said, instead of going round by sea,
will be as safe at Prescott or Camp
Sandy or Retribution as he is here-and
sdrs. G. 8 house is crowded now He is
wild to meet Leon again, and the two
boys can remain together at the post
while I'm in the field I'm only afraid
the fun will be all over before we get
there
And so it was settled.
Many time before the boy had been
his fathers companion in mountain
hunt or scout, but never when the
Apaches were swarming as at this mo-
ment. 1--WE shall find none of them
east of Date creek" said Cullen, land
east of there our escort will be too for
midable for them to jump Have no
fear for him" But what mother could
Danish fear for the safety of her only
boy2 No one saw her parting with the
brave, eager, blue-eyed little fellow.
Devotedly though he loved her, he was
soldier all over, like his father, and
eager to act the soldiers part-eager to
go with him to the seat of war, over
mountain pass and desert and treach-
erous stream bed, regretting, if any,
thing, that there was no likelihood of
encountering Indians on the way.
Tier heart was wt'ung yet like many
another army mother of the old army
days, she simply had to face the in
evitable. She was to follow with
in the fortnight with the generals
wife and their party of ladies, children
and servants by steamer around Old
California andup the gulf to the Colo
RADIO. By the time they reached Fort
Yuma the outbreak would probably be
all over and the Indians back in their
mountain homes-the troops in garri-
son. 1t was one of those temporary
separations mothers elsewhere mar
veled at and declared impossible, but
that army mothers wept over, yet
bowed to. Night and day for forty
eight hours while she prayed for them
within sound of the Pacific surges,
father and son whirled rapidly east
ward, across the turpid Colorado, rest
ing only an hour at Ehrenberg where
they changed buck board, mules and
driver, then on again by starlight,
gradually rising from billow to billow
softhe long leagues Of desolation to the
wild and picturesque scenery of the
Sierras, then through resinous forests
of pine, through rocky canyon and
winding gorge. until they were landed,
stiff and sore, dusty, hungry and
thirsty. among the log huts of the little
garrison at old Fort Whipple, catching
the department commander just two
days before even that impatient soldier
thought it possible.
Then, after refreshing bath and
few hours rest in the generals own big
ambulance. and escorted now by wary
troopers, away they went for the valley
of the Sandy. Everything indicated,
said the chief, that the Indians, after
sviping out the Santa Anita settlements,
had swooped upon the lower valley
while the garrison at Retribution was
in its state of transition, and very prob
ably they had made it lively for Thorn
ton Couriers had rushed to Col. Pei
ham at Camp Sandy with orders to send
strong columns southwark at once, one
of them following the valley to meet
the general at the fords just above
Apache canyon.
Away sped their strong sixmule team
down through the fertile Hassayampa,
across to the broad valley of Willow
creek, changing mules and escort at the
mountain ranch and getting all man
sner of startling news and rumors on the
way. Away at last for the Sandy, pass
ing early in the afternoon, while RAN
dy was doing in his corner, the foam
covered, t-begrimed pair, Muncey
and Cardoza-.'too badly stampeded to
stop and talk" said the sergeant COM
handing the escort, 'tbut shouting that
they alone had escaped"
1--WE should reach Retribution by
midnight" said the general. And
just won't hunt up Leon and wake
him and hug him the moment get
there, and won't he be amazed?" said
Randall, joyfully.
The story of the boys long tramp
home was familiar to one and all by
this time and had won the little fellow
host of friends among officers and
soldiers alike. mo one can believe
what that fellow Muncey says, though
have reason to think the Apaches
have reached the Sandy" said the gen.
eral And so on they went. rafting
and dumping and jolting down the
winding road to the east of the range,
and at last pulled up in the midst Of
Turner's troop at nightfall; and then
f-r tho Greet fiYao did Randall roolizo