El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-23

The following account OF the death
OF this blood-thirsty Apache was given
the writer by Mr.. Ferguson, an old
frontiersman and Indian fighter, and
the owner of one of those large trains
that, before the days of railroads and
Pullman palace cars, were used to baul
goods from St. Louis and Santa Fe
down into Chihuahua, Mexico. Mr..
Ferguson had 1efS Santa Fe, N. M,
with ten large wagons, each wagon
having ten mules to haul it. Besides
these he had some extra mules and q
few saddle ponies, while Mr.. Ferguson
himself rode an unusually fine saddle
mule.
The writer will give the account in
the words of Mr.. Ferguson, as taken at
the store of Mr.. Lawrence. In 81 Paso,
cannot recall his christian name. He
was a small, wiry Irishman, with q
sharp nose and keen grey eyes that re-
minded one of hawk, and every line OF
his face showed he knew no such word
as fear. Had he been at DonuybrOOk, the
spalpeen that trodlon his cOAt-tail would
have had war on his hands instanter.
Mr.. Ferguson said: 81 was on my
way to chihuahua in lS49, and had ar
rived nearly at Berendo Springs, in
old Mexico, when 1 saw a cloud of dust
out that it was quite formidable band
of indians heading for the same water.
l ordered my men to whip up, and we
made as quick time as possible, and
beat the Indians to the water. AS
soon as they yot near they saw we had
driven our wagons so as to form cor
raj around the spring. This spring
was the only water nearer than Cora
Htos, where there was quite large
hacienda, and the ore from the silver
mines was smelted.
"The Indians proved to be hundred
warriors, under the noted Apache
chief Mangas Colorado, Red Sleeve or
Bloody Sleeve. They formed in line of
battle and Msngas rode towards my
train, making signs for me to come out
and talk. So 1 went out to meet him,
looking well to my arms first. He was
very insolent in his bearing, and de-
ma aded that 1 should pay him, as trib
ute for permission to pass through his
country, my riding mule, five sacks of
corn, and cigars enough for all his war
riors. This would have been an easy
way out of the trouble, provided any
faith could have been put In his word.
had only five Americans besides my
self, and five Mexicans. My wagon
master, Bradford Bailey. was q brave
man and a good shot, and all my men
were armed with the favorits rifle Of
that day, made by Hawkins, of st.
Louis. All bad dragon Colts revol-
vers-fve-shooters, aud I knew my
Mexicans would stand by me. In fact,
we had to fight or all be killed.
'Old Maugas kept us surround ed for
four days, during which time we never
unhitched our mules, feeding and
watering them where they stood. Each
day we had talk, each one going un-
armed in front of his men, and in per-
fectly open ground. MsnRas said he
Intended to stay until he starved our
mules, killed US and took all our goods,
which he could have done, as he could
send part of his warriors off to water
at the Corrslitos river and still have
men enough left to prevent US from
sending a courier to the hacienda of
Corralitos or moving our train.
1.-THE fourth morning 1 concealed my
bowie knife and went out to meet Man
gas. 1 told Bailey thst'unless Mangas
would agree to leave with his men, L
intended to kill him or be killed, acd
if a fight came off not TO come to my
assistance but stay with the wagons, as
the Indians would be sure to charge |