The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
BRAVE WOMEN OFTHE WEST
MRS HLLPIUg LONG HERoISM
SNOWY AGAINST APhCHES.

Husband and Sons-womon who Helm
Their Husbands-TraR sdies which Mrs.
Garner Has Seen Taken Part In.
PHOENIX. Ariz.. juno 12.-There are heroic
women In Arizona whose lives In the hands
81 literary artist would make stories that
would thrill the world They are herones Of
the flrst order. Yet their names are scarcely
known away from the valleys aud the lonely
mountains where they 1.-Two. Talk about heroic
men facing mortal dangers on the battlefield
Chere are women In Arizona who have braved
the horrors Of Indian attack every day for
twenty years and more.
The story OF the life OF Bridget Halptn Is 30
typical OF what other women in New Mexico and
Arizona have gone through that Il Ia worth
telling. In 1878 Peter Halpn and his wife and
two boys. IL and IA years old. came from Dem
YER to Arizona. Peter and his wife were ma
tives OF Ireland, and had been living IN mining
camps in Colorado for several years. They
were strong and resolute and were determine ed
TO win success. A prospector had secretly
shown Halpin a lot Of specimens OF silver and
gold ores. They werel the richest Halpin had
ever seen. Two OF them assayed at $4,000
and $4,000 a ton.
"Butit'll do no one any good to mine where
them chunks OF ore came FROM" said the pros
pector. when the Halpins' enthusiasm was at
It's height.
why not2" said Halpin.
because them chunks are out OF a ledge
that's down In the Superstition Mountains in
Arizona. where the PEACHES and Pimas are
thicker'n blackbirds and where no white man
can live month without oomin' to his death and
soapn'. Them PEACHES are the worst tribe
alive. Them mines are awful rich. but It's
signin' ones death certificate to go mimi
down there"
For weeks Halpin and his vile talked Of the
wonderful gold and silver lodges that lay In the
Superstition Mountains. One day Halpin said
he had about decided to 60 and locate the
mines. Mrs. Halpin agreed to the proposition,
but she said:
My interests are your interests. Peter. and
where you go. I'll CO. too II you risk your life
among the Apaches for me. I'll 60 and risk
mine too. Well stand together"
So 1t came about that the Halpin family, in
prairie schooner drawn by q team OF mules
drove slowly over the Rocky Mountains down
into Arizona. through the alkali wastes to the
bald and desolate Superstition Mountains The
Apaches and Pimas were quiet that year. The
Halpins built rough pine cabin on the southern
slope. and Halpin set out to prospect for tho
gold and silver mines Four months later
three moro families moved down from Colo
RADIO to try their luck In tho mountains. But
the Apaches were very far from being subdued.
The next April the San Carlos tribe went upon
the warpath again. 1t would take volume to
tell In detail the atrocities perpetrated by the
Indians during that spring and summer. Seven
women and the children with them were hacked
and slashed to pieces by painted Apaches In ono
morning. cabins were burned over the dead
bodies OF the white settlers. cows were driven
away and horses were stolen. The yells OF In
dams returning from murder and rapine
startled the Halpin family in their cabin on
many nights. and each time there wore reasons
TO believe that their own home would be sur
rounded by the savages before next dawn.
Hapin hid beneath an overlapping ledge Of
rock one summer day when the savuges came
after him to kill him. and he thereby escaped
them. Whom night came on he crept home
ward three miles, expecting to find the cabin
in ashes and the bodies OF his wife and boys in
the ruins. When at last he turned the trail and
saw his wife and boys alive and well he sank
unconscious from Joy on the floor
Mrs Halpin. too had had her share OF fright on
that day. She had barred tina door at the first
appearance Of band Of Apaches creeping
stealthily up the grade toward the house, and
had sat rifle In hand all day peering in every
direction through chinks In the pine walls OF
the rude cabin. The Indians had no idea how
many guns were within aimed at them, and
after time they stole away from the scene.
The next day pursuing cavarymcn brought
news OF the massacre of a family Of five chill
dren and mother only mile and a half away
to the west. Every few weeks thereafter during
the summer the Hapins had cause to sit for
davat a time guns In hand Watching for signs
NJ Indian apnroach MANY , ni1bt tha bus-
Land and ,vifa tool turing ar atonIino onorI in
THAR Ionslv cabin while tho hovs sl.nt
"' iI"uo 'l'' 'Du's L." "Vl''". ',r'
h ~ . "a. 49, 800 ",so i",.'.'''
"eio .',o ms ,, AZ "''" " i"''a" '"N"Hee
abounded. is still a matter OF wonder even
"lnonk 'Ne oiu-.'inetS y. ','e teIl'oly, 'ho
IS " Sa5 ,i'' eno 'ou'u no' i've "''n'u'
. .op'I auu "e. po''. aiu ~ rp"H 10 my
I.e, so,''' , nOe Nv e.so" ieto s''e n"u
.s"' W., n v'io'', e'9,'u nei t,'oo wa,
tn. danger, and so she staved Two venrs
later Halnin was returning IN bis cehin from a
nrosnoctinp trin over tha other sida ~ tina
mountain. with two other man and tho marty
was caught in Il narrow detllo by "A party of In