Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-27

Clarence Reavis, known to white men
as the Hermit of the Superstition
Mountains and TO the Apachcs. who
hated and feared him and who had cause
TO do so more than they ever did any
other man of his hated and feared race,
as Wah-ne-say, the Evil One and
"The Destroyer is dead.
His vengeance upon the Apaches, who
had long prosecuted him in his hermitage.
was strange and terrible.
In his happy and hopeful early years,
RAYS the San Francisco Call, he had oc-
cupied his haurs of recreation 10y study
ing into the mysteries and possibilities of
the electric fluid and had conducted in
his own laboratory a series of somewhat
extensive experiments, which gave him
clear idea as to the practical application
of this irresistible yet mysterious force
After fully deciding upon his method
of procedure the hermit made journey
to Tucson, 100 miles distant, to procure
the articles necessary for the carrying
out of his plan. He had brough. with
him into the wilderness among his other
possessions the battery which had so
amused and interested him in other days,
therefore he needed only wire and pow
der to put his designs into execution.
These articles. after a long and danger
Gus trip, during which he was obliged TO
travel nights and secrete himself and his
burros during the daytime, he secured
and brought back to his cabin and at
once upon his arrival home began his
work of preparation for the wholesale
tragedy he had planned.
With infinite toll he dug pit, eight feet
deep and four feet wide, straight across
the narrow pass which gave entrance to
his home -Four kegs of powder contain
ing 80 pounds each were then placed at
equal distances apart in the bottom Of
this pit. hole having first been made in
the top of each and wires fitted therein
and carefully secured. These kegs Rea-
Wis covered with a layer of earth tightly
packed around them and then filed the
long hole solidly with more earth and a
quantity of broken rock. Dry leaves and
small stones and sticks were scattered
over the surface to conceal evidences of
a disturbance of the ground, and then
connecting wires, insulated by broken
bottles, were stretched along the line Of
mountain ash trees that bordered the
stream to the battery concealed in the
hermit's cabin.
Everything was now complete, and
Reavis was eager for the advent Of his
untiring enemy. He had not long to wait,
for on the third night after he had fin
ished his preparations for their reception,
as the moon was slowly sinking behind
old Superstition. his dogs low growi
awoke him from his light slumber.
Silencing his trusty friend by low
voiced word and reassuring touch of his
hand, Reavis peered out into the night
and saw dark figure steal from the
shadow of the bluff outside his inclosure
into the shadow of clump of trees just
beyond his pit. Another and another fol-
lowed, until % were gathered there to-
gether, and as the silent watcher. scarce
ly drawing breath, kept his eyes fastened
upon them they moved toward his cabin
in body, carefully keeping concealed
under the shadow of the foliage above
them. Just where the pit stretched its
hidden length from side to side of the
narrow way the line of trees led some
distance to the right of the cabin instead
of directly toward it. And here, as Rea-
Wis had cunningly anticipated, the war
riors paused for consultation.
In an instant a strange, low rumbling
smote on their Mortified ears, the dark
and silent cabin burst into binding