The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-09

sforsink is a section of human vertebra,
white from exposure to the weather,
made to serve its purpose through mount
ing in silver upon a polished wooden base.
1t is highly honored by it's owner. for
it is a nemente of fight wherein he
participated-a fight such as soldiers rare
~ know, enc of the hottest in the mis-
tory Of the Southwestern Indian warfare.
1t brings up memories of Chaffee, the
heroic, now fighting in China.
The fight was the battle of the Big
Dry WASH" writes Flagstaff corre-
spondent of the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Though the action has but little fame
with the general public, it's memory IS
cherished by cavalrymen as one OF the
most gallant known to their arm of the
service. Particularly did it Demonstrate
the effectiveness of the American horse
soldier and his ability to beat even the
Apache on the trail and in the fray.
When grass time came in the summer of
1882, about $50 Apaches, three-fourths of
them mature bucks, left the White noun
tain reservation, on the ella river in Ari-
zona. They started off Immediately after
ration day, we'll supplied with food and
ammunition. 1t was in the days of civil
ian Indian agents. The godly man in
charge at the San Carlos agency, when
advised that some of his wards had de-
camped, only expressed sorrow that such
lies could gain currency to. the discredit
of a peaceful and long suffering tribe.
The Indians passed the populous copper
mining camp Of Globe at a distance Of
Co.
the horse herds in the neighborhood-
platoon of the local home guard, the
Globe Rangers. was hastily modified and
was started off to head the Apaches, re-
cover the horses and warn the settlers in
Tonic basin. The warning was given,
Cor the rangers, by hard riding, managed
to beat the Indians into the basin.
PERIL OF THE SETTLERS.
The next day they were penned, eWenty-
five of them, in cabin on MiddIe1on's
ranch, to fight a long range fight in
which no one was killed and to watch the
Indians stampede their horse herd. But
the rangers did good work in that they
delayed the Indians a day. Leaving the
rangers to return, crestfallen, on foot,
the ApacheS passed on up Cherry creek.
The settlers had been alarmed and had
fled in time, save on one ranch. Inc
two Sigsby brothers had about 100 val
liable horses, and had taken time to
gather them up from the range. The
band was being held in front Of the
ranch house, ready to be driven away,
when down the valley came the thud of
horses feet. Driven by a few daring
bucks, the Indian herd of loose ponies
dashed into the Sigsby band and stamped
ed the horses up a side canyon One of
the Sigsby brothers and a French cowboy
named Houdon mounted and started aft
err At the top of the canyon they met
death, though not till they had exhaust
ed their ammunition and sent five In
dams to- the happy hunting grounds. The
Indians then turned their undivided at
tention toward the second Sigsby who
had been creased across the chest by
a rifle bullet as he ran for the loghouse.
Sigsby's defense Of the cabin was gloff-
GUS Though painfully wounded, for forty
hours, single-handed. sleepless, he stood
off at least 100 Apaches, thirsting for his
blood, enraged at his continued resist
ance The cabin walls and door We're
perforated by hundreds of bullets, but to
no avail But the Indians could not tarry
longer. The troops were on their trail
and the smoke signals on the peaks show
ed impending danger. In the night they
gathered up the bodies of several war
rfors whom Sigsby had shot and hurried
away northward. Sibsby had done even
better than the rangers. The cavalry was
close behind.
MAI. CHAFFEE'S BRISK FIGHT.
At that time Chaffee, a Sixth cavalry
major, was in command of the little
three-troop post of Mcdowell, thirty-five
miles northeast Of Phoenix, then q vii
lage Getting wind of the outbreak. he
joyousiy sounded s'boots and saddles, y
and, with half his garrison, cut across
the high Mazatzal range past deserted
Fort Reno, through Tonic creek valley,
and over the Sierra Anchas. He arrived
at Sigsby's only a few hours after the
last Indian had departed. and It was his
hand that first shook that Of the brave