Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-20
NUMBER 8.


dozen Of their number they abandoned
the attempt, and the survivors gained
the bank and joined the main body, all
then withdrawing to the shelter OF
some sand hills quarter OF mile dis
tant None Of the defenders was even
wounded. 80 well were they protected
"The enemy are not beatenf" Quin
asked.
"Not much" was the grim and
forcible reply Of Calkins. Just wait Q
bit"
The little party reloaded their maga-
zine rifles, and by that time the Apa-
ches had adopted new tactics. With
the cunning for which they are noted
they swarmed along the bank of the
river and hid themselves behind every
stone or clump Of bushes. They opened
a struggling fire on the island and kept
it up steadily. They could have swept
the stretch TO the north bank with lead.
and under these circumstances the idea
Of sending TO the fort for help had to
be abandoned.
The night wore on, and the unequal
battle ragged. with brief intervals Of ST.
lence. How many Of the Indians fell by
the fire Of the white men il was impoe-
sible TO tell, but the craftsmanship Of
the former improved as they spotted
the cowboys. and they began 10 do con-
siderable damage Thicker and thicker
came the bullets Two of Quin's party
were killed and three were slightly
wounded, including Carruthers and Old
Derrick. But they did not dream Of
retreat. They fought on doggedly. aim
ing at the red flashes.
At last faint CLEAN OF dawn APP
peared In the east. The Indians held
their invisible positions, but their fire
slackened and died gradually away. In
the hollow Of the island little hand OF
weary, powder grimed men held anx-
ious counsel
Its no use, said Pepper Smith.
ave are nearly ont of ammunition.
There's enough for one more scrim-
mage" remarked Calkins, but the
devils won't stop at one. ] know them
They've got our measure now. and
when the sun comes mp they'll take the
island If il costs them score Of men.
"Well, well stick il out 10 the end,
declared Quin; II mean until we see
that we are overpowered. Then well
make bolt for the shore. I'm sorry we
didn't get messenger off 10 the fort.
but it's too late for that now.
Watch sharp" put in Old Derrick
''The varmints are stirring.
As he spoke-it had become much
lighter redskins opened fire anew,
,t first in a struggling manner, then
more briskly. The defenders replied
cautiously, saving their ammunition
for the rush that was expected. The
splitting of rifles echoed far on the
morning air Wreaths of white smoke
drifted over the foarning river and the
parched plain.
Were in tight place, " said Quin.
"Half Of our horses are killed, and the
rest will have 10 carry double in case
of retreat.
1--WE got seven cartridges left, "
Calkins growled between his teeth.
land / don't suppose you fellows
"Hello What's upf" interrupted
Pepper Smith
What, indeedS To the amazement
and delight of the cowboys, the Apa-
ches were seen running from all points
toward the hill that sheltered their
horses. Then they reappeared mounted.
riding at full speed to the south, and at
about the same time the clear notes OF
a bugle were heard The sound came
from the north. and when the men
glanced in that direction they saw
glorious sight-a troop Of United States
cavalry. twoscore strong galloping
down the arid slope TO the river.
Quin and his party eagerly crossed to
meet them, some on horseback and some
wading. The officer in command Of the
soldiers, the same who had been en-
countered on the previous day, listened
with increasing admiration and won
der to the story of the siege Of the Rio
Gila ford.
"It was splendidw he cried AN
achievement TO boast Of A mere hand
full of men against a hundred Apache
devils You have saved many lives my
brave fellows AS for you''-he clapped
Quin on the back-"I owe you an
apology. | came to arrest you. / was
under the impression that you We're a
rascally trader who was trying TO snug
gle load of arms and ammunition into
the San Carlos reservation.
1T was a very natural mistake"
Quin replied. well say more
about il.
So the Indians were repulsed, and
the settlers saved, and what happened
afterward is another story. The dead
cowboys were buried, and the wounded
accompanied part Of the soldiers back
to Fort Stayman The rest stopped TO
guard the fording On the following
day a strong column set out to the reg
ervstion. They drove the Indians be-
fore them, disarmed them and carried
off their leaders for trial and punish
ment, thus checking the rising before
it had made any headway.
And the camelss Quin did not aban-
don the quest. He and his cowboys, aft
er a weeks search, corralled the herd
and with some difficulty captured eight
Of them alive. They were shipped east
soon afterward and are now part OF
r. y = \