Arizona republican., 1901-08-19

that was considered the most danger ous part of the route.
 Soon after leaving Prescott a courier cowboy was met, coming in great haste, who informed them that the In- dians had that morning attacked what was known as Bowers Brothers Agua FIia ranch; that they had killed sev- eral of the cowboys and hal stolen all the stock, and that the boys were skirmishing with the Indians when he left and that he was on his way to notify the military commander at Fort Whipple that he might send troops in pursuit.
 Bowers ranch was situated in the Agua Fria valley, eighteen miles from Prescott and on the route to Verde. The ranch had been located by Colonel King Woolsey, one of the earliest pio- neeis in the territory. A large stone house with stone walls enclosing the corrals or stables had been built The property afterwards was bought by the Bowers Brothers. who had emi- grated to California in the early days and afterwards came down into Ari- zona. bringing some stock with them and engaging in the stock business; in fact they were the first settlers to in- troduce that industry in that portion of the territory.
 Lieutenant Rheem was anxious to give up his proposed trip and wanted to return to Prescott, but as the majors business was pressing and the lieuten- ant was in his company, he concluded to proceed. arguing that 1t would be safer to proceed at that time than later on: that the Indians would be engaged in trying to escape with the stock they had stolen and would not be apt to be on tine lookout for travellers on the road. In passing by the ranch where the attack had been made, the action between the cowboys and Indians could be seen up the mountain. The Indians were still holding on to the cattle, but the cowboys were pressing them so closely that they had to fight and could not make much headway with their stolen stock. The troops afterwards overlook and iecaptured the stock.
 The saw mill was reached in safety. There the beef contractor for Camp Verde was found with lot of herders, also on his way 10 the post. A sergeant belonging to one of the companies, who had been t0 Prescott on a furlough and was then returning to the post, was also in the party. After dark the ma Jor concluded to proceed, but his friend Rheem. the beef contractor and all the others protested, saying that the party was amply strong to care for itself and they would wait until morn ing and then proceed together. But the major was persistent. He said the In- dians known to be in the vicinity would have an opportunity to get into am- bush by the next morning and that the safest way was to proceed then under cover of darkness, and he did SO. arriving safely at the post; but from the action of his horses he knew h. dians were on the lien of this route. The horses were much frightened and it was with difficulty that he retained control of them. By the way, the drive was made in such haste that one of the horses fe'l dead within five minu- tes after their arrival at the post
 The next morning about o'clock one of the beef contractors cowboys arr rived at the post reporting the Indians had attacked the party; that the ser geant and another man had been killed; that the beef contractor and one or two of the others were wounded, and that he had run the gauntlet and got through himself by a mere chance. | The commanding officer at Camp Verde at once ordered a company of cavalry 10 proceed to the point indi- cated to render assistance. They did | so at gallop and found the parties as l reported. but the Indians had taken | to the mountains. They were able to | overlook the country for long dis tance and when they saw the rein forcements convening they wa mosed."
 The major always considered that his | better judgment or knowledge of the | Indians. kept him out of that scrape." |
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