Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-05-09
DICK HUYL
-s-~S
The Story of an Apache
Boy

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The writer owes to Dick Huyl deb
/ not exactly of gratitude, as the story
will demonstrate, which she, by writ
ing his biography, seeks to discharge
Dick Huyrs history will never be writ
ten by me nor by any one else who
knew him to adorn a Sunday school IL
brary. He was not that kind Of boy
| Dick was an Apache Indian, with al
| the characteristics of total depravity
that the word Apache conveys or sug
gests. We were children together,
Dick and l. We lived, fought and play
ed together for two years In the same
army post. On one memorable occa
sion Dick, instigated by the devil-for
firmly believe in the devil, IL only for
Apaches-dropped down the neck OF
my frock coat live toad. 1t was the
cause of my first fit Of Mysteries, and
determined IL | ever grew old enough
would tell the whole world how bad q
young Apache could be.
In 1872, II | remember rightly, Gen
eral Crook had succeeded. after years
of bloody war and the loss of hundreds
OF good men, In subduing most Of the
bands composing the Apache nation OF
New Mexico and Arizona. They had
dwelt In the strongholds Of mountain
and desert, from which they frequent
ly emerged to rob and murder all min-
20 QnT1ld a m
bush, leaving nothing for the human
mind TO conceive Of In the way of cru
city whenever a white man fell into
their power.
At the reservation, although they
were well fed and quite decently treat
ed, II was necessary to watch them
constantly. and large bodies Of troops
were detailed for that purpose. Never
theless, scarcely a week passed but
a small squad Of Apaches, usually led
by some attractive squaw, would slip
quietly past the guards and escape
through the darkness into their beloved
cactus plains and mountain barrens.
Roll call nearly every morning deyel-
oped these absentees, and next day
would come news Of murder, rapine
and horrors generally. A favorite
Apache mode Of dIsposIng Of the un-
suspectlng frelghter, miner or emil
grant whose camp they had succeeded
In raiding was TO tie the victim by the
four limbs to stakes and then to build
mated In the old fashioned almanacs
as virgo"
There seemed to be something par
ticularly fascinating 10 the Apache
temperament In this form Of torture.
Death being long In coming, 1t gave
the squaws and papooses plenty Of
chance TO invent small torments on
the side. as II were. The women and
children emigrants- But enough. Suf-
fee II to say that the absolute hatred
entertained by these Indians for the
whites was fully reclprocated. especial
ly by the soldiers II was no easy
matter to track and successfully fol-
low the runa ways through the cactus
and mesquite thlckets, over the barren
deserts and desolate mountains that
make up the topography OF Arizona.
But In that parched country water IL
only to be found at certain springs and
water holes between which days OF
travel often intervene, but which are
equally well known to soldiers and To
Indians.
So when the morning report showed
10 General Crook that 30 many war
riors. squaws and papooses were
missing the grim old warrior would
make no sign Of pursuit, but on the
night following or perhaps the next
one a squadron OF mounted men would
file silently out OF the reservation bear
ing orders to move as rapidly as pos
sible TO the water hole OF Palo Pinto
or 10 Agna Grande spring or to some
other place where the presence Of the
precious 1uld favored camping place
for the rencgades. The troops were
always positively instructed TO bring
back no prisoners, all matters OF de-
tail being left TO the officers In com
mand. One June morning there were
reported missing y Indians and IL
squaws and papOoses, including Wah-
Demo, than whom a more deprayed and
cruel Indian never existed, even In Ari-
zona.
Two nights nfterward a squad OF the
Twenty-third infantry, Crooks own
regiment. under Lieutenant Huyl, n
splendid young fellow, who has since
left the service, was sent out on q
icout with the usual orders. No trace
OF the rcnegadcs was found, but a
burned ranch and stage station and a
crcmated cowboy gave sufficient evi-
dence Of Indians at large. The next
night. or rather just at dawn. after n
| long and fatIguing march. the scouts
reached a natural rock basin at the
| foot OF one OF the stcepest and most
| inaccessible knobs 10 be found In des.
| olaie Arizona. This basin had often
collected n supply Of acrid water
which. however. was drInkablc enough
In that country. A thin vapor OF smoke
from nearly spent fire convinced the
troopers that their nights march had
not been In vain, and on creeping up
ns close as possible the hostllcs were
| outlined against the rocks fast asleep.
| The little squadron silently deployed
out 80 as 10 avoid missing a single shot
and at the word OF command fired, kill
| ing nearly every one OF the Indians
III. others jumped up, only TO be cut
| down by the reserve fire. The only TIVE
| unhurt were WalnemO and his 3-ycar
old papoogc. Grnsping the child. h'
| sprnng for the mountain side. scaling
| the rocks like n cliamoiH amid show
er Of bullets, goon dlstnncing his pur
sucrs and getting out Of range Of thei
| rifles. Hating Oh shelf Of rock. lac sc
the child down aud proceeded 10 In
dulge In every exhibition Of contemp
and derlsion that his Imagination coul'
Invent to nggrayni" the discounted
troopers, who gnnshcd their severn
sets Of teeth IN rage At the Insults o
the old hcathcn. They were rclieve'
nj last by the arrival Of Lieutcnnn
HnyI. who bore In hlh hand new tar
get rife, received only the day befor
the scouts started.
This wonderful gun WIS guaranteed
10 cnrry-I forget 100 yards with no
euracy. and the lieutenant. who wn
one Of the best fellows In the world U
garrIpon. but quite cold hearted AM
bloodthirAty whore Apachcs were cor
cerncd. announced that while hc wa
doubtful Of his gun carrying near th
Indian, yet he WAS going 10 try. III
| Apacie. feeling secure against thel
! carIluea continued Ills tnuntB unit