Arizona republican., 1901-11-09
BILL WILLIAMS % %
 ~ ~e COW PUNCHER

It was during the early days of Ari- zona, at the time when Indians. Mexi cans and cowboys held full sway. The | blood thirsty Apache on the warpath secured the country, far and near, in search of additional scalpiocks to hang at his belt. The cattleman with his aforementioned covering, deemed it ne- | cessary each evening after cooking his meal, instead of repairing for quiet slumber within the partitions of bunk ] inside his cabin, to quietly steal to the shadowy confines of a chaparral or mesquite thicket and roll up in his | blanket with rifle and siX-shooter at his | side.
 It was during this period that Bill | Williams a so-called bad man." be-. | cause he could throw gun on the smallest mark, with the greatest accur- acy, in the shortest space of time of anyone thereabout came into promi- hence. Those who knew him well, how ever, testified that never a kinderheart- | ed or truer man drew breath. Brave as lion, standing six feet two inches. broad of shoulder. yet 1.-the and quick as cat, his appearance, indeed, tended | to command respect from all and the giving to him of a wide berth by his 1 enemies.
 Bill was employed by a large cattle | firm as an overseer. It's range extend- | ed over a vast stretch of country in the southwestern part of the territory and its stock numbered tens of thousands. | Throughout it's range it had located | and monopoliZed numerous springs or water holes. At such a spot the com pany generally erected d small cabin or adobe and stationed q man. It was
 s duty to patrol the territory between his station and the next, which might be twenty, thirty or forty miles, and look after the cattle therein.
 Williams had general charge of all these stations. He was almost con- tinually in the saddle, passing from one post to another, looking after the interests of his employers, and incl dentally keeping his eyes peeled for the willy savage. who had an unpleasant way of sweeping down, killing one or more of his men and rustling off a con- siderable number of cattle.
 The government was doing its best to suppress these depredations and make the country habitable for the white man. With this end in view, and i to enable it to better cope with the In- dians, the government established Fort 1 San Carlos, down among the hills in the heart of the Apache country; per | haps one of the hottest spots in Ari- zona- From this vantage point the brave Indian fighters sallied forth upon l the trail of the recalcitrant red-men. wIth infinite patience and endurance. rounding them up, satisfied. (and gen erally allowing the Indian to go unpuu- ished for his murders and incendiar- ism) providing he returned. or wsls | compelled to return to his reservation. | At the close of a hot afternoon in August as Bill topped a low butte that | hid from view one of the stations. he | was startled to see, instead of his 1 friends adobe a battered and smould- ering ruin. about whicn howled an iu- furiated, triumphant mob of savagas. l Unquestionably they were on the war path, as their painted visages showed. Their victory had not been easily won. , as was testified by the corpses of five Indians lying about. Yet, his friend hal paid the penalty, for his horribly man- Gled body hung mutilated, almost be- yond recognition, tied to d hitchins post.
 The savages had stationed a number of outposts. one of whom nearly stum- bled over the crouching form of Will Hams he was making his observa- tions. Before Bill's bowie found lodg- ment in the Apache's vitals he emitt ed i a wild whoop, clearly overheard by. his companions. In a moment a horde uf Indians had mounted their ponies and i were headed at full speed in his direc- ton.
 It was no time for hesitation Quick ly springinS upon his mustang he head ed toward the northeast. intending to make Cottonwood Spring, and from | thence to his only hope of safey. Fort San Carlos. They were now in the foot hills of the Tortilla mountains, but d short distance from the Rio San Pedro. which. at that season of the year. was perfectly dry. San Carlos lay thirty miles awaX as the crow flies. Could he outdistance his pursuers before reach ing there? True, his mount, wiry. buckslSin mustang was noted for it's speed. yet, he had already covered many miles. On he flew. With excited whoops, upon catching sight of their intended victim, the Indians closely followed.
 Mile after mile was quickly covered. The Rio San Pedro soon was far be- hind, and, as the sun drew near the horizon he quickly drew rein at Cot tonwood spring. In q few moments his empty canteen had been filled. and, only permitting his horse to snatch q few nasty mouthfuls of the precious fluid, he was again in the saddle. His mount seemed somewhat refreshed and started off with renewed vigor. but it was short-lived. Soon his quick, jerky. labored strides evidenced only too plainly that the pace was telling on him. quick glance over his shoulder showed the savages drawing nearer and preparing to use their firearms. Well, l will die fighting with my face
 to the foe,' soliloquized Bill, as he cast
 his eyes about for suitable knoll, or rock to shift as q fortress.
 Just ahead, to the right, was 9 small pile of sandstone, toward which he now guided his fast-failing mustang. The
 plucky animal stumbled forward with |, last supreme effort. his breath coming