The National tribune., 1903-06-25

FEARFUL YELLs BEHIND"

| fEAhf CL 1ELLo, TALL "
looked upon (from long distance) as
wild sort of unruly cowboys to whom they
ascribed in their ignorance the role OF
agents prOvOcateurs."
| The main obstacle, however, to the sup
preston of the wild marauders, consisted
unquestionaby in the great difficulties
which opposed themselves in the Territory
of Arizona and surrounding countries to a
successful expedition against the feet and
crafty wolves of the mountains and desert
| plains.
Arizona has an area of 1900 square
miles. With the exception of a compare
lively very small portion in the south
west, where the peaceable Pimas, Marico-
!. pas, Yumas and Papagos, since centuries
the sworn enemies of the Apaches, live
upon their scanty crops, the whole coun-
try was open to the savages. 1t consists
to a great extent of sandy plateaus or
highlands, generally called 'mesas," in
tersected by innumerable gulches and large
and small canyons, of long chains of crag-
gy mountains with many inaccessible cliffs,
and of some valleys through which flow
the few rivers, nearly dry during the Sum-
mer, that now feed the irrigating canals
and minor bitches. With the exception of
these streams water was exceedingly
scarce during the dry season.
AS rule the Apaches would establish
their rancherias in Il hollow between two
mountain cliffs, near spring or small
stream, known to them only. From the
nights above they would have good look
out upon the plains in every direction.
From afar they would espy the tired,
thirsty caravan of travellers, pursuing
their weary way upon the sandy road, the
grazing herd of draft-animals in camp and
the primitive Mexican ox-carts, laden with
grain or -four, panochas unrefned Mex
lean sugar in cakes. and oranges. Quickly
they would descend. and, from q we'll
selected ambuscade, attack their victims; a
futter of arrows, a few thrusts from
lances, and perhaps a few shots from an
old carbine or musket, and all was over.
The knife did the rest.
AN APACHE AMBUsCADE.
1t is almost incredible with what innate
talent for the assimilation of cOors these
lsavages are gifted. With the help of an
old blanket, some punches of cut grass,
some clay smeared upon their bodies.
thorny leaves and leafy branches, they will
initiate to perfection the appearance of
natural rocks, bushes, cacti or other OBJ
jocts suitable 20 their purpose. When they
have decided upon an attack. agreed upon
the time and place, they will proceed to
the rendezvous in small parties of four or
five. make their dispositions and wait for
their prey in absolute immobility and with
They will generally allow their victims
to pass by them few steps and then, with
a sudden jump and fearful yels, fall upon
them from behind Rare indeed are the
instances when Il man escaped their MUIR
derous aim: as a rule all grown male per-
sons are killed on the spot, while women
and children are carried off into captivity:
when, however, they have reason to fear
speedy pursuit, or when the captured wom-
Ell prove unruly and "show fight" the
Apaches will not hesitate in lancing to
the last survivor If they feel themselves
secure and the attacked party is but small
and defenseleSs, they will carry also men
off alive as prisoners. Woe to them, They
are destined to such torture as only n Tor.
quemada could invent. and the execution,
ers of the middle ages could apply.
TORTURE OF VICTIMS.
A favorite manner of putting their male
prisoners TO death consists in slispendina
; them by their feet from the branch of a
t"ee and maintaining n slow fire under
their heads. We found once two soldiers
in the San Simon Valley, near Fort Bow
! ic, who had gone astray from their com
rades while hunting, hanging thus dead
their noses, ears and other parts had beer
cut off.
A scalped victim of Apache Indians
have never seen or heard Of
Our Indian guide, Margildo, who hat
: been in his early youth prisoner in thu
hands of the Chircahuas under Cachees,
for the period of seven years, related tha
these Apaches, whenever they had the op
I portunity of carrying off adult male pris
: oners as far as the rancheria, would turr
, them over, bound fast, to their squaws t,
2 be dealt with according to the latters
d fancy; that these squaws would general,
take great delight in whipping their help
q less victims with the exceedingly thorn,
I branches of the silvery cactus, called b,
, the Mexicans ''cholla," and then tortur
e them slowly to death by inserting heate,
e pointed sticks into all parts of thei
: bodies-a process which at times Taste,
b for several days.
s -Four cases have come to my persona
a knowledge where male prisoners hav,
b come out alive from the hands of til,
2 Apaches. The first case was that of al
r old settler in the Santa Cruz Valley
t who being shot through his hip
: with an arrow, began to howl aps