The National tribune., 1903-01-15
NATIONAL WASHINGTON

tending along the river banks in a north
westerly direction to Camp Grant, dis
lance Of about 120 miles.
OLD CAMP GRANT.
This Camp Grant must not be taken for
the present Fort Grant, which is situated
in a northeasterly direction from Wallen.
The old Camp Grant here spoken of was
first established in 1856. under the name
of Fort breckenridge. and garrisoned by a
party of the LIST Dragons, who came to
take military possession of the Territory
about the same time as Fort Buchanan
was established on the Sonoita Creek. The
MeXicans and Indians called the old Camp
Grant "Arivaipa," because it was situated
| Mt the mouth of a wild, rocky canyon OF
that name. The garrison buildings had
| been erected upon the dilapidated walls of
| the former fort. and stood upon an ele-
waited plateau, on one side of which the
San Pedro River passed in close proxim.
| ity. The Indians of FskimenZins band
| committed many murders and robberies in
the surrounding region, some even within
gnnshot of the camp and within sight Oi
the garrison. We will see later what an
unsavory notoriety this camp acquired. af.
ter "fool' treaty had been made with
that chief and 1t had become sort of res
ervation for those Indians. to which they
returned with their spoils not only with
ont molestation by our troops but actually
| under the protection of those who were
placed there for the protection of the
whites. We shall see that this crimina
management was maintained for a lone
| time to the detriment and in many cases
| To the destruction of the lives of the early
settlers, and reached such degree OF de
pravity that the latter, driven to despair
| Mt last took the matter of their protection
| lin 1SID what is known in the annals o.
Arizona as the Camp Grant massacre.
which l shall later lay before my readers
IN its naked truth and IN every detail.
Mnrigildo Thought that the matter o,
seeing few prowling Indians at the san
Pedro Crossing was not worth scouting
| expedition: he pointed ont the unfavorable
| state of the weather and pasture, and re-
peated his statement referring to the utter
improbability of Apaches being on an out.
ing with any serious intention OF mischief
| Lieut.. Harrington, however. argued that
| after they would once have descended into
| the lowlands along the river bottom. the
snow hefs would be ieft behind ana they
would md pasture everywhere. l 10 no,
know: mt rather 'nclIne to tile beDef tha'
| he called his fiddle to his assistance. HIS
rent was inst opposite that OF the com
man'ilng ofheer. from which IT was oni!
nbout 10 feet distance. and he was fniiy
| aware OF the fact that his Playing nan
npon the commanders ears about the
| same effect as fiery red cloth swung t.
ana fro before a vicious bull produces
npon the latter. At all events. he sue
ceeded in obtaining the permission to take
~ men and start upon the coveted expedi
tion. with orders to carry two days for
age and to return within six days.
THE "srov sco1,ro
or course this scout had no re.
suits except that of making the men nc
| pnainted with the region traversed by the
San Pedro River and the situation of 4
| spring of clear water in the foothills OF
the Arivaipa Range, knowledge never
to he despised in that country. But they
found snow everywhere, and consequently
returned. many OF them snOwblInd. with
| much Jaded and worn-out horses by rea-
son OF scanty pasture. This expedition
| was ever after known as the "snow
scout. for soldiers will have nomencla-
| iure of their own. be it to designate pecul-
iarities in men. animals. geographical sit.
| nations or occurrences. They had started
| on Monday morning and returned on the
| following Saturday evening just as dark
| ness was setting in. l saw them descend
| ing over the ridge on the top of the rising
ground north of the camp. and observed
that many Of the men wore some sort of
| handage over their eyes. I walked across
| the parade ground towards Marigildo's
| hahitation. which he himself had con-
strncted of adobes with the help of Men,
,lozo. in order to learn the results of the
expedition.
Now 1t happened that sometime pre-
| vionsly member of my company enlisted
| under the name of Arthur Sulverins.
| whose real name ! knew from his CORE
| spondence with his parents Mt Toulouse
France. to he Arthur de Louville, had
! been assigned to the Qpartermaster's Of
flee as clerk. he being so deaf that he
| could not be intrusted with sentry duty in
the dark hours of the night. This French.
| man, who was then full Colonel in the
French army. proved to he good copying
clerk. writing n fair round hand, and an
all around handy man in issuing forage,
clothing and rations, in which occupation
there was no need of any conversation: he
| was very useful to me in my position, as
have always enjoyed the privilege of
possessing strong lungs. Conversation car
ried on with Sulverns in an ordinary
| tone of voice was bare of results. as onIy
n sound approaching the fortissimo of a
well-constructed fog-horn could make an
| impression on his ear-drums. How he was
ever accented by the Examining Surgeon
| into the Regular Army is one of the mys.
teries that only the idiosyncra cies of the
recruiting officer of those DAYS can nc.
count for.
While I was conyersing with Marieildo
the officers cook, Romanoff. came to the
Ouartermaster's office. as oscertoined
| n ftarworlc with n Tin ouort ou,, al IL