The National tribune., 1903-07-16

The road from here to Tubac was con-
sidered Comparatively" safe, as the val.
ley bottom was occupied by farmers
dwellings at intervals of one or two miles
all along the road. Therefore, after-a few
hours rest Wooster and /, with one of the
wagons, continued our route in order to
load up at Tubac the provisions and tools
Wooster would need for the woodcutters.
The other wagon with the teamster from
Santa Cruz was left here, and the latter
was instructed to find and gather the men
previously hired. We met the greater
part of them, however, as we passed by
Calabasas, where the news of the killing
had not vet reached. We hurried on to
Tubac, and Wooster set to work at once
king everything ready to begin his con-
tract work; he left that same evening for
the Senoita.
AT Tubac no one had as yet heard of
Tapie's death, and / undertook the sad
duty of informing his wife of her hus-
bands sad end. l did so gradually.
On the following day Mr.. GOldtree, who
had directed his steps towards Fort Crit
tenden during his fight, arrived at Tubac
He came directly to the store and related
to me the following story:
THE SURVIVORS STORY.
GAS you know, we left You and Wooster
on the 29th upon arriving at Calabasas.
Here we were Hospitality received by
We stayed until Jan. /, in the morning.
Having then received notice that our wa
gons would be at the ranch towards noon,
| in order to load up, we started early for
| the Sonoita, accompanied by Capt. Cat
| terson, who had business at the Fort. He
| rode q very good horse, and kept behind
our buggy, within sight, all along the road.
1t was very cold morning, and we all
took drink before starting. Tapie, ac-
cording to his habit, as you know, had a
bottle or two of French claret along, of
which he imbibed freely from time to
time, while he would, every little while,
sing stanza or two of his French war
songs.
1--WE had gone about 13 or IA miles
when we came to that part of the road
where there is a stretch of very heavy
sand. The immediate edges of the road
are overgrown with thick underground, so
dense that solid wall could not afford
the left runs the SOnoita Creek; on the
right-hand eide of the road, beginning i'm
mediately behind the bushes, rises n rather
steep, rocky hill. We had Travelled about
100 yards in this sandy bottom, the nature
Of which compelled our team to proceed
very slowly and laboriOusly, the buggy be-
ing well loaded with blankets, provisions,
etc, when all at once there were several
shots accompanied by fierce yells, and the
buggy stopped. l was driving at the time.
A burning sensation in my right wrist led
me TO the belief that l was wounded; at
the same time my hat was carried off
You know in an occurrence of this kind
things happen much faster than you can
relate them. l jumped out of the buggy
grabbed a package of carbine cartridges
(Sharp's) and, not seeing the carbine, ran
up towards the hill, whittier Tapie had
already preceded me. He had the carbne
When I had approached him to within
about 25 yards 1--WE were both running uI
hill at the same time), threw the pack
age of ammunition towards him and sang
out: "Shoot, shoot for your life" He was
evidently not hurt in any way at that
time. but kept fumbling with the carbine
which must have been out of werkinf
order; for he seemed cool enough ant
would surely have fred his weapon if this
had been possible. had commenced firing
with my pistol as soon as had thrown thu
cartridges to Tapie. by which time some
of the Apaches had started to follow IL!
J up hill. l know l wounded the foremos
in n leg, and this made them more caution!
until they discovered that Tapie's carbin,
: would not shoot. Then they becam,
5 bolder. They were very sparing of thei
! ammunition, and in fact 1 could see onl!
2 two firearms among them. AS they ad
! vanced they followed (sic( at us severa
E lowed by the declaration: "You are ou
meat" All at once Tapie gave a piercing
: shrek, Jumped into the air and fell. H
) was very near me at the time. I ben
over him and heard him distinctly bu
: feebly utter the words: Joe, don't leav
r me; stay by me, am badly hurt Thel
t he gave a last gasp, a shiver went through
: his frame, and saw he was dead.
' II picked up the carbine and discovered
r at once that it would not work; the ham
: mer would not lift. Still, 1 made the In
dams believe. by holding my pistol along
: side of It, that was firing from tn
longer weapon; this made the Apaches
. tious, and permitted me to direct my re
treat towards a rocky Eulch that descended
from the hillside towards the creek. Run
ming from rock to rock I managed to es
? cape unhurt and to disappear into tn,
dense undergrowth. Never In my life dit
feel as IL thirsty . es 1 did then. l dranl