The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-01

running waters of the Salt River could be
heard at night. l went out hunting-thc
only pastime we had in fair weather.
almost every day with one of my usual
companions, and on one of these trips the
boy picked up a nugget of gold from the
bare bed rock in wash west of some
| small, very red hills. At this place there
might have been perhaps $1,000 i'll gold
nuggets in sight. BY that time | had be
come so Disguised with the Indians and
my life among them that | evaded all con-
tact with them whenever possible, and
| told the boy that the nugget was of 10 &C
count. The young Indian replied that it
was good, and that his people could pro-
cure powder and caps with nothing else
/ told him to throw it away, that it was of
no value, and walked away, apparently I'M
concerned; but from that time forward |
took close observations of the surrounding
country, in order that l might recognize
the place again if ever obtained my free
dom.
After had resided with the Indians
nearly seven years the Apaches and Nav
ajos made treaty of peace between the
tribes, and the Indians with whom / dwelt
journeyed to the eastern side of the Mo
COLON Mountains to participate in the
grand ratification of peace, and to COM
plete its conditions The NavajOs were to
give the Apaches 500 sheep for the return
VI SOluc VI lutll Suud NS utIu III
and to forever remain at peace. The meet
ing was a pleasant one and the exchange
was fully completed, when, to make the
event more memorable, vast quantity of
tisevin was brewed, and the Indians all
got drunk and began fighting. The Nava-
jos succeeded in overcoming the Apaches
and taking away from them the sheep just
delivered. In the confusion of the melee
/ succeeded in making good my escape to
vol n laf mn full tn 90,
whenever l desired. l made my way to
Cuvero, little town near Fort Wingate,
n. NJ, and to civilization. | settled after
wards at my present place of residence,
Casa Blanca, near Socorro, n. NJ.
Il made several efforts 10 find the place
where l saw the gold, and bankrupted my
self on two different occasions in Quitting
expeditions at Socores to find it. The first
time became snow blind in the Mogollon
Range of Mountains, and had to be taken
home; on the second. attempt the party be-
came disguised because / could not find
the White Mountains, and would proceed
no further. Some of the old Mexicans in
the party contended that they had already
gone close to the borders of California,
and turned back when we reached Cibicu
Creek"
Being questioned as to the treatment
the Apaches inflicted upon their prisoners,
DR.. Thorne said that although he had
seen much plumber brought into camp from
time to time by rowing bands, he had never
in the seven years seen a male prisoner
brought in, either white or Indian. The
Apaches make no adult male prisoners.
The few squaws and children that were
captured were not made to suffer any i'll
treatment were soon embodied in the
tribe, and lived among them as members
of the families to whom they were as
signed.
Questioned as to the manner of living
OF the savages, DR.. Thornc had nothing to
relate that has not already been stated in
a former chapter. AS to the inner life (the
doctor smiled at my expression). he simply
stated that they had none; that their whole
mind power was concentrated upon a mass
, or superstitious omens, to counterfeit which
the men INDUCED from time to time in
dances consisting of going round and round
in circle while they slapped their thighs
, with their open hands, to n sort of rhyth-
mic measure beaten out on a crude drum
accompanied by rattles made of gourds
followed, partly filled with pebbles.
LEGEND OF ARIZONA NATURAL BRIDGE.
"They have, however" resumed the
+, Doctor, many traditions and legends,
2 among which there is one that l have
5 heard the old men repeat again and again
2 to the listening youngsters. 1t is connected
7 with the well-known Natural Bridge in
Arizona, which spans Pine Creek, noun.
Y tain tributary of the Salt River, and in
: an air line is about 60 miles from Phoenix
e the direction being northeast. The scenic
e beauty of this natural wonder is unsur.
passed on the Pacific coast The bridge
e spans the precipitous walls of the mountain
! torrent, 40 feet above the water; it is
80 feet in length across, and varies in
e width up and down the stream from 300
e to 400 feet. The limestone walls rise from
r the waters edge in architectural sym
e metry to the span above. forming a per
o feet arch, festooned with stalactites OF
q varying sizes and fantastic shapes.
This bridge, the Apaches say, once
o formed the lower barrier of crystalline
:, mountain lake, the waters of which broke
G gently over it and formed q magnificent
: waterfall. The lake was inhabited by Q
a monster Of great size and power, whom
: only few Of the Apaches ever saw in its
l. mountain home; but while they feared
e they also revered this mountain monarch
to whom they attributed their immunity
j from invasion by the Comanches and
= other warlike tribes to the north and east
:. Il lived Upon deer, antelope and other ami