Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-19
OLD INDIAN FIGHTERS TALES.
Exciting Times In the West When
Geronimo and His Men Were on the
War Path.

War Path.
Chief Geronimo, the famous Apache
fighter, who Is now at the Worlds
Fair, will soon receive a call from one
Of his old antagonists. a retired SOL
dier. who fought the renowned Indian
warrior in Arizona and New Mexico
thirty-five years ago.
This soldier is Henry George Ma
bers, Of No. 1918 North Fifteenth
street. who was a sergeant in Troop q.
Eighth United States cavalry. about
1870. Mr.. Nabers is not known In
army circles by his real name, how
ever for he ran away from home when
he was IS years old, and to prevent his
relatives learning where he was he
enlisted under the name Of John Tracy.
This was in 1868, and soon after
joining the army his regiment was or
dered to the southwest, where con-
slant warfare was being waged be-
tween the Apaches under Geronimo
and the United States soldiers.
Many were the thrilling experiences
which Sergeant Tracy had in the
mountains of Arizona and New Mexi-
co from 1868 until April, 1873, when he
was honorably discharged.
The hardest battle in which he took
part was that which was fought on the
summit of the mountains on the line
between New Mexico and Arizona In
the fall Of 1871.
Troops G, l. K and L, Of the Eighth
United States cavalry, had been en-
gagged with about 1000 Apaches," said
the retired veteran, land after hard
days fight the cavalry slowly with
drew from the field. The mountain
ridge then interposed between us and
the Indians, and the officers decided
to take the Indians by surprise in the
night and completely rout them.
Captain E. ]. Fishit, who was In
command of Troop G, was instructed
to select sergeant, who In turn
should choose ten trustworthy men
to accompany Manwella, half-breed
scout, on the reconnoiter. The captain
selected me, and with ten soldiers
whom I knew would not run, I went
with Manwella on the scouting expe-
dition.
I'VE were instructed slowly to climb
the mountain, and when we found the
Indians, to signal to the rest OF the
army at the foot Of the hills which
would then follow us and give battle
to the Apaches.
Cutting branches Of sagebrush,
each man slowly advanced up the hill,
waving the branches In front Of his
face, thus making the Indians think
that what they saw was nothing but
grass.
"As we neared the top Of the hill a
company tailor who had Joined the
accommodating party foolishly raised
his head and received bullet in the
forehead. The report Of the gun was
mistaken by the soldiers at the base
of the mountains as the signal to ad-
vance. They swept UP the hill. drove
the Indians from camp, and followed
them for 36 hours.
"In this battle lieutenant was shot
through both jaws. We placed him IN
an improvised stretcher, which was
swung between two horses, and car
ried him for go miles to Apache Pass.
For my conduct in this battle
received a medal from the government
but that medal has since been lost.
Though Sergeant Tracy, or Henry
G.. Nabers, was not with the party
that captured Geronimo, yet for
while, he says, he was in command OF
the guard that had charge OF Gero-
nimo at Camp Bowie, Ariz. He Is con-
fdent that Geronimo will remember
him.
The most thrilling experience OF
Sergeant Tracy's life took place about
1873, after he left the army and when
he was selling cattle to the govern
ment. With a party Of nine men he
had gone to Fort Cummins, Ariz, to
get so cattle, which he intended to
drive to the camp at Bowie. After
rounding up the cattle, Nabers and mis-
nine assistants started on the fifty
mile Journey. After riding about ten
miles the little band Of ten men was
attacked by band Of so Indians, who
desired to drive off the cattle.
"A battle resulted" said Mr.. Nabers
in telling Of the incident, land for three
hours, using our horses as breast
works, we fought. Seven Of my men
fell. I was shot in the arm with
bullet, and just as I was getting IN my
saddle I felt a stinging sensation IN
my foot.
Looking down I saw that my foot
had been pierced by an arrow. pull
ed the arrow out, and then began the
long ride to Camp Bowie. AS rode
the blood oozed from my boots. was
in the hospital for long time as a
result of the wounds I received In this
battle, but I was the only one Of the
three survivors who did not lose an
arm or leg.
Another experience Of which the old
Indian fighter tells is one OF riding
with the army for So hours without
water.
After We had been without water
for SO hours" he said, "a soldier told
me that two miles back he had seen
what appeared to be coyote tracks and
that he thought II we would follow
those tracks we should find spring.
Il then rode back with this soldier
to the tracks Of which he had spoken,
and after following them for five miles
came to a small spring from which
the water was flowing at the rate OF