Evening star., 1906-03-25

states OdNaTV, naQ DeGn on JfG
move Ever since leaving Fort
Bowie in Arizona we had urged =
our horses to their utmost over IL "
barren mountains and through y
border-land We had come up
with the Apaches under Gcron- ESS ~
mo three nights before and in SaszSA
the gray dawn had faced rocks saS - 4
that spit bullets at Then, e 1T&kA
when the Indians stole away, 60 -
we had struck their fresh trail sAlkzTX
again The animals that had #x IEy4 &#
carried far and well nHx5lAAH 49,
had grown gaunt and breathed W.
laboriously they struggled up 80 Il a|Ez@
the steep places. The faces of kkzzSSS n s
with WEAKNESS. Yet with fever
ish haste pressing
The Indians were half forgotten.
y deadlier enemy to travellers in
these desert mountains held 81 - !
in its grip. We were on a dcSper- %TA # ~
ate hunt for water wI8
We were toilng painfully up -
a rough ascent in single file, -
when the man who first reached
the top swung nd, raised
his and shouted. Our
horses lifted their dropping heads.
We Strengthened in saddles.
A tremOr seemed to pass along
the line. tOr hours the men had been riding in a
dogged silence, but they broke into sudden talk
and weak laughter. Captain RAFFERTY, and l, close
together ahead try to spur his horse.
Stop that!" shouted Rafferty, The animal is as
tired you. Do you want to kill it?
There was however, QuICken1ng OF the pace, and
in five minutes were crowded at the top of the
trail looking down wide slope at a crooked line
of vegetation that marked, knew the course
OF a mountain stream. But 1t was not this alone
many figures were moving about
They'll defend that water with their lives,
exclaimed Rafferty,; but all Hades couldn't keep
from it!' He and Captain Tupper of l. Troop
ordered their men to deploy, and the left of the
long skirmsh- line Steve" Mills placed his Indian
scouts In this order swept down the hill Our
horses scenting water had broken into a gallop
of their accord, and the men, leaning far back
in their saddles to avoid being pitched headlong
unlOosening rifles for the fight.
One of the scouts, who little in advance
suddenly rened in his horse and called: " Not
Apaches, but Mexicanos!" We all saw that he was
right 1t made little difference we still moved on
more at ease now, but no less rapidly. When we
reached the camp the level at the foot of the slope
a little in the gaudy uniform of a Mexican
commanding officer ran out at us, waving his sword
In haste to get to the stream nearly rode
him down. 1t was not till after men and horses
had saked their thirst that paid any attention
the excited little officer to the aspect of this
Mexican camp. When did look about us, saw
one of the most gruesOme sights that my eyes,
accustomed as they are to scenes of warfare, have
ever rested on
From one of the Mexican heutenants obtained
explanation of the appalling scene. The COM
mand OF Colonel Garcia, about three hundred
strong, had been changing stations and approaching
TINS pool in the drIed-up stream, the only water
within many miles, that Indians there
before them. The squawS and old bucks the van
guard of GerOnimos band of fighting braves, had
been already making preparations, for the nights
cnCampmcnt so that everything might be ready
when the tired warriors arrived
NamOose!" yelled the Mexicans, coming up on
a and shooting squaws a fast as they could pull
their rifle triggers. They in the midst of this
carnage when the main force of the Indians appeared
on the top of the hill and raced down the ascent
to the rescue. There had been a desperate fight
around that pool of water Those of the squaws
who had not been shot rushed toward their own
people, and Geronimo led his braves in among
9rE he Mav1C. yybo rlyy