Bisbee daily review., 1906-02-10
FOUND 200 SKEL- ET0NS IN CAVE
Four Men DiScOVe CT Bones of Indians Shot Down fin Bloody Battle in 1872

Grim and ghastly was the sight that met the eyes of Jeff Adams, Ivy Grabtree and two sons of the former when they entered a cave on Fish Creek last Sunday afternoon and there discovered the whitened skele- tons of 200 Indian men. women and children, says the Phoenix Enterprise.
 One of Arizona's bloodiest Indian fights is recalled by this important diseovery-bloody for the Indians, all of whom were caught like rats in a trap and remorselessly shot to death by Captain John Burns and his com mand of soldiers in 1872.
 Adams was in Phoenix today bring ing the first news of the finding of these skeletons. the location of which has been lost for many years. But few men are living today who could find the sepulcher, which contains all that is mortal of the mass3cred red men.
 Adams says that the cave contain ing the skeletons is located about a mile from the bank of the Salt River, two miles above the mouth of Fish Creek east of Mcdowell. It is one of the toughest sections of Arizona.
 The cave is about 100 feet lnog and thirty-five feet wide. It is form ed by an overhanging cliff, and is an excellent place for an Indian rendez- yous. The skeletons found by Adams are lying on the floor of the cave in all sorts of shapes, in heaps and singly. They are male and female from the age of 6 up.
 All the party was able to find out side of the bleached bones was small pieces of clothing and a few saddle nothing of interest. except several bundles of basket timber, such as were used in making these baskets.
 To get to the cave it was necessary 10 go on foot for over a mile. In places the country is so rough that 1t is necessary to crawl on the hands and knees. An old trail leads from the mouth of Fish Creek to the cave.
 No more terrible massacre of h. dians has ever taken place in Ari- zona, skeletons being found in the cave seen by Adams and Crabtree. IL is one of the most interesting pages in the history of Arizona
 In 1872 Captain John Burns in con mand of a Fifth cavalry troop. was ordered by General Crook to search out and run down band of hostile Apache Indians who had been maraud- ing in the northern part of the Salt river valley. aaH--a...-a..
 Burns command chased the red skins in the Fish Creek section and there lost track Of all but a scattering Apache, until they captured an Indian boy about II years old, who led them to the cave. That boy is now Mike Burns of Mayer, Yavapai county where he is employed by Joe Mayer.
 When Burns reached the cave with his soldiers he found it in small can yon. The only entrance was along a narrow ledge. To march the soldiers along this single file would have ex- posed them to the murderous Apache.
 Burns then stationed his men along the opposite side of the canyon, or dering them to lie down and fire against standing rock in front Of the cave. When the. bullets struck this they glanced upwards and against the top of the cave, and then downward, striking the huddled and helpless h. dians.
 When Burns gave the command to cease firing two Maricopa scouts crept to the entrance of the cave and mo- toned for the soldiers to come. The sight that met their eyes was one they never forgot On the flocr lay the dead and dying Indians, many of them shot through and through several times.
 With a rush the Maricopa Indians entered the cave, scalping the dead and dying and footing the bodies of all that was of any value. Out of the 200 in the cave only one was left un- hurt. It was small Indian babe, al- most suffocated under his dead moth CTS breast
 This child was adopted by Mar icopa squaw and later taken in charge by an eastern man of wealth. He IS today Dr. Carlos Montezuma, and has been in Phoenix several times in past years.
 The Indians were slaughtered with out mercy because of orders issued by General Crook to exterminate the whole band Many were the bloody deeds they had committed before re- tribution in terrible form overlook them.
 Captain Burns adopted the boy who had guided him to the cave. He was sent to Carlisle by General Wesley Merritt and as stated. is now employ ed by Joe Mayer in Yavapai county
 
 V. R. Stiles of Fl Paso is busi-