Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-01-28
HUNTING
APACHES
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

VIC must remember that 1t
was only about generation ago that
General Custer and his men were sur.
Iouhued ana massacred by redskins
There Is an old ordnance sergeant a+
one OF the Atlantic coast forts who
was a youngster in the ranks of the
regular army In those days and pass
ed good many years on the plains.
where Indian fighting was the order
OF the day. He tells yarns about his
experiences, some of them bloodcurd-
ing, some simply amazing. Here is
one Of the latter class:
The Apaches were the worst var
minis one had to deal with, and we
were more afraid of them than any
other savages. They were more
treacherous, more merciless and prac
uced more deceptive methods than
any other tribe with which | had the
honor to exchange shots. When we
were hunting them we were more sure
that they weren't hunting us. ANY
man going to spring for water, drop
ping out OF the ranks to cool off or In
any wise going off by himself was
naole to be taken in, and so noise
lessiy that the rest of the command
wouldn't know anything about it I'M
til he was missed and some one would
be sent back to find him dead and
scalped.
One time when we were after a
party of Apaches, not knowing when
they would turn ON us in the middle
OF the night or, more likely, just be-
fore dawn, we made preparations that
would let us know of their coming.
Our commander had taken the precau-
ton to bring along some barbed wire
fencing, and after getting into camp,
before turning in under our blankets,
We fenced ourselves in. OF course we
didn't expect to keep or the red devils
with wire fence, especially when we
weren't helping the latter with lead.
All we hoped for was few moments
delay, long enough, you know, to grab
our rifles and get on our feet.
We bivouacked one evening on a
hillside SO situated that we couldn't
very well be taken on the flank, and
instead Of running the wire around us
we stretched it before us, so that any
force coming up the hill must pass
over it. Though the moon was in the
third quarter, the night, being cloudy,
was quite dark. The Apaches were so
sly that in order to get a warning Of
their coming we hung all the tin plates,
tin cans-anything, in fact, that would
rattle-on the wire.
/ was listening then for all l was
worth for the slightest sound that
would indicate the presence of an en-
envy.
l had to take it out in listening,
for l couldn't see anything unless it
was above the sky line. The moon
passed thin space in the clouds just
as l heard tinkle away down at the
other end of the fence. Peering in
that direction l saw something white.
| didn't wish to make a guy of myself
by firing at nothing, and l didn't wish
to take any chances with Apaches
about. heard another tinkle and saw
the white thing move. 1t seemed to
pG Ou tlt outti oluC VI thC ICAieNs DuI
in another moment it was on the In
side. l had brought my rifle to my
shoulder at the first sound, and, seeing
that whatever it was had got in be-
hind the fence. let drive.
could hear a prolonged rattle of
accouterments as the line of sleeping
men arose, and their rifles sounded
like a modern machine gun. The field
officers went hurrying about and the
company officers formed their men.
In a few moments they were all stand
ing in line ready for another volley
but the second volley was never fired.
The clouds broke away from before
the moon so that we could see what
was going on before us, and we found
there was nothing going on. No sign
of an Apache appeared.
The order was given to break ranks
and within ten minutes the men were
down on the ground again, most OF
them snoring loudly enough to keep
sentry from hearing any more linking
tin plates. l was relieved soon after
and Joined the chorus.
The next morning our commander
called up the guard of the night before
and asked us who had fired the warn
ing shot and at what he had fired. l
confessed that l was the man and
had fired at something white down at
the other end of the wire fence.
"Something white!' he exclaimed
contemptuously. Ibid you ever know
a redskin to wear anything whiteF
No Indian, no Apache certainly, would
wear anything that could be seen on
dark night"
was dismissed with no other rep
rimand than this, If it could be con-
sidered a reprimand, and went off to
campfire where my men were cooking
breakfast.
"What were you men on guard mr.
ing at last night? asked one OF the
men.
.a;d Y,rttipp on q hold