Graham guardian., 1914-12-11
HUM TING
APACHES
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

| was only ABOUT generation ago tnuL
General Custer and his men were sur
rounded and maSsaCrcd by redskins.
There is an old ordnance 81 grant at
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 pains.
where Indian fighting was the order
of the day. He tells yarns about his
experiences, some of them bloOdCurd
ling, some simply amazing. Here Is
one Of the latter class:
The Apaches were the worst var
mintS one had to deal with, aud VIC
were more afraid Of them than any
other savagcS. They were more
treacherous. more mercilcss and prac-
ticed 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 n spring for water, drop
ping out Of the ranks to cool Off or IN
any wise going off by himself was
liable to be taken in. and so noise
lessly that the rest OF the command
wouldn't know anything about it un-
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 precnu-
ton to bring along some bnrbcd wire
fencing, and after getting into camp.
before turning in under our blankets.
we fenced ourselves In. OF course VIC
didn't expect to keep off the red devils
with wire fence. especially when VIC
weren't helping the latter with lend.
All we hoped for was a few moments
delay. long enough, you know, to grab
our rifes and get on our feet.
We bivouacked one evening on a
hillside so situated that we couldn't
very we'll be taken on the flank. and
instead OF running the wire around us
we stretched 1t before us, so that any
force coming MP the hill must pass
over 1t. 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 warning Of
their coming we hung all the tin plates,
tin cans-anything, in fact, that would
rattle-on the wire.
l was listening then for all | was
worth for the slightest sound that
would indicate the presence OF an en-
emy.
had to take it out in listening,
for l couldn't see anything unless 1t
was above the sky line. The moon
passed thin space in the clouds just
as l heard a tinkle away down at the
| other end OF the fence pcering in
| that direction | saw something white.
| didn't wish to make a guy Of myself
| by firing at nothing, and / didn't wish
| to take any chances with Apaches
about heard another tinkle and saw
the white thing move. 1t seemed to
be on the outer side of the fence, but
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
npcouterments rs the line of sleeping
men arose. and their rifles sounded
like modern machine gun. The field
officers went hurrying about and the
company officers formed their men.
In few moments they We're all stand
ing in line ready for another vollcy,
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 tinkling
tin plates. | 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. |
confessed that | was the man and
had fired Mt something white down at
the other end of the wire fence.
Something whitc~ he exclaimed
c0ntcmptuously. "Did YOU ever know
q rcdSkin to wear anything white?
No Indian. no Apache certainly, would
wear anything that could be seen on n
Dark night"
Fimand than this, if it could be CON
sIdered n rcprimnnd. and went off to Il
campfire whore my Men were cooking
braRkfnst,
"Whnt were you men on guard FIR
ing at last night?' asked one of the
men.
"Apaches." ! said, putting on a bold
front "The moment ] fired they ske
daddIed down the hill under cover Of
the darkness"
"IIow could You see them IN the
dark"
This stumpcd me. but further re-
mark was unnecessary since the mys
terry was solved by Sergeant ConnOver
what he was firing at" he said. "wns
a boiled shirt Of mine that | washed
after we bivOuacked last night and
hung on the wire fence to dry. And
just look ut It." he added. producing
the article: ITS riddIed"
Serves vou right" said |. for hang
ing your shirt on means Of defense"