The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-05-01
HUNTING
APACHES
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

rounded and massacred by redskins
There is an old ordnance sergeant al
one of the Atlantic coast forts who
was youngster in the ranks of the
regular army in those days and pass
ed a 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.
ling. some simply amazing. Here is
one Of the latter class:
The Apaches We're the worst var
mints one had to deal with. and we
were more afraid of them than any
other SayaSeS. They We're more
treacherous. more mercilesS and prac-
ticed more deceptive methods than
any other tribe with which | had the
honor to exchange shots. When we
were hunting them we We're 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
liable to be taken in. and so noise
leSsly 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 We're 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 off the red devils
with wire fence, especially when we
weren't helping the latter with lead
All We hoped for was a 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
49,. -. - 49, 80 So ''','' any
over it. Though the moon was in the
third quarter. the night. being cloudy
was quite dark. The Apaches We're so
sly tnal III oruer 10 get a warning OF
thelr coming we huhS all the TN Plates
tin cans-anythinG, in fact, that would
rattle-On the wire.
l was listening then for all l was
worth for the slightest sound. that
would indicate the presence Of an en-
envy.
| had to take it out in listening.
for couldn't seq anytbfpu unless it
WAS above t,n Sky line. The moon
ra...1 81 Thin srara i'm rbp r,nrds inst
o.. r..rl , r-,r.,. ,,,...y .1.,,.,, .a+ rrl.
.,r.r anal .r ,r.. -.,..., I..,,f,..r in
.r..- .,,,..,,. -. ....,,...r'.... ,,I.,-,
,t,.,.' ~
I....... 1-.,.,. ,....+,
~ ID ~ '' ''.'''''''-' anu J. ,''.''i W 'SN
10 I'"' "N' '".'-.e9 WIN -Al"-Ie'
','''"s' "eo''. announcer 'iL.N'e ana Sa"
t"' "".'e '"''- ..o' e. IL seemed 10
he Oh the cute" s.,e of the fence, but
IN another .a'-eAt It was ON the in
side. / had brov-ht my rifle to my
~-ou.lpr ut the first sound, and, seeing
that Whatever it was bad got in be
hind the fence. | let drive.
could hear a prolonged rattle Of
,,..,,,-..r..,.t. as tna limo of sr.anfno
,,,r .r,.a anal rbf,, ,faa, s,,rIad
Ir.,' ,.....,..,.,, ,,,,..l.f,., ,r,,, Tho eoI1
,.lt..,. .,...... l.,,,,.,.t,,,r -l,,,,+ ,,.l +h,
>.''....,.,... ...,....a'. s.,,,,,I ,i,.;, o,a,
-t,,-'I
Ir,t rra sa,ond valley was never fired