The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1914-02-19

APACHES
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

rounded and massacred by redskins
There is an old ordnance sergeant a
one Of the Atlantic coast forts WI,
was youngster in the ranks Of tn,
regular army in those days and pass
ed a good many years OH the plains
where Indian fighting was the order
of the day. He tells yarns about hi,
experiences, some Of them blOodcurd
ling, some simply amazing Here is
one Of the latter class:
The ApacheS We're the worst var
minis one had to deal with. and We
were more afraid OF them than any
other savages. They We're more
treacherous. more mercileSs and prac.
ticed more deceptive methods than
( any other tribe with which l 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 IL spring for water, drop.
! ping out OF the ranks to cool off or I'm
any wise going off by himself was
| liable 10 be taken in. and so noise
lessly that the rest of the command
wouldn't know anything about it I'M
| I'll 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 off the red devils
with a 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
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 / was
worth for the slightest sound that
would indicate the presence of an en-
envy.
l had to take it out in listening,
for ] couldn't see anything unless it
was above the sky line. The moon
passed thin space in the clouds just
as heard tinkle away down at the
other end of the fence. Peering in
that direction l saw something white.
l 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 rife to my
shoulder at the first sound, and, seeing
that whatever it was had got in be-
hind the fence, let drive.
l could hear a prolonged rattle Of
accouterments as the line of sleeping
men arose. and their rifles sounded
Ike a modern machine gun. The field
officers went hurrying about and the
company officers formed their men.
In 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 a
sentry from hearing any more tinkling
tin plates. l was relieved soon after
and Joined the chorus.
Inc next morning our commander
called up the guard of the night before
and asked US who had fred the warn
ing shot and at what he had fred.
confessed that | was the man and
had fired at something white down at
the other end Of the wire fence.
something white" he exclaimed
'ontemptuously. did you ever know
redskin to wear anything white?
No Indian. no Apache certainly, would
wear anything that could be seen on a
lark night"
l was dismissed with no other rep
than this. if it could be con-
'idered reprimand, and went off to
'ampfire where my men were cooking
breakfast.
what were you men on guard fir
ng at last night?" asked one of the
men.
"Apaches," l said, putting on a bold
ront. The moment / fired they ske-
added down the hill under cover of
he darkness"
How could you see them in the
ark?"
This stumped me, but further re-
1ark was unnecessary since the mys-
cry was solved by Sergeant Connoyer.
What he was firing at" he said. was
boiled shirt Of mine that I washed