The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-01-04
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GERONIMO's REDSKINS
BY OSCAR W. EDLINe.

xc6t 6dlQ TIC b1hltOn a6CA15 L NAd
have an adventure with Geronimo's
warriors the summer they broke loose
from their reservation, which, perhaps
is worth telling about.
"The previous winter had been en-
ployed away up north in Canada, with
in sight of the glaciers glinting on the
Banff mountains. and got the iced ali
30 incorporated in my system that
felt like cold-storage plant.
CAS- soon as the snow blockade was
raised In the spring / turned south
ward. l was not particular where
went so long as it was near the trop
les. / accepted place In southern
Arizona, a stand which can give Sa
hara hints on the tropic business.
TITS great place for acquiring q
thirst, or even adding to one already
acquired. / was sitting in the shade
OF the water tank one day, the con
tents of which had been absorbing
at brief intervals. / wondered If
would ever have enough animation in
me to go north again.
Il found 1t too much work to think
with the expanding mercury almost
lifting the glass tube Of the thermome'
ter out of its socket and SO l fell into
a doze. How long / nodded / do not
know, but a swarm of insects settling
on me as IL we're made of fy-paper
awoke me.
"As l stirred, my little dog also
came out of his usual comatose condi.
ton, for the heat had made us both ex'
cessively weary, and dragging himself
over to post he leaned against 1t for
support and barked feebly. heard a
noise behind the house. Before
could get up to investigate, found
the cause standing before me in the
shape of several painted Indians.
Il was familiar with the sight of In
dams. but could see that this bunch
were not friendly visitors, although
they grinned at me. Their grin said
plainly, You are ours
How do you dor / asked, as soon
as could swallow a sudden infiamma.
ton in my throat
How dor one Of them grunted In
reply. 'Whisk! Bottle whisk! Mouth
dry; want drink
Whisky? Certainly and l brought
out a quart bottle which l kept for
snake bites. Immediately it was pass
ing from mouth to mouth; and 1t was
all gone when second crowd of paint
ed faces galloped up alongside. There
xuoa full oa0ra mona ~ %hax,o ord I
felt awfully lonesome.
'The empty bottle was circulated
among the last arrivals; each rider
gravely taking a smell More, bring
more whisky! some of them shouted,
and when explained that / had no
more, they looked crushed. The first
six who had merged the contents ap
peared happy over the discontinue Of
their comrades, and one of them point
ed to the big. dripping water-tank and
said, plenty water, take heap. all you
want
This did not seem to comfort them
any, and saw that they reproached
me for being temperance man. ]
knew that would have to suffer for
their loss, and the sight of some
scalps dangling from their belts did
not reassure me.
After some confusion in rummag.
ing through the place was put along.
side my desk. There was a brief con-
fab in Apache between the leaders, one
Of whom was Geronimo himself, and
then one Of them, dressed like a white
man, sat down and wrote message
on one Of my blanks. Turning to me
when It was finished he said in good
English:
Look here, young fellow, we want
you to send this dispatch to the cap.
tain at Fort Bowie, and. mind you, no
monkeying on the wire. Send just that,
no more and no less. Obey us and
your life will be spared; but If you
send any warning beside this, we will
comb your hair for you. ! picked up
some telegraphy at the Indian school.
And with that he laid the blank be-
fore me and at the same time pointed
a pistol toward my head
There was nothing for, me to do but
obey and read the telegram.
ITO Captain -, Fort Bowie:
Geronimo. with large force, has Just
passed south on the way to surprise the
mining settlement in Crystal Gulch. Some
ranchmen brought me the news, and they
ask you for Gods sake order your troops
there to the rescue at once. Please an
swer. agent"
Il had direct wire connection with
the fort and soon raised the operator
there and began transmitting the dis
patch, wondering, as did SO, what its
object was. concluded that it was
to put the troops on false chase, and
/ privately resolved to notify the fort
II l could.
WAS the young Indian really an
operator and could he detect me If
should add warning to the message?
He was now standing over me and !
looked up at him. His eyes met mine
as did SO, and smile passed over
his face as he said, Yes, I'm following
you all right. You are at that word;
and he pointed to the exact place
where had paused in my sending.
Geronimo uttered an approving grunt.
Il resumed my wiring and was near
ly done, when the fort operator broke
me. having missed a word. l repeated
1t and was going ahead with the close
when the Indian operator interrupted
me with an oath:
You are sending wrong; you are
posting the fortl'
No. l am not answered him.
You lie! What did you say just
thenr And he showed his gun under
my nose
The operator at the fort asked me
to repeat that word and did SO; that
Is all. Didn't you hear it?'
"He looked hard at me for a few
seconds, but as had spoken the truth
did not finch and returned the gaze
quite steadily.
"'Oh. was only trying to brighten
you,' he said with a laugh. Where
are you now?'
Here / said, pointing to the place
where L had left OF, with the key open.
That's right! Finish it, said he;
and I did so, getting o. K. from the
fort
Within ten minutes thereafter the
fort called me. The reply was short.
expressing thanks for the information
and saying that the troops would leave
for Crystal Gulch at once. When
had o. KID it the fort man asked me
H. Tw.
dians.
THE Indian ordered me to write
down every word. and he would not
permit me to answer it until he had
written the reply. Then he would fol- |