El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-17

night without any water near. We
had. however. filled our deerskins,
and they gave US a good supply. still
u hen that resource should fail us we
did not know when we should be en-
abled TO reDlenish our water. After
the third daV our skins were all dry
and no springs i'm sight. That night
our men were gloomy and discomfort
ed.
On n Desert. No Water.
Another days march. and still no
water, Of food we had plenty. but no
water, Our beasts suffered terribly.
The captain and myself we're riding
on in advance. about two hours ahead
Of the caravan, when suddenly our
horses pricked up their ears and
dashed off little to the right Of the
course we had been following We
concluded they smclt water and let
them take their course. In half an
hour We came to three or four large
tie clump Of trees. We found also "a
small camp OF Indians. about S0
lodges, some IS warriors. and 80 or So
women and children. The chief was
the first man who saw US
He came out Of his lodge fully
armed and looked at us i'm peculiar
manner as much IS TO say shall n
he peace or war; Maurello. who
knew their customs, dismOunted. and.
giving me his bride 20 hold. advanced
toward the chief with palms out
stretched and open; he began the con-
fab with "BuenOs dias. amigo The
chief. who had seen at once that we
were not MeXicans. seemed surprised
at being addressed in Spanish. but
answered in the same language. Tn
the meantime 7 had been obliged TO
yield to the frantic efforts OF the
horses To get to the water, and had
some difficulty to restrain them. or
they would have injured themselves.
Indians Are Run OFF.
Naurello's cOnfab with the old chief
was soon brought to close. His
Spanish gave out and he was obliged
to call on me to assist. We were soon
surrounded by a troop OF boys and
establishment. ] then translated. for
the benefit OF the chief. what Mau.
relic told me in English
Tell the old cuss,' said the cap
tain. that 7 am the chief OF band
Of about 100 Americsnos del NQrte.
who viii be Up in an hour or two
that We have not had any water for
three days, that my men are ugly.
cross and savage; and that II he and
his tribe don't vamoSe the ranch IN
less than no time. my men viii wipe
him and them out Of existence"
This elegant haranEUo 7 coWmuni-
Gated TO the Indian chief and threw
such earnestness into my lanEua "a
and looks. urging him. for the sake of
his women and children. 10 obey our
captain. who. as I told him. was in
fluenCed by "humanidad" alone. that
he became alarmed. and in few
words ordered his camp broken up
Never have I seen anything done so
eZ1editiOusly. They were soon all
mounted on their little Indian ponies,
that had suddenly appeared from uu-
der the trees. and all the men. women
children TaTr#g and tent mics
were on their way; and none too soon.
for rs they disap Deared toward tho
west our caravan appeared coming
from the east. Great was their 10Y
AT the bountifuI supply Of water. and
il was thought advisable 70 camp on
that SPOT for the next three days At
the emo OF that time We resumed our
journey.
Nearing San EIizurIO.
IN due course We struck tho Rio
Grande. about T. miles south Of san
Elizario. as We afrervard a@ce-tained.
We reached the river early in the
but our men and cattle
were so exhausted that we went into
camp At once From the time We left
the Indian springs until We struck the
Rio Grande We had suffered much.
About half the time We had no water.
Three Of our wagons broke down.
and about 20 mules and as many
horses gave out We we're Obliged 10
abandon two more wagons. she con-
tents being divided among the re-
consumed so much flour. sugar, COT
fee. etc. the weight was less than
when we started.
As we did not know exactly where
we were. but only knew we had the
Rio Grsude before US, We started the
due north We had plenty OF provt-
sions. such as flour. sugar. coffee. etc.
hut no meat. After travelling about
ten miles We came TO a small rancho.
where a poor Mexican. his wife and
two children lived in tee most print
five manner Il was the OUTPOST q
civilization in that quarter
Outpost of Civilization.
The poor man thought We were
demOuios or at best banditti he did
rot know which. He told us trem-
blingly. that We were five miles from
san Elizario- and only 30 miles frcg'
FL Paso- Naurello ordered the cara
van 10 halt. and taking Long Bill. five
men and myself. all well armed.
pushed on TO san ElizariO.. not wish
inE 10 take the good people OF that
place too much by surprise.
We called on the Slcalde and ro-
luested permission TO trade with tho
Of his town. The poor
man was fully convinced that we
were robbers He had never heard Of
Americsnos del Norte coming from
the east and the south They had al
ways come from the north. from sam
IA Fe We assured him that We were
the first that had opened a new route,
md that hereafter il would be traN-
cled regularly. He finally seemed TO
he convinced. and when the captain
ssked him Tor = fat oxen for our men
and hauled out the gold 10 pay
Tor them. he smiled and said WHY, 3
after all. you are not robbers
Everybody Gets Drunk.
The next morning early We got to- /
gether % fine oxen, and about half Z
he tOwn-men. women and Children
accompanied the vaQuerOs who drove /
he cattle down 10 our camp We /
we're received with shouts or JOY.
The cattle were at once slaughtered /
Tres were made. and we all feasted. I
Whisky flowed profuEely, and not I
'nly did the greater part OF our men \
get tight but the poor vaQueros /
we're compelled 10 drink repeatedly,
md, not being accustomed to the
whisky Americana. were soon laid
The next morning. after very
hearty breakfast. We resumed our
march. We were met at the entrance
O the village by the alcalde. who was
low in ecstasies. although we GER
ainly appeared more like bandits
han anything else. Cncouth and IN
Tempt. with long boards and lOn-cr
lair. ragged and dirty, We were the
.eau ideal of banditti NevcrtheIess.
ur So wagons were there. as wen ass
he packages. The alcalde wautcd us
O open some Of the latter al his
own, but we had told him we had
uSagcd not 20 do so until we reached /
p PaSo our men importuued the
aptaiu TO lay over one day at san
-lizafio. so that they might have a