The Coconino sun., 1920-12-24

Our old friend, Colonel A. F. Banta
 who is known to all old-timers of Ari-
 zona, and particularly well known to
 people of St. Johns, where he held
 forth in the very early days and later
 at different times was in the banking
 business and newspaper business, hay.
 ing established The Observer in 1910
 gives us the following graphic story ot
 an Indian adventure in which oul
 townsman, Don Solomon Earth, (Mr
 Banta's "companero" in those early
 days), was chief actor Colonel Banta
 was member of the Zuni tribe, hay,
 ing been formally adopted by them ir
 1866, and later by the Coyotero
 Apaches, and his statements in mat
 ters Indian can be taken as ex-cathe
 dral. His Zuni name is Too-Loosh
 Too-Loo and his Apache name is Bah
 dah-clish-aye. During his sojourT
 with the Apaches he learned the lines
 tribes. His story follows:
 Prior to the establishment of reser'
 vations, which was my time among
 the Apaches, each tribe had well de.
 fined hunting grounds and trespass-
 ing was the usual cause of inter-tribaI
 wars. The hunting grounds of the
 White Mountain Apaches, of which
 Pedro was chief, were east of "Tor-
 rent" wash or Rushing Water;" this
 line is about twelve miles west of the
 present Fort Apache. Their range ex-
 tended eastward to the Escudilla
 mountains. Westward from Rushing water" to the Cibicu, were the grounds of the Coyoteros. Es-ca-pah was their chief in those days. Westward from Cibicu to what is now known as Cher " creek, Gam not certain), at any rate it is the creek running south to the Salt river along the eastern base of the Sierra Pintado, were the hunt ing grounds of the Finals, Bah-dah- clah-nah the chief. From the last named creek westward were the grounds of the Tonto Apaches, most numerous of all tribes, Dey-shey-yeh their chief. This chief was treacher- ously murdered by contract doctor at Camp Rino, having gone to the post, by invitation of the commanding officer, under white flag-no officer would be guilty of such a dastardly act, they are gentlemen. The Tonto range was quite large and covered the Basin and Tonto creek country, also the Mazatzal range westward to the eastern bank of the Verde river. The westward from the Verde, and as far as the Colorado river was claimed by the Hualipais and their al- lies the Apache-Mohaves; as to any tribe called "Yavapais" the writer has no knowledge. All boundary lines north terminated with their implaca- ble enemies, the Navajos. Going south- ward the Gila river was the limit of all tribes north of that stream, unless on friendly terms with those south of that line; and if so, then the state of Sonora in Mexico.
 Before closing this prologue I shall relate a few more historical facts. During the early days of the territory, most people were ignorant of the and even today they know very little about the Indian-only the debauched reservation vagabond. In those days the press and people gen. erally believed all Apaches roamed at will, from any section of the territory to any other section; this was erron- eous. The late John A. Marion, "a good man and democrat" speaking of some Indian depreciation north of Prescott, said it was committed by friendly Coyoteros." Mir Marion's like many others, was ab- false. In 1869 and TO, the Tontos and Finals were at war, but of the cause of casus belli never learn ed; and between the Coyoteros and Finals, there was no friendly feeling. As to the White Mountain and Coyo- tero-Apaches, knowing those people so well, l can positively say, none of them ever saw the country west of the Verde, and to have attempted to cross the Pinal and Tonto country meant war. So much for history and truth.
 Early in the fall of 1868, Sol Earth and party of Mexicans, from the iron tier village of Cubero, passed the Zuni village en route for the Apacheria. The party was we'll supplied with sad He animals, also pack animals loaded with Indian goods. In due time, and without mishap, the party reached Carizo creek, and the rancheria of the Coyotero-Apaches. The Indian trail from Zuni to the Apacheria followed town the Zuni river until it reached Ihe last black mesa, which bordered .he Zuni river on it's northern side. At this point the trail left the valley and led across some sandy hills and table lands, striking the Little Colo rado river among some sandstone cliffs about twelve miles below the present. town of St. Johns. Amongst these rocks was the usual place of meeting for the purpose of trade be- tween the Zunis and the White Moun- tain and Coyotero-Apaches. Cross ng the river at this point, the trail led down the south side to Concho creek a short distance above its mouth; here the trail forked, the one Tor the Coyotero country taking a westerly course, and the trail leading to the White Mountain country up Concho creek in A southerly direction.