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-The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre, by
-John Gregory Bourke
-
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 
-whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
-the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at 
-www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-
-
-
-Title: An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre
-       An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the Spring of 1883 
-
-
-Author: John Gregory Bourke
-
-
-
-Release Date: April 9, 2021  [eBook #65040]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-
-***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA
-MADRE***
-
-
-E-text prepared by John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading
-Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
-Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
-
-
-
-Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
-      file which includes the original illustrations.
-      See 65040-h.htm or 65040-h.zip:
-      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65040/65040-h/65040-h.htm)
-      or
-      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65040/65040-h.zip)
-
-
-      Images of the original pages are available through
-      Internet Archive. See
-      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
-
-
-Transcriber’s note:
-
-      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
-
-      Changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
-
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.]
-
-
-AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE.
-
-An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the
-Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the
-Spring of 1883.
-
-by
-
-JOHN G. BOURKE,
-
-Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,
-Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis.”
-
-Illustrated
-
-
-
-
-
-
-New York
-Charles Scribner’S Sons.
-1886.
-
-Copyright 1886,
-By Charles Scribner’S Sons.
-
-Press of J. J. Little & Co.,
-Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.
-
-
-
-
-PREFACE.
-
-
-The recent outbreak of a fraction of the Chiricahua Apaches, and the
-frightful atrocities which have marked their trail through Arizona,
-Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted renewed attention to
-these brave but bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed to
-their ravages.
-
-The contents of this book, which originally appeared in a serial
-form in the _Outing Magazine_ of Boston, represent the details of
-the expedition led by General Crook to the Sierra Madre, Mexico, in
-1883; but, as the present military operations are conducted by the
-same commander, against the same enemy, and upon the same field of
-action, a perusal of these pages will, it is confidently believed,
-place before the reader a better knowledge of the general situation
-than any article which is likely soon to appear.
-
-There is this difference to be noted, however; of the one hundred
-and twenty-five (125) fighting men brought back from the Sierra
-Madre, less than one-third have engaged in the present hostilities,
-from which fact an additional inference may be drawn both of the
-difficulties to be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
-and of the horrors which would surely have accumulated upon the heads
-of our citizens had the _whole_ fighting force of this fierce band
-taken to the mountains.
-
-One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas, during the period
-from November 15th, 1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
-(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the reservation, and no
-less than twenty-five (25) white men, women, and children. This
-bloody raid has been conducted through a country filled with regular
-troops, militia, and “rangers,”--and at a loss to the enemy, so far
-as can be shown, of only one man, whose head is now at Fort Apache.
-
-              JOHN G. BOURKE.
-
-  APACHE INDIAN AGENCY,
-  SAN CARLOS, ARIZONA,
-  _December 15th, 1885_.
-
-
-
-
-  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
-
-
-                                                        PAGE
-
-  CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT      _Frontispiece._
-
-  APACHE VILLAGE SCENE                           to face   7
-
-  APACHE WAR-DANCE                                        17
-
-  APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT          23
-
-  APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, ETC.                    26
-
-  APACHE AMBUSCADE                                        34
-
-  APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.                  49
-
-  APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS                           64
-
-  APACHE GIRL, WITH TYPICAL DRESS                         79
-
-  APACHE WARFARE                                          88
-
-  APACHE BASKET-WORK                                     100
-
-  FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE                              107
-
-
-
-
-AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.
-
-
-
-
-I.
-
-
-Within the compass of this volume it is impossible to furnish a
-complete dissertation upon the Apache Indians or the causes which led
-up to the expedition about to be described. The object is simply to
-outline some of the difficulties attending the solution of the Indian
-question in the South-west and to make known the methods employed
-in conducting campaigns against savages in hostility. It is thought
-that the object desired can best be accomplished by submitting an
-unmutilated extract from the journal carefully kept during the whole
-period involved.
-
-Much has necessarily been excluded, but without exception it has
-been to avoid repetition, or else to escape the introduction of
-information bearing upon the language, the religion, marriages,
-funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting race, which would
-increase the bulk of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from its
-value in the eyes of the general reader.
-
-Ethnologically the Apache is classed with the Tinneh tribes, living
-close to the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
-For centuries he has been preëminent over the more peaceful nations
-about him for courage, skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
-and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack when skilfully-planned
-ambuscades have led an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
-brutality to captives; patient endurance and fortitude under the
-greatest privations.
-
-In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted intelligence, good
-fellowship, warmth of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
-wrong.
-
-No Indian has more virtues and none has been more truly ferocious
-when aroused. He was the first of the native Americans to defeat in
-battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering, smooth-tongued
-Spaniard, with whom and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has waged
-cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since the days of Cortés. When the
-Spaniard had fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to push
-back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided simply with lance and
-bow. The past fifty years have seen the Apache provided with arms
-of precision, and, especially since the introduction of magazine
-breech-loaders, the Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
-upon the Apache, but has trembled for the security of life and
-property in the squalid hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.
-
-In 1871 the War Department confided to General George Crook the task
-of whipping into submission all the bands of the Apache nation living
-in Arizona. How thoroughly that duty was accomplished is now a matter
-of history. But at the last moment one band--the Chiricahuas--was
-especially exempted from Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
-by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box sort of an existence,
-now popping into an agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
-own story is to be credited, to live at peace with the whites, but
-unable to do so from lack of nourishment.
-
-When they went upon the reservation, rations in abundance were
-promised for themselves and families. A difference of opinion soon
-arose with the agent as to what constituted a ration, the wicked
-Indians laboring under the delusion that it was enough food to
-keep the recipient from starving to death, and objecting to an
-issue of supplies based upon the principle according to which
-grumbling Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was formerly
-apportioned,--that is, by being thrown through the rungs of a
-ladder--what stuck being the share of the Indian, and what fell
-to the ground being the share of the agent. To the credit of the
-agent it must be said that he made a praiseworthy but ineffectual
-effort to alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
-of hymn-books among his wards. The perverse Chiricahuas, not being
-able to digest works of that nature, and unwilling to acknowledge
-the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic, made up their minds to
-sally out from San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable
-wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their discontent was not allayed by
-rumors whispered about of the intention of the agent to have the
-whole tribe removed bodily to the Indian Territory. Coal had been
-discovered on the reservation, and speculators clamored that the land
-involved be thrown open for development, regardless of the rights
-of the Indians. But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached a
-focus when the agent one day sent his chief of police to arrest a
-Chiricahua charged with some offense deemed worthy of punishment in
-the guard-house. The offender started to run through the Indian camp,
-and the chief of police fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
-luckless old squaw, who happened in range. This wretched marksmanship
-was resented by the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted by
-the profuse apologies tendered for the accident. They silently
-made their preparations, waiting long enough to catch the chief of
-police, kill him, cut off his head, and play a game of foot-ball with
-it; and then, like a flock of quail, the whole band, men, women,
-and children--710 in all--started on the dead run for the Mexican
-boundary, one hundred and fifty miles to the south.
-
-Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought their way across Southern
-Arizona and New Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
-The valleys of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro witnessed a repetition
-of the once familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields with
-rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle. While engaged in
-fighting off the American forces, which pressed too closely upon
-their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front by the Mexican column
-under Colonel Garcia, who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved
-a “substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and capturing thirty,
-eleven of which total of one hundred and fifteen were men, and the
-rest women and children. The Chiricahuas claim that when the main
-body of their warriors reached the scene of the engagement the
-Mexicans evinced no anxiety to come out from the rifle-pits they
-hastily dug. To this fact no allusion can be found in the Mexican
-commander’s published dispatches.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.]
-
-The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate of less than 600--150
-of whom were warriors and big boys, withdrew to the recesses of the
-adjacent Sierra Madre--their objective point. Not long after this the
-Chiricahuas made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans, who
-invited them to a little town near Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a
-conference. They were courteously received, plied with liquor until
-drunk, and then attacked tooth and nail, ten or twelve warriors being
-killed and some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off to captivity.
-
-This is a one-sided description of the affair, given by a Chiricahua
-who participated. The newspapers of that date contained telegraph
-accounts of a fierce battle and another “victory” from Mexican
-sources; so that no doubt there is some basis for the story.
-
-Meantime General Crook had been reassigned by the President to the
-command of the Department of Arizona, which he had left nearly
-ten years previously in a condition of peace and prosperity, with
-the Apaches hard at work upon the reservation, striving to gain a
-living by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and rascality, in the
-interval, had done their worst, and when Crook returned not only
-were the Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other bands of
-the Apache nation were in a state of scarcely concealed defection
-and hostility. Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old friends
-among the chiefs and warriors, and by the exercise of a strong
-personal influence, coupled with assurances that the wrongs of which
-the Apaches complained should be promptly redressed, succeeded in
-averting an outbreak which would have made blood flow from the
-Pecos to the Colorado, and for the suppression of which the gentle
-and genial tax-payer would have been compelled to contribute most
-liberally of his affluence. Attended by an aid-de-camp, a surgeon,
-and a dozen Apache scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
-south-east corner of Arizona, from which point he made an attempt
-to open up communication with the Chiricahuas. In this he was
-unsuccessful, but learned from a couple of squaws, intercepted
-while attempting to return to the San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas
-had sworn vengeance upon Mexicans and Americans alike; that
-their stronghold was an impregnable position in the Sierra Madre,
-a “great way” below the International Boundary; and that they
-supplied themselves with an abundance of food by raiding upon the
-cattle-ranches and “haciendas” in the valleys and plains below.
-
-Crook now found himself face to face with the following intricate
-problem: The Chiricahuas occupied a confessedly impregnable position
-in the precipitous range known as the Sierra Madre. This position was
-within the territory of another nation so jealous of its privileges
-as not always to be able to see clearly in what direction its best
-interests lay. The territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
-stretched across the boundary separating Mexico from the United
-States, but was divided into four military departments--two in
-each country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy, suspicion,
-fault-finding, and antagonism would surely dog the steps of him who
-should endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.
-
-To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas, and all the other
-Apaches as well, were filled with the notion that the Mexicans were
-a horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid to meet them in war
-but valiant enough to destroy their women and children, for whose
-blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood must in turn be
-shed. Affairs went on in this unsatisfactory course from October,
-1882, until March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a return of
-the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one knowing where the first attack
-should be made. The meagre military force allotted to the department
-was distributed so as to cover as many exposed points as possible,
-one body of 150 Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford, Third
-Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous duty of patrolling the
-Mexican boundary for a distance of two hundred miles, through a
-rugged country pierced with ravines and cañons. No one was surprised
-to learn that toward the end of March this skeleton line had been
-stealthily penetrated by a bold band of twenty-six Chiricahuas, under
-a very crafty and daring young chief named _Chato_ (Spanish for Flat
-Nose).
-
-By stealing fresh horses from every ranch they were successful in
-traversing from seventy-five to one hundred miles a day, killing and
-destroying all in their path, the culminating point in their bloody
-career being the butchery of Judge McComas and wife, prominent and
-refined people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction of their
-bright boy, Charlie, whom the Indians carried back with them on their
-retreat through New Mexico and Chihuahua.
-
-It may serve to give some idea of the courage, boldness, and subtlety
-of these raiders to state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
-New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of not less than eight hundred
-miles, they passed at times through localities fairly well settled
-and close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops--4,500 Mexican and
-500 American. They killed twenty-five persons, Mexican and American,
-and lost but two--one killed near the Total Wreck mine, Arizona, and
-one who fell into the hands of the American troops, of which last
-much has to be narrated.
-
-To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches by _direct_ pursuit would
-be about as hopeless a piece of business as that of catching so many
-fleas. All that could be done was done; the country was alarmed
-by telegraph; people at exposed points put upon their guard, while
-detachments of troops scoured in every direction, hoping, by good
-luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap destroy, the daring marauders.
-The trail they had made coming up from Mexico could, however, be
-followed, _back_ to the stronghold; and this, in a military sense,
-would be the most _direct_, as it would be the most practical pursuit.
-
-Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves. He first
-concentrated at the most eligible position on the Southern Pacific
-Railroad--Willcox--all the skeletons of companies which were
-available, for the protection of Arizona.
-
-Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were brought in on every
-train; the whole organization was carefully inspected, to secure
-the rejection of every unserviceable soldier, animal, or weapon;
-telegrams and letters were sent to the officers commanding the
-troops of Mexico, but no replies were received, the addresses of the
-respective generals not being accurately known. As their co-operation
-was desirable, General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad to
-Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua, there to see personally and
-confer with the Mexican civil and military authorities. The cordial
-reception extended him by all classes was the best evidence of the
-high regard in which he was held by the inhabitants of the two
-afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua, and of their readiness
-to welcome any force he would lead to effect the destruction or
-removal of the common enemy. Generals Topete and Carbó--soldiers of
-distinction--the governors of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran,
-of Chihuahua, were most earnest in their desire for a removal of
-savages whose presence was a cloud upon the prosperity of their
-fellow-citizens. General Crook made no delay in these conferences,
-but hurried back to Willcox and marched his command thence to the
-San Bernardino springs, in the south-east corner of the Territory
-(Arizona).
-
-But serious delays and serious complications were threatened by the
-intemperate behavior of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
-Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the San Carlos Agency
-with the avowed purpose of “cleaning out” all the Indians there
-congregated. The chiefs and head men of the Apaches had just caused
-word to be telegraphed to General Crook that they intended sending
-him another hundred of their picked warriors as an assurance and
-pledge that they were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on the
-war-path. Upon learning of the approach of the “Rangers” the chiefs
-prudently deferred the departure of the new levy of scouts until the
-horizon should clear, and enable them to see what was to be expected
-from their white neighbors.
-
-The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers” was exhausted in less
-than ten days, when the organization expired of thirst, to the
-gratification of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier, who
-repudiated an interference with the plans of the military commander,
-respected and esteemed by them for former distinguished services.
-
-At this point it may be well to insert an outline of the story told
-by the Chiricahua captive who had been brought down from the San
-Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that his name was Pa-nayo-tishn
-(the Coyote saw him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a White
-Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or Red Clay) clan, married to two
-Chiricahua women, by whom he had had children, and with whose people
-he had lived for years. He had left the Chiricahua stronghold in the
-mountain called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey below Casas
-Grandes in Chihuahua. From that stronghold the Chiricahuas had been
-raiding with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued they would draw
-the Mexicans into the depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
-kill them by rolling down rocks from the heights.
-
-The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and cattle, but little food of a
-vegetable character. They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
-breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of ammunition, and
-had made their recent raid into Arizona, hoping to replenish their
-supply of cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among the chiefs,
-some of whom, he thought, would be glad to return to the reservation.
-In making raids they counted upon riding from sixty to seventy-five
-miles a day as they stole fresh horses all the time and killed
-those abandoned. It would be useless to pursue them, but he would
-lead General Crook back along the trail they had made coming up
-from Mexico, and he had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken by
-surprise.
-
-He had not gone with them of his own free will, but had been
-compelled to leave the reservation, and had been badly treated while
-with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos because the agent had
-stolen their rations, beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
-He asserted emphatically that no communication of any kind had been
-held with the Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that direction
-having been frustrated.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE WAR-DANCE.]
-
-The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn, numbered seventy
-full-grown warriors and fifty big boys able to fight, with an unknown
-number of women and children. In their fights with the Mexicans about
-one hundred and fifty had been killed and captured, principally women
-and children. The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was described as a
-dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible place, having plenty of wood,
-water, and grass, but no food except what was stolen from the
-Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas might be starved out.
-
-General Crook ordered the irons to be struck from the prisoner; to
-which he demurred, saying he would prefer to wear shackles for the
-present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity. A half-dozen
-prominent scouts promised to guard him and watch him; so the fetters
-were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or “Peaches,” as the soldiers
-called him, was installed in the responsible office of guide of the
-contemplated expedition.
-
-By the 22d of April many of the preliminary arrangements had
-been completed and some of the difficulties anticipated had been
-smoothed over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the command from the
-San Carlos Reservation, and in the first hours of night began a
-war-dance, which continued without a break until the first flush of
-dawn the next day. They were all in high feather, and entered into
-the spirit of the occasion with full zest. Not much time need be
-wasted upon a description of their dresses; they didn’t wear any,
-except breech-clout and moccasins. To the music of an improvised
-drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing yells and shrieks
-they pirouetted and charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
-violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly springing high in air,
-discharging their pieces, and all the time chanting a rude refrain,
-in which their own prowess was exalted and that of their enemies
-alluded to with contempt. Their enthusiasm was not abated by the
-announcement, quietly diffused, that the “medicine men” had been hard
-at work, and had succeeded in making a “medicine” which would surely
-bring the Chiricahuas to grief.
-
-In accordance with the agreement entered into with the Mexican
-authorities, the American troops were to reach the boundary line _not
-sooner than May 1_, the object being to let the restless Chiricahuas
-quiet down as much as possible, and relax their vigilance, while at
-the same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get into position for
-effective co-operation.
-
-The convention between our government and that of Mexico, by which
-a reciprocal crossing of the International Boundary was conceded
-to the troops of the two republics, stipulated that such crossing
-should be authorized when the troops were “in close pursuit of a band
-of savage Indians,” and the crossing was made “in the unpopulated
-or desert parts of said boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
-parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment or town of either
-country.” The commander of the troops crossing was to give notice
-at time of crossing, or before if possible, to the nearest military
-commander or civil authority of the country entered. The pursuing
-force was to retire to its own territory as soon as it should have
-fought the band of which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and in
-no case could it “establish itself or remain in the foreign territory
-for a longer time than necessary to make the pursuit of the band
-whose trail it had followed.”
-
-The weak points of this convention were the imperative stipulation
-that the troops should return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
-of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated country.” A friendly
-expedition from the United States might follow close on the heels of
-a party of depredating Apaches, but, under a rigid construction of
-the term “unpopulated,” have to turn back when it had reached some
-miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity of savage attack, and
-most in need of assistance, as afterwards proved to be the case.
-
-The complication was not diminished by the orders dispatched by
-General Sherman on March 31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit
-of the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental or national
-boundaries.” Both General Crook and General Topete, anxious to
-have every difficulty removed which lay in the way of a thorough
-adjustment of this vexed question, telegraphed to their respective
-governments asking that a more elastic interpretation be given to the
-terms of the convention.
-
-To this telegram General Crook received reply that he must abide
-strictly by the terms of the convention, which could only be changed
-with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate. But what these terms
-meant exactly was left just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
-of April General Crook moved out from Willcox, accompanied by the
-Indian scouts and a force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
-and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle, guarding a train of
-wagons, with supplies of ammunition and food for two months. This
-force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in reserve at or near San
-Bernardino Springs on the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
-flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments commanded by
-Rafferty, Vroom, Overton, and Anderson; this disposition affording
-the best possible protection to the settlements in case any of the
-Chiricahuas should make their way to the rear of the detachment
-penetrating Mexico.
-
-A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column as it left the line of
-the Southern Pacific Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
-scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar methods of the Apaches
-in marching and conducting themselves while on a campaign may not be
-out of place. To veterans of the campaigns of the Civil War familiar
-with the compact formations of the cavalry and infantry of the Army
-of the Potomac, the loose, straggling methods of the Apache scouts
-would appear startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend
-at a glance that the Apache was the perfect, the ideal, scout of
-the whole world. When Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
-gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé--Go!--the Apaches started as if
-shot from a gun, and in a minute or less had covered a space of one
-hundred yards front, which distance rapidly widened as they advanced,
-at a rough, shambling walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
-Heads), the mining camp near which the first halt was to be made.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.]
-
-They moved with no semblance of regularity; individual fancy alone
-governed. Here was a clump of three; not far off two more, and
-scattered in every point of the compass, singly or in clusters, were
-these indefatigable scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
-as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s, and ears so sensitive
-that nothing escapes them. An artist, possibly, would object to
-many of them as undersized, but in all other respects they would
-satisfy every requirement of anatomical criticism. Their chests
-were broad, deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight; limbs
-well-proportioned, strong, and muscular, without a suggestion
-of undue heaviness; hands and feet small and taper but wiry;
-heads well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with a pleasant,
-good-natured expression, which would be more constant, perhaps,
-were it not for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the loose,
-disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black, held away from the face
-by a broad, flat band of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright,
-clear, and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest good-humor
-and satisfaction. Uniforms had been issued, but were donned upon
-ceremonial occasions only. On the present march each wore a loosely
-fitting shirt of red, white, or gray stuff, generally of calico, in
-some gaudy figure, but not infrequently the sombre article of woollen
-raiment issued to white soldiers. This came down outside a pair of
-loose cotton drawers, reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins are
-the most important articles of Apache apparel. In a fight or on
-a long march they will discard all else, but under any and every
-circumstance will retain the moccasins. These had been freshly made
-before leaving Willcox. The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon
-the ground while a companion traces with a sharp knife the outlines
-of the sole of his foot upon a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made
-of soft buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to mid-thigh. For
-convenience in marching, it is allowed to hang in folds below the
-knee. The raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great toe, and turned
-upward in a shield, which protects from cactus and sharp stones. A
-leather belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of metallic
-cartridges, and also keeps in place the regulation blue blouse and
-pantaloons, which are worn upon the person only when the Indian scout
-is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier towns or military posts by a
-display of all his finery.
-
-The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries are a Springfield
-breech-loading rifle, army pattern, a canteen full of water, a
-butcher knife, an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and a
-tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins or work of that kind. With
-the tweezers the Apache young man carefully picks out each and every
-hair appearing upon his face. The tag marks his place in the tribe,
-and is in reality nothing more or less than a revival of a plan
-adopted during the war of the rebellion for the identification of
-soldiers belonging to the different corps and divisions. Each male
-Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered, and a descriptive
-list, corresponding to the tag kept, with a full recital of all his
-physical peculiarities.
-
-This is the equipment of each and every scout; but there are many,
-especially the more pious and influential, who carry besides,
-strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of Hoddentin, or sacred
-meal, with which to offer morning and evening sacrifice to the
-sun or other deity. Others, again, are provided with amulets of
-lightning-riven twigs, pieces of quartz crystal, petrified wood,
-concretionary sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
-representing some of their countless planetary gods or Kân, which
-are regarded as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the designs of
-the enemy or warding off arrows and bullets in the heat of action.
-And a few are happy in the possession of priceless sashes and shirts
-of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned the signs of the sun, moon,
-lightning, rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly, snake,
-centipede, and other powers to which they may appeal for aid in the
-hour of distress.
-
-The Apache is an eminently religious person, and the more deviltry he
-plans the more pronounced does his piety become.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES WORN
-BY YOUNG GIRLS.]
-
-The rate of speed attained by the Apaches in marching is about an
-even four miles an hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make a
-horse trot. They keep this up for about fifteen miles, at the end
-of which distance, if water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
-they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen each, hide in some
-convenient ravine, sit down, smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and
-stretch out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes of the South.
-If they want to make a little fire, they kindle one with matches, if
-they happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid twirl, between the
-palms, of a hard round stick fitting into a circular hole in another
-stick of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to forty-five
-seconds. The scouts by this time have painted their faces, daubing
-them with red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted “mescal.”
-The object of this is protection from wind and sun, as well as
-distinctive ornamentation.
-
-The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was broken by the shrill
-cry of Choddi! Choddi! (Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
-left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that the Apaches on that
-flank were getting fresh meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
-demonstrated that they were not the worst of shots; neither were
-they, by any means, bad cooks.
-
-When the command reached camp these restless, untiring nomads built
-in a trice all kinds of rude shelters. Those that had the army “dog
-tents” put them up on frame-works of willow or cotton-wood saplings;
-others, less fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches covered
-with grass, or of stones and boards covered with gunny sacks. Before
-these were finished smoke curled gracefully toward the sky from
-crackling embers, in front of which, transfixed on wooden spits,
-were the heads, hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
-the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to the _spolia opima_ was a
-cotton-tailed rabbit, run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
-South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught in the same manner.
-
-Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making bread,--the light, thin
-“tortillas” of the Mexicans, baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
-eating. Two others were fraternally occupied in preparing their bed
-for the night. Grass was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
-and covered with one blanket, another serving as cover. These
-Indians, with scarcely an exception, sleep with their feet pointed
-toward little fires, which, they claim, are warm, while the big ones
-built by the American soldiers, are so hot that they drive people
-away from them, and, besides, attract the attention of a lurking
-enemy. At the foot of this bed an Apache was playing on a home-made
-fiddle, fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or American aloe.
-This fiddle has four strings, and emits a sound like the wail of a
-cat with its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red man likes the
-music, which perhaps is, after all, not so very much inferior to that
-of Wagner.
-
-Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of sweet sounds, a party of
-six was playing fiercely at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards
-employed being of native manufacture, of horse-hide, covered with
-barbarous figures, and well worthy of a place in any museum.
-
-The cooking was by this time ended, and the savages, with genuine
-hospitality, invited the Americans near them to join in the feast. It
-was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty paws tearing bread
-and meat into fragments; yet the meat thus cooked was tender and
-juicy, the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and fairly well made.
-The Apaches squatted nearest to the American guests felt it incumbent
-upon them to explain everything as the meal progressed. They said
-this (pointing to the coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
-Zigosti (bread).
-
-All this time scouts had been posted commanding every possible line
-of approach. The Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite
-mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing what he himself can do,
-he ascribes to his foe--no matter how insignificant may be his
-numbers--the same daring, recklessness, agility, and subtlety
-possessed by himself. These Indian scouts will march thirty-five or
-forty miles in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of waterless
-plains upon which a tropical sun beats down with fierceness, or
-climbing up the faces of precipitous mountains which stretch across
-this region in every direction.
-
-The two great points of superiority of the native or savage soldier
-over the representative of civilized discipline are his absolute
-knowledge of the country and his perfect ability to take care of
-himself at all times and under all circumstances. Though the rays
-of the sun pour down from the zenith, or the scorching sirocco
-blow from the south, the Apache scout trudges along as unconcerned
-as he was when the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his white
-comrade to the marrow. He finds food, and pretty good food too,
-where the Caucasian would starve. Knowing the habits of wild animals
-from his earliest youth, he can catch turkeys, quail, rabbits,
-doves, or field-mice, and, perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which
-will supply him with meat. For some reason he cannot be induced to
-touch fish, and bacon or any other product of the hog is eaten only
-under duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass, which has
-dropped exhausted on the march and been left to die on the trail,
-is a delicious morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon wherever
-possible. The stunted oak, growing on the mountain flanks, furnishes
-acorns; the Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in the ashes
-of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something like the banana. The
-whole region of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted with
-varieties of the cactus, nearly every one of which is called upon
-for its tribute of fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of the
-century-plant--called mescal--are roasted between hot stones, and
-the product is rich in saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to
-the taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the “tule” are found in
-the damp mountain meadows; and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
-remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds, when
-ground fine, are rich and nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep
-ravines, and strawberries in favorable locations; in the proper
-season these, with the seeds of wild grasses and wild pumpkins, the
-gum of the “mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the pine,
-play their part in staving off the pangs of hunger.
-
-The above are merely a few of the resources of the Apache scout when
-separated from the main command. When his moccasins give out on a
-long march over the sharp rocks of the mountains or the cutting
-sands of the plains, a few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
-pair,--his own handiwork,--and so with other portions of his raiment.
-He is never without awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
-infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of some kind,--at first the
-bow and arrow, and later on the rifle,--he is perfectly at home with
-his weapons, and knowing from past experience how important they are
-for his preservation, takes much better care of them than does the
-white soldier out of garrison.
-
-He does not read the newspapers, but the great book of nature is
-open to his perusal, and has been drained of much knowledge which
-his pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire. Every track in the
-trail, mark in the grass, scratch on the bark of a tree, explains
-itself to the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an hour, almost,
-when the man or animal making them passed by, and, like a hound, will
-keep on the scent until he catches up with the object of his pursuit.
-
-In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier is sedate and
-taciturn. Seated around his little apology for a camp-fire, in the
-communion of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational. He
-is obedient to authority, but will not brook the restraints which,
-under our notions of discipline, change men into machines. He makes
-an excellent sentinel, and not a single instance can be adduced of
-property having been stolen from or by an Apache on guard.
-
-He has the peculiarity, noticed among so many savage tribes in
-various parts of the world, of not caring to give his true name to a
-stranger; if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one or remain
-mute and let a comrade answer for him. This rule does not apply
-where he has been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers. In
-such case he will respond promptly, and tell the inquirer that he is
-“Stumpy,” “Tom Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed Reilly,”
-as the case may be. But there is no such exception in regard to the
-dead. Their names are never mentioned, even by the wailing friends
-who loudly chant their virtues.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE AMBUSCADE.]
-
-Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a curious thing to witness. He
-avoids appearing suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that his
-figure projected against the sky can at such time be discerned from
-a great distance. He will carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of
-grass, or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl like a snake
-to the summit and carefully peer about, taking in with his keen black
-eyes the details of the country to the front with a rapidity, and
-thoroughness the American or European can never acquire. In battle
-he is again the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache has no false
-ideas about courage; he would prefer to skulk like the coyote for
-hours, and then kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,
-by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal or otherwise. But
-he is no coward; on the contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
-bravest. The precautions taken for his safety prove that he is an
-exceptionally skillful soldier. His first duty under fire is to jump
-for a rock, bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive him except
-with loss of life or blood.
-
-The policy of Great Britain has always been to enlist a force of
-auxiliaries from among the natives of the countries falling under
-her sway. The Government of the United States, on the contrary, has
-persistently ignored the really excellent material, ready at hand,
-which could, with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be mobilized,
-and made to serve as a frontier police. General Crook is the only
-officer of our army who has fully recognized the incalculable
-value of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns of the past
-thirty-five years has drawn about him as soon as possible a force of
-Indians, which has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and also
-of consequence in reducing the strength of the opposition.
-
-The white army of the United States is a much better body of
-officers and men than a critical and censorious public gives it
-credit for being. It represents intelligence of a high order, and
-a spirit of devotion to duty worthy of unbounded praise; but it
-does not represent the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
-follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may be brave and
-well-disciplined, but its members cannot tramp or ride, as the case
-may be, from forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without water,
-under a burning sun. No civilized army can do that. It is one of the
-defects of civilized training that man develops new wants, awakens
-new necessities,--becomes, in a word, more and more a creature of
-luxury.
-
-Take the Apache Indian under the glaring sun of Mexico. He quietly
-peels off all his clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more than
-otherwise. He may not be a great military genius, but he is inured
-to all sorts of fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when the
-civilized man is about to die of thirst.
-
-Prominent among these scouts was of course first of all “Peaches,”
-the captive guide. He was one of the handsomest men, physically,
-to be found in the world. He never knew what it was to be tired,
-cross, or out of humor. His knowledge of the topography of Northern
-Sonora was remarkable, and his absolute veracity and fidelity in all
-his dealings a notable feature in his character. With him might be
-mentioned “Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
-“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried and true men, experienced in
-warfare and devoted to the general whose standard they followed.
-
-
-
-
-II.
-
-
-From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs, by the road the wagons
-followed, is an even 100 miles. The march thither, through a most
-excellent grazing country, was made in five days, by which time
-the command was joined by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
-with more than 100 additional Apache scouts and several trains of
-pack-mules.
-
-San Bernardino Springs break out from the ground upon the Boundary
-Line and flow south into the Yaqui River, of which the San Bernardino
-River is the extreme head. These springs yielded an abundance of
-water for all our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands of
-head of cattle, which have since disappeared under the attrition of
-constant warfare with the Apaches.
-
-The few days spent at San Bernardino were days of constant toil and
-labor; from the first streak of dawn until far into the night the
-task of organizing and arranging went on. Telegrams were dispatched
-to the Mexican generals notifying them that the American troops would
-leave promptly by the date agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
-began their war-dances, and continued them without respite from each
-sunset until the next sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
-they informed him of their anxiety to put an end to the war and bring
-peace to Arizona, so that the white men and Apaches could live and
-work side by side.
-
-By the 29th of April all preparations were complete. Baggage had been
-cut down to a minimum. Every officer and man was allowed to carry
-the clothes on his back, one blanket and forty rounds of ammunition.
-Officers were ordered to mess with the packers and on the same food
-issued to soldiers and Indian scouts. One hundred and sixty rounds
-of extra ammunition and rations of hard-bread, coffee and bacon, for
-sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.
-
-At this moment General Sherman telegraphed to General Crook that he
-must not cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians, except in
-strict accord with the terms of the treaty, without defining exactly
-what those terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging receipt of these
-instructions and saying that he would respect treaty stipulations.
-
-On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition crossed the boundary
-into Mexico. Its exact composition was as follows: General George
-Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke, Third Cavalry, acting
-adjutant-general; Lieutenant G. S. Febiger, engineer officer,
-aid-de-camp; Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with Lieutenants West
-and Forsyth, and forty-two enlisted men of “I” company of that
-regiment; Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the General
-Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
-Third Cavalry, Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
-Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al. Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,”
-Severiano, and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.
-
-The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient management, were divided
-into five trains, each with its complement of skilled packers. These
-trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins, Stanfield, “Long Jim
-Cook,” and “Short Jim Cook.”
-
-Each packer was armed with carbine and revolver, for self-protection,
-but nothing could be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
-beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently the effective
-fighting strength of the command was a little over fifty white
-men--officers and soldiers--and not quite 200 Apache scouts,
-representing the various bands, Chiricahua, White Mountain, Yuma,
-Mojave, and Tonto.
-
-The first rays of the sun were beaming upon the Eastern hills as
-we swung into our saddles, and, amid a chorus of good-byes and
-God-bless-yous from those left behind, pushed down the hot and sandy
-valley of the San Bernardino, past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to
-near the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty miles. Here camp was
-made on the banks of a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
-walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had scoured the country to
-the front and on both flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild
-turkeys, the latter being run down and caught in the bushes. One
-escaped from its captors and started through camp on a full jump,
-pursued by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it, promptly twisted
-its head off.
-
-The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the “medicine-men” having
-repeated with emphasis the prediction that the expedition was to be
-a grand success. One of the most influential of them--a mere boy,
-who carried the most sacred medicine--was especially positive in his
-views, and, unlike most prophets, backed them up with a bet of $40.
-
-On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 A.M. The train--Monach’s--with
-which we took meals was composed equally of Americans and Mexicans.
-So, when the cook spread his canvas on the ground, one heard
-such expressions as _Tantito’ zucarito quiero_; _Sirve pasar el
-járabe_; _Pase rebanada de pan_; _Otra gotita mas de café_, quite
-as frequently as their English equivalents, “I’d like a little more
-sugar,” “Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of bread,” “A
-little drop of coffee.” Close by, the scouts consumed their meals,
-and with more silence, yet not so silently but that their calls for
-_inchi_ (salt), _ikôn_ (flour), _pezá-a_ (frying-pan), and other
-articles, could be plainly heard.
-
-Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He was not, as he himself
-admitted, a French cook by profession. His early life had been passed
-in the more romantic occupation of driving an ore-wagon between
-Willcox and Globe, and, to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
-down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this side the Rio Grande.”
-
-But what he lacked in culinary knowledge he more than made up in
-strength and agility. He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
-and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured, too, and
-averse to fighting. Such, at least, was the opinion I gathered from
-a remark he made the first evening I was thrown into his society.
-
-His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while he said quietly, “If
-there’s anybody here don’t like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of
-him!” I was just about suggesting that a couple of pounds less
-saleratus in the bread and a couple of gallons less water in the
-coffee would be grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
-conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks I made the better
-would be the chances of my enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said
-nothing. Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua, and I assert from
-the depths of an outraged stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
-never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.
-
-The march was continued down the San Bernardino until we reached its
-important affluent, the Bávispe, up which we made our way until the
-first signs of habitancy were encountered in the squalid villages of
-Bávispe, Basaraca, and Huachinera.
-
-The whole country was a desert. On each hand were the ruins of
-depopulated and abandoned hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
-bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling with crops of
-wheat and barley, were now covered with a thickly-matted jungle
-of semi-tropical vegetation. The river banks were choked by dense
-brakes of cane of great size and thickness. The narrow valley was
-hemmed in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed and slashed
-with a thousand ravines, to cross which exhausted both strength
-and patience. The foot-hills were covered with _chevaux de frise_
-of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus. The lignum-vitæ flaunted
-its plumage of crimson flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
-in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so homely, here assumed a
-garniture of creamy blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
-upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest tendrils pendent from
-the branches of the mesquite.
-
-The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out the poor mules, which
-had as much as they could do to scramble over the steep hills,
-composed of a nondescript accumulation of lava, sandstone, porphyry,
-and limestone, half-rounded by the action of water, and so loosely
-held together as to slip apart and roll away the instant the feet of
-animals or men touched them.
-
-When they were not slipping over loose stones or climbing rugged
-hills, they were breaking their way through jungles of thorny
-vegetation, which tore their quivering flesh. One of the mules,
-falling from the rocks, impaled itself upon a mesquite branch, and
-had to be killed.
-
-Through all this the Apache scouts trudged without a complaint,
-and with many a laugh and jest. Each time camp was reached they
-showed themselves masters of the situation. They would gather the
-saponaceous roots of the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
-them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut sections of the
-bamboo-like cane and make pipes for smoking, or four-holed flutes,
-which emitted a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to with
-melodious chatter by countless birds perched in the shady seclusion
-of ash and cotton-wood.
-
-Those scouts who were not on watch gave themselves up to the luxury
-of the tá-a-chi, or sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
-willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in the ground and the upper
-extremities, united to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which are
-laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat. Three or four large
-rocks are heated and placed in the centre, the Indians arranging
-themselves around these rocks and bending over them. Silicious
-bowlders are invariably selected, and not calcareous--the Apaches
-being sufficiently familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know that
-the latter will frequently crack and explode under intense heat.
-
-When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge I could see nothing
-but a network of arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
-experience with Broadway omnibuses assured me that there must always
-be room for one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”--the master of
-ceremonies--encouraged me to push in first an arm, then a leg, and,
-finally, my whole body.
-
-Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it fell against the frame-work and
-shut out all light and air. The conductor of affairs inside threw a
-handful of water on the hot rocks, and steam, on the instant, filled
-every crevice of the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven; breathing
-was well-nigh impossible.
-
-“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy, “Keet,” whose legs and arms
-were sinuously intertwined with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho
-to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The other bathers said that
-everybody must sing. I had to yield. My _repertoire_ consists of
-but one song--the lovely ditty--“Our captain’s name is Murphy.” I
-gave them this with all the lung-power I had left, and was heartily
-encored; but I was too much exhausted to respond, and rushed out,
-dripping with perspiration, to plunge with my dusky comrades into the
-refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which had worn out for themselves
-tanks three to twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were all
-that the Apaches had predicted--a sound, refreshing sleep and
-increased appetite.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.]
-
-The farther we got into Mexico the greater the desolation. The valley
-of the Bávispe, like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
-thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy. Foot-prints indeed
-were plenty, but they were the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas,
-who apparently roamed with immunity over all this solitude. There
-were signs, too, of Mexican “travel;” but in every case these were
-“_conductas_” of pack-mules, guarded by companies of soldiers.
-Rattlesnakes were encountered with greater frequency both in camp
-and on the march. When found in camp the Apaches, from superstitious
-reasons, refrained from killing them, but let the white men do it.
-
-The vegetation remained much the same as that of Southern Arizona,
-only denser and larger. The cactus began to bear odorous flowers--a
-species of night-blooming cereus--and parrots of gaudy plumage
-flitted about camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
-two or three, tore the feathers from their bodies and tied them in
-their inky locks. Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted from
-bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one felt that we were advancing
-into more torrid regions. However, by this time faces and hands
-were finely tanned and blistered, and the fervor of the sun was
-disregarded. The nights remained cool and refreshing throughout the
-trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed to the calmest
-rest.
-
-On the 5th of May the column reached the feeble, broken-down towns
-of Bávispe and Basaraca. The condition of the inhabitants was
-deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad government had done
-their worst, and, even had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
-terror, it is doubtful whether they would have had energy enough to
-profit by the natural advantages, mineral and agricultural, of their
-immediate vicinity. The land appeared to be fertile and was well
-watered. Horses, cattle, and chickens throve; the cereals yielded
-an abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed in the waxy-green
-foliage of the pomegranate.
-
-Every man, woman, and child had gathered in the streets or squatted
-on the flat roofs of the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
-cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand national convention
-of scarecrows and rag-pickers, their garments old and dingy, but no
-man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero, with a snake-band
-of silver, or display a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
-Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued _serapes_ flung over the
-shoulders; those who had none went in their shirt-sleeves.
-
-The children were bright, dirty, and pretty; the women so closely
-enveloped in their _rebozos_ that only one eye could be seen. They
-greeted our people with warmth, and offered to go with us to the
-mountains. With the volubility of parrots they began to describe
-a most blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas, in
-which, of course, the Apaches had been completely and ignominiously
-routed, each Mexican having performed prodigies of valor on a par
-with those of Ajax. But at the same time they wouldn’t go alone
-into their fields,--only a quarter of a mile off,--which were
-constantly patrolled by a detachment of twenty-five or thirty men of
-what was grandiloquently styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
-guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when told of this latest
-annihilation of the Chiricahuas. General Crook, without a moment’s
-hesitancy, determined to keep on the trail farther into the Sierra
-Madre.
-
-The food of these wretched Mexicans was mainly _atole_,--a weak
-flour-gruel resembling the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
-they had none, and newspapers had not yet been heard of. Their only
-recreation was in religious festivals, occurring with commendable
-frequency. The churches themselves were in the last stages of
-dilapidation; the adobe exteriors showed dangerous indications of
-approaching dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments of the inside
-were foul and black with age, smoke, dust, and rain.
-
-I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold my horse for a moment until
-I had examined one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate title
-of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and our Lady of the Trance. This
-action evoked a eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man can’t be
-an American, he must be a Christian,” he sagely remarked; “he speaks
-Castilian, and goes to church the first thing.”
-
-It goes without saying that they have no mails in that country.
-What they call the post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
-town. The store had no goods for sale, and the post-office had no
-stamps. The postmaster didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
-to go every eight days, but now--_quien sabe?_ Yes, he would send
-our letters the first opportunity. The price? Oh! the price?--did
-the _caballeros_ want to know how much? Well, for Mexican people, he
-charged five cents, but the Americans would have to pay _dos reales_
-(twenty-five cents) for each letter.
-
-The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were fiery mescal, chile, and
-a few eggs, eagerly snapped up by the advance-guard. In making these
-purchases we had to enter different houses, which vied with each
-other in penury and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
-none of the comforts which the humblest laborers in our favored land
-demand as right and essential. The inmates in every instance received
-us urbanely and kindly. The women, who were uncovered inside their
-domiciles, were greatly superior in good looks and good breeding to
-their husbands and brothers; but the latter never neglected to employ
-all the punctilious expressions of Spanish politeness.
-
-That evening the round-stomached old man, whom, in ignorance of
-the correct title, we all agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a
-complimentary visit to General Crook, and with polite flourishes bade
-him welcome to the soil of Mexico informed him that he had received
-orders to render the expedition every assistance in his power, and
-offered to accompany it at the head of every man and boy in the
-vicinity. General Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance of
-these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission to buy four beeves
-to feed to the Apache scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
-meat.
-
-Bivouac was made that night on the banks of the Bávispe, under
-the bluff upon which perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
-visitors--men and boys--flocked in to see us, bringing bread and
-tobacco for barter and sale. In their turn a large body of our people
-went up to the town and indulged in the unexpected luxury of a ball.
-This was so entirely original in all its features that a mention of
-it is admissible.
-
-Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing that the morrow would be
-Sunday, when a prolonged thumping of drums signaled that the _Baile_
-was about to begin.
-
-Wending our way to the corner whence the noise proceeded, we found
-that a half-dozen of the packers had bought out the whole stock of
-the _tienda_, which dealt only in _mescal_, paying therefor the
-princely sum of $12.50.
-
-Invitations had been extended to all the adult inhabitants to
-take part in the festivities. For some reason all the ladies sent
-regrets by the messenger; but of men there was no lack, the packers
-having taken the precaution to send out a patrol to scour the
-streets, “collar” and “run in” every male biped found outside his
-own threshold. These captives were first made to drink a tumbler
-of _mescal_ to the health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
-United States,--and then were formed into quadrille sets, moving in
-unison with the orchestra of five pieces,--two drums, two squeaky
-fiddles, and an accordion.
-
-None of the performers understood a note of music. When a new
-piece was demanded, the tune had to be whistled in the ears of
-the bass-drummer, who thumped it off on his instrument, followed
-energetically by his enthusiastic assistants.
-
-This orchestra was augmented in a few moments by the addition of a
-young boy with a sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had lost
-its several keys, but he added to the noise and was welcomed with
-screams of applause. It was essentially a _stag_ party, but a very
-funny one. The new player was doing some good work when a couple of
-dancers whirled into him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
-of the bass-drum and drummer.
-
-Confusion reigned only a moment; good order was soon restored, and
-the dance would have been resumed with increased jollity had not the
-head of the bass-drum been helplessly battered.
-
-Midnight had long since been passed, and there was nothing to be done
-but break up the party and return to camp.
-
-From Basaraca to Tesorababi--over twenty miles--the line of march
-followed a country almost exactly like that before described. The
-little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were perhaps a trifle
-more squalid than Bávispe or Basaraca, and their churches more
-dilapidated; but in that of Huachinera were two or three unusually
-good oil-paintings, brought from Spain a long time ago. Age, dust,
-weather, and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had not fully
-obliterated, the touch of the master-hand which had made them.
-
-Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations since, a very
-noble ranch. It has plenty of water, great groves of oak and
-mesquite, with sycamore and cotton-wood growing near the water, and
-very nutritious grass upon the neighboring hills. The buildings have
-fallen into ruin, nothing being now visible but the stout walls of
-stone and adobe. Mesquite trees of noble size choke up the corral,
-and everything proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy of the
-Apache.
-
-Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an ancient pueblo, with
-quantities of broken pottery, stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and
-kindred _reliquiæ_.
-
-To Tesorababi the column was accompanied by a small party of guides
-sent out by the Alcalde of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them back,
-as they were not of the slightest use so long as we had such a force
-of Apache scouts.
-
-We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the night of May 7, and then
-marched straight for the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
-covered with rich _grama_ and darkened by groves of scrub-oak. Soon
-the oak gave way to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
-ridges became steeper as we struck the trail lately made by the
-Chiricahuas driving off cattle from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
-fairly within the range, and had made good progress, when the scouts
-halted and began to explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
-luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an owl which one of our
-party had caught, and tied to the pommel of his saddle.
-
-They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen, and that we could
-not hope to whip the Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
-solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed bird of night was set
-free and the advance resumed. Shortly before midnight camp was made
-in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and having a small stream a
-thousand feet below our position. No fires were allowed, and some
-confusion prevailed among the pack-mules, which could not find their
-places.
-
-Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883) the command moved in
-easterly direction up the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
-Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals and men slaked their
-fierce thirst. Indications of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The
-trail was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores--yes, hundreds--of
-stolen ponies and cattle.
-
-The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered beeves lay in one spot;
-close to them a couple more, and so on.
-
-The path wound up the face of the mountain, and became so precipitous
-that were a horse to slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
-of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt turns could be seen, deep
-down in the cañon, the mangled fragments of a steer which had fallen
-from the trail, and been dashed to pieces on the rocks below. It will
-save much repetition to say, at this point, that from now on we were
-never out of sight of ponies and cattle, butchered, in every stage of
-mutilation, or alive, and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
-and on the mountain flanks.
-
-Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit of one ridge only to
-learn that above it towered another, the face of nature fearfully
-corrugated into a perplexing alternation of ridges and chasms. Not
-far out from the last bivouac was passed the spot where a large
-body of Mexican troops had camped, the farthest point of their
-penetration into the range, although their scouts had been pushed in
-some distance farther, only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
-who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.
-
-These particulars may now be remarked of that country: It seemed
-to consist of a series of parallel and very high, knife-edged
-hills,--extremely rocky and bold; the cañons all contained water,
-either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of great depth. Dense
-pine forests covered the ridges near the crests, the lower skirts
-being matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally plentiful, but not
-invariably to be depended upon. Trails ran in every direction, and
-upon them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends plundered from
-the Mexicans,--dresses, made and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters,
-flour, onions, and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could be
-discerned the ruins,--buildings, walls, and dams, erected by an
-extinct race, once possessing this region.
-
-The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting along. Six mules
-slipped from the trail, and rolled over and over until they
-struck the bottom of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected a
-comparatively easy grade, and none was badly hurt.
-
-The scouts became more and more vigilant and the “medicine-men”
-more and more devotional. When camp was made the high peaks were
-immediately picketed, and all the approaches carefully examined.
-Fires were allowed only in rare cases, and in positions affording
-absolute concealment. Before going to bed the scouts were careful
-to fortify themselves in such a manner that surprise was simply
-impossible.
-
-Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men” gathered together for the
-never-to-be-neglected duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
-After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining the privilege of sitting
-in the circle with them. All but one chanted in a low, melancholy
-tone, half song and half grunt. The solitary exception lay as if in a
-trance for a few moments, and then, half opening his lips, began to
-thump himself violently in the breast, and to point to the east and
-north, while he muttered: “Me can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby
-me see ’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch ’um, me no kill
-’um. Mebbe so six day me catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
-send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail. Mebbe so tomollow catch
-’um squaw. Chilicahua see me, me no get ’um. No see me, me catch him.
-Me see him little bit now. Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
-catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me catch ’um mool (mule),
-me catch ’um cow. Me catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
-’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies, translated for me
-by an old friend in the circle who spoke some English, were listened
-to with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck scouts on the
-exterior.
-
-The succeeding day brought increased trouble and danger. The
-mountains became, if anything, steeper; the trails, if anything, more
-perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows lined the path along
-which we toiled, dragging after us worn-out horses.
-
-It was not yet noon when the final ridge of the day was crossed and
-the trail turned down a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which
-gradually widened into a small amphitheatre.
-
-This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied by the Chiricahuas
-while he was with them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
-of defense, it was admirably situated. Water flowed in a cool,
-sparkling stream through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine, oak,
-and cedar in abundance and of good size clung to the steep flanks
-of the ridges, in whose crevices grew much grass. The country, for
-a considerable distance, could be watched from the pinnacles upon
-which the savage pickets had been posted, while their huts had been
-so scattered and concealed in the different brakes that the capture
-or destruction of the entire band could never have been effected.
-
-The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this place a considerable
-time. The heads and bones of cows and ponies were scattered about
-on all sides. Meat must have been their principal food, since we
-discovered scarcely any mescal or other vegetables. At one point the
-scouts indicated where a mother had been cutting a child’s hair; at
-another, where a band of youngsters had been enjoying themselves
-sliding down rocks.
-
-Here were picked up the implements used by a young Chiricahua
-assuming the duties of manhood. Like all other Indians they make vows
-and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during which periods they will not
-put their lips to water, but suck up all they need through a quill or
-cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and arrows, and a Winchester rifle
-had likewise been left behind by the late occupants.
-
-The pack-trains experienced much difficulty in keeping the trail
-this morning (May 9). Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
-themselves, three breaking their necks and two having to be shot.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.]
-
-Being now in the very centre of the hostile country, May 10, 1883,
-unusual precautions were taken to guard against discovery or
-ambuscade, and to hurry along the pack-mules. Parties of Apache
-scouts were thrown out to the front, flanks, and rear to note
-carefully every track in the ground. A few were detailed to stay
-with the pack-mules and guide them over the best line of country.
-Ax-men were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees and remove
-rocks or other obstructions. Then began a climb which reflected the
-experience of the previous two days; if at all different, it was
-much worse. Upon the crest of the first high ridge were seen forty
-abandoned _jacales_ or lodges of branches; after that, another
-dismantled village of thirty more, and then, in every protected
-nook, one, two, or three, as might be. Fearful as this trail was the
-Chiricahuas had forced over it a band of cattle and ponies, whose
-footprints had been fully outlined in the mud, just hardened into
-clay.
-
-After two miles of a very hard climb we slid down the almost
-perpendicular face of a high bluff of slippery clay and loose shale
-into an open space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a grassy
-space, the young savages had been playing their favorite game of
-mushka, or lance-billiards.
-
-Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the long file of scouts
-streaming down hill; a shower of rocks and stones greeted them, and
-there was much suppressed merriment, but not the least bit of noisy
-laughter, the orders being to avoid any cause of alarm to the enemy.
-
-A fearful chute led from this point down into the gloomy chasm along
-which trickled the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in basins
-and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A tiny cascade babbled over a
-ledge of limestone and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir of
-unknown depth. There was no longer any excitement about Chiricahua
-signs; rather, wonder when none were to be seen.
-
-The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused beds, the skeleton
-frame-work of dismantled huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
-mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible at every turn. The
-Chiricahuas must have felt perfectly secure amid these towering
-pinnacles of rock in these profound chasms, by these bottomless
-pools of water, and in the depths of this forest primeval. Here no
-human foe could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding this security
-of position, “Peaches” asserted that the Chiricahuas never relaxed
-vigilance. No fires were allowed at night, and all cooking was done
-at midday. Sentinels lurked in every crag, and bands of bold raiders
-kept the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing Bávispe, the trail
-zigzagged up the vertical slope of a promontory nearly a thousand
-feet above the level of the water. Perspiration streamed from every
-brow, and mules and horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up! Up!
-Up! was the watchword.
-
-Look out! came the warning cry from those in the lead, and then
-those in the rear and bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
-of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and, gathering momentum as
-each bound hurled them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To look
-upon the country was a grand sensation; to travel in it, infernal.
-Away down at the foot of the mountains the pack-mules could be
-discerned--apparently not much bigger than jack-rabbits,--struggling
-and panting up the long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down these
-ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea seized them, ran like deer.
-
-One of them gave a low cry, half whisper, half whistle. Instantly all
-were on the alert, and by some indefinable means, the news flashed
-through the column that two Chiricahuas had been sighted a short
-distance ahead in a side cañon. Before I could write this down the
-scouts had stripped to the buff, placed their clothing in the rocks,
-and dispatched ten or twelve of their number in swift pursuit.
-
-This proved to be a false alarm, for in an hour they returned, having
-caught up with the supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of our own
-packers, off the trail, looking for stray mules.
-
-When camp was made that afternoon the Apache scouts had a long
-conference with General Crook. They called attention to the fact that
-the pack-trains could not keep up with them, that five mules had been
-killed on the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled off this
-morning, but been rescued with slight injuries. They proposed that
-the pack-trains and white troops remain in camp at this point, and
-in future move so as to be a day’s march or less behind the Apache
-scouts, 150 of whom, under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with Al.
-Zeiber and the other white guides, would move out well in advance to
-examine the country thoroughly in front.
-
-If they came upon scattered parties of the hostiles they would
-attack boldly, kill as many as they could, and take the rest back,
-prisoners, to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas be intrenched in a
-strong position, they would engage them, but do nothing rash, until
-reinforced by the rest of the command. General Crook told them they
-must be careful not to kill women or children, and that all who
-surrendered should be taken back to the reservation and made to work
-for their own living like white people.
-
-Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere; small fires were burning
-in secluded nooks, and upon the bright embers the scouts baked
-quantities of bread to be carried with them. Some ground coffee on
-flat stones; others examined their weapons critically and cleaned
-their cartridges. Those whose moccasins needed repair sewed and
-patched them, while the more cleanly and more religious indulged in
-the sweat-bath, which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.
-
-A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and Apaches climbed the
-mountains to the south, and reached the locality in the foot-hills
-where the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had an engagement.
-Judging by signs it would appear conclusive that the Indians had
-enticed the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number with bullets
-and rocks, and put the rest to ignominious flight. The “medicine-men”
-had another song and pow-wow after dark. Before they adjourned it
-was announced that in two days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
-would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days kill a “heap.”
-
-On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and fifty Apache scouts, under
-the officers above named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
-Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started from camp, on foot, at
-daybreak. Each carried on his person four days’ rations, a canteen,
-100 rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those who were to remain in
-camp picketed the three high peaks overlooking it, and from which
-half a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance. Most of those
-not on guard went down to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
-severe climbing up and down rough mountains, slipping, falling, and
-rolling in dust and clay, had blackened most of us like negroes.
-
-Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in numbers, four coming down the
-mountains of their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
-twenty were by this date in camp. The suggestions of the locality
-were rather peaceful in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
-bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay upon the ground.
-
-Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills in the west, a runner
-came back with a note from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
-place twelve or fifteen miles across the mountains to the south-east,
-with plenty of wood, water, and grass.
-
-For the ensuing three days the white soldiers and pack-trains
-cautiously followed in the footsteps of Crawford and the scouts,
-keeping a sufficient interval between the two bodies to insure
-thorough investigation of the rough country in front. The trail
-did not improve very much, although after the summit of a high,
-grassy plateau had been gained, there was easy traveling for
-several leagues. Pine-trees of majestic proportions covered the
-mountain-tops, and there was the usual thickness of scrub-oak on
-the lower elevations. By the side of the trail, either thrown away
-or else _cachéd_ in the trees, were quantities of goods left by the
-Chiricahuas--calico, clothing, buckskin, horse-hides, beef-hides,
-dried meat, and things of that nature. The nights were very cool,
-the days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its tributaries were
-a succession of deep tanks of glassy, pure water, in which all
-our people bathed on every opportunity. The scouts escorting the
-pack-trains gathered in another score of stray ponies and mules,
-and were encouraged by another note sent back by Crawford, saying
-that he had passed the site of a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight
-_wickyups_ (huts), that the enemy had a great drove of horses and
-cattle, and that the presence of Americans or Apache scouts in the
-country was yet undreamed of.
-
-Additional rations were pushed ahead to Crawford and his command,
-the pack-trains in rear taking their own time to march. There was
-an abundance of wood in the forest, grass grew in sufficiency,
-and the Bávispe yielded water enough for a great army. The stream
-was so clear that it was a pleasure to count the pebbles at the
-bottom and to watch the graceful fishes swimming within the shadow
-of moss-grown rocks. The current was so deep that, sinking slowly,
-with uplifted arms, one was not always able to touch bottom with the
-toes, and so wide that twenty good, nervous strokes barely sufficed
-to propel the swimmer from shore to shore. The water was soft, cool,
-and refreshing, and a plunge beneath its ripples smoothed away the
-wrinkles of care.
-
-On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched ten or twelve miles to
-the south-east, crossing a piece of country recently burned over,
-the air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening and blistering
-our faces. Many more old ruins were passed and scores of walls of
-masonry. The trail was slightly improved, but still bad enough;
-the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish feldspar, with thin seams
-of quartz crystals. There were also granite, sandstone, shale,
-quartzite, and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms of the cañons
-were all kinds of “float”--granite, basalt, sandstone, porphyry,
-schist, limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind of rock was,
-when struck upon the hill-sides it was almost invariably split and
-broken, and grievously retarded the advance.
-
-
-
-
-III.
-
-
-About noon of the 15th we had descended into a small box cañon, where
-we were met by two white men (packers) and nine Apache scouts.
-
-They had come back from Crawford with news for which all were
-prepared. The enemy was close in our front, and fighting might
-begin at any moment. The scouts in advance had picked up numbers of
-ponies, mules, burros, and cattle. This conversation was broken by
-the sudden arrival of an Apache runner, who had come six miles over
-the mountains in less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and handed
-General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating that the advance-guard had
-run across the Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had become
-much excited. Two Chiricahuas were fired at, two bucks and a squaw,
-by scouts, which action had alarmed the hostiles, and their camp was
-on the move. Crawford would pursue with all possible rapidity. At
-the same moment reports of distant musketry-firing were borne across
-the hills. Crawford was fighting the Chiricahuas! There could be no
-doubt about that; but exactly how many he had found, and what luck
-he was having, no one could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
-mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness to move forward to
-Crawford’s support, if necessary. The firing continued for a time,
-and then grew feeble and died away.
-
-All were anxious for a fight which should bring this Chiricahua
-trouble to an end; we had an abundance of ammunition and a
-sufficiency of rations for a pursuit of several days and nights, the
-moon being at its full.
-
-Shortly after dark Crawford and his command came into camp. They
-had “jumped” “Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” _rancherías_, killing nine
-and capturing five--two boys, two girls, and one young woman, the
-daughter of “Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the dead
-Chiricahuas had been taken four nickel-plated, breech-loading
-Winchester repeating rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model.
-The Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully broken country,
-gashed with countless ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
-pine and scrub-oak. How many had been killed and wounded could never
-be definitely known, the meagre official report, submitted by Captain
-Crawford, being of necessity confined to figures known to be exact.
-Although the impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated the
-engagement and somewhat impaired its effect, yet this little skirmish
-demonstrated two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their old friends
-and relatives from the San Carlos had invaded their strongholds as
-the allies of the white men, and could be depended upon to fight,
-whether backed up by white soldiers or not. The scouts next destroyed
-the village, consisting of thirty _wickyups_, disposed in two
-clusters, and carried off all the animals, loading down forty-seven
-of them with plunder. This included the traditional riffraff of
-an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal, blankets, and
-clothing, with occasional prizes of much greater value, originally
-stolen by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or Americans. There
-were several gold and silver watches, a couple of albums, and a
-considerable sum of money--Mexican and American coin and paper. The
-captives behaved with great coolness and self-possession, considering
-their tender years. The eldest said that her people had been
-astounded and dismayed when they saw the long line of Apache scouts
-rushing in upon them; they would be still more disconcerted when
-they learned that our guide was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves
-with every nook in strongholds so long regarded as inaccessible.
-Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors were absent raiding in Sonora and
-Chihuahua. This young squaw was positive that the Chiricahuas would
-give up without further fighting, since the Americans had secured all
-the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,” she knew, would
-be glad to live peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
-“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but
-none of his bands were left alive. Most important information of all,
-she said that in the _ranchería_ just destroyed was a little white
-boy about six years old, called “Charlie,” captured by “Chato”
-in his recent raid in Arizona. This boy had run away with the old
-squaws when the advance of the Apache scouts had been first detected.
-She said that if allowed to go out she would in less than two days
-bring in the whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them. All that
-night the lofty peak, the scene of the action, blazed with fire from
-the burning _ranchería_. Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and, after
-hours of threatening, broke into a severe but brief shower about
-sunrise next morning (May 15).
-
-[Illustration: APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.]
-
-The young woman was given a little hard bread and meat, enough to
-last two days, and allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
-the boy captives. The others stayed with us and were kindly treated.
-They were given all the baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
-of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself with basting a skirt,
-but, like another Penelope, as fast as her work was done she ripped
-it up and began anew--apparently afraid that idleness would entail
-punishment. The younger girl sobbed convulsively, but her little
-brother, a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world through eyes
-as big as oysters and as black as jet.
-
-Later in the morning, after the fitful showers had turned into a
-blinding, soaking rain, the Apache scouts made for these young
-captives a little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs and dry
-grass. Pickets were thrown out to watch the country on all sides
-and seize upon any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly within
-their reach. The rain continued with exasperating persistency all
-day. The night cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails and
-kettles. The command moved out from this place, going to another and
-better location a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge had
-been scaled, when we descried on the summit of a prominent knoll
-directly in our front a thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
-was immediately answered by the scouts, who heaped up pine-cones
-and cedar branches, which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
-black, resinous signal above the tops of the loftiest pines.
-
-Five miles up and down mountains of no great height but of great
-asperity led to a fine camping-place, at the junction of two
-well-watered cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and cedar in plenty,
-and an abundance of rich, juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up
-a second smoke signal, promptly responded to from a neighboring
-butte. A couple of minutes after two squaws were seen threading
-their way down through the timber and rocks and yelling with full
-voice. They were the sisters of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the
-scouts. They said that they had lost heavily in the fight, and that
-while endeavoring to escape over the rocks and ravines and through
-the timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc among them.
-They fully confirmed all that the captives had said about Charlie
-McComas. Two hours had scarcely passed when six other women had come
-in, approaching the pickets two and two, and waving white rags.
-One of these, the sister of “Chihuahua”--a prominent man among the
-Chiricahuas--said that her brother wanted to come in, and was trying
-to gather up his band, which had scattered like sheep after the
-fight; he might be looked for in our camp at any moment.
-
-On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 A.M., six new arrivals were
-reported--four squaws, one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels
-followed sixteen others--men, women, and young children. In this
-band was “Chihuahua” himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
-betokened great decision and courage.
-
-This chief expressed to General Crook his earnest desire for peace,
-and acknowledged that all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
-future would be to prolong the contest a few weeks and defer their
-destruction. He was tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
-and all his property was in our hands. He wished to surrender his
-band just as soon as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
-“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent, fighting the
-Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”) had sent runners out to gather up his
-band and tell his people they must surrender, without reference to
-what the others did.
-
-Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come in--men, women, and
-children. “Chihuahua” asked permission to go out with two young men
-and hurry his people in. This was granted. He promised to return
-without any delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed the wear and
-tear of a rugged mountain life, and the anxieties and disquietudes
-of a rugged Ishmaelitish war. The children were models of grace and
-beauty, which revealed themselves through dirt and rags.
-
-On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of six miles to a position
-giving the usual abundance of water and rather better grass. It
-was a small park in the centre of a thick growth of young pines.
-Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas were counted, and found to number
-seventy, which total before noon had swollen to an even hundred, not
-including “Chihuahua” and those gone back with him.
-
-The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored. Several of them
-spoke Spanish fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
-ponies being killed for meat. Two or three of the Indians bore fresh
-bullet-wounds from the late fight. On the succeeding evening, May
-20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again numbered at breakfast. They had
-increased to 121--sixty being women and girls, the remainder, old
-men, young men, and boys.
-
-All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades were hard at work
-gathering the tribe together and sending them in.
-
-Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was heard in the tall cliffs
-overlooking camp; Indians fully armed could be descried running about
-from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed and uncertain what to do.
-They began to interchange cries with those in our midst, and, after
-a brief interval, a couple of old squaws ventured down the face of
-the precipice, followed at irregular distances by warriors, who hid
-themselves in the rocks half-way down.
-
-They asked whether they were to be hurt if they came in.
-
-One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas went out to them to
-say that it made no difference whether they came in or not; that
-“Chihuahua” and all his people had surrendered, and that if these
-new arrivals came in during the day they should not be harmed; that
-until “Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had a chance to come
-in and bring Charlie McComas hostilities should be suspended. The
-Chiricahuas were still fearful of treachery and hung like hawks or
-vultures to the protecting shadows of inaccessible pinnacles one
-thousand feet above our position. Gradually their fears wore off, and
-in parties of two and three, by various trails, they made their way
-to General Crook’s fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
-led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned from a bloody foray in
-Chihuahua. “Hieronymo” expressed a desire to have a talk; but General
-Crook declined to have anything to do with him or his party beyond
-saying that they had now an opportunity to see for themselves that
-their own people were against them; that we had penetrated to places
-vaunted as impregnable; that the Mexicans were coming in from all
-sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make up his mind for peace or war
-just as he chose.
-
-This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he waited for an hour, to resume
-the conversation, but received no encouragement. He and his warriors
-were certainly as fine-looking a lot of pirates as ever cut a throat
-or scuttled a ship; not one among them who was not able to travel
-forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy precipices and along
-these gloomy cañons. In muscular development, lung and heart power,
-they were, without exception, the finest body of human beings I had
-ever looked upon. Each was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
-most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest pattern, and a few had
-also bows and lances. They soon began to talk with the Apache scouts,
-who improved the occasion to inform them that not only had they come
-down with General Crook, but that from both Sonora and Chihuahua
-Mexican soldiers might be looked for in swarms.
-
-“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this, and went a second time to
-General Crook to have a talk. He assured him that he had always
-wanted to be at peace, but that he had been as much sinned against as
-sinning; that he had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
-away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous in their dealings
-with his people, and that he couldn’t believe a word they said. They
-had made war upon his women and children, but had run like coyotes
-from his soldiers. He had been trying to open communications with
-the Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for an exchange of
-prisoners. If General Crook would let him go back to San Carlos,
-and guarantee him just treatment, he would gladly work for his own
-living, and follow the path of peace. He simply asked for a trial; if
-he could not make peace, he and his men would die in these mountains,
-fighting to the last. He was not a bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but
-he could not hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and Americans
-united, in these ranges, and with so many Apache allies assisting
-them. General Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
-“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to what he wanted, peace or war.
-
-May 21st was one of the busiest days of the expedition. “Hieronymo,”
-at early dawn, came to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
-peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and begged to be taken back
-to San Carlos. He asked permission to get all his people together,
-and said he had sent some of his young men off to hurry them in
-from all points. He could not get them to answer his signals, as
-they imagined them to be made by Apache scouts trying to ensnare
-them. Chiricahuas were coming in all the morning,--all ages, and
-both sexes,--sent in by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
-were mounted on good ponies, and all drove pack and loose animals
-before them. Early in the day there was seen winding through the
-pine timber a curious procession,--mostly young warriors, of an
-aggregate of thirty-eight souls,--driving steers and work cattle, and
-riding ponies and burros. All these were armed with Winchester and
-Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers and lances whose blades
-were old cavalry sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
-and bows and arrows. This was the band of Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass),
-a young chief, who claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong to
-the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had been born and raised.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE WARFARE.]
-
-The question of feeding all these mouths was getting to be a very
-serious one. We had started out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third
-of which had been consumed by our own command, and a considerable
-percentage lost or damaged when mules rolled over the precipices.
-The great heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and there was the
-usual wastage incident to movements in campaign. Stringent orders
-were given to limit issues to the lowest possible amount; while the
-Chiricahuas were told that they must cut and roast all the mescal
-to be found, and kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
-The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty of butchering the meat.
-Standing within five or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
-the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust immediately behind the
-left fore-shoulder, and, with no noise other than a single bellow of
-fear and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its knees, dead.
-
-Camp at this period presented a medley of noises not often found
-united under a military standard. Horses were neighing, mules
-braying, and bells jingling, as the herds were brought in to be
-groomed. The ring of axes against the trunks of stout pines and oaks,
-the hum of voices, the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter
-of children at play, and the occasional music of an Apache fiddle
-or flute, combined in a pleasant discord which left the listener
-uncertain whether he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
-among a band of school-children. Our Apache scouts--the Tontos
-especially--treated the Chiricahuas with dignified reserve: the
-Sierra Blancas (White Mountain) had intermarried with them, and were
-naturally more familiar, but all watched their rifles and cartridges
-very carefully to guard against treachery. The squaws kept at work,
-jerking and cooking meat and mescal for consumption on the way back
-to San Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions, for the
-possession of which the more greedy or more muscular fought with
-frequency.
-
-Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged in a pitched battle;
-they rushed for each other like a couple of infuriated Texas steers;
-hair flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and two “human forms
-divine” were scratched and torn by sharp nails accustomed to this
-mode of warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled, little
-children screamed and ran, warriors stood in a ring, and from a
-respectful distance gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
-to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous than an infuriated
-squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate. The packers and soldiers looked on,
-discussing the “points” of the belligerents. “The little one’s built
-like a hired man,” remarks one critic. “Ya-as; but the old un’s a
-_He_, and doan’ you forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
-favor of the older contestant, although the younger remained on the
-ground, her bleeding nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing
-fire, and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.
-
-But all interest was withdrawn from this spectacle and converged upon
-a file of five wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of whom bore
-a nursing baby, who had come within the boundaries of our camp and
-stood in mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to realize that
-they were free. They were a party of captives seized by “Hieronymo”
-in his last raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested, and fed a
-small amount of food, they told a long, rambling story, which is
-here condensed: They were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
-near one of the stations of the Mexican Central Railway just two
-weeks previously. Originally there had been six in the party, but
-“Hieronymo” had sent back the oldest and feeblest with a letter to
-the Mexican general, saying that he wanted to make peace with the
-whites, and would do so, provided the Mexicans returned the Apache
-women and children held prisoners by them; if they refused, he would
-steal all the Mexican women and children he could lay hands on, and
-keep them as hostages, and would continue the war until he had made
-Sonora and Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to say that the
-greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua at the mere mention of the
-name of “Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to be the devil,
-sent to punish them for their sins.
-
-“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers with rocks, telling his
-warriors he had no ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The women
-had suffered incredible torture climbing the rough skirts of lofty
-ranges, fording deep streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
-morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments had been rent into rags
-by briars and brambles, feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen
-by contusions from sharp rocks. They said that when “Hieronymo”
-had returned to the heart of the mountains, and had come upon one
-of our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was curious to witness.
-The Chiricahuas with him made a hurried but searching examination
-of the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their enemies--the
-Americans--had gained access to their strongholds, and that they had
-with them a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started away in
-the direction of our present bivouac, paying no further heed to the
-captured women or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were driving
-away from Chihuahua. It may be well to anticipate a little, and say
-that the cattle in question drifted out on the back trail, getting
-into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of the Mexicans in
-pursuit, who claimed their usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
-not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what course to pursue, stayed
-quietly by the half-dead embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up
-a few odds and ends of rags with which to cover their nakedness; and
-of castaway food, which they devoured with the voracity of famished
-wolves. When morning dawned they arose, half frozen, from the
-couches they had made, and staggered along in the direction taken by
-the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated, they followed to
-where they now were.
-
-And now they were free! Great God! Could it be possible?
-
-The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down creatures
-welled forth in praise and glorification to God. “Praise be to the
-All-Powerful God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most Holy Sacrament!”
-echoed her companions. “Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
-“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad, who has taken pity
-upon us!” It brought tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
-witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us of our mothers,
-wives, sisters, and daughters. All possible kindness and attention
-were shown them.
-
-The reaction came very near upsetting two, who became hysterical
-from over-excitement, and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
-were not going to take them away. They did not recover their natural
-composure until the expedition had crossed the boundary line.
-
-“Hieronymo” had another interview with General Crook, whom he assured
-he wanted to make a peace to last forever. General Crook replied
-that “Hieronymo” had waged such bloody war upon our people and the
-Mexicans that he did not care to let him go back to San Carlos; a
-howl would be raised against any man who dared to grant terms to
-an outlaw for whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo” were
-willing to lay down his arms and go to work at farming, General Crook
-would allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing he could do
-would be to remain just where he was and fight it out.
-
-“I am not taking your arms from you,” said the General, “because I
-am not afraid of you with them. You have been allowed to go about
-camp freely, merely to let you see that we have strength enough to
-exterminate you if we want to; and you have seen with your own eyes
-how many Apaches are fighting on our side and against you. In making
-peace with the Americans, you must also be understood as making peace
-with the Mexicans, and also that you are not to be fed in idleness,
-but set to work at farming or herding, and make your own living.”
-
-“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his contempt for the Mexicans,
-asserted that he had whipped them every time, and in the last fight
-with them hadn’t lost a man. He would go to the San Carlos with
-General Crook and work at farming or anything else. All he asked for
-was fair play. He contended that it was unfair to start back to the
-San Carlos at that time, when his people were scattered like quail,
-and when the women and children now in our hands were without food or
-means of transportation. The old and the little ones could not walk.
-The Chiricahuas had many ponies and donkeys grazing in the different
-cañons. Why not remain one week longer? “Loco” and all the other
-Chiricahuas would then have arrived; all the ponies would be gathered
-up; a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and the march could be
-made securely and safely. But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre,
-the Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the remnant of the band,
-with whom “Hieronymo,” would cast his fortunes.
-
-General Crook acknowledged the justice of much which “Hieronymo” had
-said, but declined to take any action not in strict accord with the
-terms of the convention. He would now move back slowly, so as not
-to crowd the young and feeble too much; they should have time to
-finish roasting mescal, and most of those now out could catch up with
-the column; but those who did not would have to take the chances of
-reaching San Carlos in safety.
-
-“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace; said that he himself
-would start out to gather and bring in the remnants of his people,
-and he would cause the most diligent search to be made for Charlie
-McComas. If possible, he would join the Americans before they got out
-of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make his way to the San Carlos
-as soon as this could be done without danger; “but,” concluded he, “I
-will remain here until I have gathered up the last man, woman, and
-child of the Chiricahuas.”
-
-All night long the Chiricahuas and the Apache scouts danced together
-in sign of peace and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles partly
-filled with water and covered tightly with a well-soaked piece of
-calico. The drumsticks were willow saplings curved into a hoop at one
-extremity. The beats recorded one hundred to the minute, and were
-the same dull, solemn thump which scared Cortés and his beleaguered
-followers during _la Noche triste_. No Caucasian would refer to it
-as music; nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own comparable
-to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake. And so the song, chanted to
-the measure of the drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
-held listeners spell-bound. When the dance began, two old hags,
-white-haired and stiff with age, pranced in the centre of the ring,
-warming up under the stimulus of the chorus until they became lively
-as crickets. With them were two or three naked boys of very tender
-years. The ring itself included as many as two hundred Indians of
-both sexes, whose varied costumes of glittering hues made a strange
-setting to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang in the silvery
-rays of the moon and the flickering light of the camp-fires.
-
-On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220 Chiricahuas, and, soon
-after, Nané, one of the most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
-chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his people. He has a strong
-face, marked with intelligence, courage, and good nature, but with
-an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness. He has received
-many wounds in his countless fights with the whites, and limps very
-perceptibly in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas were coming in
-by every trail, and that all would go to the San Carlos as soon as
-they collected their families.
-
-On the 24th of May the march back to the San Carlos began. All the
-old Chiricahuas were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so were the
-weak little children and feeble women. The great majority streamed
-along on foot, nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood foliage to
-screen them from the sun. The distance travelled was not great, and
-camp was made by noon.
-
-The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully picturesque. Sit
-down on this flat rock and feast your eyes upon the silver waves
-flashing in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who is about to
-give her baby brother a much-needed bath. The little dusky brat--all
-eyes--is looking furtively at you and ready to bawl if you draw
-nearer. Opposite are two old crones filling _ollas_ (jugs or jars)
-of basket-work, rendered fully water-proof by a coating of either
-mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside of them are two others, who are
-utilizing the entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The splash and
-yell on your right, as you correctly divine, come from an Apache “Tom
-Sawyer,” who will one day mount the gallows. The friendly greeting
-and request for “tobacco shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys,
-who has kindly been eating a big portion of your meals for several
-days past, and feels so friendly toward you that he announces himself
-in a pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “_Sikisn_” (brother).
-Behind you are grouped Apache scouts, whose heads are encircled with
-red flannel bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges are never laid
-aside. Horses and mules plunge belly-deep into the sparkling current;
-soldiers come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets filled with
-water, and some to soak neck, face, and hands, before going back
-to dinner.
-
-[Illustration: APACHE BASKET-WORK.]
-
-In this camp we remained several days. The old and young squaws had
-cut and dried large packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought down
-from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal heads, which were piled
-in ovens of hot stones covered with wet grass and clay. The process
-of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes from three to four
-days, and resembles somewhat the mode of baking clams in New England.
-The Apache scouts passed the time agreeably enough in gambling with
-the Chiricahuas, whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning hundreds
-of dollars in gold, silver, and paper at the games of _monte_,
-_conquien_, _tzi-chis_, and _mushka_.
-
-The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed groups of white soldiers
-and packers, and nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua women
-and children, who disported in the refreshing waters with the agility
-and grace of nereids and tritons. The modesty of the Apaches of both
-sexes, under all circumstances, is praiseworthy.
-
-“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook this morning that “Hieronymo”
-had sent them back to say that the Chiricahuas were very much
-scattered since the fight, and that he had not been as successful as
-he anticipated in getting them united and in corraling their herds
-of ponies. They did not want to leave a single one of their people
-behind, and urged General Crook to stay in his present camp for a
-week longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed himself
-as anxious for peace. He had never wished to leave San Carlos. He
-wanted to go back there and obtain a little farm, and own cattle and
-horses, as he once did. Here it may be proper to say that all the
-chiefs of the Chiricahuas--“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,” “Nané,”
-“Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,” “Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”--are men of
-noticeable brain power, physically perfect and mentally acute--just
-the individuals to lead a forlorn hope in the face of every obstacle.
-
-The Chiricahua children, who had become tired of swimming, played
-at a new sport to-day, a mimic game of war, a school of practice
-analogous to that established by old Fagan for the instruction of
-young London pickpockets. Three boys took the lead, and represented
-Mexicans, who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or elude their
-pursuers, who trailed them to their covert, surrounded it, and poured
-in a flight of arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon the
-ground, and the other two were seized and carried into captivity. The
-fun became very exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring the
-proprieties, raised itself up to see how the battle sped.
-
-In such sports, in such constant exercise, swimming, riding, running
-up and down the steepest and most slippery mountains, the Apache
-passes his boyish years. No wonder his bones are of iron, his sinews
-of wire, his muscles of India-rubber.
-
-On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished roasting enough mescal
-to last them to the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts came running
-in very much excited. He told his story to the effect that, while
-hunting some distance to the north, he had discovered a large body
-of Mexican soldiers; they were driving back the band of cattle run
-off by “Hieronymo,” and previously referred to. The scout tried
-to communicate with the Mexicans, who imagined him to be a hostile
-Indian, and fired three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al. Zeiber,
-and a small detachment of white and Indian soldiers started out to
-overtake the Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although they
-went some fifteen miles.
-
-On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the march was continued back
-toward the San Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow, the
-Mexican captives not being able to ride any great distance along the
-rough trails, and several of our men being sick. Two of the scouts
-were so far gone with pneumonia that their death was predicted
-every hour, in spite of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
-their incantations would bring them through all right. “Hieronymo,”
-“Chato,” “Kan-tenné,” and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
-of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of their people, making an
-aggregate of 384 in camp on the 29th.
-
-On the 30th, after a march, quite long under the
-circumstances,--fifteen to eighteen miles,--we crossed the main
-“divide” of the Sierra Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
-feet. The pine timber was large and dense, and much of it on fire,
-the smoke and heat parching our throats, and blackening our faces.
-
-With this pine grew a little mescal and a respectable amount of
-the _madroña_, or mountain mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
-by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys; trout were visible
-in all the streams. The line of march was prolific in mineral
-formations,--basalt, lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone. The day
-the command descended the Chihuahua side of the range it struck the
-trail of a large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription cut
-into the bark of a mahogany stating that the Eleventh Battalion had
-been here on the 21st of May.
-
-The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward march may be greatly
-condensed. The line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and close
-to the summit of the range. The country was extremely rough, cut
-up with rocky cañons beyond number and ravines of great depth, all
-flowing with water. Pine forests covered all the elevated ridges,
-but the cañons and lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
-character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and blackberry bushes,
-and strawberry vines. The weather continued almost as previously
-described,--the days clear and serene, the nights bitter cold, with
-ice forming in pails and kettles on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
-worthy of mention assailed the command, the sharp showers that fell
-two or three times being welcomed as laying the soot and dust.
-
-Game was found in abundance,--deer and turkey. This the Apache scouts
-were permitted to shoot and catch, to eke out the rations which had
-completely failed, the last issue being made June 4th. From that date
-till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon the country. The
-Apaches improved the excellent opportunity to show their skill as
-hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.
-
-[Illustration: FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.]
-
-The command was threatened by a great prairie fire on coming down
-into the broad grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus of a
-fierce wind the flames were rushing upon camp. There was not a moment
-to be lost. All hands turned out,--soldiers, scouts, squaws,
-Chiricahua warriors, and even children. Each bore a branch of willow
-or cotton-wood, a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
-had already seized the hill-crest nearest our position; brownish
-and gray clouds poured skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
-long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped high in air. It was a
-grand, a terrible sight: in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin
-and desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and the air, pouring in,
-made whirlwinds, which sent the black funnels of soot winding and
-twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses almost to the zenith. For
-one moment the line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining the
-hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she comes!” yelled the men on
-the left; and like a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of cloud
-and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire was upon, around, and about
-us.
-
-Our people stood bravely up to their work, and the swish! swish!
-swish! of willow brooms proved that camp was not to be surrendered
-without a struggle.
-
-We won the day; that is, we saved camp, herds, and a small area of
-pasturage; but over a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
-swept, mantling the land with soot and an opaque pall of mist and
-smoke through which the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
-horses and mules were badly burned, but none to death.
-
-For two or three nights afterwards the horizon was gloriously lighted
-with lines of fire creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
-into the broad plain, through which trickled the shriveled current of
-the Janos, no one would have suspected that we were not a column of
-Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched out for a mile upon the trail,
-resolved itself upon closer approach into a confused assemblage of
-ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles or without, but in every case
-freighted with humanity. Children were packed by twos and threes,
-while old women and feeble men got along as best they could, now
-riding, now walking. The scouts had decked themselves with paint and
-the Chiricahua women had donned all their finery of rough silver
-bracelets, wooden crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from
-Mexicans. This undulating plain, in which we now found ourselves,
-spread far to the north and east, and was covered with bunch and
-grama grasses, and dotted with cedar.--The march brought us to Alisos
-Creek (an affluent of the Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
-spot where the Mexican commander García, had slaughtered so many
-Chiricahua women and children. Human bones, picked white and clean by
-coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of the stream. Apache baskets and
-other furniture were strewn about. A clump of graves headed by rude
-crosses betrayed the severity of the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.
-
-Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed back (west) into Sonora,
-going over the asperous peak known as the Cocospera.
-
-In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral--granite gneiss,
-porphyry, conglomerate, shale, sandstone, and quartz,--and travel
-was as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier days of the
-march. We struck the head waters of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged
-cañon, then Elias Creek, going through another fine game region, and
-lastly, after crossing a broad tableland mantled with grama grass,
-mesquite, Spanish bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
-bivouacked on the San Bernardino river, close to a tule swamp of
-blue, slimy mud.
-
-The scouts plastered their heads with this mud, and dug up the bulbs
-of the tule, which, when roasted, are quite palatable.
-
-On the 15th of June the command recrossed the national boundary,
-and reached Silver Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
-Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of whose officers and men we
-received the warmest conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
-predicted and asserted regarding the column, from which no word had
-come, directly or indirectly since May 5th. The Mexican captives were
-returned to their own country and the Chiricahuas marched, under
-Crawford, to the San Carlos Agency.
-
-Unfortunately the papers received at Silver Springs were full of
-inflammatory telegrams, stating that the intention of the government
-was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without distinction, and to
-parcel out the women and children among tribes in the Indian
-Territory. This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced its
-legitimate result. Several of the chiefs and many of the head men
-hid back in the mountains until they could learn exactly what was to
-be their fate. The Mexican troops went in after them, and had two or
-three severe engagements, and were, of course, whipped each time.
-When the road was clear the Chiricahuas kept their promises to the
-letter, and brought to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and child
-of their people.
-
-They have been quietly scattered in small groups around the
-reservation, the object being to effect tribal disintegration, to
-bring individuals and families face to face with the progress made by
-more peaceable Apaches, and at same time to enable trusted members of
-the latter bands to maintains more perfect surveillance over every
-action of the Chiricahuas.
-
-Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas insist, and I think
-truthfully, that he was in the _ranchería_ destroyed by Crawford;
-that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths of the mountains;
-that the country was so rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick
-that his tracks could not be followed, even had there not been such a
-violent fall of rain during the succeeding nights. All accounts agree
-in this.
-
-Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up thirteen captives,--women and
-children,--held by them as hostages.
-
-
-
-
-      *      *      *      *      *      *
-
-
-
-
-Transcriber’s note:
-
-  Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
-  corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
-  the text and consultation of external sources.
-
-  Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
-  and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
-
-  Pg 10: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.
-
-  Pg 11: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.
-
-  Pg 14: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.
-
-  Pg 18: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.
-
-  Pg 23: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.
-
-  Pg 24: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.
-
-  Pg 34: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.
-
-  Pg 51: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.
-
-  Pg 76: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.
-
-  Pg 98: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.
-
-
-
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65040 ***
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
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+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
+
+
+Transcriber’s note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+      Changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.]
+
+
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE.
+
+An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the
+Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the
+Spring of 1883.
+
+by
+
+JOHN G. BOURKE,
+
+Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,
+Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis.”
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Charles Scribner’S Sons.
+1886.
+
+Copyright 1886,
+By Charles Scribner’S Sons.
+
+Press of J. J. Little & Co.,
+Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The recent outbreak of a fraction of the Chiricahua Apaches, and the
+frightful atrocities which have marked their trail through Arizona,
+Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted renewed attention to
+these brave but bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed to
+their ravages.
+
+The contents of this book, which originally appeared in a serial
+form in the _Outing Magazine_ of Boston, represent the details of
+the expedition led by General Crook to the Sierra Madre, Mexico, in
+1883; but, as the present military operations are conducted by the
+same commander, against the same enemy, and upon the same field of
+action, a perusal of these pages will, it is confidently believed,
+place before the reader a better knowledge of the general situation
+than any article which is likely soon to appear.
+
+There is this difference to be noted, however; of the one hundred
+and twenty-five (125) fighting men brought back from the Sierra
+Madre, less than one-third have engaged in the present hostilities,
+from which fact an additional inference may be drawn both of the
+difficulties to be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
+and of the horrors which would surely have accumulated upon the heads
+of our citizens had the _whole_ fighting force of this fierce band
+taken to the mountains.
+
+One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas, during the period
+from November 15th, 1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
+(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the reservation, and no
+less than twenty-five (25) white men, women, and children. This
+bloody raid has been conducted through a country filled with regular
+troops, militia, and “rangers,”--and at a loss to the enemy, so far
+as can be shown, of only one man, whose head is now at Fort Apache.
+
+              JOHN G. BOURKE.
+
+  APACHE INDIAN AGENCY,
+  SAN CARLOS, ARIZONA,
+  _December 15th, 1885_.
+
+
+
+
+  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+                                                        PAGE
+
+  CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT      _Frontispiece._
+
+  APACHE VILLAGE SCENE                           to face   7
+
+  APACHE WAR-DANCE                                        17
+
+  APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT          23
+
+  APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, ETC.                    26
+
+  APACHE AMBUSCADE                                        34
+
+  APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.                  49
+
+  APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS                           64
+
+  APACHE GIRL, WITH TYPICAL DRESS                         79
+
+  APACHE WARFARE                                          88
+
+  APACHE BASKET-WORK                                     100
+
+  FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE                              107
+
+
+
+
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+
+Within the compass of this volume it is impossible to furnish a
+complete dissertation upon the Apache Indians or the causes which led
+up to the expedition about to be described. The object is simply to
+outline some of the difficulties attending the solution of the Indian
+question in the South-west and to make known the methods employed
+in conducting campaigns against savages in hostility. It is thought
+that the object desired can best be accomplished by submitting an
+unmutilated extract from the journal carefully kept during the whole
+period involved.
+
+Much has necessarily been excluded, but without exception it has
+been to avoid repetition, or else to escape the introduction of
+information bearing upon the language, the religion, marriages,
+funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting race, which would
+increase the bulk of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from its
+value in the eyes of the general reader.
+
+Ethnologically the Apache is classed with the Tinneh tribes, living
+close to the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
+For centuries he has been preëminent over the more peaceful nations
+about him for courage, skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
+and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack when skilfully-planned
+ambuscades have led an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
+brutality to captives; patient endurance and fortitude under the
+greatest privations.
+
+In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted intelligence, good
+fellowship, warmth of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
+wrong.
+
+No Indian has more virtues and none has been more truly ferocious
+when aroused. He was the first of the native Americans to defeat in
+battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering, smooth-tongued
+Spaniard, with whom and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has waged
+cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since the days of Cortés. When the
+Spaniard had fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to push
+back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided simply with lance and
+bow. The past fifty years have seen the Apache provided with arms
+of precision, and, especially since the introduction of magazine
+breech-loaders, the Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
+upon the Apache, but has trembled for the security of life and
+property in the squalid hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.
+
+In 1871 the War Department confided to General George Crook the task
+of whipping into submission all the bands of the Apache nation living
+in Arizona. How thoroughly that duty was accomplished is now a matter
+of history. But at the last moment one band--the Chiricahuas--was
+especially exempted from Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
+by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box sort of an existence,
+now popping into an agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
+own story is to be credited, to live at peace with the whites, but
+unable to do so from lack of nourishment.
+
+When they went upon the reservation, rations in abundance were
+promised for themselves and families. A difference of opinion soon
+arose with the agent as to what constituted a ration, the wicked
+Indians laboring under the delusion that it was enough food to
+keep the recipient from starving to death, and objecting to an
+issue of supplies based upon the principle according to which
+grumbling Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was formerly
+apportioned,--that is, by being thrown through the rungs of a
+ladder--what stuck being the share of the Indian, and what fell
+to the ground being the share of the agent. To the credit of the
+agent it must be said that he made a praiseworthy but ineffectual
+effort to alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
+of hymn-books among his wards. The perverse Chiricahuas, not being
+able to digest works of that nature, and unwilling to acknowledge
+the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic, made up their minds to
+sally out from San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable
+wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their discontent was not allayed by
+rumors whispered about of the intention of the agent to have the
+whole tribe removed bodily to the Indian Territory. Coal had been
+discovered on the reservation, and speculators clamored that the land
+involved be thrown open for development, regardless of the rights
+of the Indians. But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached a
+focus when the agent one day sent his chief of police to arrest a
+Chiricahua charged with some offense deemed worthy of punishment in
+the guard-house. The offender started to run through the Indian camp,
+and the chief of police fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
+luckless old squaw, who happened in range. This wretched marksmanship
+was resented by the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted by
+the profuse apologies tendered for the accident. They silently
+made their preparations, waiting long enough to catch the chief of
+police, kill him, cut off his head, and play a game of foot-ball with
+it; and then, like a flock of quail, the whole band, men, women,
+and children--710 in all--started on the dead run for the Mexican
+boundary, one hundred and fifty miles to the south.
+
+Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought their way across Southern
+Arizona and New Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
+The valleys of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro witnessed a repetition
+of the once familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields with
+rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle. While engaged in
+fighting off the American forces, which pressed too closely upon
+their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front by the Mexican column
+under Colonel Garcia, who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved
+a “substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and capturing thirty,
+eleven of which total of one hundred and fifteen were men, and the
+rest women and children. The Chiricahuas claim that when the main
+body of their warriors reached the scene of the engagement the
+Mexicans evinced no anxiety to come out from the rifle-pits they
+hastily dug. To this fact no allusion can be found in the Mexican
+commander’s published dispatches.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.]
+
+The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate of less than 600--150
+of whom were warriors and big boys, withdrew to the recesses of the
+adjacent Sierra Madre--their objective point. Not long after this the
+Chiricahuas made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans, who
+invited them to a little town near Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a
+conference. They were courteously received, plied with liquor until
+drunk, and then attacked tooth and nail, ten or twelve warriors being
+killed and some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off to captivity.
+
+This is a one-sided description of the affair, given by a Chiricahua
+who participated. The newspapers of that date contained telegraph
+accounts of a fierce battle and another “victory” from Mexican
+sources; so that no doubt there is some basis for the story.
+
+Meantime General Crook had been reassigned by the President to the
+command of the Department of Arizona, which he had left nearly
+ten years previously in a condition of peace and prosperity, with
+the Apaches hard at work upon the reservation, striving to gain a
+living by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and rascality, in the
+interval, had done their worst, and when Crook returned not only
+were the Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other bands of
+the Apache nation were in a state of scarcely concealed defection
+and hostility. Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old friends
+among the chiefs and warriors, and by the exercise of a strong
+personal influence, coupled with assurances that the wrongs of which
+the Apaches complained should be promptly redressed, succeeded in
+averting an outbreak which would have made blood flow from the
+Pecos to the Colorado, and for the suppression of which the gentle
+and genial tax-payer would have been compelled to contribute most
+liberally of his affluence. Attended by an aid-de-camp, a surgeon,
+and a dozen Apache scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
+south-east corner of Arizona, from which point he made an attempt
+to open up communication with the Chiricahuas. In this he was
+unsuccessful, but learned from a couple of squaws, intercepted
+while attempting to return to the San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas
+had sworn vengeance upon Mexicans and Americans alike; that
+their stronghold was an impregnable position in the Sierra Madre,
+a “great way” below the International Boundary; and that they
+supplied themselves with an abundance of food by raiding upon the
+cattle-ranches and “haciendas” in the valleys and plains below.
+
+Crook now found himself face to face with the following intricate
+problem: The Chiricahuas occupied a confessedly impregnable position
+in the precipitous range known as the Sierra Madre. This position was
+within the territory of another nation so jealous of its privileges
+as not always to be able to see clearly in what direction its best
+interests lay. The territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
+stretched across the boundary separating Mexico from the United
+States, but was divided into four military departments--two in
+each country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy, suspicion,
+fault-finding, and antagonism would surely dog the steps of him who
+should endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.
+
+To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas, and all the other
+Apaches as well, were filled with the notion that the Mexicans were
+a horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid to meet them in war
+but valiant enough to destroy their women and children, for whose
+blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood must in turn be
+shed. Affairs went on in this unsatisfactory course from October,
+1882, until March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a return of
+the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one knowing where the first attack
+should be made. The meagre military force allotted to the department
+was distributed so as to cover as many exposed points as possible,
+one body of 150 Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford, Third
+Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous duty of patrolling the
+Mexican boundary for a distance of two hundred miles, through a
+rugged country pierced with ravines and cañons. No one was surprised
+to learn that toward the end of March this skeleton line had been
+stealthily penetrated by a bold band of twenty-six Chiricahuas, under
+a very crafty and daring young chief named _Chato_ (Spanish for Flat
+Nose).
+
+By stealing fresh horses from every ranch they were successful in
+traversing from seventy-five to one hundred miles a day, killing and
+destroying all in their path, the culminating point in their bloody
+career being the butchery of Judge McComas and wife, prominent and
+refined people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction of their
+bright boy, Charlie, whom the Indians carried back with them on their
+retreat through New Mexico and Chihuahua.
+
+It may serve to give some idea of the courage, boldness, and subtlety
+of these raiders to state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
+New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of not less than eight hundred
+miles, they passed at times through localities fairly well settled
+and close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops--4,500 Mexican and
+500 American. They killed twenty-five persons, Mexican and American,
+and lost but two--one killed near the Total Wreck mine, Arizona, and
+one who fell into the hands of the American troops, of which last
+much has to be narrated.
+
+To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches by _direct_ pursuit would
+be about as hopeless a piece of business as that of catching so many
+fleas. All that could be done was done; the country was alarmed
+by telegraph; people at exposed points put upon their guard, while
+detachments of troops scoured in every direction, hoping, by good
+luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap destroy, the daring marauders.
+The trail they had made coming up from Mexico could, however, be
+followed, _back_ to the stronghold; and this, in a military sense,
+would be the most _direct_, as it would be the most practical pursuit.
+
+Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves. He first
+concentrated at the most eligible position on the Southern Pacific
+Railroad--Willcox--all the skeletons of companies which were
+available, for the protection of Arizona.
+
+Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were brought in on every
+train; the whole organization was carefully inspected, to secure
+the rejection of every unserviceable soldier, animal, or weapon;
+telegrams and letters were sent to the officers commanding the
+troops of Mexico, but no replies were received, the addresses of the
+respective generals not being accurately known. As their co-operation
+was desirable, General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad to
+Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua, there to see personally and
+confer with the Mexican civil and military authorities. The cordial
+reception extended him by all classes was the best evidence of the
+high regard in which he was held by the inhabitants of the two
+afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua, and of their readiness
+to welcome any force he would lead to effect the destruction or
+removal of the common enemy. Generals Topete and Carbó--soldiers of
+distinction--the governors of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran,
+of Chihuahua, were most earnest in their desire for a removal of
+savages whose presence was a cloud upon the prosperity of their
+fellow-citizens. General Crook made no delay in these conferences,
+but hurried back to Willcox and marched his command thence to the
+San Bernardino springs, in the south-east corner of the Territory
+(Arizona).
+
+But serious delays and serious complications were threatened by the
+intemperate behavior of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
+Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the San Carlos Agency
+with the avowed purpose of “cleaning out” all the Indians there
+congregated. The chiefs and head men of the Apaches had just caused
+word to be telegraphed to General Crook that they intended sending
+him another hundred of their picked warriors as an assurance and
+pledge that they were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on the
+war-path. Upon learning of the approach of the “Rangers” the chiefs
+prudently deferred the departure of the new levy of scouts until the
+horizon should clear, and enable them to see what was to be expected
+from their white neighbors.
+
+The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers” was exhausted in less
+than ten days, when the organization expired of thirst, to the
+gratification of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier, who
+repudiated an interference with the plans of the military commander,
+respected and esteemed by them for former distinguished services.
+
+At this point it may be well to insert an outline of the story told
+by the Chiricahua captive who had been brought down from the San
+Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that his name was Pa-nayo-tishn
+(the Coyote saw him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a White
+Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or Red Clay) clan, married to two
+Chiricahua women, by whom he had had children, and with whose people
+he had lived for years. He had left the Chiricahua stronghold in the
+mountain called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey below Casas
+Grandes in Chihuahua. From that stronghold the Chiricahuas had been
+raiding with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued they would draw
+the Mexicans into the depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
+kill them by rolling down rocks from the heights.
+
+The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and cattle, but little food of a
+vegetable character. They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
+breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of ammunition, and
+had made their recent raid into Arizona, hoping to replenish their
+supply of cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among the chiefs,
+some of whom, he thought, would be glad to return to the reservation.
+In making raids they counted upon riding from sixty to seventy-five
+miles a day as they stole fresh horses all the time and killed
+those abandoned. It would be useless to pursue them, but he would
+lead General Crook back along the trail they had made coming up
+from Mexico, and he had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken by
+surprise.
+
+He had not gone with them of his own free will, but had been
+compelled to leave the reservation, and had been badly treated while
+with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos because the agent had
+stolen their rations, beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
+He asserted emphatically that no communication of any kind had been
+held with the Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that direction
+having been frustrated.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WAR-DANCE.]
+
+The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn, numbered seventy
+full-grown warriors and fifty big boys able to fight, with an unknown
+number of women and children. In their fights with the Mexicans about
+one hundred and fifty had been killed and captured, principally women
+and children. The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was described as a
+dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible place, having plenty of wood,
+water, and grass, but no food except what was stolen from the
+Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas might be starved out.
+
+General Crook ordered the irons to be struck from the prisoner; to
+which he demurred, saying he would prefer to wear shackles for the
+present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity. A half-dozen
+prominent scouts promised to guard him and watch him; so the fetters
+were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or “Peaches,” as the soldiers
+called him, was installed in the responsible office of guide of the
+contemplated expedition.
+
+By the 22d of April many of the preliminary arrangements had
+been completed and some of the difficulties anticipated had been
+smoothed over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the command from the
+San Carlos Reservation, and in the first hours of night began a
+war-dance, which continued without a break until the first flush of
+dawn the next day. They were all in high feather, and entered into
+the spirit of the occasion with full zest. Not much time need be
+wasted upon a description of their dresses; they didn’t wear any,
+except breech-clout and moccasins. To the music of an improvised
+drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing yells and shrieks
+they pirouetted and charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
+violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly springing high in air,
+discharging their pieces, and all the time chanting a rude refrain,
+in which their own prowess was exalted and that of their enemies
+alluded to with contempt. Their enthusiasm was not abated by the
+announcement, quietly diffused, that the “medicine men” had been hard
+at work, and had succeeded in making a “medicine” which would surely
+bring the Chiricahuas to grief.
+
+In accordance with the agreement entered into with the Mexican
+authorities, the American troops were to reach the boundary line _not
+sooner than May 1_, the object being to let the restless Chiricahuas
+quiet down as much as possible, and relax their vigilance, while at
+the same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get into position for
+effective co-operation.
+
+The convention between our government and that of Mexico, by which
+a reciprocal crossing of the International Boundary was conceded
+to the troops of the two republics, stipulated that such crossing
+should be authorized when the troops were “in close pursuit of a band
+of savage Indians,” and the crossing was made “in the unpopulated
+or desert parts of said boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
+parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment or town of either
+country.” The commander of the troops crossing was to give notice
+at time of crossing, or before if possible, to the nearest military
+commander or civil authority of the country entered. The pursuing
+force was to retire to its own territory as soon as it should have
+fought the band of which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and in
+no case could it “establish itself or remain in the foreign territory
+for a longer time than necessary to make the pursuit of the band
+whose trail it had followed.”
+
+The weak points of this convention were the imperative stipulation
+that the troops should return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
+of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated country.” A friendly
+expedition from the United States might follow close on the heels of
+a party of depredating Apaches, but, under a rigid construction of
+the term “unpopulated,” have to turn back when it had reached some
+miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity of savage attack, and
+most in need of assistance, as afterwards proved to be the case.
+
+The complication was not diminished by the orders dispatched by
+General Sherman on March 31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit
+of the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental or national
+boundaries.” Both General Crook and General Topete, anxious to
+have every difficulty removed which lay in the way of a thorough
+adjustment of this vexed question, telegraphed to their respective
+governments asking that a more elastic interpretation be given to the
+terms of the convention.
+
+To this telegram General Crook received reply that he must abide
+strictly by the terms of the convention, which could only be changed
+with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate. But what these terms
+meant exactly was left just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
+of April General Crook moved out from Willcox, accompanied by the
+Indian scouts and a force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
+and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle, guarding a train of
+wagons, with supplies of ammunition and food for two months. This
+force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in reserve at or near San
+Bernardino Springs on the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
+flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments commanded by
+Rafferty, Vroom, Overton, and Anderson; this disposition affording
+the best possible protection to the settlements in case any of the
+Chiricahuas should make their way to the rear of the detachment
+penetrating Mexico.
+
+A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column as it left the line of
+the Southern Pacific Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
+scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar methods of the Apaches
+in marching and conducting themselves while on a campaign may not be
+out of place. To veterans of the campaigns of the Civil War familiar
+with the compact formations of the cavalry and infantry of the Army
+of the Potomac, the loose, straggling methods of the Apache scouts
+would appear startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend
+at a glance that the Apache was the perfect, the ideal, scout of
+the whole world. When Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
+gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé--Go!--the Apaches started as if
+shot from a gun, and in a minute or less had covered a space of one
+hundred yards front, which distance rapidly widened as they advanced,
+at a rough, shambling walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
+Heads), the mining camp near which the first halt was to be made.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.]
+
+They moved with no semblance of regularity; individual fancy alone
+governed. Here was a clump of three; not far off two more, and
+scattered in every point of the compass, singly or in clusters, were
+these indefatigable scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
+as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s, and ears so sensitive
+that nothing escapes them. An artist, possibly, would object to
+many of them as undersized, but in all other respects they would
+satisfy every requirement of anatomical criticism. Their chests
+were broad, deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight; limbs
+well-proportioned, strong, and muscular, without a suggestion
+of undue heaviness; hands and feet small and taper but wiry;
+heads well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with a pleasant,
+good-natured expression, which would be more constant, perhaps,
+were it not for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the loose,
+disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black, held away from the face
+by a broad, flat band of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright,
+clear, and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest good-humor
+and satisfaction. Uniforms had been issued, but were donned upon
+ceremonial occasions only. On the present march each wore a loosely
+fitting shirt of red, white, or gray stuff, generally of calico, in
+some gaudy figure, but not infrequently the sombre article of woollen
+raiment issued to white soldiers. This came down outside a pair of
+loose cotton drawers, reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins are
+the most important articles of Apache apparel. In a fight or on
+a long march they will discard all else, but under any and every
+circumstance will retain the moccasins. These had been freshly made
+before leaving Willcox. The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon
+the ground while a companion traces with a sharp knife the outlines
+of the sole of his foot upon a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made
+of soft buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to mid-thigh. For
+convenience in marching, it is allowed to hang in folds below the
+knee. The raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great toe, and turned
+upward in a shield, which protects from cactus and sharp stones. A
+leather belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of metallic
+cartridges, and also keeps in place the regulation blue blouse and
+pantaloons, which are worn upon the person only when the Indian scout
+is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier towns or military posts by a
+display of all his finery.
+
+The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries are a Springfield
+breech-loading rifle, army pattern, a canteen full of water, a
+butcher knife, an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and a
+tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins or work of that kind. With
+the tweezers the Apache young man carefully picks out each and every
+hair appearing upon his face. The tag marks his place in the tribe,
+and is in reality nothing more or less than a revival of a plan
+adopted during the war of the rebellion for the identification of
+soldiers belonging to the different corps and divisions. Each male
+Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered, and a descriptive
+list, corresponding to the tag kept, with a full recital of all his
+physical peculiarities.
+
+This is the equipment of each and every scout; but there are many,
+especially the more pious and influential, who carry besides,
+strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of Hoddentin, or sacred
+meal, with which to offer morning and evening sacrifice to the
+sun or other deity. Others, again, are provided with amulets of
+lightning-riven twigs, pieces of quartz crystal, petrified wood,
+concretionary sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
+representing some of their countless planetary gods or Kân, which
+are regarded as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the designs of
+the enemy or warding off arrows and bullets in the heat of action.
+And a few are happy in the possession of priceless sashes and shirts
+of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned the signs of the sun, moon,
+lightning, rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly, snake,
+centipede, and other powers to which they may appeal for aid in the
+hour of distress.
+
+The Apache is an eminently religious person, and the more deviltry he
+plans the more pronounced does his piety become.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES WORN
+BY YOUNG GIRLS.]
+
+The rate of speed attained by the Apaches in marching is about an
+even four miles an hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make a
+horse trot. They keep this up for about fifteen miles, at the end
+of which distance, if water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
+they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen each, hide in some
+convenient ravine, sit down, smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and
+stretch out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes of the South.
+If they want to make a little fire, they kindle one with matches, if
+they happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid twirl, between the
+palms, of a hard round stick fitting into a circular hole in another
+stick of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to forty-five
+seconds. The scouts by this time have painted their faces, daubing
+them with red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted “mescal.”
+The object of this is protection from wind and sun, as well as
+distinctive ornamentation.
+
+The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was broken by the shrill
+cry of Choddi! Choddi! (Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
+left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that the Apaches on that
+flank were getting fresh meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
+demonstrated that they were not the worst of shots; neither were
+they, by any means, bad cooks.
+
+When the command reached camp these restless, untiring nomads built
+in a trice all kinds of rude shelters. Those that had the army “dog
+tents” put them up on frame-works of willow or cotton-wood saplings;
+others, less fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches covered
+with grass, or of stones and boards covered with gunny sacks. Before
+these were finished smoke curled gracefully toward the sky from
+crackling embers, in front of which, transfixed on wooden spits,
+were the heads, hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
+the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to the _spolia opima_ was a
+cotton-tailed rabbit, run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
+South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught in the same manner.
+
+Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making bread,--the light, thin
+“tortillas” of the Mexicans, baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
+eating. Two others were fraternally occupied in preparing their bed
+for the night. Grass was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
+and covered with one blanket, another serving as cover. These
+Indians, with scarcely an exception, sleep with their feet pointed
+toward little fires, which, they claim, are warm, while the big ones
+built by the American soldiers, are so hot that they drive people
+away from them, and, besides, attract the attention of a lurking
+enemy. At the foot of this bed an Apache was playing on a home-made
+fiddle, fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or American aloe.
+This fiddle has four strings, and emits a sound like the wail of a
+cat with its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red man likes the
+music, which perhaps is, after all, not so very much inferior to that
+of Wagner.
+
+Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of sweet sounds, a party of
+six was playing fiercely at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards
+employed being of native manufacture, of horse-hide, covered with
+barbarous figures, and well worthy of a place in any museum.
+
+The cooking was by this time ended, and the savages, with genuine
+hospitality, invited the Americans near them to join in the feast. It
+was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty paws tearing bread
+and meat into fragments; yet the meat thus cooked was tender and
+juicy, the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and fairly well made.
+The Apaches squatted nearest to the American guests felt it incumbent
+upon them to explain everything as the meal progressed. They said
+this (pointing to the coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
+Zigosti (bread).
+
+All this time scouts had been posted commanding every possible line
+of approach. The Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite
+mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing what he himself can do,
+he ascribes to his foe--no matter how insignificant may be his
+numbers--the same daring, recklessness, agility, and subtlety
+possessed by himself. These Indian scouts will march thirty-five or
+forty miles in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of waterless
+plains upon which a tropical sun beats down with fierceness, or
+climbing up the faces of precipitous mountains which stretch across
+this region in every direction.
+
+The two great points of superiority of the native or savage soldier
+over the representative of civilized discipline are his absolute
+knowledge of the country and his perfect ability to take care of
+himself at all times and under all circumstances. Though the rays
+of the sun pour down from the zenith, or the scorching sirocco
+blow from the south, the Apache scout trudges along as unconcerned
+as he was when the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his white
+comrade to the marrow. He finds food, and pretty good food too,
+where the Caucasian would starve. Knowing the habits of wild animals
+from his earliest youth, he can catch turkeys, quail, rabbits,
+doves, or field-mice, and, perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which
+will supply him with meat. For some reason he cannot be induced to
+touch fish, and bacon or any other product of the hog is eaten only
+under duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass, which has
+dropped exhausted on the march and been left to die on the trail,
+is a delicious morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon wherever
+possible. The stunted oak, growing on the mountain flanks, furnishes
+acorns; the Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in the ashes
+of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something like the banana. The
+whole region of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted with
+varieties of the cactus, nearly every one of which is called upon
+for its tribute of fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of the
+century-plant--called mescal--are roasted between hot stones, and
+the product is rich in saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to
+the taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the “tule” are found in
+the damp mountain meadows; and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
+remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds, when
+ground fine, are rich and nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep
+ravines, and strawberries in favorable locations; in the proper
+season these, with the seeds of wild grasses and wild pumpkins, the
+gum of the “mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the pine,
+play their part in staving off the pangs of hunger.
+
+The above are merely a few of the resources of the Apache scout when
+separated from the main command. When his moccasins give out on a
+long march over the sharp rocks of the mountains or the cutting
+sands of the plains, a few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
+pair,--his own handiwork,--and so with other portions of his raiment.
+He is never without awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
+infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of some kind,--at first the
+bow and arrow, and later on the rifle,--he is perfectly at home with
+his weapons, and knowing from past experience how important they are
+for his preservation, takes much better care of them than does the
+white soldier out of garrison.
+
+He does not read the newspapers, but the great book of nature is
+open to his perusal, and has been drained of much knowledge which
+his pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire. Every track in the
+trail, mark in the grass, scratch on the bark of a tree, explains
+itself to the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an hour, almost,
+when the man or animal making them passed by, and, like a hound, will
+keep on the scent until he catches up with the object of his pursuit.
+
+In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier is sedate and
+taciturn. Seated around his little apology for a camp-fire, in the
+communion of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational. He
+is obedient to authority, but will not brook the restraints which,
+under our notions of discipline, change men into machines. He makes
+an excellent sentinel, and not a single instance can be adduced of
+property having been stolen from or by an Apache on guard.
+
+He has the peculiarity, noticed among so many savage tribes in
+various parts of the world, of not caring to give his true name to a
+stranger; if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one or remain
+mute and let a comrade answer for him. This rule does not apply
+where he has been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers. In
+such case he will respond promptly, and tell the inquirer that he is
+“Stumpy,” “Tom Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed Reilly,”
+as the case may be. But there is no such exception in regard to the
+dead. Their names are never mentioned, even by the wailing friends
+who loudly chant their virtues.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE AMBUSCADE.]
+
+Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a curious thing to witness. He
+avoids appearing suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that his
+figure projected against the sky can at such time be discerned from
+a great distance. He will carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of
+grass, or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl like a snake
+to the summit and carefully peer about, taking in with his keen black
+eyes the details of the country to the front with a rapidity, and
+thoroughness the American or European can never acquire. In battle
+he is again the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache has no false
+ideas about courage; he would prefer to skulk like the coyote for
+hours, and then kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,
+by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal or otherwise. But
+he is no coward; on the contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
+bravest. The precautions taken for his safety prove that he is an
+exceptionally skillful soldier. His first duty under fire is to jump
+for a rock, bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive him except
+with loss of life or blood.
+
+The policy of Great Britain has always been to enlist a force of
+auxiliaries from among the natives of the countries falling under
+her sway. The Government of the United States, on the contrary, has
+persistently ignored the really excellent material, ready at hand,
+which could, with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be mobilized,
+and made to serve as a frontier police. General Crook is the only
+officer of our army who has fully recognized the incalculable
+value of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns of the past
+thirty-five years has drawn about him as soon as possible a force of
+Indians, which has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and also
+of consequence in reducing the strength of the opposition.
+
+The white army of the United States is a much better body of
+officers and men than a critical and censorious public gives it
+credit for being. It represents intelligence of a high order, and
+a spirit of devotion to duty worthy of unbounded praise; but it
+does not represent the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
+follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may be brave and
+well-disciplined, but its members cannot tramp or ride, as the case
+may be, from forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without water,
+under a burning sun. No civilized army can do that. It is one of the
+defects of civilized training that man develops new wants, awakens
+new necessities,--becomes, in a word, more and more a creature of
+luxury.
+
+Take the Apache Indian under the glaring sun of Mexico. He quietly
+peels off all his clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more than
+otherwise. He may not be a great military genius, but he is inured
+to all sorts of fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when the
+civilized man is about to die of thirst.
+
+Prominent among these scouts was of course first of all “Peaches,”
+the captive guide. He was one of the handsomest men, physically,
+to be found in the world. He never knew what it was to be tired,
+cross, or out of humor. His knowledge of the topography of Northern
+Sonora was remarkable, and his absolute veracity and fidelity in all
+his dealings a notable feature in his character. With him might be
+mentioned “Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
+“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried and true men, experienced in
+warfare and devoted to the general whose standard they followed.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+
+From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs, by the road the wagons
+followed, is an even 100 miles. The march thither, through a most
+excellent grazing country, was made in five days, by which time
+the command was joined by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+with more than 100 additional Apache scouts and several trains of
+pack-mules.
+
+San Bernardino Springs break out from the ground upon the Boundary
+Line and flow south into the Yaqui River, of which the San Bernardino
+River is the extreme head. These springs yielded an abundance of
+water for all our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands of
+head of cattle, which have since disappeared under the attrition of
+constant warfare with the Apaches.
+
+The few days spent at San Bernardino were days of constant toil and
+labor; from the first streak of dawn until far into the night the
+task of organizing and arranging went on. Telegrams were dispatched
+to the Mexican generals notifying them that the American troops would
+leave promptly by the date agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
+began their war-dances, and continued them without respite from each
+sunset until the next sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
+they informed him of their anxiety to put an end to the war and bring
+peace to Arizona, so that the white men and Apaches could live and
+work side by side.
+
+By the 29th of April all preparations were complete. Baggage had been
+cut down to a minimum. Every officer and man was allowed to carry
+the clothes on his back, one blanket and forty rounds of ammunition.
+Officers were ordered to mess with the packers and on the same food
+issued to soldiers and Indian scouts. One hundred and sixty rounds
+of extra ammunition and rations of hard-bread, coffee and bacon, for
+sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.
+
+At this moment General Sherman telegraphed to General Crook that he
+must not cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians, except in
+strict accord with the terms of the treaty, without defining exactly
+what those terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging receipt of these
+instructions and saying that he would respect treaty stipulations.
+
+On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition crossed the boundary
+into Mexico. Its exact composition was as follows: General George
+Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke, Third Cavalry, acting
+adjutant-general; Lieutenant G. S. Febiger, engineer officer,
+aid-de-camp; Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with Lieutenants West
+and Forsyth, and forty-two enlisted men of “I” company of that
+regiment; Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the General
+Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
+Third Cavalry, Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
+Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al. Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,”
+Severiano, and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.
+
+The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient management, were divided
+into five trains, each with its complement of skilled packers. These
+trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins, Stanfield, “Long Jim
+Cook,” and “Short Jim Cook.”
+
+Each packer was armed with carbine and revolver, for self-protection,
+but nothing could be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
+beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently the effective
+fighting strength of the command was a little over fifty white
+men--officers and soldiers--and not quite 200 Apache scouts,
+representing the various bands, Chiricahua, White Mountain, Yuma,
+Mojave, and Tonto.
+
+The first rays of the sun were beaming upon the Eastern hills as
+we swung into our saddles, and, amid a chorus of good-byes and
+God-bless-yous from those left behind, pushed down the hot and sandy
+valley of the San Bernardino, past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to
+near the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty miles. Here camp was
+made on the banks of a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
+walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had scoured the country to
+the front and on both flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild
+turkeys, the latter being run down and caught in the bushes. One
+escaped from its captors and started through camp on a full jump,
+pursued by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it, promptly twisted
+its head off.
+
+The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the “medicine-men” having
+repeated with emphasis the prediction that the expedition was to be
+a grand success. One of the most influential of them--a mere boy,
+who carried the most sacred medicine--was especially positive in his
+views, and, unlike most prophets, backed them up with a bet of $40.
+
+On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 A.M. The train--Monach’s--with
+which we took meals was composed equally of Americans and Mexicans.
+So, when the cook spread his canvas on the ground, one heard
+such expressions as _Tantito’ zucarito quiero_; _Sirve pasar el
+járabe_; _Pase rebanada de pan_; _Otra gotita mas de café_, quite
+as frequently as their English equivalents, “I’d like a little more
+sugar,” “Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of bread,” “A
+little drop of coffee.” Close by, the scouts consumed their meals,
+and with more silence, yet not so silently but that their calls for
+_inchi_ (salt), _ikôn_ (flour), _pezá-a_ (frying-pan), and other
+articles, could be plainly heard.
+
+Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He was not, as he himself
+admitted, a French cook by profession. His early life had been passed
+in the more romantic occupation of driving an ore-wagon between
+Willcox and Globe, and, to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
+down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this side the Rio Grande.”
+
+But what he lacked in culinary knowledge he more than made up in
+strength and agility. He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
+and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured, too, and
+averse to fighting. Such, at least, was the opinion I gathered from
+a remark he made the first evening I was thrown into his society.
+
+His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while he said quietly, “If
+there’s anybody here don’t like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of
+him!” I was just about suggesting that a couple of pounds less
+saleratus in the bread and a couple of gallons less water in the
+coffee would be grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
+conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks I made the better
+would be the chances of my enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said
+nothing. Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua, and I assert from
+the depths of an outraged stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
+never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.
+
+The march was continued down the San Bernardino until we reached its
+important affluent, the Bávispe, up which we made our way until the
+first signs of habitancy were encountered in the squalid villages of
+Bávispe, Basaraca, and Huachinera.
+
+The whole country was a desert. On each hand were the ruins of
+depopulated and abandoned hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
+bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling with crops of
+wheat and barley, were now covered with a thickly-matted jungle
+of semi-tropical vegetation. The river banks were choked by dense
+brakes of cane of great size and thickness. The narrow valley was
+hemmed in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed and slashed
+with a thousand ravines, to cross which exhausted both strength
+and patience. The foot-hills were covered with _chevaux de frise_
+of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus. The lignum-vitæ flaunted
+its plumage of crimson flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
+in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so homely, here assumed a
+garniture of creamy blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
+upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest tendrils pendent from
+the branches of the mesquite.
+
+The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out the poor mules, which
+had as much as they could do to scramble over the steep hills,
+composed of a nondescript accumulation of lava, sandstone, porphyry,
+and limestone, half-rounded by the action of water, and so loosely
+held together as to slip apart and roll away the instant the feet of
+animals or men touched them.
+
+When they were not slipping over loose stones or climbing rugged
+hills, they were breaking their way through jungles of thorny
+vegetation, which tore their quivering flesh. One of the mules,
+falling from the rocks, impaled itself upon a mesquite branch, and
+had to be killed.
+
+Through all this the Apache scouts trudged without a complaint,
+and with many a laugh and jest. Each time camp was reached they
+showed themselves masters of the situation. They would gather the
+saponaceous roots of the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
+them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut sections of the
+bamboo-like cane and make pipes for smoking, or four-holed flutes,
+which emitted a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to with
+melodious chatter by countless birds perched in the shady seclusion
+of ash and cotton-wood.
+
+Those scouts who were not on watch gave themselves up to the luxury
+of the tá-a-chi, or sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
+willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in the ground and the upper
+extremities, united to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which are
+laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat. Three or four large
+rocks are heated and placed in the centre, the Indians arranging
+themselves around these rocks and bending over them. Silicious
+bowlders are invariably selected, and not calcareous--the Apaches
+being sufficiently familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know that
+the latter will frequently crack and explode under intense heat.
+
+When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge I could see nothing
+but a network of arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
+experience with Broadway omnibuses assured me that there must always
+be room for one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”--the master of
+ceremonies--encouraged me to push in first an arm, then a leg, and,
+finally, my whole body.
+
+Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it fell against the frame-work and
+shut out all light and air. The conductor of affairs inside threw a
+handful of water on the hot rocks, and steam, on the instant, filled
+every crevice of the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven; breathing
+was well-nigh impossible.
+
+“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy, “Keet,” whose legs and arms
+were sinuously intertwined with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho
+to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The other bathers said that
+everybody must sing. I had to yield. My _repertoire_ consists of
+but one song--the lovely ditty--“Our captain’s name is Murphy.” I
+gave them this with all the lung-power I had left, and was heartily
+encored; but I was too much exhausted to respond, and rushed out,
+dripping with perspiration, to plunge with my dusky comrades into the
+refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which had worn out for themselves
+tanks three to twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were all
+that the Apaches had predicted--a sound, refreshing sleep and
+increased appetite.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.]
+
+The farther we got into Mexico the greater the desolation. The valley
+of the Bávispe, like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
+thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy. Foot-prints indeed
+were plenty, but they were the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas,
+who apparently roamed with immunity over all this solitude. There
+were signs, too, of Mexican “travel;” but in every case these were
+“_conductas_” of pack-mules, guarded by companies of soldiers.
+Rattlesnakes were encountered with greater frequency both in camp
+and on the march. When found in camp the Apaches, from superstitious
+reasons, refrained from killing them, but let the white men do it.
+
+The vegetation remained much the same as that of Southern Arizona,
+only denser and larger. The cactus began to bear odorous flowers--a
+species of night-blooming cereus--and parrots of gaudy plumage
+flitted about camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
+two or three, tore the feathers from their bodies and tied them in
+their inky locks. Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted from
+bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one felt that we were advancing
+into more torrid regions. However, by this time faces and hands
+were finely tanned and blistered, and the fervor of the sun was
+disregarded. The nights remained cool and refreshing throughout the
+trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed to the calmest
+rest.
+
+On the 5th of May the column reached the feeble, broken-down towns
+of Bávispe and Basaraca. The condition of the inhabitants was
+deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad government had done
+their worst, and, even had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
+terror, it is doubtful whether they would have had energy enough to
+profit by the natural advantages, mineral and agricultural, of their
+immediate vicinity. The land appeared to be fertile and was well
+watered. Horses, cattle, and chickens throve; the cereals yielded
+an abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed in the waxy-green
+foliage of the pomegranate.
+
+Every man, woman, and child had gathered in the streets or squatted
+on the flat roofs of the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
+cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand national convention
+of scarecrows and rag-pickers, their garments old and dingy, but no
+man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero, with a snake-band
+of silver, or display a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
+Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued _serapes_ flung over the
+shoulders; those who had none went in their shirt-sleeves.
+
+The children were bright, dirty, and pretty; the women so closely
+enveloped in their _rebozos_ that only one eye could be seen. They
+greeted our people with warmth, and offered to go with us to the
+mountains. With the volubility of parrots they began to describe
+a most blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas, in
+which, of course, the Apaches had been completely and ignominiously
+routed, each Mexican having performed prodigies of valor on a par
+with those of Ajax. But at the same time they wouldn’t go alone
+into their fields,--only a quarter of a mile off,--which were
+constantly patrolled by a detachment of twenty-five or thirty men of
+what was grandiloquently styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
+guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when told of this latest
+annihilation of the Chiricahuas. General Crook, without a moment’s
+hesitancy, determined to keep on the trail farther into the Sierra
+Madre.
+
+The food of these wretched Mexicans was mainly _atole_,--a weak
+flour-gruel resembling the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
+they had none, and newspapers had not yet been heard of. Their only
+recreation was in religious festivals, occurring with commendable
+frequency. The churches themselves were in the last stages of
+dilapidation; the adobe exteriors showed dangerous indications of
+approaching dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments of the inside
+were foul and black with age, smoke, dust, and rain.
+
+I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold my horse for a moment until
+I had examined one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate title
+of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and our Lady of the Trance. This
+action evoked a eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man can’t be
+an American, he must be a Christian,” he sagely remarked; “he speaks
+Castilian, and goes to church the first thing.”
+
+It goes without saying that they have no mails in that country.
+What they call the post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
+town. The store had no goods for sale, and the post-office had no
+stamps. The postmaster didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
+to go every eight days, but now--_quien sabe?_ Yes, he would send
+our letters the first opportunity. The price? Oh! the price?--did
+the _caballeros_ want to know how much? Well, for Mexican people, he
+charged five cents, but the Americans would have to pay _dos reales_
+(twenty-five cents) for each letter.
+
+The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were fiery mescal, chile, and
+a few eggs, eagerly snapped up by the advance-guard. In making these
+purchases we had to enter different houses, which vied with each
+other in penury and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
+none of the comforts which the humblest laborers in our favored land
+demand as right and essential. The inmates in every instance received
+us urbanely and kindly. The women, who were uncovered inside their
+domiciles, were greatly superior in good looks and good breeding to
+their husbands and brothers; but the latter never neglected to employ
+all the punctilious expressions of Spanish politeness.
+
+That evening the round-stomached old man, whom, in ignorance of
+the correct title, we all agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a
+complimentary visit to General Crook, and with polite flourishes bade
+him welcome to the soil of Mexico informed him that he had received
+orders to render the expedition every assistance in his power, and
+offered to accompany it at the head of every man and boy in the
+vicinity. General Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance of
+these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission to buy four beeves
+to feed to the Apache scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
+meat.
+
+Bivouac was made that night on the banks of the Bávispe, under
+the bluff upon which perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
+visitors--men and boys--flocked in to see us, bringing bread and
+tobacco for barter and sale. In their turn a large body of our people
+went up to the town and indulged in the unexpected luxury of a ball.
+This was so entirely original in all its features that a mention of
+it is admissible.
+
+Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing that the morrow would be
+Sunday, when a prolonged thumping of drums signaled that the _Baile_
+was about to begin.
+
+Wending our way to the corner whence the noise proceeded, we found
+that a half-dozen of the packers had bought out the whole stock of
+the _tienda_, which dealt only in _mescal_, paying therefor the
+princely sum of $12.50.
+
+Invitations had been extended to all the adult inhabitants to
+take part in the festivities. For some reason all the ladies sent
+regrets by the messenger; but of men there was no lack, the packers
+having taken the precaution to send out a patrol to scour the
+streets, “collar” and “run in” every male biped found outside his
+own threshold. These captives were first made to drink a tumbler
+of _mescal_ to the health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
+United States,--and then were formed into quadrille sets, moving in
+unison with the orchestra of five pieces,--two drums, two squeaky
+fiddles, and an accordion.
+
+None of the performers understood a note of music. When a new
+piece was demanded, the tune had to be whistled in the ears of
+the bass-drummer, who thumped it off on his instrument, followed
+energetically by his enthusiastic assistants.
+
+This orchestra was augmented in a few moments by the addition of a
+young boy with a sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had lost
+its several keys, but he added to the noise and was welcomed with
+screams of applause. It was essentially a _stag_ party, but a very
+funny one. The new player was doing some good work when a couple of
+dancers whirled into him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
+of the bass-drum and drummer.
+
+Confusion reigned only a moment; good order was soon restored, and
+the dance would have been resumed with increased jollity had not the
+head of the bass-drum been helplessly battered.
+
+Midnight had long since been passed, and there was nothing to be done
+but break up the party and return to camp.
+
+From Basaraca to Tesorababi--over twenty miles--the line of march
+followed a country almost exactly like that before described. The
+little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were perhaps a trifle
+more squalid than Bávispe or Basaraca, and their churches more
+dilapidated; but in that of Huachinera were two or three unusually
+good oil-paintings, brought from Spain a long time ago. Age, dust,
+weather, and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had not fully
+obliterated, the touch of the master-hand which had made them.
+
+Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations since, a very
+noble ranch. It has plenty of water, great groves of oak and
+mesquite, with sycamore and cotton-wood growing near the water, and
+very nutritious grass upon the neighboring hills. The buildings have
+fallen into ruin, nothing being now visible but the stout walls of
+stone and adobe. Mesquite trees of noble size choke up the corral,
+and everything proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy of the
+Apache.
+
+Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an ancient pueblo, with
+quantities of broken pottery, stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and
+kindred _reliquiæ_.
+
+To Tesorababi the column was accompanied by a small party of guides
+sent out by the Alcalde of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them back,
+as they were not of the slightest use so long as we had such a force
+of Apache scouts.
+
+We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the night of May 7, and then
+marched straight for the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
+covered with rich _grama_ and darkened by groves of scrub-oak. Soon
+the oak gave way to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
+ridges became steeper as we struck the trail lately made by the
+Chiricahuas driving off cattle from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
+fairly within the range, and had made good progress, when the scouts
+halted and began to explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
+luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an owl which one of our
+party had caught, and tied to the pommel of his saddle.
+
+They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen, and that we could
+not hope to whip the Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
+solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed bird of night was set
+free and the advance resumed. Shortly before midnight camp was made
+in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and having a small stream a
+thousand feet below our position. No fires were allowed, and some
+confusion prevailed among the pack-mules, which could not find their
+places.
+
+Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883) the command moved in
+easterly direction up the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
+Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals and men slaked their
+fierce thirst. Indications of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The
+trail was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores--yes, hundreds--of
+stolen ponies and cattle.
+
+The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered beeves lay in one spot;
+close to them a couple more, and so on.
+
+The path wound up the face of the mountain, and became so precipitous
+that were a horse to slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
+of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt turns could be seen, deep
+down in the cañon, the mangled fragments of a steer which had fallen
+from the trail, and been dashed to pieces on the rocks below. It will
+save much repetition to say, at this point, that from now on we were
+never out of sight of ponies and cattle, butchered, in every stage of
+mutilation, or alive, and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
+and on the mountain flanks.
+
+Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit of one ridge only to
+learn that above it towered another, the face of nature fearfully
+corrugated into a perplexing alternation of ridges and chasms. Not
+far out from the last bivouac was passed the spot where a large
+body of Mexican troops had camped, the farthest point of their
+penetration into the range, although their scouts had been pushed in
+some distance farther, only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
+who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.
+
+These particulars may now be remarked of that country: It seemed
+to consist of a series of parallel and very high, knife-edged
+hills,--extremely rocky and bold; the cañons all contained water,
+either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of great depth. Dense
+pine forests covered the ridges near the crests, the lower skirts
+being matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally plentiful, but not
+invariably to be depended upon. Trails ran in every direction, and
+upon them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends plundered from
+the Mexicans,--dresses, made and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters,
+flour, onions, and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could be
+discerned the ruins,--buildings, walls, and dams, erected by an
+extinct race, once possessing this region.
+
+The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting along. Six mules
+slipped from the trail, and rolled over and over until they
+struck the bottom of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected a
+comparatively easy grade, and none was badly hurt.
+
+The scouts became more and more vigilant and the “medicine-men”
+more and more devotional. When camp was made the high peaks were
+immediately picketed, and all the approaches carefully examined.
+Fires were allowed only in rare cases, and in positions affording
+absolute concealment. Before going to bed the scouts were careful
+to fortify themselves in such a manner that surprise was simply
+impossible.
+
+Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men” gathered together for the
+never-to-be-neglected duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
+After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining the privilege of sitting
+in the circle with them. All but one chanted in a low, melancholy
+tone, half song and half grunt. The solitary exception lay as if in a
+trance for a few moments, and then, half opening his lips, began to
+thump himself violently in the breast, and to point to the east and
+north, while he muttered: “Me can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby
+me see ’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch ’um, me no kill
+’um. Mebbe so six day me catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
+send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail. Mebbe so tomollow catch
+’um squaw. Chilicahua see me, me no get ’um. No see me, me catch him.
+Me see him little bit now. Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
+catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me catch ’um mool (mule),
+me catch ’um cow. Me catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
+’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies, translated for me
+by an old friend in the circle who spoke some English, were listened
+to with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck scouts on the
+exterior.
+
+The succeeding day brought increased trouble and danger. The
+mountains became, if anything, steeper; the trails, if anything, more
+perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows lined the path along
+which we toiled, dragging after us worn-out horses.
+
+It was not yet noon when the final ridge of the day was crossed and
+the trail turned down a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which
+gradually widened into a small amphitheatre.
+
+This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied by the Chiricahuas
+while he was with them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
+of defense, it was admirably situated. Water flowed in a cool,
+sparkling stream through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine, oak,
+and cedar in abundance and of good size clung to the steep flanks
+of the ridges, in whose crevices grew much grass. The country, for
+a considerable distance, could be watched from the pinnacles upon
+which the savage pickets had been posted, while their huts had been
+so scattered and concealed in the different brakes that the capture
+or destruction of the entire band could never have been effected.
+
+The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this place a considerable
+time. The heads and bones of cows and ponies were scattered about
+on all sides. Meat must have been their principal food, since we
+discovered scarcely any mescal or other vegetables. At one point the
+scouts indicated where a mother had been cutting a child’s hair; at
+another, where a band of youngsters had been enjoying themselves
+sliding down rocks.
+
+Here were picked up the implements used by a young Chiricahua
+assuming the duties of manhood. Like all other Indians they make vows
+and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during which periods they will not
+put their lips to water, but suck up all they need through a quill or
+cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and arrows, and a Winchester rifle
+had likewise been left behind by the late occupants.
+
+The pack-trains experienced much difficulty in keeping the trail
+this morning (May 9). Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
+themselves, three breaking their necks and two having to be shot.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.]
+
+Being now in the very centre of the hostile country, May 10, 1883,
+unusual precautions were taken to guard against discovery or
+ambuscade, and to hurry along the pack-mules. Parties of Apache
+scouts were thrown out to the front, flanks, and rear to note
+carefully every track in the ground. A few were detailed to stay
+with the pack-mules and guide them over the best line of country.
+Ax-men were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees and remove
+rocks or other obstructions. Then began a climb which reflected the
+experience of the previous two days; if at all different, it was
+much worse. Upon the crest of the first high ridge were seen forty
+abandoned _jacales_ or lodges of branches; after that, another
+dismantled village of thirty more, and then, in every protected
+nook, one, two, or three, as might be. Fearful as this trail was the
+Chiricahuas had forced over it a band of cattle and ponies, whose
+footprints had been fully outlined in the mud, just hardened into
+clay.
+
+After two miles of a very hard climb we slid down the almost
+perpendicular face of a high bluff of slippery clay and loose shale
+into an open space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a grassy
+space, the young savages had been playing their favorite game of
+mushka, or lance-billiards.
+
+Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the long file of scouts
+streaming down hill; a shower of rocks and stones greeted them, and
+there was much suppressed merriment, but not the least bit of noisy
+laughter, the orders being to avoid any cause of alarm to the enemy.
+
+A fearful chute led from this point down into the gloomy chasm along
+which trickled the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in basins
+and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A tiny cascade babbled over a
+ledge of limestone and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir of
+unknown depth. There was no longer any excitement about Chiricahua
+signs; rather, wonder when none were to be seen.
+
+The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused beds, the skeleton
+frame-work of dismantled huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
+mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible at every turn. The
+Chiricahuas must have felt perfectly secure amid these towering
+pinnacles of rock in these profound chasms, by these bottomless
+pools of water, and in the depths of this forest primeval. Here no
+human foe could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding this security
+of position, “Peaches” asserted that the Chiricahuas never relaxed
+vigilance. No fires were allowed at night, and all cooking was done
+at midday. Sentinels lurked in every crag, and bands of bold raiders
+kept the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing Bávispe, the trail
+zigzagged up the vertical slope of a promontory nearly a thousand
+feet above the level of the water. Perspiration streamed from every
+brow, and mules and horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up! Up!
+Up! was the watchword.
+
+Look out! came the warning cry from those in the lead, and then
+those in the rear and bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
+of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and, gathering momentum as
+each bound hurled them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To look
+upon the country was a grand sensation; to travel in it, infernal.
+Away down at the foot of the mountains the pack-mules could be
+discerned--apparently not much bigger than jack-rabbits,--struggling
+and panting up the long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down these
+ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea seized them, ran like deer.
+
+One of them gave a low cry, half whisper, half whistle. Instantly all
+were on the alert, and by some indefinable means, the news flashed
+through the column that two Chiricahuas had been sighted a short
+distance ahead in a side cañon. Before I could write this down the
+scouts had stripped to the buff, placed their clothing in the rocks,
+and dispatched ten or twelve of their number in swift pursuit.
+
+This proved to be a false alarm, for in an hour they returned, having
+caught up with the supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of our own
+packers, off the trail, looking for stray mules.
+
+When camp was made that afternoon the Apache scouts had a long
+conference with General Crook. They called attention to the fact that
+the pack-trains could not keep up with them, that five mules had been
+killed on the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled off this
+morning, but been rescued with slight injuries. They proposed that
+the pack-trains and white troops remain in camp at this point, and
+in future move so as to be a day’s march or less behind the Apache
+scouts, 150 of whom, under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with Al.
+Zeiber and the other white guides, would move out well in advance to
+examine the country thoroughly in front.
+
+If they came upon scattered parties of the hostiles they would
+attack boldly, kill as many as they could, and take the rest back,
+prisoners, to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas be intrenched in a
+strong position, they would engage them, but do nothing rash, until
+reinforced by the rest of the command. General Crook told them they
+must be careful not to kill women or children, and that all who
+surrendered should be taken back to the reservation and made to work
+for their own living like white people.
+
+Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere; small fires were burning
+in secluded nooks, and upon the bright embers the scouts baked
+quantities of bread to be carried with them. Some ground coffee on
+flat stones; others examined their weapons critically and cleaned
+their cartridges. Those whose moccasins needed repair sewed and
+patched them, while the more cleanly and more religious indulged in
+the sweat-bath, which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.
+
+A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and Apaches climbed the
+mountains to the south, and reached the locality in the foot-hills
+where the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had an engagement.
+Judging by signs it would appear conclusive that the Indians had
+enticed the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number with bullets
+and rocks, and put the rest to ignominious flight. The “medicine-men”
+had another song and pow-wow after dark. Before they adjourned it
+was announced that in two days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
+would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days kill a “heap.”
+
+On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and fifty Apache scouts, under
+the officers above named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started from camp, on foot, at
+daybreak. Each carried on his person four days’ rations, a canteen,
+100 rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those who were to remain in
+camp picketed the three high peaks overlooking it, and from which
+half a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance. Most of those
+not on guard went down to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
+severe climbing up and down rough mountains, slipping, falling, and
+rolling in dust and clay, had blackened most of us like negroes.
+
+Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in numbers, four coming down the
+mountains of their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
+twenty were by this date in camp. The suggestions of the locality
+were rather peaceful in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
+bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay upon the ground.
+
+Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills in the west, a runner
+came back with a note from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
+place twelve or fifteen miles across the mountains to the south-east,
+with plenty of wood, water, and grass.
+
+For the ensuing three days the white soldiers and pack-trains
+cautiously followed in the footsteps of Crawford and the scouts,
+keeping a sufficient interval between the two bodies to insure
+thorough investigation of the rough country in front. The trail
+did not improve very much, although after the summit of a high,
+grassy plateau had been gained, there was easy traveling for
+several leagues. Pine-trees of majestic proportions covered the
+mountain-tops, and there was the usual thickness of scrub-oak on
+the lower elevations. By the side of the trail, either thrown away
+or else _cachéd_ in the trees, were quantities of goods left by the
+Chiricahuas--calico, clothing, buckskin, horse-hides, beef-hides,
+dried meat, and things of that nature. The nights were very cool,
+the days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its tributaries were
+a succession of deep tanks of glassy, pure water, in which all
+our people bathed on every opportunity. The scouts escorting the
+pack-trains gathered in another score of stray ponies and mules,
+and were encouraged by another note sent back by Crawford, saying
+that he had passed the site of a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight
+_wickyups_ (huts), that the enemy had a great drove of horses and
+cattle, and that the presence of Americans or Apache scouts in the
+country was yet undreamed of.
+
+Additional rations were pushed ahead to Crawford and his command,
+the pack-trains in rear taking their own time to march. There was
+an abundance of wood in the forest, grass grew in sufficiency,
+and the Bávispe yielded water enough for a great army. The stream
+was so clear that it was a pleasure to count the pebbles at the
+bottom and to watch the graceful fishes swimming within the shadow
+of moss-grown rocks. The current was so deep that, sinking slowly,
+with uplifted arms, one was not always able to touch bottom with the
+toes, and so wide that twenty good, nervous strokes barely sufficed
+to propel the swimmer from shore to shore. The water was soft, cool,
+and refreshing, and a plunge beneath its ripples smoothed away the
+wrinkles of care.
+
+On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched ten or twelve miles to
+the south-east, crossing a piece of country recently burned over,
+the air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening and blistering
+our faces. Many more old ruins were passed and scores of walls of
+masonry. The trail was slightly improved, but still bad enough;
+the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish feldspar, with thin seams
+of quartz crystals. There were also granite, sandstone, shale,
+quartzite, and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms of the cañons
+were all kinds of “float”--granite, basalt, sandstone, porphyry,
+schist, limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind of rock was,
+when struck upon the hill-sides it was almost invariably split and
+broken, and grievously retarded the advance.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+
+About noon of the 15th we had descended into a small box cañon, where
+we were met by two white men (packers) and nine Apache scouts.
+
+They had come back from Crawford with news for which all were
+prepared. The enemy was close in our front, and fighting might
+begin at any moment. The scouts in advance had picked up numbers of
+ponies, mules, burros, and cattle. This conversation was broken by
+the sudden arrival of an Apache runner, who had come six miles over
+the mountains in less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and handed
+General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating that the advance-guard had
+run across the Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had become
+much excited. Two Chiricahuas were fired at, two bucks and a squaw,
+by scouts, which action had alarmed the hostiles, and their camp was
+on the move. Crawford would pursue with all possible rapidity. At
+the same moment reports of distant musketry-firing were borne across
+the hills. Crawford was fighting the Chiricahuas! There could be no
+doubt about that; but exactly how many he had found, and what luck
+he was having, no one could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
+mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness to move forward to
+Crawford’s support, if necessary. The firing continued for a time,
+and then grew feeble and died away.
+
+All were anxious for a fight which should bring this Chiricahua
+trouble to an end; we had an abundance of ammunition and a
+sufficiency of rations for a pursuit of several days and nights, the
+moon being at its full.
+
+Shortly after dark Crawford and his command came into camp. They
+had “jumped” “Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” _rancherías_, killing nine
+and capturing five--two boys, two girls, and one young woman, the
+daughter of “Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the dead
+Chiricahuas had been taken four nickel-plated, breech-loading
+Winchester repeating rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model.
+The Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully broken country,
+gashed with countless ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
+pine and scrub-oak. How many had been killed and wounded could never
+be definitely known, the meagre official report, submitted by Captain
+Crawford, being of necessity confined to figures known to be exact.
+Although the impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated the
+engagement and somewhat impaired its effect, yet this little skirmish
+demonstrated two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their old friends
+and relatives from the San Carlos had invaded their strongholds as
+the allies of the white men, and could be depended upon to fight,
+whether backed up by white soldiers or not. The scouts next destroyed
+the village, consisting of thirty _wickyups_, disposed in two
+clusters, and carried off all the animals, loading down forty-seven
+of them with plunder. This included the traditional riffraff of
+an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal, blankets, and
+clothing, with occasional prizes of much greater value, originally
+stolen by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or Americans. There
+were several gold and silver watches, a couple of albums, and a
+considerable sum of money--Mexican and American coin and paper. The
+captives behaved with great coolness and self-possession, considering
+their tender years. The eldest said that her people had been
+astounded and dismayed when they saw the long line of Apache scouts
+rushing in upon them; they would be still more disconcerted when
+they learned that our guide was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves
+with every nook in strongholds so long regarded as inaccessible.
+Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors were absent raiding in Sonora and
+Chihuahua. This young squaw was positive that the Chiricahuas would
+give up without further fighting, since the Americans had secured all
+the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,” she knew, would
+be glad to live peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
+“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but
+none of his bands were left alive. Most important information of all,
+she said that in the _ranchería_ just destroyed was a little white
+boy about six years old, called “Charlie,” captured by “Chato”
+in his recent raid in Arizona. This boy had run away with the old
+squaws when the advance of the Apache scouts had been first detected.
+She said that if allowed to go out she would in less than two days
+bring in the whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them. All that
+night the lofty peak, the scene of the action, blazed with fire from
+the burning _ranchería_. Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and, after
+hours of threatening, broke into a severe but brief shower about
+sunrise next morning (May 15).
+
+[Illustration: APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.]
+
+The young woman was given a little hard bread and meat, enough to
+last two days, and allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
+the boy captives. The others stayed with us and were kindly treated.
+They were given all the baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
+of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself with basting a skirt,
+but, like another Penelope, as fast as her work was done she ripped
+it up and began anew--apparently afraid that idleness would entail
+punishment. The younger girl sobbed convulsively, but her little
+brother, a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world through eyes
+as big as oysters and as black as jet.
+
+Later in the morning, after the fitful showers had turned into a
+blinding, soaking rain, the Apache scouts made for these young
+captives a little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs and dry
+grass. Pickets were thrown out to watch the country on all sides
+and seize upon any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly within
+their reach. The rain continued with exasperating persistency all
+day. The night cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails and
+kettles. The command moved out from this place, going to another and
+better location a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge had
+been scaled, when we descried on the summit of a prominent knoll
+directly in our front a thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
+was immediately answered by the scouts, who heaped up pine-cones
+and cedar branches, which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
+black, resinous signal above the tops of the loftiest pines.
+
+Five miles up and down mountains of no great height but of great
+asperity led to a fine camping-place, at the junction of two
+well-watered cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and cedar in plenty,
+and an abundance of rich, juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up
+a second smoke signal, promptly responded to from a neighboring
+butte. A couple of minutes after two squaws were seen threading
+their way down through the timber and rocks and yelling with full
+voice. They were the sisters of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the
+scouts. They said that they had lost heavily in the fight, and that
+while endeavoring to escape over the rocks and ravines and through
+the timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc among them.
+They fully confirmed all that the captives had said about Charlie
+McComas. Two hours had scarcely passed when six other women had come
+in, approaching the pickets two and two, and waving white rags.
+One of these, the sister of “Chihuahua”--a prominent man among the
+Chiricahuas--said that her brother wanted to come in, and was trying
+to gather up his band, which had scattered like sheep after the
+fight; he might be looked for in our camp at any moment.
+
+On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 A.M., six new arrivals were
+reported--four squaws, one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels
+followed sixteen others--men, women, and young children. In this
+band was “Chihuahua” himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
+betokened great decision and courage.
+
+This chief expressed to General Crook his earnest desire for peace,
+and acknowledged that all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
+future would be to prolong the contest a few weeks and defer their
+destruction. He was tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
+and all his property was in our hands. He wished to surrender his
+band just as soon as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent, fighting the
+Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”) had sent runners out to gather up his
+band and tell his people they must surrender, without reference to
+what the others did.
+
+Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come in--men, women, and
+children. “Chihuahua” asked permission to go out with two young men
+and hurry his people in. This was granted. He promised to return
+without any delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed the wear and
+tear of a rugged mountain life, and the anxieties and disquietudes
+of a rugged Ishmaelitish war. The children were models of grace and
+beauty, which revealed themselves through dirt and rags.
+
+On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of six miles to a position
+giving the usual abundance of water and rather better grass. It
+was a small park in the centre of a thick growth of young pines.
+Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas were counted, and found to number
+seventy, which total before noon had swollen to an even hundred, not
+including “Chihuahua” and those gone back with him.
+
+The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored. Several of them
+spoke Spanish fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
+ponies being killed for meat. Two or three of the Indians bore fresh
+bullet-wounds from the late fight. On the succeeding evening, May
+20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again numbered at breakfast. They had
+increased to 121--sixty being women and girls, the remainder, old
+men, young men, and boys.
+
+All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades were hard at work
+gathering the tribe together and sending them in.
+
+Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was heard in the tall cliffs
+overlooking camp; Indians fully armed could be descried running about
+from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed and uncertain what to do.
+They began to interchange cries with those in our midst, and, after
+a brief interval, a couple of old squaws ventured down the face of
+the precipice, followed at irregular distances by warriors, who hid
+themselves in the rocks half-way down.
+
+They asked whether they were to be hurt if they came in.
+
+One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas went out to them to
+say that it made no difference whether they came in or not; that
+“Chihuahua” and all his people had surrendered, and that if these
+new arrivals came in during the day they should not be harmed; that
+until “Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had a chance to come
+in and bring Charlie McComas hostilities should be suspended. The
+Chiricahuas were still fearful of treachery and hung like hawks or
+vultures to the protecting shadows of inaccessible pinnacles one
+thousand feet above our position. Gradually their fears wore off, and
+in parties of two and three, by various trails, they made their way
+to General Crook’s fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
+led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned from a bloody foray in
+Chihuahua. “Hieronymo” expressed a desire to have a talk; but General
+Crook declined to have anything to do with him or his party beyond
+saying that they had now an opportunity to see for themselves that
+their own people were against them; that we had penetrated to places
+vaunted as impregnable; that the Mexicans were coming in from all
+sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make up his mind for peace or war
+just as he chose.
+
+This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he waited for an hour, to resume
+the conversation, but received no encouragement. He and his warriors
+were certainly as fine-looking a lot of pirates as ever cut a throat
+or scuttled a ship; not one among them who was not able to travel
+forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy precipices and along
+these gloomy cañons. In muscular development, lung and heart power,
+they were, without exception, the finest body of human beings I had
+ever looked upon. Each was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
+most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest pattern, and a few had
+also bows and lances. They soon began to talk with the Apache scouts,
+who improved the occasion to inform them that not only had they come
+down with General Crook, but that from both Sonora and Chihuahua
+Mexican soldiers might be looked for in swarms.
+
+“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this, and went a second time to
+General Crook to have a talk. He assured him that he had always
+wanted to be at peace, but that he had been as much sinned against as
+sinning; that he had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
+away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous in their dealings
+with his people, and that he couldn’t believe a word they said. They
+had made war upon his women and children, but had run like coyotes
+from his soldiers. He had been trying to open communications with
+the Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for an exchange of
+prisoners. If General Crook would let him go back to San Carlos,
+and guarantee him just treatment, he would gladly work for his own
+living, and follow the path of peace. He simply asked for a trial; if
+he could not make peace, he and his men would die in these mountains,
+fighting to the last. He was not a bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but
+he could not hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and Americans
+united, in these ranges, and with so many Apache allies assisting
+them. General Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
+“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to what he wanted, peace or war.
+
+May 21st was one of the busiest days of the expedition. “Hieronymo,”
+at early dawn, came to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
+peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and begged to be taken back
+to San Carlos. He asked permission to get all his people together,
+and said he had sent some of his young men off to hurry them in
+from all points. He could not get them to answer his signals, as
+they imagined them to be made by Apache scouts trying to ensnare
+them. Chiricahuas were coming in all the morning,--all ages, and
+both sexes,--sent in by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
+were mounted on good ponies, and all drove pack and loose animals
+before them. Early in the day there was seen winding through the
+pine timber a curious procession,--mostly young warriors, of an
+aggregate of thirty-eight souls,--driving steers and work cattle, and
+riding ponies and burros. All these were armed with Winchester and
+Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers and lances whose blades
+were old cavalry sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
+and bows and arrows. This was the band of Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass),
+a young chief, who claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong to
+the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had been born and raised.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WARFARE.]
+
+The question of feeding all these mouths was getting to be a very
+serious one. We had started out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third
+of which had been consumed by our own command, and a considerable
+percentage lost or damaged when mules rolled over the precipices.
+The great heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and there was the
+usual wastage incident to movements in campaign. Stringent orders
+were given to limit issues to the lowest possible amount; while the
+Chiricahuas were told that they must cut and roast all the mescal
+to be found, and kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
+The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty of butchering the meat.
+Standing within five or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
+the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust immediately behind the
+left fore-shoulder, and, with no noise other than a single bellow of
+fear and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its knees, dead.
+
+Camp at this period presented a medley of noises not often found
+united under a military standard. Horses were neighing, mules
+braying, and bells jingling, as the herds were brought in to be
+groomed. The ring of axes against the trunks of stout pines and oaks,
+the hum of voices, the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter
+of children at play, and the occasional music of an Apache fiddle
+or flute, combined in a pleasant discord which left the listener
+uncertain whether he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
+among a band of school-children. Our Apache scouts--the Tontos
+especially--treated the Chiricahuas with dignified reserve: the
+Sierra Blancas (White Mountain) had intermarried with them, and were
+naturally more familiar, but all watched their rifles and cartridges
+very carefully to guard against treachery. The squaws kept at work,
+jerking and cooking meat and mescal for consumption on the way back
+to San Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions, for the
+possession of which the more greedy or more muscular fought with
+frequency.
+
+Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged in a pitched battle;
+they rushed for each other like a couple of infuriated Texas steers;
+hair flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and two “human forms
+divine” were scratched and torn by sharp nails accustomed to this
+mode of warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled, little
+children screamed and ran, warriors stood in a ring, and from a
+respectful distance gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
+to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous than an infuriated
+squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate. The packers and soldiers looked on,
+discussing the “points” of the belligerents. “The little one’s built
+like a hired man,” remarks one critic. “Ya-as; but the old un’s a
+_He_, and doan’ you forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
+favor of the older contestant, although the younger remained on the
+ground, her bleeding nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing
+fire, and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.
+
+But all interest was withdrawn from this spectacle and converged upon
+a file of five wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of whom bore
+a nursing baby, who had come within the boundaries of our camp and
+stood in mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to realize that
+they were free. They were a party of captives seized by “Hieronymo”
+in his last raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested, and fed a
+small amount of food, they told a long, rambling story, which is
+here condensed: They were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
+near one of the stations of the Mexican Central Railway just two
+weeks previously. Originally there had been six in the party, but
+“Hieronymo” had sent back the oldest and feeblest with a letter to
+the Mexican general, saying that he wanted to make peace with the
+whites, and would do so, provided the Mexicans returned the Apache
+women and children held prisoners by them; if they refused, he would
+steal all the Mexican women and children he could lay hands on, and
+keep them as hostages, and would continue the war until he had made
+Sonora and Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to say that the
+greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua at the mere mention of the
+name of “Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to be the devil,
+sent to punish them for their sins.
+
+“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers with rocks, telling his
+warriors he had no ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The women
+had suffered incredible torture climbing the rough skirts of lofty
+ranges, fording deep streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
+morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments had been rent into rags
+by briars and brambles, feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen
+by contusions from sharp rocks. They said that when “Hieronymo”
+had returned to the heart of the mountains, and had come upon one
+of our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was curious to witness.
+The Chiricahuas with him made a hurried but searching examination
+of the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their enemies--the
+Americans--had gained access to their strongholds, and that they had
+with them a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started away in
+the direction of our present bivouac, paying no further heed to the
+captured women or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were driving
+away from Chihuahua. It may be well to anticipate a little, and say
+that the cattle in question drifted out on the back trail, getting
+into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of the Mexicans in
+pursuit, who claimed their usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
+not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what course to pursue, stayed
+quietly by the half-dead embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up
+a few odds and ends of rags with which to cover their nakedness; and
+of castaway food, which they devoured with the voracity of famished
+wolves. When morning dawned they arose, half frozen, from the
+couches they had made, and staggered along in the direction taken by
+the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated, they followed to
+where they now were.
+
+And now they were free! Great God! Could it be possible?
+
+The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down creatures
+welled forth in praise and glorification to God. “Praise be to the
+All-Powerful God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most Holy Sacrament!”
+echoed her companions. “Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
+“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad, who has taken pity
+upon us!” It brought tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
+witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us of our mothers,
+wives, sisters, and daughters. All possible kindness and attention
+were shown them.
+
+The reaction came very near upsetting two, who became hysterical
+from over-excitement, and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
+were not going to take them away. They did not recover their natural
+composure until the expedition had crossed the boundary line.
+
+“Hieronymo” had another interview with General Crook, whom he assured
+he wanted to make a peace to last forever. General Crook replied
+that “Hieronymo” had waged such bloody war upon our people and the
+Mexicans that he did not care to let him go back to San Carlos; a
+howl would be raised against any man who dared to grant terms to
+an outlaw for whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo” were
+willing to lay down his arms and go to work at farming, General Crook
+would allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing he could do
+would be to remain just where he was and fight it out.
+
+“I am not taking your arms from you,” said the General, “because I
+am not afraid of you with them. You have been allowed to go about
+camp freely, merely to let you see that we have strength enough to
+exterminate you if we want to; and you have seen with your own eyes
+how many Apaches are fighting on our side and against you. In making
+peace with the Americans, you must also be understood as making peace
+with the Mexicans, and also that you are not to be fed in idleness,
+but set to work at farming or herding, and make your own living.”
+
+“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his contempt for the Mexicans,
+asserted that he had whipped them every time, and in the last fight
+with them hadn’t lost a man. He would go to the San Carlos with
+General Crook and work at farming or anything else. All he asked for
+was fair play. He contended that it was unfair to start back to the
+San Carlos at that time, when his people were scattered like quail,
+and when the women and children now in our hands were without food or
+means of transportation. The old and the little ones could not walk.
+The Chiricahuas had many ponies and donkeys grazing in the different
+cañons. Why not remain one week longer? “Loco” and all the other
+Chiricahuas would then have arrived; all the ponies would be gathered
+up; a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and the march could be
+made securely and safely. But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre,
+the Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the remnant of the band,
+with whom “Hieronymo,” would cast his fortunes.
+
+General Crook acknowledged the justice of much which “Hieronymo” had
+said, but declined to take any action not in strict accord with the
+terms of the convention. He would now move back slowly, so as not
+to crowd the young and feeble too much; they should have time to
+finish roasting mescal, and most of those now out could catch up with
+the column; but those who did not would have to take the chances of
+reaching San Carlos in safety.
+
+“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace; said that he himself
+would start out to gather and bring in the remnants of his people,
+and he would cause the most diligent search to be made for Charlie
+McComas. If possible, he would join the Americans before they got out
+of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make his way to the San Carlos
+as soon as this could be done without danger; “but,” concluded he, “I
+will remain here until I have gathered up the last man, woman, and
+child of the Chiricahuas.”
+
+All night long the Chiricahuas and the Apache scouts danced together
+in sign of peace and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles partly
+filled with water and covered tightly with a well-soaked piece of
+calico. The drumsticks were willow saplings curved into a hoop at one
+extremity. The beats recorded one hundred to the minute, and were
+the same dull, solemn thump which scared Cortés and his beleaguered
+followers during _la Noche triste_. No Caucasian would refer to it
+as music; nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own comparable
+to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake. And so the song, chanted to
+the measure of the drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
+held listeners spell-bound. When the dance began, two old hags,
+white-haired and stiff with age, pranced in the centre of the ring,
+warming up under the stimulus of the chorus until they became lively
+as crickets. With them were two or three naked boys of very tender
+years. The ring itself included as many as two hundred Indians of
+both sexes, whose varied costumes of glittering hues made a strange
+setting to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang in the silvery
+rays of the moon and the flickering light of the camp-fires.
+
+On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220 Chiricahuas, and, soon
+after, Nané, one of the most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
+chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his people. He has a strong
+face, marked with intelligence, courage, and good nature, but with
+an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness. He has received
+many wounds in his countless fights with the whites, and limps very
+perceptibly in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas were coming in
+by every trail, and that all would go to the San Carlos as soon as
+they collected their families.
+
+On the 24th of May the march back to the San Carlos began. All the
+old Chiricahuas were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so were the
+weak little children and feeble women. The great majority streamed
+along on foot, nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood foliage to
+screen them from the sun. The distance travelled was not great, and
+camp was made by noon.
+
+The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully picturesque. Sit
+down on this flat rock and feast your eyes upon the silver waves
+flashing in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who is about to
+give her baby brother a much-needed bath. The little dusky brat--all
+eyes--is looking furtively at you and ready to bawl if you draw
+nearer. Opposite are two old crones filling _ollas_ (jugs or jars)
+of basket-work, rendered fully water-proof by a coating of either
+mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside of them are two others, who are
+utilizing the entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The splash and
+yell on your right, as you correctly divine, come from an Apache “Tom
+Sawyer,” who will one day mount the gallows. The friendly greeting
+and request for “tobacco shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys,
+who has kindly been eating a big portion of your meals for several
+days past, and feels so friendly toward you that he announces himself
+in a pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “_Sikisn_” (brother).
+Behind you are grouped Apache scouts, whose heads are encircled with
+red flannel bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges are never laid
+aside. Horses and mules plunge belly-deep into the sparkling current;
+soldiers come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets filled with
+water, and some to soak neck, face, and hands, before going back
+to dinner.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE BASKET-WORK.]
+
+In this camp we remained several days. The old and young squaws had
+cut and dried large packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought down
+from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal heads, which were piled
+in ovens of hot stones covered with wet grass and clay. The process
+of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes from three to four
+days, and resembles somewhat the mode of baking clams in New England.
+The Apache scouts passed the time agreeably enough in gambling with
+the Chiricahuas, whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning hundreds
+of dollars in gold, silver, and paper at the games of _monte_,
+_conquien_, _tzi-chis_, and _mushka_.
+
+The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed groups of white soldiers
+and packers, and nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua women
+and children, who disported in the refreshing waters with the agility
+and grace of nereids and tritons. The modesty of the Apaches of both
+sexes, under all circumstances, is praiseworthy.
+
+“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook this morning that “Hieronymo”
+had sent them back to say that the Chiricahuas were very much
+scattered since the fight, and that he had not been as successful as
+he anticipated in getting them united and in corraling their herds
+of ponies. They did not want to leave a single one of their people
+behind, and urged General Crook to stay in his present camp for a
+week longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed himself
+as anxious for peace. He had never wished to leave San Carlos. He
+wanted to go back there and obtain a little farm, and own cattle and
+horses, as he once did. Here it may be proper to say that all the
+chiefs of the Chiricahuas--“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,” “Nané,”
+“Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,” “Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”--are men of
+noticeable brain power, physically perfect and mentally acute--just
+the individuals to lead a forlorn hope in the face of every obstacle.
+
+The Chiricahua children, who had become tired of swimming, played
+at a new sport to-day, a mimic game of war, a school of practice
+analogous to that established by old Fagan for the instruction of
+young London pickpockets. Three boys took the lead, and represented
+Mexicans, who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or elude their
+pursuers, who trailed them to their covert, surrounded it, and poured
+in a flight of arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon the
+ground, and the other two were seized and carried into captivity. The
+fun became very exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring the
+proprieties, raised itself up to see how the battle sped.
+
+In such sports, in such constant exercise, swimming, riding, running
+up and down the steepest and most slippery mountains, the Apache
+passes his boyish years. No wonder his bones are of iron, his sinews
+of wire, his muscles of India-rubber.
+
+On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished roasting enough mescal
+to last them to the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts came running
+in very much excited. He told his story to the effect that, while
+hunting some distance to the north, he had discovered a large body
+of Mexican soldiers; they were driving back the band of cattle run
+off by “Hieronymo,” and previously referred to. The scout tried
+to communicate with the Mexicans, who imagined him to be a hostile
+Indian, and fired three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al. Zeiber,
+and a small detachment of white and Indian soldiers started out to
+overtake the Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although they
+went some fifteen miles.
+
+On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the march was continued back
+toward the San Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow, the
+Mexican captives not being able to ride any great distance along the
+rough trails, and several of our men being sick. Two of the scouts
+were so far gone with pneumonia that their death was predicted
+every hour, in spite of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
+their incantations would bring them through all right. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” “Kan-tenné,” and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
+of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of their people, making an
+aggregate of 384 in camp on the 29th.
+
+On the 30th, after a march, quite long under the
+circumstances,--fifteen to eighteen miles,--we crossed the main
+“divide” of the Sierra Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
+feet. The pine timber was large and dense, and much of it on fire,
+the smoke and heat parching our throats, and blackening our faces.
+
+With this pine grew a little mescal and a respectable amount of
+the _madroña_, or mountain mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
+by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys; trout were visible
+in all the streams. The line of march was prolific in mineral
+formations,--basalt, lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone. The day
+the command descended the Chihuahua side of the range it struck the
+trail of a large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription cut
+into the bark of a mahogany stating that the Eleventh Battalion had
+been here on the 21st of May.
+
+The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward march may be greatly
+condensed. The line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and close
+to the summit of the range. The country was extremely rough, cut
+up with rocky cañons beyond number and ravines of great depth, all
+flowing with water. Pine forests covered all the elevated ridges,
+but the cañons and lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
+character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and blackberry bushes,
+and strawberry vines. The weather continued almost as previously
+described,--the days clear and serene, the nights bitter cold, with
+ice forming in pails and kettles on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
+worthy of mention assailed the command, the sharp showers that fell
+two or three times being welcomed as laying the soot and dust.
+
+Game was found in abundance,--deer and turkey. This the Apache scouts
+were permitted to shoot and catch, to eke out the rations which had
+completely failed, the last issue being made June 4th. From that date
+till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon the country. The
+Apaches improved the excellent opportunity to show their skill as
+hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.
+
+[Illustration: FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.]
+
+The command was threatened by a great prairie fire on coming down
+into the broad grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus of a
+fierce wind the flames were rushing upon camp. There was not a moment
+to be lost. All hands turned out,--soldiers, scouts, squaws,
+Chiricahua warriors, and even children. Each bore a branch of willow
+or cotton-wood, a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
+had already seized the hill-crest nearest our position; brownish
+and gray clouds poured skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
+long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped high in air. It was a
+grand, a terrible sight: in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin
+and desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and the air, pouring in,
+made whirlwinds, which sent the black funnels of soot winding and
+twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses almost to the zenith. For
+one moment the line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining the
+hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she comes!” yelled the men on
+the left; and like a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of cloud
+and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire was upon, around, and about
+us.
+
+Our people stood bravely up to their work, and the swish! swish!
+swish! of willow brooms proved that camp was not to be surrendered
+without a struggle.
+
+We won the day; that is, we saved camp, herds, and a small area of
+pasturage; but over a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
+swept, mantling the land with soot and an opaque pall of mist and
+smoke through which the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
+horses and mules were badly burned, but none to death.
+
+For two or three nights afterwards the horizon was gloriously lighted
+with lines of fire creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
+into the broad plain, through which trickled the shriveled current of
+the Janos, no one would have suspected that we were not a column of
+Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched out for a mile upon the trail,
+resolved itself upon closer approach into a confused assemblage of
+ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles or without, but in every case
+freighted with humanity. Children were packed by twos and threes,
+while old women and feeble men got along as best they could, now
+riding, now walking. The scouts had decked themselves with paint and
+the Chiricahua women had donned all their finery of rough silver
+bracelets, wooden crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from
+Mexicans. This undulating plain, in which we now found ourselves,
+spread far to the north and east, and was covered with bunch and
+grama grasses, and dotted with cedar.--The march brought us to Alisos
+Creek (an affluent of the Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
+spot where the Mexican commander García, had slaughtered so many
+Chiricahua women and children. Human bones, picked white and clean by
+coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of the stream. Apache baskets and
+other furniture were strewn about. A clump of graves headed by rude
+crosses betrayed the severity of the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.
+
+Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed back (west) into Sonora,
+going over the asperous peak known as the Cocospera.
+
+In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral--granite gneiss,
+porphyry, conglomerate, shale, sandstone, and quartz,--and travel
+was as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier days of the
+march. We struck the head waters of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged
+cañon, then Elias Creek, going through another fine game region, and
+lastly, after crossing a broad tableland mantled with grama grass,
+mesquite, Spanish bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
+bivouacked on the San Bernardino river, close to a tule swamp of
+blue, slimy mud.
+
+The scouts plastered their heads with this mud, and dug up the bulbs
+of the tule, which, when roasted, are quite palatable.
+
+On the 15th of June the command recrossed the national boundary,
+and reached Silver Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
+Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of whose officers and men we
+received the warmest conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
+predicted and asserted regarding the column, from which no word had
+come, directly or indirectly since May 5th. The Mexican captives were
+returned to their own country and the Chiricahuas marched, under
+Crawford, to the San Carlos Agency.
+
+Unfortunately the papers received at Silver Springs were full of
+inflammatory telegrams, stating that the intention of the government
+was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without distinction, and to
+parcel out the women and children among tribes in the Indian
+Territory. This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced its
+legitimate result. Several of the chiefs and many of the head men
+hid back in the mountains until they could learn exactly what was to
+be their fate. The Mexican troops went in after them, and had two or
+three severe engagements, and were, of course, whipped each time.
+When the road was clear the Chiricahuas kept their promises to the
+letter, and brought to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and child
+of their people.
+
+They have been quietly scattered in small groups around the
+reservation, the object being to effect tribal disintegration, to
+bring individuals and families face to face with the progress made by
+more peaceable Apaches, and at same time to enable trusted members of
+the latter bands to maintain a more perfect surveillance over every
+action of the Chiricahuas.
+
+Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas insist, and I think
+truthfully, that he was in the _ranchería_ destroyed by Crawford;
+that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths of the mountains;
+that the country was so rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick
+that his tracks could not be followed, even had there not been such a
+violent fall of rain during the succeeding nights. All accounts agree
+in this.
+
+Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up thirteen captives,--women and
+children,--held by them as hostages.
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber’s note:
+
+  Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
+  corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
+  the text and consultation of external sources.
+
+  Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
+  and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
+
+  Pg 10: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.
+
+  Pg 11: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.
+
+  Pg 14: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.
+
+  Pg 18: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.
+
+  Pg 23: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.
+
+  Pg 24: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.
+
+  Pg 34: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.
+
+  Pg 51: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.
+
+  Pg 76: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.
+
+  Pg 98: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65040 ***
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-<h1 class="pgx" title="">The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre, by
-John Gregory Bourke</h1>
-<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
-and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
-restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
-under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
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-href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not
-located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the
-country where you are located before using this ebook.</p>
-<p>Title: An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre</p>
-<p>       An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the Spring of 1883 </p>
-<p>Author: John Gregory Bourke</p>
-<p>Release Date: April 9, 2021  [eBook #65040]</p>
-<p>Language: English</p>
-<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p>
-<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE***</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by John Campbell<br />
-    and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
-    (https://www.pgdp.net)<br />
-    from page images generously made available by<br />
-    Internet Archive<br />
-    (https://archive.org)</h4>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10">
-  <tr>
-    <td valign="top">
-      Note:
-    </td>
-    <td>
-      Images of the original pages are available through
-      Internet Archive. See
-      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
-    </td>
-  </tr>
-</table>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<div class="transnote">
-<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
-
-<p>Changes to the text are noted at the <a href="#TN">end of the book.</a></p>
-</div>
-<hr class="pgx" />
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-
-
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-
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-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i002" style="max-width: 40em;">
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-  <div class="caption">CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.</div>
-</div>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<h1>
-AN APACHE CAMPAIGN<br />
-<span class="fs80">IN THE SIERRA MADRE.</span></h1>
-</div>
-
-<p class="p4 pfs80"><em>AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION IN PURSUIT OF THE<br />
-HOSTILE CHIRICAHUA APACHES IN THE<br />
-SPRING OF 1883.</em></p>
-
-<p class="p4 pfs70">BY</p>
-<p class="pfs100">JOHN G. BOURKE,</p>
-
-<p class="p1 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,<br />
-Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis</span>.”</p>
-
-<p class="p4 pfs90"><em>ILLUSTRATED</em></p>
-
-<p class="p4 pfs80">NEW YORK</p>
-<p class="pfs100">CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</p>
-<p class="pfs80">1886.</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter"></div>
-<p class="p6 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Copyright 1886,<br />
-By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</span></p>
-
-<p class="p6 pfs70">Press of J  J. Little &amp; Co.,<br />
-Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a>[Pg iii]</span><br /></p>
-
-<h2 class="p1 nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="r10" />
-
-<p>The recent outbreak of a fraction of the
-Chiricahua Apaches, and the frightful atrocities
-which have marked their trail through Arizona,
-Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted
-renewed attention to these brave but
-bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed
-to their ravages.</p>
-
-<p>The contents of this book, which originally
-appeared in a serial form in the <cite>Outing Magazine</cite>
-of Boston, represent the details of the expedition
-led by General Crook to the Sierra
-Madre, Mexico, in 1883; but, as the present
-military operations are conducted by the same
-commander, against the same enemy, and upon
-the same field of action, a perusal of these pages
-will, it is confidently believed, place before the
-reader a better knowledge of the general situation
-than any article which is likely soon to
-appear.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p>
-
-<p>There is this difference to be noted, however;
-of the one hundred and twenty-five (125) fighting
-men brought back from the Sierra Madre,
-less than one-third have engaged in the present
-hostilities, from which fact an additional inference
-may be drawn both of the difficulties to
-be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
-and of the horrors which would surely
-have accumulated upon the heads of our citizens
-had the <em>whole</em> fighting force of this fierce
-band taken to the mountains.</p>
-
-<p>One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas,
-during the period from November 15th,
-1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
-(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the
-reservation, and no less than twenty-five (25)
-white men, women, and children. This bloody
-raid has been conducted through a country
-filled with regular troops, militia, and “rangers,”&mdash;and
-at a loss to the enemy, so far as can be
-shown, of only one man, whose head is now at
-Fort Apache.</p>
-
-<p class="right fs90">JOHN G. BOURKE.</p>
-
-<p class="noindent fs70"><span class="smcap">Apache Indian Agency,<br />
-&nbsp; San Carlos, Arizona</span>,<br />
-&nbsp; &nbsp; <em>December 15th, 1885</em>.</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[v]</span><br /></p>
-
-<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="LOI">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="r20" />
-
-
-<table class="autotable fs90 smcap" summary="">
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl"></td>
-<td class="tdr fs70">PAGE</td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Crawford’s Column Moving to the Front</td>
-<td class="tdr fvnormal"><a href="#i002"><em>Frontispiece.</em></a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Village Scene</td>
-<td class="tdr fvnormal">to face &nbsp; <a href="#i018">7</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache War-Dance</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i030">17</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Indian Scouts Examining Trails by Night</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i038">23</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Awl-Cases, Tobacco Bags, etc.</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i043">26</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Ambuscade</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i053">34</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Head-Dresses, Shoes, Toys, etc.</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i070">49</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Weapons and Equipments</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i087">64</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Girl, with Typical Dress</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i104">79</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Warfare</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i115">88</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Apache Basket-Work</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i129">100</a></td>
-</tr>
-<tr>
-<td class="tdl">Fighting the Prairie Fire</td>
-<td class="tdr"><a href="#i138">107</a></td>
-</tr>
-</table>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[Pg 1]</span><br /></p>
-
-<p class="p2 pfs180">AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.</p>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="r20" />
-
-<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I.</h2>
-
-
-<p>Within the compass of this volume it is impossible
-to furnish a complete dissertation
-upon the Apache Indians or the causes which
-led up to the expedition about to be described.
-The object is simply to outline some of the difficulties
-attending the solution of the Indian
-question in the South-west and to make known
-the methods employed in conducting campaigns
-against savages in hostility. It is thought that
-the object desired can best be accomplished by
-submitting an unmutilated extract from the
-journal carefully kept during the whole period
-involved.</p>
-
-<p>Much has necessarily been excluded, but
-without exception it has been to avoid repetition,
-or else to escape the introduction of information
-bearing upon the language, the religion,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span>
-marriages, funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting
-race, which would increase the bulk
-of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from
-its value in the eyes of the general reader.</p>
-
-<p>Ethnologically the Apache is classed with
-the Tinneh tribes, living close to the Yukon
-and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
-For centuries he has been preëminent over the
-more peaceful nations about him for courage,
-skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
-and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack
-when skilfully-planned ambuscades have led
-an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
-brutality to captives; patient endurance and
-fortitude under the greatest privations.</p>
-
-<p>In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted
-intelligence, good fellowship, warmth
-of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
-wrong.</p>
-
-<p>No Indian has more virtues and none has
-been more truly ferocious when aroused. He
-was the first of the native Americans to defeat
-in battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering,
-smooth-tongued Spaniard, with whom
-and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span>
-waged cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since
-the days of Cortés. When the Spaniard had
-fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to
-push back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided
-simply with lance and bow. The past fifty
-years have seen the Apache provided with
-arms of precision, and, especially since the introduction
-of magazine breech-loaders, the
-Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
-upon the Apache, but has trembled for the
-security of life and property in the squalid
-hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.</p>
-
-<p>In 1871 the War Department confided to
-General George Crook the task of whipping
-into submission all the bands of the Apache
-nation living in Arizona. How thoroughly
-that duty was accomplished is now a matter of
-history. But at the last moment one band&mdash;the
-Chiricahuas&mdash;was especially exempted from
-Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
-by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box
-sort of an existence, now popping into an
-agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
-own story is to be credited, to live at peace<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span>
-with the whites, but unable to do so from lack
-of nourishment.</p>
-
-<p>When they went upon the reservation, rations
-in abundance were promised for themselves
-and families. A difference of opinion
-soon arose with the agent as to what constituted
-a ration, the wicked Indians laboring
-under the delusion that it was enough food to
-keep the recipient from starving to death, and
-objecting to an issue of supplies based upon
-the principle according to which grumbling
-Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was
-formerly apportioned,&mdash;that is, by being thrown
-through the rungs of a ladder&mdash;what stuck being
-the share of the Indian, and what fell to
-the ground being the share of the agent. To
-the credit of the agent it must be said that he
-made a praiseworthy but ineffectual effort to
-alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
-of hymn-books among his wards.
-The perverse Chiricahuas, not being able to
-digest works of that nature, and unwilling to
-acknowledge the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic,
-made up their minds to sally out from
-San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span>
-wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their
-discontent was not allayed by rumors whispered
-about of the intention of the agent to
-have the whole tribe removed bodily to the
-Indian Territory. Coal had been discovered on
-the reservation, and speculators clamored that
-the land involved be thrown open for development,
-regardless of the rights of the Indians.
-But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached
-a focus when the agent one day sent his chief of
-police to arrest a Chiricahua charged with some
-offense deemed worthy of punishment in the
-guard-house. The offender started to run
-through the Indian camp, and the chief of police
-fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
-luckless old squaw, who happened in range.
-This wretched marksmanship was resented by
-the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted
-by the profuse apologies tendered for the accident.
-They silently made their preparations,
-waiting long enough to catch the chief of police,
-kill him, cut off his head, and play a game
-of foot-ball with it; and then, like a flock of
-quail, the whole band, men, women, and children&mdash;710
-in all&mdash;started on the dead run for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span>
-the Mexican boundary, one hundred and fifty
-miles to the south.</p>
-
-<p>Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought
-their way across Southern Arizona and New
-Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
-The valleys of the Santa Cruz and
-San Pedro witnessed a repetition of the once
-familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields
-with rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle.
-While engaged in fighting off the
-American forces, which pressed too closely upon
-their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front
-by the Mexican column under Colonel Garcia,
-who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved a
-“substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and
-capturing thirty, eleven of which total of one
-hundred and fifteen were men, and the rest
-women and children. The Chiricahuas claim
-that when the main body of their warriors
-reached the scene of the engagement the Mexicans
-evinced no anxiety to come out from the
-rifle-pits they hastily dug. To this fact no
-allusion can be found in the Mexican commander’s
-published dispatches.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i018" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i018.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span>
-of less than 600&mdash;150 of whom were warriors
-and big boys, withdrew to the recesses
-of the adjacent Sierra Madre&mdash;their objective
-point. Not long after this the Chiricahuas
-made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans,
-who invited them to a little town near
-Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a conference.
-They were courteously received, plied with
-liquor until drunk, and then attacked tooth and
-nail, ten or twelve warriors being killed and
-some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off
-to captivity.</p>
-
-<p>This is a one-sided description of the affair,
-given by a Chiricahua who participated. The
-newspapers of that date contained telegraph accounts
-of a fierce battle and another “victory”
-from Mexican sources; so that no doubt there
-is some basis for the story.</p>
-
-<p>Meantime General Crook had been reassigned
-by the President to the command of the Department
-of Arizona, which he had left nearly
-ten years previously in a condition of peace and
-prosperity, with the Apaches hard at work
-upon the reservation, striving to gain a living
-by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span>
-rascality, in the interval, had done their worst,
-and when Crook returned not only were the
-Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other
-bands of the Apache nation were in a state
-of scarcely concealed defection and hostility.
-Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old
-friends among the chiefs and warriors, and by
-the exercise of a strong personal influence,
-coupled with assurances that the wrongs of
-which the Apaches complained should be
-promptly redressed, succeeded in averting an
-outbreak which would have made blood flow
-from the Pecos to the Colorado, and for the
-suppression of which the gentle and genial tax-payer
-would have been compelled to contribute
-most liberally of his affluence. Attended by
-an aid-de-camp, a surgeon, and a dozen Apache
-scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
-south-east corner of Arizona, from which point
-he made an attempt to open up communication
-with the Chiricahuas. In this he was unsuccessful,
-but learned from a couple of squaws,
-intercepted while attempting to return to the
-San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas had sworn vengeance
-upon Mexicans and Americans alike;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span>
-that their stronghold was an impregnable position
-in the Sierra Madre, a “great way” below
-the International Boundary; and that they supplied
-themselves with an abundance of food by
-raiding upon the cattle-ranches and “haciendas”
-in the valleys and plains below.</p>
-
-<p>Crook now found himself face to face with
-the following intricate problem: The Chiricahuas
-occupied a confessedly impregnable position
-in the precipitous range known as the
-Sierra Madre. This position was within the
-territory of another nation so jealous of its
-privileges as not always to be able to see clearly
-in what direction its best interests lay. The
-territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
-stretched across the boundary separating Mexico
-from the United States, but was divided
-into four military departments&mdash;two in each
-country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy,
-suspicion, fault-finding, and antagonism
-would surely dog the steps of him who should
-endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.</p>
-
-<p>To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas,
-and all the other Apaches as well, were
-filled with the notion that the Mexicans were a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span>
-horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid
-to meet them in war but valiant enough to destroy
-their women and children, for whose
-blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood
-must in turn be shed. Affairs went on in this
-unsatisfactory course from October, 1882, until
-March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a
-return of the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one
-knowing where the first attack should be made.
-The meagre military force allotted to the department
-was distributed so as to cover as many
-exposed points as possible, one body of 150
-Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
-Third Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous
-duty of patrolling the Mexican boundary
-for a distance of two hundred miles, through
-a rugged country pierced with ravines and
-cañons. No <ins class="corr" id="tn-10" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'one was suprised'">
-one was surprised</ins> to learn that
-toward the end of March this skeleton line had
-been stealthily penetrated by a bold band of
-twenty-six Chiricahuas, under a very crafty
-and daring young chief named <em>Chato</em> (Spanish
-for Flat Nose).</p>
-
-<p>By stealing fresh horses from every ranch
-they were successful in traversing from seventy-five<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span>
-to one hundred miles a day, killing and destroying
-all in their path, the culminating point
-in their bloody career being the butchery of
-Judge McComas and wife, prominent and refined
-people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction
-of their bright boy, Charlie, whom the
-Indians carried back with them on their retreat
-through New Mexico and Chihuahua.</p>
-
-<p>It may serve to give some idea of the courage,
-<ins class="corr" id="tn-11" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'boldness, and sublety'">
-boldness, and subtlety</ins> of these raiders to
-state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
-New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of
-not less than eight hundred miles, they passed
-at times through localities fairly well settled and
-close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops&mdash;4,500
-Mexican and 500 American. They killed
-twenty-five persons, Mexican and American, and
-lost but two&mdash;one killed near the Total Wreck
-mine, Arizona, and one who fell into the hands
-of the American troops, of which last much has
-to be narrated.</p>
-
-<p>To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches
-by <em>direct</em> pursuit would be about as hopeless a
-piece of business as that of catching so many
-fleas. All that could be done was done; the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span>
-country was alarmed by telegraph; people at
-exposed points put upon their guard, while detachments
-of troops scoured in every direction,
-hoping, by good luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap
-destroy, the daring marauders. The trail
-they had made coming up from Mexico could,
-however, be followed, <em>back</em> to the stronghold;
-and this, in a military sense, would be the most
-<em>direct</em>, as it would be the most practical pursuit.</p>
-
-<p>Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves.
-He first concentrated at the most eligible
-position on the Southern Pacific Railroad&mdash;Willcox&mdash;all
-the skeletons of companies which
-were available, for the protection of Arizona.</p>
-
-<p>Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were
-brought in on every train; the whole organization
-was carefully inspected, to secure the rejection
-of every unserviceable soldier, animal,
-or weapon; telegrams and letters were sent to
-the officers commanding the troops of Mexico,
-but no replies were received, the addresses of
-the respective generals not being accurately
-known. As their co-operation was desirable,
-General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad
-to Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span>
-there to see personally and confer with the
-Mexican civil and military authorities. The
-cordial reception extended him by all classes
-was the best evidence of the high regard in
-which he was held by the inhabitants of the
-two afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua,
-and of their readiness to welcome any force he
-would lead to effect the destruction or removal
-of the common enemy. Generals Topete and
-Carbó&mdash;soldiers of distinction&mdash;the governors
-of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran, of Chihuahua,
-were most earnest in their desire for
-a removal of savages whose presence was a
-cloud upon the prosperity of their fellow-citizens.
-General Crook made no delay in these
-conferences, but hurried back to Willcox and
-marched his command thence to the San Bernardino
-springs, in the south-east corner of the
-Territory (Arizona).</p>
-
-<p>But serious delays and serious complications
-were threatened by the intemperate behavior
-of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
-Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the
-San Carlos Agency with the avowed purpose
-of “cleaning out” all the Indians there congregated.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span>
-The chiefs and head men of the
-Apaches had just caused word to be telegraphed
-to General Crook that they intended
-sending him another hundred of their picked
-warriors as an assurance and pledge that they
-were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on
-the war-path. Upon learning of the approach
-of the “Rangers” the chiefs prudently deferred
-the departure of the new levy of scouts until
-the horizon should clear, and enable them to
-see what was to be expected from their white
-neighbors.</p>
-
-<p>The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers”
-was exhausted in less than ten days, when the
-organization expired of thirst, to the gratification
-of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier,
-who repudiated an interference with the
-plans of the military commander, respected and
-esteemed by them for former distinguished services.</p>
-
-<p>At this point it may be well to insert an
-outline of the story told by the Chiricahua
-captive who had been brought down from the
-San Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that
-his name was Pa-nayo-tishn (<ins class="corr" id="tn-14" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Cayote saw'">
-the Coyote saw</ins><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span>
-him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a
-White Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or
-Red Clay) clan, married to two Chiricahua women,
-by whom he had had children, and with
-whose people he had lived for years. He had
-left the Chiricahua stronghold in the mountain
-called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey
-below Casas Grandes in Chihuahua. From that
-stronghold the Chiricahuas had been raiding
-with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued
-they would draw the Mexicans into the
-depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
-kill them by rolling down rocks from the
-heights.</p>
-
-<p>The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and
-cattle, but little food of a vegetable character.
-They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
-breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of
-ammunition, and had made their recent raid into
-Arizona, hoping to replenish their supply of
-cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among
-the chiefs, some of whom, he thought, would
-be glad to return to the reservation. In making
-raids they counted upon riding from sixty to
-seventy-five miles a day as they stole fresh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span>
-horses all the time and killed those abandoned.
-It would be useless to pursue them, but he
-would lead General Crook back along the trail
-they had made coming up from Mexico, and he
-had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken
-by surprise.</p>
-
-<p>He had not gone with them of his own free
-will, but had been compelled to leave the reservation,
-and had been badly treated while
-with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos
-because the agent had stolen their rations,
-beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
-He asserted emphatically that no communication
-of any kind had been held with the
-Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that
-direction having been frustrated.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i030" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i030.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE WAR-DANCE.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn,
-numbered seventy full-grown warriors and fifty
-big boys able to fight, with an unknown number
-of women and children. In their fights with the
-Mexicans about one hundred and fifty had been
-killed and captured, principally women and children.
-The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was
-described as a dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible
-place, having plenty of wood, water, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span>
-grass, but no food except what was stolen from
-the Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas
-might be starved out.</p>
-
-<p>General Crook ordered the irons to be struck
-from the prisoner; to which he demurred, saying
-he would prefer to wear shackles for the
-present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity.
-A half-dozen prominent scouts promised
-to guard him and watch him; so the
-fetters were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or
-“Peaches,” as the soldiers called him, was installed
-in the responsible office of guide of the
-contemplated expedition.</p>
-
-<p>By the 22d of April many of the preliminary
-arrangements had been completed and some of
-the difficulties anticipated had been smoothed
-over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the
-command from the San Carlos Reservation, and
-in the first hours of night began a war-dance,
-which continued without a break until the first
-flush of dawn the next day. They were all in
-high feather, and entered into the spirit of the
-occasion with full zest. Not much time need
-be wasted upon a description of their dresses;
-they didn’t wear any, except breech-clout and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span>
-moccasins. To the music of an improvised
-drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing
-yells and shrieks they pirouetted and
-charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
-violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly
-springing high in air, discharging their pieces,
-and all the time chanting a rude refrain, in
-which their own prowess was exalted and that
-of their enemies alluded to with contempt.
-Their enthusiasm was not abated by the announcement,
-quietly diffused, that the “medicine
-men” had been hard at work, and had
-succeeded in making a “medicine” which
-would surely bring the Chiricahuas to grief.</p>
-
-<p>In accordance with the agreement entered
-into with the Mexican authorities, <ins class="corr" id="tn-18" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Amercan troops'">
-the American troops</ins> were to reach the boundary line <em>not
-sooner than May 1</em>, the object being to let the
-restless Chiricahuas quiet down as much as
-possible, and relax their vigilance, while at the
-same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get
-into position for effective co-operation.</p>
-
-<p>The convention between our government and
-that of Mexico, by which a reciprocal crossing
-of the International Boundary was conceded to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span>
-the troops of the two republics, stipulated that
-such crossing should be authorized when the
-troops were “in close pursuit of a band of
-savage Indians,” and the crossing was made
-“in the unpopulated or desert parts of said
-boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
-parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment
-or town of either country.” The
-commander of the troops crossing was to give
-notice at time of crossing, or before if possible,
-to the nearest military commander or civil
-authority of the country entered. The pursuing
-force was to retire to its own territory as
-soon as it should have fought the band of
-which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and
-in no case could it “establish itself or remain
-in the foreign territory for a longer time than
-necessary to make the pursuit of the band
-whose trail it had followed.”</p>
-
-<p>The weak points of this convention were the
-imperative stipulation that the troops should
-return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
-of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated
-country.” A friendly expedition from the
-United States might follow close on the heels<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span>
-of a party of depredating Apaches, but, under
-a rigid construction of the term “unpopulated,”
-have to turn back when it had reached some
-miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity
-of savage attack, and most in need of assistance,
-as afterwards proved to be the case.</p>
-
-<p>The complication was not diminished by the
-orders dispatched by General Sherman on March
-31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit of
-the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental
-or national boundaries.” Both General Crook
-and General Topete, anxious to have every difficulty
-removed which lay in the way of a
-thorough adjustment of this vexed question,
-telegraphed to their respective governments
-asking that a more elastic interpretation be given
-to the terms of the convention.</p>
-
-<p>To this telegram General Crook received reply
-that he must abide strictly by the terms of
-the convention, which could only be changed
-with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate.
-But what these terms meant exactly was left
-just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
-of April General Crook moved out from Willcox,
-accompanied by the Indian scouts and a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span>
-force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
-and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle,
-guarding a train of wagons, with supplies of
-ammunition and food for two months. This
-force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in
-reserve at or near San Bernardino Springs on
-the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
-flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments
-commanded by Rafferty, Vroom, Overton,
-and Anderson; this disposition affording the best
-possible protection to the settlements in case any
-of the Chiricahuas should make their way to
-the rear of the detachment penetrating Mexico.</p>
-
-<p>A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column
-as it left the line of the Southern Pacific
-Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
-scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar
-methods of the Apaches in marching and conducting
-themselves while on a campaign may
-not be out of place. To veterans of the campaigns
-of the Civil War familiar with the compact
-formations of the cavalry and infantry of
-the Army of the Potomac, the loose, straggling
-methods of the Apache scouts would appear
-startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span>
-at a glance that the Apache was the perfect,
-the ideal, scout of the whole world. When
-Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
-gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé&mdash;Go!&mdash;the
-Apaches started as if shot from a gun, and in a
-minute or less had covered a space of one hundred
-yards front, which distance rapidly widened
-as they advanced, at a rough, shambling
-walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
-Heads), the mining camp near which the first
-halt was to be made.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i038" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i038.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>They moved with no semblance of regularity;
-individual fancy alone governed. Here
-was a clump of three; not far off two more,
-and scattered in every point of the compass,
-singly or in clusters, were these indefatigable
-scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
-as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s,
-and ears so sensitive that nothing escapes them.
-An artist, possibly, would object to many of
-them as undersized, but in all other respects
-they would satisfy every requirement of anatomical
-criticism. Their chests were broad,
-deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight;
-limbs well-proportioned, strong, and muscular,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span>
-without a suggestion of undue heaviness; hands
-and feet small and taper but wiry; heads
-well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with
-a pleasant, good-natured expression, which
-would be more constant, perhaps, were it not
-for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the
-loose, disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black,
-held away from the face by a broad, flat band
-of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright, clear,
-and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest
-good-humor and satisfaction. Uniforms had
-been issued, but were donned upon ceremonial
-occasions only. On the present march each
-wore a loosely fitting shirt of red, white, or
-gray stuff, generally of calico, in some gaudy
-figure, but <ins class="corr" id="tn-23" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'not infreqently the'">
-not infrequently the</ins> sombre article of
-woollen raiment issued to white soldiers. This
-came down outside a pair of loose cotton drawers,
-reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins
-are the most important articles of Apache apparel.
-In a fight or on a long march they will
-discard all else, but under any and every circumstance
-will retain the moccasins. These
-had been freshly made before leaving Willcox.
-The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span>
-ground while a companion traces with a sharp
-knife the outlines of the sole of his foot upon
-a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made of soft
-buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to
-mid-thigh. For convenience in marching, it is
-allowed to hang in folds below the knee. The
-raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great
-toe, and turned upward in a shield, which protects
-from cactus and sharp stones. A leather
-belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of
-metallic cartridges, and also keeps in place the
-regulation blue blouse and pantaloons, which
-are worn upon the person only when the Indian
-scout is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier
-towns <ins class="corr" id="tn-24" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'or millitary posts'">
-or military posts</ins> by a display of all his
-finery.</p>
-
-<p>The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries
-are a Springfield breech-loading rifle, army
-pattern, a canteen full of water, a butcher knife,
-an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and
-a tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins
-or work of that kind. With the tweezers the
-Apache young man carefully picks out each
-and every hair appearing upon his face. The
-tag marks his place in the tribe, and is in reality<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span>
-nothing more or less than a revival of a
-plan adopted during the war of the rebellion
-for the identification of soldiers belonging to
-the different corps and divisions. Each male
-Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered,
-and a descriptive list, corresponding to
-the tag kept, with a full recital of all his physical
-peculiarities.</p>
-
-<p>This is the equipment of each and every
-scout; but there are many, especially the
-more pious and influential, who carry besides,
-strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of
-Hoddentin, or sacred meal, with which to
-offer morning and evening sacrifice to the sun
-or other deity. Others, again, are provided
-with amulets of lightning-riven twigs, pieces
-of quartz crystal, petrified wood, concretionary
-sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
-representing some of their countless
-planetary gods or Kân, which are regarded
-as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the
-designs of the enemy or warding off arrows
-and bullets in the heat of action. And a few
-are happy in the possession of priceless sashes
-and shirts of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span>
-the signs of the sun, moon, lightning,
-rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly,
-snake, centipede, and other powers to
-which they may appeal for aid in the hour
-of distress.</p>
-
-<p>The Apache is an eminently religious person,
-and the more deviltry he plans the more
-pronounced does his piety become.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i043" style="max-width: 35em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i043.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES
-WORN BY YOUNG GIRLS.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The rate of speed attained by the Apaches
-in marching is about an even four miles an
-hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make
-a horse trot. They keep this up for about
-fifteen miles, at the end of which distance, if
-water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
-they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen
-each, hide in some convenient ravine, sit down,
-smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and stretch
-out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes
-of the South. If they want to make a little
-fire, they kindle one with matches, if they
-happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid
-twirl, between the palms, of a hard round
-stick fitting into a circular hole in another stick
-of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to
-forty-five seconds. The scouts by this time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span>
-have painted their faces, daubing them with
-red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted
-“mescal.” The object of this is protection
-from wind and sun, as well as distinctive ornamentation.</p>
-
-<p>The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was
-broken by the shrill cry of Choddi! Choddi!
-(Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
-left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that
-the Apaches on that flank were getting fresh
-meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
-demonstrated that they were not the worst of
-shots; neither were they, by any means, bad
-cooks.</p>
-
-<p>When the command reached camp these restless,
-untiring nomads built in a trice all kinds
-of rude shelters. Those that had the army
-“dog tents” put them up on frame-works of
-willow or cotton-wood saplings; others, less
-fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches
-covered with grass, or of stones and boards
-covered with gunny sacks. Before these were
-finished smoke curled gracefully toward the
-sky from crackling embers, in front of which,
-transfixed on wooden spits, were the heads,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span>
-hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
-the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to
-the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">spolia opima</i> was a cotton-tailed rabbit,
-run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
-South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught
-in the same manner.</p>
-
-<p>Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making
-bread,&mdash;the light, thin “tortillas” of the Mexicans,
-baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
-eating. Two others were fraternally occupied
-in preparing their bed for the night. Grass
-was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
-and covered with one blanket, another serving
-as cover. These Indians, with scarcely an
-exception, sleep with their feet pointed toward
-little fires, which, they claim, are warm,
-while the big ones built by the American soldiers,
-are so hot that they drive people away
-from them, and, besides, attract the attention
-of a lurking enemy. At the foot of this bed
-an Apache was playing on a home-made fiddle,
-fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or
-American aloe. This fiddle has four strings,
-and emits a sound like the wail of a cat with
-its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span>
-man likes the music, which perhaps is, after
-all, not so very much inferior to that of
-Wagner.</p>
-
-<p>Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of
-sweet sounds, a party of six was playing fiercely
-at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards employed
-being of native manufacture, of horse-hide,
-covered with barbarous figures, and well
-worthy of a place in any museum.</p>
-
-<p>The cooking was by this time ended, and the
-savages, with genuine hospitality, invited the
-Americans near them to join in the feast. It
-was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty
-paws tearing bread and meat into fragments;
-yet the meat thus cooked was tender and juicy,
-the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and
-fairly well made. The Apaches squatted nearest
-to the American guests felt it incumbent
-upon them to explain everything as the meal
-progressed. They said this (pointing to the
-coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
-Zigosti (bread).</p>
-
-<p>All this time scouts had been posted commanding
-every possible line of approach. The
-Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span>
-mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing
-what he himself can do, he ascribes to his foe&mdash;no
-matter how insignificant may be his numbers&mdash;the
-same daring, recklessness, agility,
-and subtlety possessed by himself. These Indian
-scouts will march thirty-five or forty miles
-in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of
-waterless plains upon which a tropical sun
-beats down with fierceness, or climbing up the
-faces of precipitous mountains which stretch
-across this region in every direction.</p>
-
-<p>The two great points of superiority of the
-native or savage soldier over the representative
-of civilized discipline are his absolute knowledge
-of the country and his perfect ability to
-take care of himself at all times and under all
-circumstances. Though the rays of the sun
-pour down from the zenith, or the scorching
-sirocco blow from the south, the Apache scout
-trudges along as unconcerned as he was when
-the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his
-white comrade to the marrow. He finds food,
-and pretty good food too, where the Caucasian
-would starve. Knowing the habits of wild
-animals from his earliest youth, he can catch<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span>
-turkeys, quail, rabbits, doves, or field-mice, and,
-perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which will supply
-him with meat. For some reason he cannot
-be induced to touch fish, and bacon or any
-other product of the hog is eaten only under
-duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass,
-which has dropped exhausted on the march
-and been left to die on the trail, is a delicious
-morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon
-wherever possible. The stunted oak, growing
-on the mountain flanks, furnishes acorns; the
-Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in
-the ashes of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something
-like the banana. The whole region of
-Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted
-with varieties of the cactus, nearly every
-one of which is called upon for its tribute of
-fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of
-the century-plant&mdash;called mescal&mdash;are roasted
-between hot stones, and the product is rich in
-saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to the
-taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the
-“tule” are found in the damp mountain meadows;
-and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
-remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span>
-when ground fine, are rich and
-nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep ravines,
-and strawberries in favorable locations; in the
-proper season these, with the seeds of wild
-grasses and wild pumpkins, the gum of the
-“mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the
-pine, play their part in staving off the pangs of
-hunger.</p>
-
-<p>The above are merely a few of the resources
-of the Apache scout when separated from the
-main command. When his moccasins give out
-on a long march over the sharp rocks of the
-mountains or the cutting sands of the plains, a
-few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
-pair,&mdash;his own handiwork,&mdash;and so with other
-portions of his raiment. He is never without
-awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
-infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of
-some kind,&mdash;at first the bow and arrow, and
-later on the rifle,&mdash;he is perfectly at home with
-his weapons, and knowing from past experience
-how important they are for his preservation,
-takes much better care of them than does the
-white soldier out of garrison.</p>
-
-<p>He does not read the newspapers, but the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span>
-great book of nature is open to his perusal, and
-has been drained of much knowledge which his
-pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire.
-Every track in the trail, mark in the grass,
-scratch on the bark of a tree, explains itself to
-the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an
-hour, almost, when the man or animal making
-them passed by, and, like a hound, will keep
-on the scent until he catches up with the object
-of his pursuit.</p>
-
-<p>In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier
-is sedate and taciturn. Seated around his
-little apology for a camp-fire, in the communion
-of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational.
-He is obedient to authority, but
-will not brook the restraints which, under our
-notions of discipline, change men into machines.
-He makes an excellent sentinel, and not a single
-instance can be adduced of property having been
-stolen from or by an Apache on guard.</p>
-
-<p>He has the peculiarity, noticed among so
-many savage tribes in various parts of the world,
-of not caring to give his true name to a stranger;
-if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one
-or remain mute and let a comrade answer for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span>
-him. This rule does not apply where he has
-been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers.
-In such case he will respond promptly,
-and tell the inquirer that he is “Stumpy,” “Tom
-Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed
-Reilly,” as the case may be. But there is no
-such exception in regard to the dead. Their
-names are never mentioned, even by the wailing
-friends who loudly chant their virtues.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i053" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i053.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE AMBUSCADE.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a
-curious thing to witness. He avoids appearing
-suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that
-his figure projected against the sky can at such
-time be discerned from a great distance. He will
-carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of grass,
-or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl
-like a snake to the summit and carefully peer
-about, taking in with his keen black eyes the
-details of the country to the front with a rapidity,
-and thoroughness the American or European
-can never acquire. In battle he is again
-the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache
-has no false ideas about courage; he would prefer
-to skulk <ins class="corr" id="tn-34" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'like the cayote'">
-like the coyote</ins> for hours, and then
-kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span>
-by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal
-or otherwise. But he is no coward; on the
-contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
-bravest. The precautions taken for his safety
-prove that he is an exceptionally skillful soldier.
-His first duty under fire is to jump for a rock,
-bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive
-him except with loss of life or blood.</p>
-
-<p>The policy of Great Britain has always been
-to enlist a force of auxiliaries from among the
-natives of the countries falling under her sway.
-The Government of the United States, on the
-contrary, has persistently ignored the really excellent
-material, ready at hand, which could,
-with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be
-mobilized, and made to serve as a frontier police.
-General Crook is the only officer of our army
-who has fully recognized the incalculable value
-of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns
-of the past thirty-five years has drawn about
-him as soon as possible a force of Indians, which
-has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and
-also of consequence in reducing the strength of
-the opposition.</p>
-
-<p>The white army of the United States is a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span>
-much better body of officers and men than a
-critical and censorious public gives it credit for
-being. It represents intelligence of a high
-order, and a spirit of devotion to duty worthy
-of unbounded praise; but it does not represent
-the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
-follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may
-be brave and well-disciplined, but its members
-cannot tramp or ride, as the case may be, from
-forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without
-water, under a burning sun. No civilized army
-can do that. It is one of the defects of civilized
-training that man develops new wants, awakens
-new necessities,&mdash;becomes, in a word, more and
-more a creature of luxury.</p>
-
-<p>Take the Apache Indian under the glaring
-sun of Mexico. He quietly peels off all his
-clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more
-than otherwise. He may not be a great military
-genius, but he is inured to all sorts of
-fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when
-the civilized man is about to die of thirst.</p>
-
-<p>Prominent among these scouts was of course
-first of all “Peaches,” the captive guide. He
-was one of the handsomest men, physically, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span>
-be found in the world. He never knew what
-it was to be tired, cross, or out of humor. His
-knowledge of the topography of Northern Sonora
-was remarkable, and his absolute veracity
-and fidelity in all his dealings a notable feature
-in his character. With him might be mentioned
-“Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
-“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried
-and true men, experienced in warfare and devoted
-to the general whose standard they followed.</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span><br /></p>
-
-<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="II">II.</h2>
-</div>
-
-
-<p>From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs,
-by the road the wagons followed, is an even
-100 miles. The march thither, through a most
-excellent grazing country, was made in five
-days, by which time the command was joined
-by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
-with more than 100 additional Apache scouts
-and several trains of pack-mules.</p>
-
-<p>San Bernardino Springs break out from the
-ground upon the Boundary Line and flow
-south into the Yaqui River, of which the San
-Bernardino River is the extreme head. These
-springs yielded an abundance of water for all
-our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands
-of head of cattle, which have since disappeared
-under the attrition of constant warfare
-with the Apaches.</p>
-
-<p>The few days spent at San Bernardino were
-days of constant toil and labor; from the first
-streak of dawn until far into the night the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span>
-task of organizing and arranging went on.
-Telegrams were dispatched to the Mexican
-generals notifying them that the American
-troops would leave promptly by the date
-agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
-began their war-dances, and continued them
-without respite from each sunset until the next
-sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
-they informed him of their anxiety to put an
-end to the war and bring peace to Arizona, so
-that the white men and Apaches could live
-and work side by side.</p>
-
-<p>By the 29th of April all preparations were
-complete. Baggage had been cut down to a
-minimum. Every officer and man was allowed
-to carry the clothes on his back, one blanket
-and forty rounds of ammunition. Officers were
-ordered to mess with the packers and on the
-same food issued to soldiers and Indian scouts.
-One hundred and sixty rounds of extra ammunition
-and rations of hard-bread, coffee and
-bacon, for sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.</p>
-
-<p>At this moment General Sherman telegraphed
-to General Crook that he must not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span>
-cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians,
-except in strict accord with the terms of
-the treaty, without defining exactly what those
-terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging
-receipt of these instructions and saying that he
-would respect treaty stipulations.</p>
-
-<p>On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition
-crossed the boundary into Mexico. Its exact
-composition was as follows: General George
-Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke,
-Third Cavalry, acting adjutant-general; Lieutenant
-G. S. Febiger, engineer officer, aid-de-camp;
-Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with
-Lieutenants West and Forsyth, and forty-two
-enlisted men of “I” company of that regiment;
-Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the
-General Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under
-Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
-Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
-Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al.
-Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
-and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.</p>
-
-<p>The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient
-management, were divided into five trains, each
-with its complement of skilled packers. These<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span>
-trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins,
-Stanfield, “Long Jim Cook,” and “Short Jim
-Cook.”</p>
-
-<p>Each packer was armed with carbine and
-revolver, for self-protection, but nothing could
-be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
-beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently
-the effective fighting strength of the
-command was a little over fifty white men&mdash;officers
-and soldiers&mdash;and not quite 200 Apache
-scouts, representing the various bands, Chiricahua,
-White Mountain, Yuma, Mojave, and
-Tonto.</p>
-
-<p>The first rays of the sun were beaming upon
-the Eastern hills as we swung into our saddles,
-and, amid a chorus of good-byes and God-bless-yous
-from those left behind, pushed down the
-hot and sandy valley of the San Bernardino,
-past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to near
-the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty
-miles. Here camp was made on the banks of
-a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
-walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had
-scoured the country to the front and on both
-flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span>
-turkeys, the latter being run down and caught
-in the bushes. One escaped from its captors
-and started through camp on a full jump, pursued
-by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it,
-promptly twisted its head off.</p>
-
-<p>The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the
-“medicine-men” having repeated with emphasis
-the prediction that the expedition was
-to be a grand success. One of the most influential
-of them&mdash;a mere boy, who carried the
-most sacred medicine&mdash;was especially positive
-in his views, and, unlike most prophets, backed
-them up with a bet of $40.</p>
-
-<p>On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>
-The train&mdash;Monach’s&mdash;with which we took
-meals was composed equally of Americans and
-Mexicans. So, when the cook spread his canvas
-on the ground, one heard such expressions
-as <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Tantito’ zucarito quiero</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Sirve pasar el
-járabe</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Pase rebanada de pan</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Otra gotita
-mas de café</i>, quite as frequently as their English
-equivalents, “I’d like a little more sugar,”
-“Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of
-bread,” “A little drop of coffee.” Close by,
-the scouts consumed their meals, and with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span>
-more silence, yet not so silently but that their
-calls for <i>inchi</i> (salt), <i>ikôn</i> (flour), <i>pezá-a</i> (frying-pan),
-and other articles, could be plainly
-heard.</p>
-
-<p>Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He
-was not, as he himself admitted, a French cook
-by profession. His early life had been passed
-in the more romantic occupation of driving an
-ore-wagon between Willcox and Globe, and,
-to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
-down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this
-side the Rio Grande.”</p>
-
-<p>But what he lacked in culinary knowledge
-he more than made up in strength and agility.
-He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
-and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured,
-too, and averse to fighting. Such,
-at least, was the opinion I gathered from a
-remark he made the first evening I was thrown
-into his society.</p>
-
-<p>His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while
-he said quietly, “If there’s anybody here don’t
-like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of him!” I
-was just about suggesting that a couple of
-pounds less saleratus in the bread and a couple<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span>
-of gallons less water in the coffee would be
-grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
-conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks
-I made the better would be the chances of my
-enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said nothing.
-Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua,
-and I assert from the depths of an outraged
-stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
-never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.</p>
-
-<p>The march was continued down the San Bernardino
-until we reached its important affluent,
-the Bávispe, up which we made our way until
-the first signs of habitancy were encountered
-in the squalid villages of Bávispe, Basaraca,
-and Huachinera.</p>
-
-<p>The whole country was a desert. On each
-hand were the ruins of depopulated and abandoned
-hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
-bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling
-with crops of wheat and barley, were now
-covered with a thickly-matted jungle of semi-tropical
-vegetation. The river banks were
-choked by dense brakes of cane of great size
-and thickness. The narrow valley was hemmed
-in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span>
-and slashed with a thousand ravines, to cross
-which exhausted both strength and patience.
-The foot-hills were covered with <i>chevaux de
-frise</i> of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus.
-The lignum-vitæ flaunted its plumage of crimson
-flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
-in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so
-homely, here assumed a garniture of creamy
-blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
-upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest
-tendrils pendent from the branches of the
-mesquite.</p>
-
-<p>The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out
-the poor mules, which had as much as they
-could do to scramble over the steep hills, composed
-of a nondescript accumulation of lava,
-sandstone, porphyry, and limestone, half-rounded
-by the action of water, and so loosely
-held together as to slip apart and roll away
-the instant the feet of animals or men touched
-them.</p>
-
-<p>When they were not slipping over loose
-stones or climbing rugged hills, they were breaking
-their way through jungles of thorny vegetation,
-which tore their quivering flesh. One<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span>
-of the mules, falling from the rocks, impaled
-itself upon a mesquite branch, and had to be
-killed.</p>
-
-<p>Through all this the Apache scouts trudged
-without a complaint, and with many a laugh
-and jest. Each time camp was reached they
-showed themselves masters of the situation.
-They would gather the saponaceous roots of
-the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
-them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut
-sections of the bamboo-like cane and make pipes
-for smoking, or four-holed flutes, which emitted
-a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to
-with melodious chatter by countless birds
-perched in the shady seclusion of ash and cotton-wood.</p>
-
-<p>Those scouts who were not on watch gave
-themselves up to the luxury of the tá-a-chi, or
-sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
-willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in
-the ground and the upper extremities, united
-to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which
-are laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat.
-Three or four large rocks are heated and placed
-in the centre, the Indians arranging themselves<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span>
-around these rocks and bending over them.
-Silicious bowlders are invariably selected, and
-not calcareous&mdash;the Apaches being sufficiently
-familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know
-that the latter will frequently crack and explode
-under intense heat.</p>
-
-<p>When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge
-I could see nothing but a network of
-arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
-experience with Broadway omnibuses
-assured me that there must always be room for
-one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”&mdash;the
-master of ceremonies&mdash;encouraged me to
-push in first an arm, then a leg, and, finally,
-my whole body.</p>
-
-<p>Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it
-fell against the frame-work and shut out all
-light and air. The conductor of affairs inside
-threw a handful of water on the hot rocks, and
-steam, on the instant, filled every crevice of
-the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven;
-breathing was well-nigh impossible.</p>
-
-<p>“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy,
-“Keet,” whose legs and arms were sinuously intertwined
-with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span>
-to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The
-other bathers said that everybody must sing.
-I had to yield. My <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">repertoire</i> consists of but
-one song&mdash;the lovely ditty&mdash;“Our captain’s
-name is Murphy.” I gave them this with all
-the lung-power I had left, and was heartily encored;
-but I was too much exhausted to respond,
-and rushed out, dripping with perspiration,
-to plunge with my dusky comrades into
-the refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which
-had worn out for themselves tanks three to
-twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were
-all that the Apaches had predicted&mdash;a sound,
-refreshing sleep and increased appetite.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i070" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i070.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The farther we got into Mexico the greater
-the desolation. The valley of the Bávispe,
-like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
-thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy.
-Foot-prints indeed were plenty, but they were
-the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas, who
-apparently roamed with immunity over all this
-solitude. There were signs, too, of Mexican
-“travel;” but in every case these were “<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">conductas</i>”
-of pack-mules, guarded by companies
-of soldiers. Rattlesnakes were encountered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span>
-with greater frequency both in camp and on
-the march. When found in camp the Apaches,
-from superstitious reasons, refrained from killing
-them, but let the white men do it.</p>
-
-<p>The vegetation remained much the same as
-that of Southern Arizona, only denser and
-larger. The cactus began to bear odorous
-flowers&mdash;a species of night-blooming cereus&mdash;and
-parrots of gaudy plumage flitted about
-camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
-two or three, tore the feathers from their
-bodies and tied them in their inky locks.
-Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted
-from bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one
-felt that we were advancing into more torrid
-regions. However, by this time faces and
-hands were finely tanned and blistered, and the
-fervor of the sun was disregarded. The nights
-remained cool and refreshing throughout the
-trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed
-to the calmest rest.</p>
-
-<p>On the 5th of May the column reached the
-feeble, broken-down towns of Bávispe and Basaraca.
-The condition of the inhabitants was
-deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span>
-government had done their worst, and, even
-had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
-terror, it is doubtful whether they would have
-had energy enough to profit by the natural advantages,
-mineral and agricultural, of their immediate
-vicinity. The land appeared to be
-fertile and was well watered. Horses, cattle,
-and chickens throve; the cereals yielded an
-abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed
-in the waxy-green foliage of the pomegranate.</p>
-
-<p>Every man, woman, and child had gathered
-in the streets or squatted on the flat roofs of
-the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
-cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand
-national convention of scarecrows and rag-pickers,
-their garments old and dingy, but no
-man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero,
-with a snake-band of silver, or display
-a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
-Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued
-<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">serapes</i> flung over the shoulders; those who
-had none went in their shirt-sleeves.</p>
-
-<p>The children were bright, dirty, and pretty;
-the women so closely enveloped in their <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rebozos</i>
-that only one eye could be seen. They<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span>
-greeted our people with warmth, and offered to
-go with us to the mountains. With the volubility
-of parrots they began to describe a most
-blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas,
-in which, of course, the Apaches had
-been completely and ignominiously routed, each
-Mexican having performed prodigies of valor
-on a par with those of Ajax. But at the same
-time they wouldn’t go alone into their fields,&mdash;only
-a quarter of a mile off,&mdash;which were <ins class="corr" id="tn-51" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'constantly patroled'">
-constantly patrolled</ins> by a detachment of twenty-five
-or thirty men of what was grandiloquently
-styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
-guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when
-told of this latest annihilation of the Chiricahuas.
-General Crook, without a moment’s hesitancy,
-determined to keep on the trail farther
-into the Sierra Madre.</p>
-
-<p>The food of these wretched Mexicans was
-mainly <em>atole</em>,&mdash;a weak flour-gruel resembling
-the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
-they had none, and newspapers had not yet
-been heard of. Their only recreation was in
-religious festivals, occurring with commendable
-frequency. The churches themselves were in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span>
-the last stages of dilapidation; the adobe exteriors
-showed dangerous indications of approaching
-dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments
-of the inside were foul and black with
-age, smoke, dust, and rain.</p>
-
-<p>I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold
-my horse for a moment until I had examined
-one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate
-title of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and
-our Lady of the Trance. This action evoked a
-eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man
-can’t be an American, he must be a Christian,”
-he sagely remarked; “he speaks Castilian, and
-goes to church the first thing.”</p>
-
-<p>It goes without saying that they have no
-mails in that country. What they call the
-post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
-town. The store had no goods for sale, and
-the post-office had no stamps. The postmaster
-didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
-to go every eight days, but now&mdash;<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">quien sabe?</i>
-Yes, he would send our letters the first opportunity.
-The price? Oh! the price?&mdash;did the
-<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">caballeros</i> want to know how much? Well, for
-Mexican people, he charged five cents, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span>
-the Americans would have to pay <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">dos reales</i>
-(twenty-five cents) for each letter.</p>
-
-<p>The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were
-fiery mescal, chile, and a few eggs, eagerly
-snapped up by the advance-guard. In making
-these purchases we had to enter different
-houses, which vied with each other in penury
-and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
-none of the comforts which the humblest
-laborers in our favored land demand as right
-and essential. The inmates in every instance
-received us urbanely and kindly. The women,
-who were uncovered inside their domiciles, were
-greatly superior in good looks and good breeding
-to their husbands and brothers; but the
-latter never neglected to employ all the punctilious
-expressions of Spanish politeness.</p>
-
-<p>That evening the round-stomached old man,
-whom, in ignorance of the correct title, we all
-agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a complimentary
-visit to General Crook, and with polite
-flourishes bade him welcome to the soil of Mexico
-informed him that he had received orders
-to render the expedition every assistance in his
-power, and offered to accompany it at the head<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span>
-of every man and boy in the vicinity. General
-Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance
-of these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission
-to buy four beeves to feed to the Apache
-scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
-meat.</p>
-
-<p>Bivouac was made that night on the banks
-of the Bávispe, under the bluff upon which
-perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
-visitors&mdash;men and boys&mdash;flocked in to see us,
-bringing bread and tobacco for barter and sale.
-In their turn a large body of our people went
-up to the town and indulged in the unexpected
-luxury of a ball. This was so entirely original
-in all its features that a mention of it is admissible.</p>
-
-<p>Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing
-that the morrow would be Sunday, when a prolonged
-thumping of drums signaled that the
-<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Baile</i> was about to begin.</p>
-
-<p>Wending our way to the corner whence the
-noise proceeded, we found that a half-dozen of
-the packers had bought out the whole stock of
-the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">tienda</i>, which dealt only in <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i>, paying
-therefor the princely sum of $12.50.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p>
-
-<p>Invitations had been extended to all the
-adult inhabitants to take part in the festivities.
-For some reason all the ladies sent regrets by
-the messenger; but of men there was no lack,
-the packers having taken the precaution to
-send out a patrol to scour the streets, “collar”
-and “run in” every male biped found outside
-his own threshold. These captives were first
-made to drink a tumbler of <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i> to the
-health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
-United States,&mdash;and then were formed into
-quadrille sets, moving in unison with the orchestra
-of five pieces,&mdash;two drums, two squeaky
-fiddles, and an accordion.</p>
-
-<p>None of the performers understood a note of
-music. When a new piece was demanded, the
-tune had to be whistled in the ears of the bass-drummer,
-who thumped it off on his instrument,
-followed energetically by his enthusiastic
-assistants.</p>
-
-<p>This orchestra was augmented in a few moments
-by the addition of a young boy with a
-sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had
-lost its several keys, but he added to the noise
-and was welcomed with screams of applause.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span>
-It was essentially a <em>stag</em> party, but a very funny
-one. The new player was doing some good
-work when a couple of dancers whirled into
-him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
-of the bass-drum and drummer.</p>
-
-<p>Confusion reigned only a moment; good
-order was soon restored, and the dance would
-have been resumed with increased jollity had
-not the head of the bass-drum been helplessly
-battered.</p>
-
-<p>Midnight had long since been passed, and
-there was nothing to be done but break up the
-party and return to camp.</p>
-
-<p>From Basaraca to Tesorababi&mdash;over twenty
-miles&mdash;the line of march followed a country
-almost exactly like that before described. The
-little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were
-perhaps a trifle more squalid than Bávispe or
-Basaraca, and their churches more dilapidated;
-but in that of Huachinera were two or three
-unusually good oil-paintings, brought from
-Spain a long time ago. Age, dust, weather,
-and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had
-not fully obliterated, the touch of the master-hand
-which had made them.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p>
-
-<p>Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations
-since, a very noble ranch. It has
-plenty of water, great groves of oak and mesquite,
-with sycamore and cotton-wood growing
-near the water, and very nutritious grass upon
-the neighboring hills. The buildings have fallen
-into ruin, nothing being now visible but the
-stout walls of stone and adobe. Mesquite trees
-of noble size choke up the corral, and everything
-proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy
-of the Apache.</p>
-
-<p>Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an
-ancient pueblo, with quantities of broken pottery,
-stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and kindred
-<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">reliquiæ</i>.</p>
-
-<p>To Tesorababi the column was accompanied
-by a small party of guides sent out by the Alcalde
-of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them
-back, as they were not of the slightest use so
-long as we had such a force of Apache scouts.</p>
-
-<p>We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the
-night of May 7, and then marched straight for
-the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
-covered with rich <em>grama</em> and darkened by
-groves of scrub-oak. Soon the oak gave way<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span>
-to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
-ridges became steeper as we struck the trail
-lately made by the Chiricahuas driving off cattle
-from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
-fairly within the range, and had made good
-progress, when the scouts halted and began to
-explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
-luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an
-owl which one of our party had caught, and
-tied to the pommel of his saddle.</p>
-
-<p>They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen,
-and that we could not hope to whip the
-Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
-solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed
-bird of night was set free and the advance resumed.
-Shortly before midnight camp was
-made in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and
-having a small stream a thousand feet below
-our position. No fires were allowed, and some
-confusion prevailed among the pack-mules,
-which could not find their places.</p>
-
-<p>Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883)
-the command moved in easterly direction up
-the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
-Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span>
-and men slaked their fierce thirst. Indications
-of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The trail
-was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores&mdash;yes,
-hundreds&mdash;of stolen ponies and cattle.</p>
-
-<p>The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered
-beeves lay in one spot; close to them a couple
-more, and so on.</p>
-
-<p>The path wound up the face of the mountain,
-and became so precipitous that were a horse to
-slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
-of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt
-turns could be seen, deep down in the cañon,
-the mangled fragments of a steer which had
-fallen from the trail, and been dashed to pieces
-on the rocks below. It will save much repetition
-to say, at this point, that from now on we
-were never out of sight of ponies and cattle,
-butchered, in every stage of mutilation, or alive,
-and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
-and on the mountain flanks.</p>
-
-<p>Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit
-of one ridge only to learn that above it towered
-another, the face of nature fearfully corrugated
-into a perplexing alternation of ridges
-and chasms. Not far out from the last bivouac<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span>
-was passed the spot where a large body of Mexican
-troops had camped, the farthest point of
-their penetration into the range, although their
-scouts had been pushed in some distance farther,
-only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
-who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.</p>
-
-<p>These particulars may now be remarked of
-that country: It seemed to consist of a series of
-parallel and very high, knife-edged hills,&mdash;extremely
-rocky and bold; the cañons all contained
-water, either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of
-great depth. Dense pine forests covered the
-ridges near the crests, the lower skirts being
-matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally
-plentiful, but not invariably to be depended
-upon. Trails ran in every direction, and upon
-them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends
-plundered from the Mexicans,&mdash;dresses, made
-and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters, flour, onions,
-and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could
-be discerned the ruins,&mdash;buildings, walls, and
-dams, erected by an extinct race, once possessing
-this region.</p>
-
-<p>The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting
-along. Six mules slipped from the trail, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span>
-rolled over and over until they struck the bottom
-of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected
-a comparatively easy grade, and none was
-badly hurt.</p>
-
-<p>The scouts became more and more vigilant
-and the “medicine-men” more and more devotional.
-When camp was made the high peaks
-were immediately picketed, and all the approaches
-carefully examined. Fires were allowed
-only in rare cases, and in positions
-affording absolute concealment. Before going
-to bed the scouts were careful to fortify themselves
-in such a manner that surprise was simply
-impossible.</p>
-
-<p>Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men”
-gathered together for the never-to-be-neglected
-duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
-After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining
-the privilege of sitting in the circle with them.
-All but one chanted in a low, melancholy tone,
-half song and half grunt. The solitary exception
-lay as if in a trance for a few moments,
-and then, half opening his lips, began to thump
-himself violently in the breast, and to point to
-the east and north, while he muttered: “Me<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span>
-can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby me see
-’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch
-’um, me no kill ’um. Mebbe so six day me
-catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
-send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail.
-Mebbe so tomollow catch ’um squaw. Chilicahua
-see me, me no get ’um. No see me,
-me catch him. Me see him little bit now.
-Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
-catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me
-catch ’um mool (mule), me catch ’um cow. Me
-catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
-’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies,
-translated for me by an old friend in the
-circle who spoke some English, were listened to
-with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck
-scouts on the exterior.</p>
-
-<p>The succeeding day brought increased trouble
-and danger. The mountains became, if anything,
-steeper; the trails, if anything, more
-perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows
-lined the path along which we toiled, dragging
-after us worn-out horses.</p>
-
-<p>It was not yet noon when the final ridge of
-the day was crossed and the trail turned down<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span>
-a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which gradually
-widened into a small amphitheatre.</p>
-
-<p>This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied
-by the Chiricahuas while he was with
-them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
-of defense, it was admirably situated.
-Water flowed in a cool, sparkling stream
-through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine,
-oak, and cedar in abundance and of good size
-clung to the steep flanks of the ridges, in whose
-crevices grew much grass. The country, for a
-considerable distance, could be watched from
-the pinnacles upon which the savage pickets
-had been posted, while their huts had been so
-scattered and concealed in the different brakes
-that the capture or destruction of the entire
-band could never have been effected.</p>
-
-<p>The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this
-place a considerable time. The heads and bones
-of cows and ponies were scattered about on all
-sides. Meat must have been their principal
-food, since we discovered scarcely any mescal
-or other vegetables. At one point the scouts
-indicated where a mother had been cutting a
-child’s hair; at another, where a band of youngsters<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span>
-had been enjoying themselves sliding down
-rocks.</p>
-
-<p>Here were picked up the implements used
-by a young Chiricahua assuming the duties of
-manhood. Like all other Indians they make
-vows and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during
-which periods they will not put their lips to
-water, but suck up all they need through a
-quill or cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and
-arrows, and a Winchester rifle had likewise been
-left behind by the late occupants.</p>
-
-<p>The pack-trains experienced much difficulty
-in keeping the trail this morning (May 9).
-Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
-themselves, three breaking their necks and two
-having to be shot.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i087" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i087.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>Being now in the very centre of the hostile
-country, May 10, 1883, unusual precautions
-were taken to guard against discovery or ambuscade,
-and to hurry along the pack-mules.
-Parties of Apache scouts were thrown out to
-the front, flanks, and rear to note carefully
-every track in the ground. A few were detailed
-to stay with the pack-mules and guide
-them over the best line of country. Ax-men<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span>
-were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees
-and remove rocks or other obstructions. Then
-began a climb which reflected the experience
-of the previous two days; if at all different, it
-was much worse. Upon the crest of the first
-high ridge were seen forty abandoned <em>jacales</em>
-or lodges of branches; after that, another dismantled
-village of thirty more, and then, in
-every protected nook, one, two, or three, as
-might be. Fearful as this trail was the Chiricahuas
-had forced over it a band of cattle
-and ponies, whose footprints had been fully
-outlined in the mud, just hardened into clay.</p>
-
-<p>After two miles of a very hard climb we slid
-down the almost perpendicular face of a high
-bluff of slippery clay and loose shale into an open
-space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a
-grassy space, the young savages had been playing
-their favorite game of mushka, or lance-billiards.</p>
-
-<p>Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the
-long file of scouts streaming down hill; a shower
-of rocks and stones greeted them, and there was
-much suppressed merriment, but not the least
-bit of noisy laughter, the orders being to avoid
-any cause of alarm to the enemy.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span></p>
-
-<p>A fearful chute led from this point down
-into the gloomy chasm along which trickled
-the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in
-basins and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A
-tiny cascade babbled over a ledge of limestone
-and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir
-of unknown depth. There was no longer
-any excitement about Chiricahua signs; rather,
-wonder when none were to be seen.</p>
-
-<p>The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused
-beds, the skeleton frame-work of dismantled
-huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
-mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible
-at every turn. The Chiricahuas must have felt
-perfectly secure amid these towering pinnacles
-of rock in these profound chasms, by these
-bottomless pools of water, and in the depths
-of this forest primeval. Here no human foe
-could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding
-this security of position, “Peaches” asserted
-that the Chiricahuas never relaxed vigilance.
-No fires were allowed at night, and all
-cooking was done at midday. Sentinels lurked
-in every crag, and bands of bold raiders kept
-the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span>
-Bávispe, the trail zigzagged up the vertical
-slope of a promontory nearly a thousand feet
-above the level of the water. Perspiration
-streamed from every brow, and mules and
-horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up!
-Up! Up! was the watchword.</p>
-
-<p>Look out! came the warning cry from those
-in the lead, and then those in the rear and
-bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
-of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and,
-gathering momentum as each bound hurled
-them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To
-look upon the country was a grand sensation;
-to travel in it, infernal. Away down at the
-foot of the mountains the pack-mules could
-be discerned&mdash;apparently not much bigger than
-jack-rabbits,&mdash;struggling and panting up the
-long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down
-these ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea
-seized them, ran like deer.</p>
-
-<p>One of them gave a low cry, half whisper,
-half whistle. Instantly all were on the alert,
-and by some indefinable means, the news
-flashed through the column that two Chiricahuas
-had been sighted a short distance ahead<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span>
-in a side cañon. Before I could write this
-down the scouts had stripped to the buff,
-placed their clothing in the rocks, and dispatched
-ten or twelve of their number in swift
-pursuit.</p>
-
-<p>This proved to be a false alarm, for in an
-hour they returned, having caught up with the
-supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of
-our own packers, off the trail, looking for stray
-mules.</p>
-
-<p>When camp was made that afternoon the
-Apache scouts had a long conference with
-General Crook. They called attention to the
-fact that the pack-trains could not keep up
-with them, that five mules had been killed on
-the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled
-off this morning, but been rescued with slight
-injuries. They proposed that the pack-trains
-and white troops remain in camp at this point,
-and in future move so as to be a day’s march
-or less behind the Apache scouts, 150 of whom,
-under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with
-Al. Zeiber and the other white guides, would
-move out well in advance to examine the
-country thoroughly in front.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p>
-
-<p>If they came upon scattered parties of the
-hostiles they would attack boldly, kill as many
-as they could, and take the rest back, prisoners,
-to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas
-be intrenched in a strong position, they would
-engage them, but do nothing rash, until reinforced
-by the rest of the command. General
-Crook told them they must be careful not to
-kill women or children, and that all who surrendered
-should be taken back to the reservation
-and made to work for their own living like
-white people.</p>
-
-<p>Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere;
-small fires were burning in secluded nooks, and
-upon the bright embers the scouts baked quantities
-of bread to be carried with them. Some
-ground coffee on flat stones; others examined
-their weapons critically and cleaned their cartridges.
-Those whose moccasins needed repair
-sewed and patched them, while the more cleanly
-and more religious indulged in the sweat-bath,
-which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.</p>
-
-<p>A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and
-Apaches climbed the mountains to the south,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span>
-and reached the locality in the foot-hills where
-the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had
-an engagement. Judging by signs it would
-appear conclusive that the Indians had enticed
-the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number
-with bullets and rocks, and put the rest to
-ignominious flight. The “medicine-men” had
-another song and pow-wow after dark. Before
-they adjourned it was announced that in two
-days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
-would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days
-kill a “heap.”</p>
-
-<p>On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and
-fifty Apache scouts, under the officers above
-named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
-Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started
-from camp, on foot, at daybreak. Each carried
-on his person four days’ rations, a canteen, 100
-rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those
-who were to remain in camp picketed the three
-high peaks overlooking it, and from which half
-a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance.
-Most of those not on guard went down
-to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
-severe climbing up and down rough mountains,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span>
-slipping, falling, and rolling in dust and clay,
-had blackened most of us like negroes.</p>
-
-<p>Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in
-numbers, four coming down the mountains of
-their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
-twenty were by this date in camp. The
-suggestions of the locality were rather peaceful
-in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
-bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay
-upon the ground.</p>
-
-<p>Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills
-in the west, a runner came back with a note
-from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
-place twelve or fifteen miles across the
-mountains to the south-east, with plenty of
-wood, water, and grass.</p>
-
-<p>For the ensuing three days the white soldiers
-and pack-trains cautiously followed in the footsteps
-of Crawford and the scouts, keeping a
-sufficient interval between the two bodies to
-insure thorough investigation of the rough
-country in front. The trail did not improve
-very much, although after the summit of a
-high, grassy plateau had been gained, there was
-easy traveling for several leagues. Pine-trees<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span>
-of majestic proportions covered the mountain-tops,
-and there was the usual thickness of
-scrub-oak on the lower elevations. By the side
-of the trail, either thrown away or else <em>cachéd</em>
-in the trees, were quantities of goods left by
-the Chiricahuas&mdash;calico, clothing, buckskin,
-horse-hides, beef-hides, dried meat, and things
-of that nature. The nights were very cool, the
-days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its
-tributaries were a succession of deep tanks of
-glassy, pure water, in which all our people
-bathed on every opportunity. The scouts
-escorting the pack-trains gathered in another
-score of stray ponies and mules, and were encouraged
-by another note sent back by Crawford,
-saying that he had passed the site of
-a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight <em>wickyups</em>
-(huts), that the enemy had a great drove of
-horses and cattle, and that the presence of
-Americans or Apache scouts in the country
-was yet undreamed of.</p>
-
-<p>Additional rations were pushed ahead to
-Crawford and his command, the pack-trains
-in rear taking their own time to march.
-There was an abundance of wood in the forest,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span>
-grass grew in sufficiency, and the Bávispe
-yielded water enough for a great army. The
-stream was so clear that it was a pleasure to
-count the pebbles at the bottom and to watch
-the graceful fishes swimming within the
-shadow of moss-grown rocks. The current
-was so deep that, sinking slowly, with uplifted
-arms, one was not always able to touch
-bottom with the toes, and so wide that twenty
-good, nervous strokes barely sufficed to propel
-the swimmer from shore to shore. The water
-was soft, cool, and refreshing, and a plunge
-beneath its ripples smoothed away the wrinkles
-of care.</p>
-
-<p>On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched
-ten or twelve miles to the south-east, crossing
-a piece of country recently burned over, the
-air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening
-and blistering our faces. Many more old ruins
-were passed and scores of walls of masonry.
-The trail was slightly improved, but still bad
-enough; the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish
-feldspar, with thin seams of quartz crystals.
-There were also granite, sandstone, shale, quartzite,
-and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span>
-of the cañons were all kinds of “float”&mdash;granite,
-basalt, sandstone, porphyry, schist,
-limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind
-of rock was, when struck upon the hill-sides it
-was almost invariably split and broken, and
-grievously retarded the advance.</p>
-
-
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-
-<div class="chapter">
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span><br /></p>
-
-<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="III">III.</h2>
-</div>
-
-
-<p>About noon of the 15th we had descended
-into a small box cañon, where we were met by
-two white men (packers) and nine Apache
-scouts.</p>
-
-<p>They had come back from Crawford with
-news for which all were prepared. The enemy
-was close in our front, and fighting might begin
-at any moment. The scouts in advance
-had picked up numbers of ponies, mules, burros,
-and cattle. This conversation was broken
-by the sudden arrival of an Apache runner,
-who had come six miles over the mountains in
-less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and
-handed General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating
-that the advance-guard had run across the
-Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had
-become much excited. Two Chiricahuas were
-fired at, two bucks and a squaw, by scouts,
-which action had alarmed the hostiles, and
-their camp was on the move. Crawford would<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span>
-pursue with all possible rapidity. At the same
-moment reports of distant musketry-firing were
-borne across the hills. Crawford was fighting
-the Chiricahuas! There could be no doubt
-about that; but exactly how many he had
-found, and what luck he was having, no one
-could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
-mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness
-to move forward to Crawford’s support, if
-necessary. The firing continued for a time, and
-then grew feeble and died away.</p>
-
-<p>All were anxious for a fight which should
-bring this Chiricahua trouble to an end; we
-had an abundance of ammunition and a sufficiency
-of rations for a pursuit of several days
-and nights, the moon being at its full.</p>
-
-<p>Shortly after dark Crawford and his command
-came into camp. They had “jumped”
-“Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rancherías</i>, killing
-nine and capturing five&mdash;two boys, two girls,
-and one young woman, the daughter of
-“Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the
-<ins class="corr" id="tn-76" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'dead Chiracahuas'">
-dead Chiricahuas</ins> had been taken four nickel-plated,
-breech-loading Winchester repeating
-rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span>
-Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully
-broken country, gashed with countless
-ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
-pine and scrub-oak. How many had been
-killed and wounded could never be definitely
-known, the meagre official report, submitted by
-Captain Crawford, being of necessity confined
-to figures known to be exact. Although the
-impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated
-the engagement and somewhat impaired
-its effect, yet this little skirmish demonstrated
-two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their
-old friends and relatives from the San Carlos
-had invaded their strongholds as the allies of
-the white men, and could be depended upon
-to fight, whether backed up by white soldiers
-or not. The scouts next destroyed the village,
-consisting of thirty <em>wickyups</em>, disposed in
-two clusters, and carried off all the animals,
-loading down forty-seven of them with plunder.
-This included the traditional riffraff of
-an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal,
-blankets, and clothing, with occasional
-prizes of much greater value, originally stolen
-by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span>
-Americans. There were several gold and silver
-watches, a couple of albums, and a considerable
-sum of money&mdash;Mexican and American
-coin and paper. The captives behaved with
-great coolness and self-possession, considering
-their tender years. The eldest said that her
-people had been astounded and dismayed when
-they saw the long line of Apache scouts rushing
-in upon them; they would be still more
-disconcerted when they learned that our guide
-was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves with
-every nook in strongholds so long regarded as
-inaccessible. Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors
-were absent raiding in Sonora and Chihuahua.
-This young squaw was positive that
-the Chiricahuas would give up without further
-fighting, since the Americans had secured all
-the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,”
-she knew, would be glad to live
-peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
-“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t
-sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but none of his
-bands were left alive. Most important information
-of all, she said that in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> just
-destroyed was a little white boy about six<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span>
-years old, called “Charlie,” captured by
-“Chato” in his recent raid in Arizona. This
-boy had run away with the old squaws when
-the advance of the Apache scouts had been first
-detected. She said that if allowed to go out
-she would in less than two days bring in the
-whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them.
-All that night the lofty peak, the scene of the
-action, blazed with fire from the burning <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i>.
-Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and,
-after hours of threatening, broke into a severe
-but brief shower about sunrise next morning (May 15).</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i104" style="max-width: 35em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i104.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The young woman was given a little hard
-bread and meat, enough to last two days, and
-allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
-the boy captives. The others stayed with us and
-were kindly treated. They were given all the
-baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
-of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself
-with basting a skirt, but, like another Penelope,
-as fast as her work was done she ripped it up
-and began anew&mdash;apparently afraid that idleness
-would entail punishment. The younger
-girl sobbed convulsively, but her little brother,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span>
-a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world
-through eyes as big as oysters and as black as jet.</p>
-
-<p>Later in the morning, after the fitful showers
-had turned into a blinding, soaking rain, the
-Apache scouts made for these young captives a
-little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs
-and dry grass. Pickets were thrown out to
-watch the country on all sides and seize upon
-any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly
-within their reach. The rain continued with
-exasperating persistency all day. The night
-cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails
-and kettles. The command moved out from
-this place, going to another and better location
-a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge
-had been scaled, when we descried on the summit
-of a prominent knoll directly in our front a
-thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
-was immediately answered by the scouts, who
-heaped up pine-cones and cedar branches,
-which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
-black, resinous signal above the tops of the
-loftiest pines.</p>
-
-<p>Five miles up and down mountains of no
-great height but of great asperity led to a fine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span>
-camping-place, at the junction of two well-watered
-cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and
-cedar in plenty, and an abundance of rich,
-juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up a
-second smoke signal, promptly responded to
-from a neighboring butte. A couple of minutes
-after two squaws were seen threading their
-way down through the timber and rocks and
-yelling with full voice. They were the sisters
-of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the scouts.
-They said that they had lost heavily in the
-fight, and that while endeavoring to escape
-over the rocks and ravines and through the
-timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc
-among them. They fully confirmed all that
-the captives had said about Charlie McComas.
-Two hours had scarcely passed when six other
-women had come in, approaching the pickets
-two and two, and waving white rags. One of
-these, the sister of “Chihuahua”&mdash;a prominent
-man among the Chiricahuas&mdash;said that her
-brother wanted to come in, and was trying to
-gather up his band, which had scattered like
-sheep after the fight; he might be looked for
-in our camp at any moment.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p>
-
-<p>On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>,
-six new arrivals were reported&mdash;four squaws,
-one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels followed
-sixteen others&mdash;men, women, and young
-children. In this band was “Chihuahua”
-himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
-betokened great decision and courage.</p>
-
-<p>This chief expressed to General Crook his
-earnest desire for peace, and acknowledged that
-all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
-future would be to prolong the contest a few
-weeks and defer their destruction. He was
-tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
-and all his property was in our hands.
-He wished to surrender his band just as soon
-as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
-“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent,
-fighting the Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”)
-had sent runners out to gather up his
-band and tell his people they must surrender,
-without reference to what the others
-did.</p>
-
-<p>Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come
-in&mdash;men, women, and children. “Chihuahua”
-asked permission to go out with two young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span>
-men and hurry his people in. This was
-granted. He promised to return without any
-delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed
-the wear and tear of a rugged mountain life,
-and the anxieties and disquietudes of a rugged
-Ishmaelitish war. The children were models
-of grace and beauty, which revealed themselves
-through dirt and rags.</p>
-
-<p>On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of
-six miles to a position giving the usual abundance
-of water and rather better grass. It was
-a small park in the centre of a thick growth of
-young pines. Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas
-were counted, and found to number seventy,
-which total before noon had swollen to
-an even hundred, not including “Chihuahua”
-and those gone back with him.</p>
-
-<p>The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored.
-Several of them spoke Spanish
-fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
-ponies being killed for meat. Two or
-three of the Indians bore fresh bullet-wounds
-from the late fight. On the succeeding evening,
-May 20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again
-numbered at breakfast. They had increased to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span>
-121&mdash;sixty being women and girls, the remainder,
-old men, young men, and boys.</p>
-
-<p>All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades
-were hard at work gathering the tribe together
-and sending them in.</p>
-
-<p>Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was
-heard in the tall cliffs overlooking camp; Indians
-fully armed could be descried running
-about from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed
-and uncertain what to do. They began
-to interchange cries with those in our midst,
-and, after a brief interval, a couple of old
-squaws ventured down the face of the precipice,
-followed at irregular distances by warriors,
-who hid themselves in the rocks half-way
-down.</p>
-
-<p>They asked whether they were to be hurt if
-they came in.</p>
-
-<p>One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas
-went out to them to say that it made no difference
-whether they came in or not; that “Chihuahua”
-and all his people had surrendered,
-and that if these new arrivals came in during
-the day they should not be harmed; that until
-“Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span>
-a chance to come in and bring Charlie McComas
-hostilities should be suspended. The Chiricahuas
-were still fearful of treachery and hung
-like hawks or vultures to the protecting shadows
-of inaccessible pinnacles one thousand feet
-above our position. Gradually their fears wore
-off, and in parties of two and three, by various
-trails, they made their way to General Crook’s
-fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
-led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned
-from a bloody foray in Chihuahua. “Hieronymo”
-expressed a desire to have a talk; but
-General Crook declined to have anything to do
-with him or his party beyond saying that they
-had now an opportunity to see for themselves
-that their own people were against them; that
-we had penetrated to places vaunted as impregnable;
-that the Mexicans were coming in from
-all sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make
-up his mind for peace or war just as he chose.</p>
-
-<p>This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he
-waited for an hour, to resume the conversation,
-but received no encouragement. He and his
-warriors were certainly as fine-looking a lot of
-pirates as ever cut a throat or scuttled a ship;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span>
-not one among them who was not able to travel
-forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy
-precipices and along these gloomy cañons. In
-muscular development, lung and heart power,
-they were, without exception, the finest body
-of human beings I had ever looked upon. Each
-was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
-most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest
-pattern, and a few had also bows and lances.
-They soon began to talk with the Apache
-scouts, who improved the occasion to inform them
-that not only had they come down with General
-Crook, but that from both Sonora and
-Chihuahua Mexican soldiers might be looked
-for in swarms.</p>
-
-<p>“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this,
-and went a second time to General Crook to
-have a talk. He assured him that he had always
-wanted to be at peace, but that he had
-been as much sinned against as sinning; that he
-had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
-away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous
-in their dealings with his people, and that
-he couldn’t believe a word they said. They had
-made war upon his women and children, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span>
-had run like coyotes from his soldiers. He had
-been trying to open communications with the
-Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for
-an exchange of prisoners. If General Crook
-would let him go back to San Carlos, and guarantee
-him just treatment, he would gladly work
-for his own living, and follow the path of peace.
-He simply asked for a trial; if he could not
-make peace, he and his men would die in these
-mountains, fighting to the last. He was not a
-bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but he could not
-hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and
-Americans united, in these ranges, and with so
-many Apache allies assisting them. General
-Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
-“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to
-what he wanted, peace or war.</p>
-
-<p>May 21st was one of the busiest days of the
-expedition. “Hieronymo,” at early dawn, came
-to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
-peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and
-begged to be taken back to San Carlos. He
-asked permission to get all his people together,
-and said he had sent some of his young men off
-to hurry them in from all points. He could not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span>
-get them to answer his signals, as they imagined
-them to be made by Apache scouts trying to
-ensnare them. Chiricahuas were coming in all
-the morning,&mdash;all ages, and both sexes,&mdash;sent in
-by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
-were mounted on good ponies, and all drove
-pack and loose animals before them. Early in
-the day there was seen winding through the pine
-timber a curious procession,&mdash;mostly young warriors,
-of an aggregate of thirty-eight souls,&mdash;driving
-steers and work cattle, and riding ponies
-and burros. All these were armed with Winchester
-and Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers
-and lances whose blades were old cavalry
-sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
-and bows and arrows. This was the band of
-Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass), a young chief, who
-claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong
-to the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had
-been born and raised.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i115" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i115.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE WARFARE.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The question of feeding all these mouths was
-getting to be a very serious one. We had started
-out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third of which
-had been consumed by our own command, and
-a considerable percentage lost or damaged when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span>
-mules rolled over the precipices. The great
-heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and
-there was the usual wastage incident to movements
-in campaign. Stringent orders were given
-to limit issues to the lowest possible amount;
-while the Chiricahuas were told that they must
-cut and roast all the mescal to be found, and
-kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
-The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty
-of butchering the meat. Standing within five
-or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
-the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust
-immediately behind the left fore-shoulder, and,
-with no noise other than a single bellow of fear
-and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its
-knees, dead.</p>
-
-<p>Camp at this period presented a medley of
-noises not often found united under a military
-standard. Horses were neighing, mules braying,
-and bells jingling, as the herds were brought
-in to be groomed. The ring of axes against the
-trunks of stout pines and oaks, the hum of voices,
-the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter of
-children at play, and the occasional music of an
-Apache fiddle or flute, combined in a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span>
-discord which left the listener uncertain whether
-he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
-among a band of school-children. Our Apache
-scouts&mdash;the Tontos especially&mdash;treated the Chiricahuas
-with dignified reserve: the Sierra Blancas
-(White Mountain) had intermarried with
-them, and were naturally more familiar, but all
-watched their rifles and cartridges very carefully
-to guard against treachery. The squaws
-kept at work, jerking and cooking meat and
-mescal for consumption on the way back to San
-Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions,
-for the possession of which the more greedy or
-more muscular fought with frequency.</p>
-
-<p>Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged
-in a pitched battle; they rushed for each other
-like a couple of infuriated Texas steers; hair
-flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and
-two “human forms divine” were scratched and
-torn by sharp nails accustomed to this mode of
-warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled,
-little children screamed and ran, warriors
-stood in a ring, and from a respectful distance
-gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
-to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span>
-than an infuriated squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate.
-The packers and soldiers looked on, discussing
-the “points” of the belligerents. “The little
-one’s built like a hired man,” remarks one critic.
-“Ya-as; but the old un’s a <em>He</em>, and doan’ you
-forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
-favor of the older contestant, although the
-younger remained on the ground, her bleeding
-nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing fire,
-and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.</p>
-
-<p>But all interest was withdrawn from this
-spectacle and converged upon a file of five
-wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of
-whom bore a nursing baby, who had come within
-the boundaries of our camp and stood in
-mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to
-realize that they were free. They were a party
-of captives seized by “Hieronymo” in his last
-raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested,
-and fed a small amount of food, they told a long,
-rambling story, which is here condensed: They
-were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
-near one of the stations of the Mexican Central
-Railway just two weeks previously. Originally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span>
-there had been six in the party, but “Hieronymo”
-had sent back the oldest and feeblest with
-a letter to the Mexican general, saying that he
-wanted to make peace with the whites, and
-would do so, provided the Mexicans returned
-the Apache women and children held prisoners
-by them; if they refused, he would steal all the
-Mexican women and children he could lay hands
-on, and keep them as hostages, and would continue
-the war until he had made Sonora and
-Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to
-say that the greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua
-at the mere mention of the name of
-“Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to
-be the devil, sent to punish them for their sins.</p>
-
-<p>“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers
-with rocks, telling his warriors he had no
-ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The
-women had suffered incredible torture climbing
-the rough skirts of lofty ranges, fording deep
-streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
-morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments
-had been rent into rags by briars and brambles,
-feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen by
-contusions from sharp rocks. They said that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span>
-when “Hieronymo” had returned to the heart
-of the mountains, and had come upon one of
-our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was
-curious to witness. The Chiricahuas with him
-made a hurried but searching examination of
-the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their
-enemies&mdash;the Americans&mdash;had gained access to
-their strongholds, and that they had with them
-a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started
-away in the direction of our present bivouac,
-paying no further heed to the captured women
-or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were
-driving away from Chihuahua. It may be well
-to anticipate a little, and say that the cattle in
-question drifted out on the back trail, getting
-into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of
-the Mexicans in pursuit, who claimed their
-usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
-not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what
-course to pursue, stayed quietly by the half-dead
-embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up a
-few odds and ends of rags with which to cover
-their nakedness; and of castaway food, which
-they devoured with the voracity of famished
-wolves. When morning dawned they arose,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span>
-half frozen, from the couches they had made,
-and staggered along in the direction taken by
-the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated,
-they followed to where they now were.</p>
-
-<p>And now they were free! Great God!
-Could it be possible?</p>
-
-<p>The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down
-creatures welled forth in praise and glorification
-to God. “Praise be to the All-Powerful
-God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most
-Holy Sacrament!” echoed her companions.
-“Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
-“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad,
-who has taken pity upon us!” It brought
-tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
-witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us
-of our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters.
-All possible kindness and attention were shown
-them.</p>
-
-<p>The reaction came very near upsetting two,
-who became hysterical from over-excitement,
-and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
-were not going to take them away. They did
-not recover their natural composure until the
-expedition had crossed the boundary line.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span></p>
-
-<p>“Hieronymo” had another interview with
-General Crook, whom he assured he wanted to
-make a peace to last forever. General Crook
-replied that “Hieronymo” had waged such
-bloody war upon our people and the Mexicans
-that he did not care to let him go back to San
-Carlos; a howl would be raised against any
-man who dared to grant terms to an outlaw for
-whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo”
-were willing to lay down his arms and
-go to work at farming, General Crook would
-allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing
-he could do would be to remain just where he
-was and fight it out.</p>
-
-<p>“I am not taking your arms from you,” said
-the General, “because I am not afraid of you
-with them. You have been allowed to go
-about camp freely, merely to let you see that
-we have strength enough to exterminate you if
-we want to; and you have seen with your own
-eyes how many Apaches are fighting on our
-side and against you. In making peace with
-the Americans, you must also be understood as
-making peace with the Mexicans, and also that
-you are not to be fed in idleness, but set to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span>
-work at farming or herding, and make your
-own living.”</p>
-
-<p>“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his
-contempt for the Mexicans, asserted that he
-had whipped them every time, and in the last
-fight with them hadn’t lost a man. He would
-go to the San Carlos with General Crook and
-work at farming or anything else. All he asked
-for was fair play. He contended that it was
-unfair to start back to the San Carlos at that
-time, when his people were scattered like quail,
-and when the women and children now in our
-hands were without food or means of transportation.
-The old and the little ones could
-not walk. The Chiricahuas had many ponies
-and donkeys grazing in the different cañons.
-Why not remain one week longer? “Loco”
-and all the other Chiricahuas would then have
-arrived; all the ponies would be gathered up;
-a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and
-the march could be made securely and safely.
-But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre, the
-Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the
-remnant of the band, with whom “Hieronymo,”
-would cast his fortunes.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p>
-
-<p>General Crook acknowledged the justice of
-much which “Hieronymo” had said, but declined
-to take any action not in strict accord
-with the terms of the convention. He would
-now move back slowly, so as not to crowd the
-young and feeble too much; they should have
-time to finish roasting mescal, and most of those
-now out could catch up with the column; but
-those who did not would have to take the
-chances of reaching San Carlos in safety.</p>
-
-<p>“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace;
-said that he himself would start out to gather
-and bring in the remnants of his people, and
-he would cause the most diligent search to be
-made for Charlie McComas. If possible, he
-would join the Americans before they got out
-of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make
-his way to the San Carlos as soon as this could
-be done without danger; “but,” concluded he,
-“I will remain here until I have gathered up
-the last man, woman, and child of the Chiricahuas.”</p>
-
-<p>All night long the Chiricahuas and the
-Apache scouts danced together in sign of peace
-and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span>
-partly filled with water and covered tightly
-with a well-soaked piece of calico. The drumsticks
-were willow saplings curved into a hoop
-at one extremity. The beats recorded one hundred
-to the minute, and were the same dull,
-solemn thump which scared Cortés <ins class="corr" id="tn-98" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'and his beleagured'">
-and his beleaguered</ins> followers during <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">la Noche triste</i>.
-No Caucasian would refer to it as music;
-nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own
-comparable to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake.
-And so the song, chanted to the measure of the
-drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
-held listeners spell-bound. When the dance
-began, two old hags, white-haired and stiff with
-age, pranced in the centre of the ring, warming
-up under the stimulus of the chorus until they
-became lively as crickets. With them were
-two or three naked boys of very tender years.
-The ring itself included as many as two hundred
-Indians of both sexes, whose varied costumes
-of glittering hues made a strange setting
-to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang
-in the silvery rays of the moon and the flickering
-light of the camp-fires.</p>
-
-<p>On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span>
-Chiricahuas, and, soon after, Nané, one of the
-most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
-chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his
-people. He has a strong face, marked with intelligence,
-courage, and good nature, but with
-an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness.
-He has received many wounds in his countless
-fights with the whites, and limps very perceptibly
-in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas
-were coming in by every trail, and that all
-would go to the San Carlos as soon as they
-collected their families.</p>
-
-<p>On the 24th of May the march back to the
-San Carlos began. All the old Chiricahuas
-were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so
-were the weak little children and feeble women.
-The great majority streamed along on foot,
-nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood
-foliage to screen them from the sun. The distance
-travelled was not great, and camp was
-made by noon.</p>
-
-<p>The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully
-picturesque. Sit down on this flat rock
-and feast your eyes upon the silver waves flashing
-in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span>
-is about to give her baby brother a much-needed
-bath. The little dusky brat&mdash;all eyes&mdash;is
-looking furtively at you and ready to
-bawl if you draw nearer. Opposite are two
-old crones filling <em>ollas</em> (jugs or jars) of basket-work,
-rendered fully water-proof by a coating
-of either mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside
-of them are two others, who are utilizing the
-entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The
-splash and yell on your right, as you correctly
-divine, come from an Apache “Tom Sawyer,”
-who will one day mount the gallows. The
-friendly greeting and request for “tobacco
-shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys, who
-has kindly been eating a big portion of your
-meals for several days past, and feels so friendly
-toward you that he announces himself in a
-pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “<em>Sikisn</em>”
-(brother). Behind you are grouped Apache
-scouts, whose heads are encircled with red flannel
-bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges
-are never laid aside. Horses and mules plunge
-belly-deep into the sparkling current; soldiers
-come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets
-filled with water, and some to soak neck,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span>
-face, and hands, before going back to dinner.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i129" style="max-width: 35em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i129.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">APACHE BASKET-WORK.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>In this camp we remained several days. The
-old and young squaws had cut and dried large
-packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought
-down from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal
-heads, which were piled in ovens of hot stones
-covered with wet grass and clay. The process
-of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes
-from three to four days, and resembles somewhat
-the mode of baking clams in New England.
-The Apache scouts passed the time
-agreeably enough in gambling with the Chiricahuas,
-whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning
-hundreds of dollars in gold, silver, and
-paper at the games of <em>monte</em>, <em>conquien</em>, <em>tzi-chis</em>,
-and <em>mushka</em>.</p>
-
-<p>The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed
-groups of white soldiers and packers, and
-nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua
-women and children, who disported in the refreshing
-waters with the agility and grace of
-nereids and tritons. The modesty of the
-Apaches of both sexes, under all circumstances,
-is praiseworthy.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p>
-
-<p>“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook
-this morning that “Hieronymo” had sent them
-back to say that the Chiricahuas were very
-much scattered since the fight, and that he had
-not been as successful as he anticipated in getting
-them united and in corraling their herds of
-ponies. They did not want to leave a single
-one of their people behind, and urged General
-Crook to stay in his present camp for a week
-longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed
-himself as anxious for peace. He had
-never wished to leave San Carlos. He wanted
-to go back there and obtain a little farm, and
-own cattle and horses, as he once did. Here it
-may be proper to say that all the chiefs of the
-Chiricahuas&mdash;“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,”
-“Nané,” “Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,”
-“Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”&mdash;are men of noticeable
-brain power, physically perfect and mentally
-acute&mdash;just the individuals to lead a forlorn
-hope in the face of every obstacle.</p>
-
-<p>The Chiricahua children, who had become
-tired of swimming, played at a new sport to-day,
-a mimic game of war, a school of practice
-analogous to that established by old Fagan for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span>
-the instruction of young London pickpockets.
-Three boys took the lead, and represented Mexicans,
-who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or
-elude their pursuers, who trailed them to their
-covert, surrounded it, and poured in a flight of
-arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon
-the ground, and the other two were seized and
-carried into captivity. The fun became very
-exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring
-the proprieties, raised itself up to see how the
-battle sped.</p>
-
-<p>In such sports, in such constant exercise,
-swimming, riding, running up and down the
-steepest and most slippery mountains, the
-Apache passes his boyish years. No wonder
-his bones are of iron, his sinews of wire, his
-muscles of India-rubber.</p>
-
-<p>On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished
-roasting enough mescal to last them to
-the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts
-came running in very much excited. He told
-his story to the effect that, while hunting some
-distance to the north, he had discovered a large
-body of Mexican soldiers; they were driving
-back the band of cattle run off by “Hieronymo,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span>
-and previously referred to. The scout
-tried to communicate with the Mexicans, who
-imagined him to be a hostile Indian, and fired
-three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al.
-Zeiber, and a small detachment of white and
-Indian soldiers started out to overtake the
-Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although
-they went some fifteen miles.</p>
-
-<p>On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the
-march was continued back toward the San
-Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow,
-the Mexican captives not being able to ride
-any great distance along the rough trails, and
-several of our men being sick. Two of the
-scouts were so far gone with pneumonia that
-their death was predicted every hour, in spite
-of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
-their incantations would bring them through all
-right. “Hieronymo,” “Chato,” “Kan-tenné,”
-and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
-of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of
-their people, making an aggregate of 384 in
-camp on the 29th.</p>
-
-<p>On the 30th, after a march, quite long under
-the circumstances,&mdash;fifteen to eighteen miles,&mdash;we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span>
-crossed the main “divide” of the Sierra
-Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
-feet. The pine timber was large and dense,
-and much of it on fire, the smoke and heat
-parching our throats, and blackening our faces.</p>
-
-<p>With this pine grew a little mescal and a
-respectable amount of the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">madroña</i>, or mountain
-mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
-by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys;
-trout were visible in all the streams. The line
-of march was prolific in mineral formations,&mdash;basalt,
-lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone.
-The day the command descended the Chihuahua
-side of the range it struck the trail of a
-large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription
-cut into the bark of a mahogany stating
-that the Eleventh Battalion had been here
-on the 21st of May.</p>
-
-<p>The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward
-march may be greatly condensed. The
-line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and
-close to the summit of the range. The country
-was extremely rough, cut up with rocky
-cañons beyond number and ravines of great
-depth, all flowing with water. Pine forests covered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span>
-all the elevated ridges, but the cañons and
-lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
-character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and
-blackberry bushes, and strawberry vines. The
-weather continued almost as previously described,&mdash;the
-days clear and serene, the nights
-bitter cold, with ice forming in pails and kettles
-on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
-worthy of mention assailed the command, the
-sharp showers that fell two or three times being
-welcomed as laying the soot and dust.</p>
-
-<p>Game was found in abundance,&mdash;deer and
-turkey. This the Apache scouts were permitted
-to shoot and catch, to eke out the
-rations which had completely failed, the last
-issue being made June 4th. From that date
-till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon
-the country. The Apaches improved the excellent
-opportunity to show their skill as
-hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i138" style="max-width: 40em;">
-  <img class="w100" src="images/i138.jpg" alt="" />
-  <div class="caption">FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.</div>
-</div>
-
-<p>The command was threatened by a great
-prairie fire on coming down into the broad
-grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus
-of a fierce wind the flames were rushing
-upon camp. There was not a moment to be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span>
-lost. All hands turned out,&mdash;soldiers, scouts,
-squaws, Chiricahua warriors, and even children.
-Each bore a branch of willow or cotton-wood,
-a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
-had already seized the hill-crest nearest
-our position; brownish and gray clouds poured
-skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
-long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped
-high in air. It was a grand, a terrible sight:
-in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin and
-desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and
-the air, pouring in, made whirlwinds, which
-sent the black funnels of soot winding and
-twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses
-almost to the zenith. For one moment the
-line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining
-the hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she
-comes!” yelled the men on the left; and like
-a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of
-cloud and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire
-was upon, around, and about us.</p>
-
-<p>Our people stood bravely up to their work,
-and the swish! swish! swish! of willow brooms
-proved that camp was not to be surrendered
-without a struggle.</p>
-
-<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p>
-
-<p>We won the day; that is, we saved camp,
-herds, and a small area of pasturage; but over
-a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
-swept, mantling the land with soot and an
-opaque pall of mist and smoke through which
-the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
-horses and mules were badly burned, but none
-to death.</p>
-
-<p>For two or three nights afterwards the horizon
-was gloriously lighted with lines of fire
-creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
-into the broad plain, through which
-trickled the shriveled current of the Janos, no
-one would have suspected that we were not a
-column of Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched
-out for a mile upon the trail, resolved itself
-upon closer approach into a confused assemblage
-of ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles
-or without, but in every case freighted with
-humanity. Children were packed by twos and
-threes, while old women and feeble men got
-along as best they could, now riding, now walking.
-The scouts had decked themselves with
-paint and the Chiricahua women had donned
-all their finery of rough silver bracelets, wooden<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span>
-crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from Mexicans.
-This undulating plain, in which we now
-found ourselves, spread far to the north and
-east, and was covered with bunch and grama
-grasses, and dotted with cedar.&mdash;The march
-brought us to Alisos Creek (an affluent of the
-Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
-spot where the Mexican commander García,
-had slaughtered so many Chiricahua women
-and children. Human bones, picked white and
-clean by coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of
-the stream. Apache baskets and other furniture
-were strewn about. A clump of graves
-headed by rude crosses betrayed the severity of
-the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.</p>
-
-<p>Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed
-back (west) into Sonora, going over the asperous
-peak known as the Cocospera.</p>
-
-<p>In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral&mdash;granite
-gneiss, porphyry, conglomerate,
-shale, sandstone, and quartz,&mdash;and travel was
-as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier
-days of the march. We struck the head waters
-of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged cañon, then
-Elias Creek, going through another fine game<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span>
-region, and lastly, after crossing a broad tableland
-mantled with grama grass, mesquite, Spanish
-bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
-bivouacked on the San Bernardino river,
-close to a tule swamp of blue, slimy mud.</p>
-
-<p>The scouts plastered their heads with this
-mud, and dug up the bulbs of the tule, which,
-when roasted, are quite palatable.</p>
-
-<p>On the 15th of June the command recrossed
-the national boundary, and reached Silver
-Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
-Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of
-whose officers and men we received the warmest
-conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
-predicted and asserted regarding the column,
-from which no word had come, directly or indirectly
-since May 5th. The Mexican captives
-were returned to their own country and the
-Chiricahuas marched, under Crawford, to the
-San Carlos Agency.</p>
-
-<p>Unfortunately the papers received at Silver
-Springs were full of inflammatory telegrams,
-stating that the intention of the government
-was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without
-distinction, and to parcel out the women and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span>
-children among tribes in the Indian Territory.
-This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced
-its legitimate result. Several of the
-chiefs and many of the head men hid back in
-the mountains until they could learn exactly
-what was to be their fate. The Mexican troops
-went in after them, and had two or three severe
-engagements, and were, of course, whipped each
-time. When the road was clear the Chiricahuas
-kept their promises to the letter, and brought
-to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and
-child of their people.</p>
-
-<p>They have been quietly scattered in small
-groups around the reservation, the object being
-to effect tribal disintegration, to bring individuals
-and families face to face with the progress
-made by more peaceable Apaches, and at same
-time to enable trusted members of the latter
-bands to maintains more perfect surveillance
-over every action of the Chiricahuas.</p>
-
-<p>Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas
-insist, and I think truthfully, that he
-was in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> destroyed by Crawford;
-that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths
-of the mountains; that the country was so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span>
-rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick that
-his tracks could not be followed, even had there
-not been such a violent fall of rain during the
-succeeding nights. All accounts agree in this.</p>
-
-<p>Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up
-thirteen captives,&mdash;women and children,&mdash;held
-by them as hostages.</p>
-
-
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-
-<div class="chapter"></div>
-<div class="transnote">
-<a name="TN" id="TN"></a>
-<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
-
-<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
-corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
-the text and consultation of external sources.</p>
-
-<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
-and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.</p>
-
-<p>
-<a href="#tn-10">Pg 10</a>: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-11">Pg 11</a>: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-14">Pg 14</a>: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-18">Pg 18</a>: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-23">Pg 23</a>: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-24">Pg 24</a>: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-34">Pg 34</a>: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-51">Pg 51</a>: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-76">Pg 76</a>: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.<br />
-<a href="#tn-98">Pg 98</a>: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.<br />
-</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>&nbsp;</p>
-<hr class="pgx" />
-<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE***</p>
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65040 ***</div>
+<h1 class="pgx" title="">The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre, by
+John Gregory Bourke</h1>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10">
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">
+      Note:
+    </td>
+    <td>
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="transnote">
+<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
+
+<p>Changes to the text are noted at the <a href="#TN">end of the book.</a></p>
+</div>
+<hr class="pgx" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="cover" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="original cover" />
+</div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i002" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i002.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.</div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h1>
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN<br />
+<span class="fs80">IN THE SIERRA MADRE.</span></h1>
+</div>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs80"><em>AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION IN PURSUIT OF THE<br />
+HOSTILE CHIRICAHUA APACHES IN THE<br />
+SPRING OF 1883.</em></p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs70">BY</p>
+<p class="pfs100">JOHN G. BOURKE,</p>
+
+<p class="p1 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,<br />
+Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis</span>.”</p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs90"><em>ILLUSTRATED</em></p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs80">NEW YORK</p>
+<p class="pfs100">CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</p>
+<p class="pfs80">1886.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<p class="p6 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Copyright 1886,<br />
+By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</span></p>
+
+<p class="p6 pfs70">Press of J  J. Little &amp; Co.,<br />
+Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a>[Pg iii]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p1 nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r10" />
+
+<p>The recent outbreak of a fraction of the
+Chiricahua Apaches, and the frightful atrocities
+which have marked their trail through Arizona,
+Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted
+renewed attention to these brave but
+bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed
+to their ravages.</p>
+
+<p>The contents of this book, which originally
+appeared in a serial form in the <cite>Outing Magazine</cite>
+of Boston, represent the details of the expedition
+led by General Crook to the Sierra
+Madre, Mexico, in 1883; but, as the present
+military operations are conducted by the same
+commander, against the same enemy, and upon
+the same field of action, a perusal of these pages
+will, it is confidently believed, place before the
+reader a better knowledge of the general situation
+than any article which is likely soon to
+appear.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p>
+
+<p>There is this difference to be noted, however;
+of the one hundred and twenty-five (125) fighting
+men brought back from the Sierra Madre,
+less than one-third have engaged in the present
+hostilities, from which fact an additional inference
+may be drawn both of the difficulties to
+be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
+and of the horrors which would surely
+have accumulated upon the heads of our citizens
+had the <em>whole</em> fighting force of this fierce
+band taken to the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas,
+during the period from November 15th,
+1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
+(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the
+reservation, and no less than twenty-five (25)
+white men, women, and children. This bloody
+raid has been conducted through a country
+filled with regular troops, militia, and “rangers,”&mdash;and
+at a loss to the enemy, so far as can be
+shown, of only one man, whose head is now at
+Fort Apache.</p>
+
+<p class="right fs90">JOHN G. BOURKE.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent fs70"><span class="smcap">Apache Indian Agency,<br />
+&nbsp; San Carlos, Arizona</span>,<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; <em>December 15th, 1885</em>.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[v]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="LOI">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r20" />
+
+
+<table class="autotable fs90 smcap" summary="">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdr fs70">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Crawford’s Column Moving to the Front</td>
+<td class="tdr fvnormal"><a href="#i002"><em>Frontispiece.</em></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Village Scene</td>
+<td class="tdr fvnormal">to face &nbsp; <a href="#i018">7</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache War-Dance</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i030">17</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Indian Scouts Examining Trails by Night</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i038">23</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Awl-Cases, Tobacco Bags, etc.</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i043">26</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Ambuscade</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i053">34</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Head-Dresses, Shoes, Toys, etc.</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i070">49</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Weapons and Equipments</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i087">64</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Girl, with Typical Dress</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i104">79</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Warfare</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i115">88</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Basket-Work</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i129">100</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Fighting the Prairie Fire</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i138">107</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[Pg 1]</span><br /></p>
+
+<p class="p2 pfs180">AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r20" />
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Within the compass of this volume it is impossible
+to furnish a complete dissertation
+upon the Apache Indians or the causes which
+led up to the expedition about to be described.
+The object is simply to outline some of the difficulties
+attending the solution of the Indian
+question in the South-west and to make known
+the methods employed in conducting campaigns
+against savages in hostility. It is thought that
+the object desired can best be accomplished by
+submitting an unmutilated extract from the
+journal carefully kept during the whole period
+involved.</p>
+
+<p>Much has necessarily been excluded, but
+without exception it has been to avoid repetition,
+or else to escape the introduction of information
+bearing upon the language, the religion,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span>
+marriages, funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting
+race, which would increase the bulk
+of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from
+its value in the eyes of the general reader.</p>
+
+<p>Ethnologically the Apache is classed with
+the Tinneh tribes, living close to the Yukon
+and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
+For centuries he has been preëminent over the
+more peaceful nations about him for courage,
+skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
+and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack
+when skilfully-planned ambuscades have led
+an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
+brutality to captives; patient endurance and
+fortitude under the greatest privations.</p>
+
+<p>In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted
+intelligence, good fellowship, warmth
+of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
+wrong.</p>
+
+<p>No Indian has more virtues and none has
+been more truly ferocious when aroused. He
+was the first of the native Americans to defeat
+in battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering,
+smooth-tongued Spaniard, with whom
+and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span>
+waged cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since
+the days of Cortés. When the Spaniard had
+fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to
+push back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided
+simply with lance and bow. The past fifty
+years have seen the Apache provided with
+arms of precision, and, especially since the introduction
+of magazine breech-loaders, the
+Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
+upon the Apache, but has trembled for the
+security of life and property in the squalid
+hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.</p>
+
+<p>In 1871 the War Department confided to
+General George Crook the task of whipping
+into submission all the bands of the Apache
+nation living in Arizona. How thoroughly
+that duty was accomplished is now a matter of
+history. But at the last moment one band&mdash;the
+Chiricahuas&mdash;was especially exempted from
+Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
+by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box
+sort of an existence, now popping into an
+agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
+own story is to be credited, to live at peace<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span>
+with the whites, but unable to do so from lack
+of nourishment.</p>
+
+<p>When they went upon the reservation, rations
+in abundance were promised for themselves
+and families. A difference of opinion
+soon arose with the agent as to what constituted
+a ration, the wicked Indians laboring
+under the delusion that it was enough food to
+keep the recipient from starving to death, and
+objecting to an issue of supplies based upon
+the principle according to which grumbling
+Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was
+formerly apportioned,&mdash;that is, by being thrown
+through the rungs of a ladder&mdash;what stuck being
+the share of the Indian, and what fell to
+the ground being the share of the agent. To
+the credit of the agent it must be said that he
+made a praiseworthy but ineffectual effort to
+alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
+of hymn-books among his wards.
+The perverse Chiricahuas, not being able to
+digest works of that nature, and unwilling to
+acknowledge the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic,
+made up their minds to sally out from
+San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span>
+wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their
+discontent was not allayed by rumors whispered
+about of the intention of the agent to
+have the whole tribe removed bodily to the
+Indian Territory. Coal had been discovered on
+the reservation, and speculators clamored that
+the land involved be thrown open for development,
+regardless of the rights of the Indians.
+But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached
+a focus when the agent one day sent his chief of
+police to arrest a Chiricahua charged with some
+offense deemed worthy of punishment in the
+guard-house. The offender started to run
+through the Indian camp, and the chief of police
+fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
+luckless old squaw, who happened in range.
+This wretched marksmanship was resented by
+the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted
+by the profuse apologies tendered for the accident.
+They silently made their preparations,
+waiting long enough to catch the chief of police,
+kill him, cut off his head, and play a game
+of foot-ball with it; and then, like a flock of
+quail, the whole band, men, women, and children&mdash;710
+in all&mdash;started on the dead run for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span>
+the Mexican boundary, one hundred and fifty
+miles to the south.</p>
+
+<p>Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought
+their way across Southern Arizona and New
+Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
+The valleys of the Santa Cruz and
+San Pedro witnessed a repetition of the once
+familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields
+with rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle.
+While engaged in fighting off the
+American forces, which pressed too closely upon
+their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front
+by the Mexican column under Colonel Garcia,
+who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved a
+“substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and
+capturing thirty, eleven of which total of one
+hundred and fifteen were men, and the rest
+women and children. The Chiricahuas claim
+that when the main body of their warriors
+reached the scene of the engagement the Mexicans
+evinced no anxiety to come out from the
+rifle-pits they hastily dug. To this fact no
+allusion can be found in the Mexican commander’s
+published dispatches.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i018" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i018.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span>
+of less than 600&mdash;150 of whom were warriors
+and big boys, withdrew to the recesses
+of the adjacent Sierra Madre&mdash;their objective
+point. Not long after this the Chiricahuas
+made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans,
+who invited them to a little town near
+Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a conference.
+They were courteously received, plied with
+liquor until drunk, and then attacked tooth and
+nail, ten or twelve warriors being killed and
+some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off
+to captivity.</p>
+
+<p>This is a one-sided description of the affair,
+given by a Chiricahua who participated. The
+newspapers of that date contained telegraph accounts
+of a fierce battle and another “victory”
+from Mexican sources; so that no doubt there
+is some basis for the story.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime General Crook had been reassigned
+by the President to the command of the Department
+of Arizona, which he had left nearly
+ten years previously in a condition of peace and
+prosperity, with the Apaches hard at work
+upon the reservation, striving to gain a living
+by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span>
+rascality, in the interval, had done their worst,
+and when Crook returned not only were the
+Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other
+bands of the Apache nation were in a state
+of scarcely concealed defection and hostility.
+Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old
+friends among the chiefs and warriors, and by
+the exercise of a strong personal influence,
+coupled with assurances that the wrongs of
+which the Apaches complained should be
+promptly redressed, succeeded in averting an
+outbreak which would have made blood flow
+from the Pecos to the Colorado, and for the
+suppression of which the gentle and genial tax-payer
+would have been compelled to contribute
+most liberally of his affluence. Attended by
+an aid-de-camp, a surgeon, and a dozen Apache
+scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
+south-east corner of Arizona, from which point
+he made an attempt to open up communication
+with the Chiricahuas. In this he was unsuccessful,
+but learned from a couple of squaws,
+intercepted while attempting to return to the
+San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas had sworn vengeance
+upon Mexicans and Americans alike;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span>
+that their stronghold was an impregnable position
+in the Sierra Madre, a “great way” below
+the International Boundary; and that they supplied
+themselves with an abundance of food by
+raiding upon the cattle-ranches and “haciendas”
+in the valleys and plains below.</p>
+
+<p>Crook now found himself face to face with
+the following intricate problem: The Chiricahuas
+occupied a confessedly impregnable position
+in the precipitous range known as the
+Sierra Madre. This position was within the
+territory of another nation so jealous of its
+privileges as not always to be able to see clearly
+in what direction its best interests lay. The
+territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
+stretched across the boundary separating Mexico
+from the United States, but was divided
+into four military departments&mdash;two in each
+country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy,
+suspicion, fault-finding, and antagonism
+would surely dog the steps of him who should
+endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.</p>
+
+<p>To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas,
+and all the other Apaches as well, were
+filled with the notion that the Mexicans were a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span>
+horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid
+to meet them in war but valiant enough to destroy
+their women and children, for whose
+blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood
+must in turn be shed. Affairs went on in this
+unsatisfactory course from October, 1882, until
+March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a
+return of the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one
+knowing where the first attack should be made.
+The meagre military force allotted to the department
+was distributed so as to cover as many
+exposed points as possible, one body of 150
+Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
+Third Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous
+duty of patrolling the Mexican boundary
+for a distance of two hundred miles, through
+a rugged country pierced with ravines and
+cañons. No <ins class="corr" id="tn-10" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'one was suprised'">
+one was surprised</ins> to learn that
+toward the end of March this skeleton line had
+been stealthily penetrated by a bold band of
+twenty-six Chiricahuas, under a very crafty
+and daring young chief named <em>Chato</em> (Spanish
+for Flat Nose).</p>
+
+<p>By stealing fresh horses from every ranch
+they were successful in traversing from seventy-five<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span>
+to one hundred miles a day, killing and destroying
+all in their path, the culminating point
+in their bloody career being the butchery of
+Judge McComas and wife, prominent and refined
+people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction
+of their bright boy, Charlie, whom the
+Indians carried back with them on their retreat
+through New Mexico and Chihuahua.</p>
+
+<p>It may serve to give some idea of the courage,
+<ins class="corr" id="tn-11" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'boldness, and sublety'">
+boldness, and subtlety</ins> of these raiders to
+state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
+New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of
+not less than eight hundred miles, they passed
+at times through localities fairly well settled and
+close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops&mdash;4,500
+Mexican and 500 American. They killed
+twenty-five persons, Mexican and American, and
+lost but two&mdash;one killed near the Total Wreck
+mine, Arizona, and one who fell into the hands
+of the American troops, of which last much has
+to be narrated.</p>
+
+<p>To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches
+by <em>direct</em> pursuit would be about as hopeless a
+piece of business as that of catching so many
+fleas. All that could be done was done; the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span>
+country was alarmed by telegraph; people at
+exposed points put upon their guard, while detachments
+of troops scoured in every direction,
+hoping, by good luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap
+destroy, the daring marauders. The trail
+they had made coming up from Mexico could,
+however, be followed, <em>back</em> to the stronghold;
+and this, in a military sense, would be the most
+<em>direct</em>, as it would be the most practical pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves.
+He first concentrated at the most eligible
+position on the Southern Pacific Railroad&mdash;Willcox&mdash;all
+the skeletons of companies which
+were available, for the protection of Arizona.</p>
+
+<p>Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were
+brought in on every train; the whole organization
+was carefully inspected, to secure the rejection
+of every unserviceable soldier, animal,
+or weapon; telegrams and letters were sent to
+the officers commanding the troops of Mexico,
+but no replies were received, the addresses of
+the respective generals not being accurately
+known. As their co-operation was desirable,
+General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad
+to Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span>
+there to see personally and confer with the
+Mexican civil and military authorities. The
+cordial reception extended him by all classes
+was the best evidence of the high regard in
+which he was held by the inhabitants of the
+two afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua,
+and of their readiness to welcome any force he
+would lead to effect the destruction or removal
+of the common enemy. Generals Topete and
+Carbó&mdash;soldiers of distinction&mdash;the governors
+of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran, of Chihuahua,
+were most earnest in their desire for
+a removal of savages whose presence was a
+cloud upon the prosperity of their fellow-citizens.
+General Crook made no delay in these
+conferences, but hurried back to Willcox and
+marched his command thence to the San Bernardino
+springs, in the south-east corner of the
+Territory (Arizona).</p>
+
+<p>But serious delays and serious complications
+were threatened by the intemperate behavior
+of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
+Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the
+San Carlos Agency with the avowed purpose
+of “cleaning out” all the Indians there congregated.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span>
+The chiefs and head men of the
+Apaches had just caused word to be telegraphed
+to General Crook that they intended
+sending him another hundred of their picked
+warriors as an assurance and pledge that they
+were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on
+the war-path. Upon learning of the approach
+of the “Rangers” the chiefs prudently deferred
+the departure of the new levy of scouts until
+the horizon should clear, and enable them to
+see what was to be expected from their white
+neighbors.</p>
+
+<p>The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers”
+was exhausted in less than ten days, when the
+organization expired of thirst, to the gratification
+of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier,
+who repudiated an interference with the
+plans of the military commander, respected and
+esteemed by them for former distinguished services.</p>
+
+<p>At this point it may be well to insert an
+outline of the story told by the Chiricahua
+captive who had been brought down from the
+San Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that
+his name was Pa-nayo-tishn (<ins class="corr" id="tn-14" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Cayote saw'">
+the Coyote saw</ins><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span>
+him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a
+White Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or
+Red Clay) clan, married to two Chiricahua women,
+by whom he had had children, and with
+whose people he had lived for years. He had
+left the Chiricahua stronghold in the mountain
+called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey
+below Casas Grandes in Chihuahua. From that
+stronghold the Chiricahuas had been raiding
+with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued
+they would draw the Mexicans into the
+depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
+kill them by rolling down rocks from the
+heights.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and
+cattle, but little food of a vegetable character.
+They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
+breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of
+ammunition, and had made their recent raid into
+Arizona, hoping to replenish their supply of
+cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among
+the chiefs, some of whom, he thought, would
+be glad to return to the reservation. In making
+raids they counted upon riding from sixty to
+seventy-five miles a day as they stole fresh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span>
+horses all the time and killed those abandoned.
+It would be useless to pursue them, but he
+would lead General Crook back along the trail
+they had made coming up from Mexico, and he
+had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken
+by surprise.</p>
+
+<p>He had not gone with them of his own free
+will, but had been compelled to leave the reservation,
+and had been badly treated while
+with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos
+because the agent had stolen their rations,
+beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
+He asserted emphatically that no communication
+of any kind had been held with the
+Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that
+direction having been frustrated.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i030" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i030.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WAR-DANCE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn,
+numbered seventy full-grown warriors and fifty
+big boys able to fight, with an unknown number
+of women and children. In their fights with the
+Mexicans about one hundred and fifty had been
+killed and captured, principally women and children.
+The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was
+described as a dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible
+place, having plenty of wood, water, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span>
+grass, but no food except what was stolen from
+the Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas
+might be starved out.</p>
+
+<p>General Crook ordered the irons to be struck
+from the prisoner; to which he demurred, saying
+he would prefer to wear shackles for the
+present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity.
+A half-dozen prominent scouts promised
+to guard him and watch him; so the
+fetters were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or
+“Peaches,” as the soldiers called him, was installed
+in the responsible office of guide of the
+contemplated expedition.</p>
+
+<p>By the 22d of April many of the preliminary
+arrangements had been completed and some of
+the difficulties anticipated had been smoothed
+over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the
+command from the San Carlos Reservation, and
+in the first hours of night began a war-dance,
+which continued without a break until the first
+flush of dawn the next day. They were all in
+high feather, and entered into the spirit of the
+occasion with full zest. Not much time need
+be wasted upon a description of their dresses;
+they didn’t wear any, except breech-clout and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span>
+moccasins. To the music of an improvised
+drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing
+yells and shrieks they pirouetted and
+charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
+violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly
+springing high in air, discharging their pieces,
+and all the time chanting a rude refrain, in
+which their own prowess was exalted and that
+of their enemies alluded to with contempt.
+Their enthusiasm was not abated by the announcement,
+quietly diffused, that the “medicine
+men” had been hard at work, and had
+succeeded in making a “medicine” which
+would surely bring the Chiricahuas to grief.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with the agreement entered
+into with the Mexican authorities, <ins class="corr" id="tn-18" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Amercan troops'">
+the American troops</ins> were to reach the boundary line <em>not
+sooner than May 1</em>, the object being to let the
+restless Chiricahuas quiet down as much as
+possible, and relax their vigilance, while at the
+same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get
+into position for effective co-operation.</p>
+
+<p>The convention between our government and
+that of Mexico, by which a reciprocal crossing
+of the International Boundary was conceded to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span>
+the troops of the two republics, stipulated that
+such crossing should be authorized when the
+troops were “in close pursuit of a band of
+savage Indians,” and the crossing was made
+“in the unpopulated or desert parts of said
+boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
+parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment
+or town of either country.” The
+commander of the troops crossing was to give
+notice at time of crossing, or before if possible,
+to the nearest military commander or civil
+authority of the country entered. The pursuing
+force was to retire to its own territory as
+soon as it should have fought the band of
+which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and
+in no case could it “establish itself or remain
+in the foreign territory for a longer time than
+necessary to make the pursuit of the band
+whose trail it had followed.”</p>
+
+<p>The weak points of this convention were the
+imperative stipulation that the troops should
+return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
+of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated
+country.” A friendly expedition from the
+United States might follow close on the heels<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span>
+of a party of depredating Apaches, but, under
+a rigid construction of the term “unpopulated,”
+have to turn back when it had reached some
+miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity
+of savage attack, and most in need of assistance,
+as afterwards proved to be the case.</p>
+
+<p>The complication was not diminished by the
+orders dispatched by General Sherman on March
+31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit of
+the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental
+or national boundaries.” Both General Crook
+and General Topete, anxious to have every difficulty
+removed which lay in the way of a
+thorough adjustment of this vexed question,
+telegraphed to their respective governments
+asking that a more elastic interpretation be given
+to the terms of the convention.</p>
+
+<p>To this telegram General Crook received reply
+that he must abide strictly by the terms of
+the convention, which could only be changed
+with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate.
+But what these terms meant exactly was left
+just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
+of April General Crook moved out from Willcox,
+accompanied by the Indian scouts and a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span>
+force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
+and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle,
+guarding a train of wagons, with supplies of
+ammunition and food for two months. This
+force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in
+reserve at or near San Bernardino Springs on
+the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
+flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments
+commanded by Rafferty, Vroom, Overton,
+and Anderson; this disposition affording the best
+possible protection to the settlements in case any
+of the Chiricahuas should make their way to
+the rear of the detachment penetrating Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column
+as it left the line of the Southern Pacific
+Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
+scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar
+methods of the Apaches in marching and conducting
+themselves while on a campaign may
+not be out of place. To veterans of the campaigns
+of the Civil War familiar with the compact
+formations of the cavalry and infantry of
+the Army of the Potomac, the loose, straggling
+methods of the Apache scouts would appear
+startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span>
+at a glance that the Apache was the perfect,
+the ideal, scout of the whole world. When
+Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
+gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé&mdash;Go!&mdash;the
+Apaches started as if shot from a gun, and in a
+minute or less had covered a space of one hundred
+yards front, which distance rapidly widened
+as they advanced, at a rough, shambling
+walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
+Heads), the mining camp near which the first
+halt was to be made.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i038" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i038.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>They moved with no semblance of regularity;
+individual fancy alone governed. Here
+was a clump of three; not far off two more,
+and scattered in every point of the compass,
+singly or in clusters, were these indefatigable
+scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
+as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s,
+and ears so sensitive that nothing escapes them.
+An artist, possibly, would object to many of
+them as undersized, but in all other respects
+they would satisfy every requirement of anatomical
+criticism. Their chests were broad,
+deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight;
+limbs well-proportioned, strong, and muscular,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span>
+without a suggestion of undue heaviness; hands
+and feet small and taper but wiry; heads
+well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with
+a pleasant, good-natured expression, which
+would be more constant, perhaps, were it not
+for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the
+loose, disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black,
+held away from the face by a broad, flat band
+of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright, clear,
+and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest
+good-humor and satisfaction. Uniforms had
+been issued, but were donned upon ceremonial
+occasions only. On the present march each
+wore a loosely fitting shirt of red, white, or
+gray stuff, generally of calico, in some gaudy
+figure, but <ins class="corr" id="tn-23" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'not infreqently the'">
+not infrequently the</ins> sombre article of
+woollen raiment issued to white soldiers. This
+came down outside a pair of loose cotton drawers,
+reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins
+are the most important articles of Apache apparel.
+In a fight or on a long march they will
+discard all else, but under any and every circumstance
+will retain the moccasins. These
+had been freshly made before leaving Willcox.
+The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span>
+ground while a companion traces with a sharp
+knife the outlines of the sole of his foot upon
+a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made of soft
+buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to
+mid-thigh. For convenience in marching, it is
+allowed to hang in folds below the knee. The
+raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great
+toe, and turned upward in a shield, which protects
+from cactus and sharp stones. A leather
+belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of
+metallic cartridges, and also keeps in place the
+regulation blue blouse and pantaloons, which
+are worn upon the person only when the Indian
+scout is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier
+towns <ins class="corr" id="tn-24" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'or millitary posts'">
+or military posts</ins> by a display of all his
+finery.</p>
+
+<p>The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries
+are a Springfield breech-loading rifle, army
+pattern, a canteen full of water, a butcher knife,
+an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and
+a tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins
+or work of that kind. With the tweezers the
+Apache young man carefully picks out each
+and every hair appearing upon his face. The
+tag marks his place in the tribe, and is in reality<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span>
+nothing more or less than a revival of a
+plan adopted during the war of the rebellion
+for the identification of soldiers belonging to
+the different corps and divisions. Each male
+Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered,
+and a descriptive list, corresponding to
+the tag kept, with a full recital of all his physical
+peculiarities.</p>
+
+<p>This is the equipment of each and every
+scout; but there are many, especially the
+more pious and influential, who carry besides,
+strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of
+Hoddentin, or sacred meal, with which to
+offer morning and evening sacrifice to the sun
+or other deity. Others, again, are provided
+with amulets of lightning-riven twigs, pieces
+of quartz crystal, petrified wood, concretionary
+sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
+representing some of their countless
+planetary gods or Kân, which are regarded
+as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the
+designs of the enemy or warding off arrows
+and bullets in the heat of action. And a few
+are happy in the possession of priceless sashes
+and shirts of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span>
+the signs of the sun, moon, lightning,
+rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly,
+snake, centipede, and other powers to
+which they may appeal for aid in the hour
+of distress.</p>
+
+<p>The Apache is an eminently religious person,
+and the more deviltry he plans the more
+pronounced does his piety become.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i043" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i043.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES
+WORN BY YOUNG GIRLS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The rate of speed attained by the Apaches
+in marching is about an even four miles an
+hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make
+a horse trot. They keep this up for about
+fifteen miles, at the end of which distance, if
+water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
+they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen
+each, hide in some convenient ravine, sit down,
+smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and stretch
+out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes
+of the South. If they want to make a little
+fire, they kindle one with matches, if they
+happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid
+twirl, between the palms, of a hard round
+stick fitting into a circular hole in another stick
+of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to
+forty-five seconds. The scouts by this time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span>
+have painted their faces, daubing them with
+red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted
+“mescal.” The object of this is protection
+from wind and sun, as well as distinctive ornamentation.</p>
+
+<p>The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was
+broken by the shrill cry of Choddi! Choddi!
+(Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
+left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that
+the Apaches on that flank were getting fresh
+meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
+demonstrated that they were not the worst of
+shots; neither were they, by any means, bad
+cooks.</p>
+
+<p>When the command reached camp these restless,
+untiring nomads built in a trice all kinds
+of rude shelters. Those that had the army
+“dog tents” put them up on frame-works of
+willow or cotton-wood saplings; others, less
+fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches
+covered with grass, or of stones and boards
+covered with gunny sacks. Before these were
+finished smoke curled gracefully toward the
+sky from crackling embers, in front of which,
+transfixed on wooden spits, were the heads,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span>
+hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
+the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to
+the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">spolia opima</i> was a cotton-tailed rabbit,
+run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
+South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught
+in the same manner.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making
+bread,&mdash;the light, thin “tortillas” of the Mexicans,
+baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
+eating. Two others were fraternally occupied
+in preparing their bed for the night. Grass
+was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
+and covered with one blanket, another serving
+as cover. These Indians, with scarcely an
+exception, sleep with their feet pointed toward
+little fires, which, they claim, are warm,
+while the big ones built by the American soldiers,
+are so hot that they drive people away
+from them, and, besides, attract the attention
+of a lurking enemy. At the foot of this bed
+an Apache was playing on a home-made fiddle,
+fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or
+American aloe. This fiddle has four strings,
+and emits a sound like the wail of a cat with
+its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span>
+man likes the music, which perhaps is, after
+all, not so very much inferior to that of
+Wagner.</p>
+
+<p>Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of
+sweet sounds, a party of six was playing fiercely
+at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards employed
+being of native manufacture, of horse-hide,
+covered with barbarous figures, and well
+worthy of a place in any museum.</p>
+
+<p>The cooking was by this time ended, and the
+savages, with genuine hospitality, invited the
+Americans near them to join in the feast. It
+was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty
+paws tearing bread and meat into fragments;
+yet the meat thus cooked was tender and juicy,
+the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and
+fairly well made. The Apaches squatted nearest
+to the American guests felt it incumbent
+upon them to explain everything as the meal
+progressed. They said this (pointing to the
+coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
+Zigosti (bread).</p>
+
+<p>All this time scouts had been posted commanding
+every possible line of approach. The
+Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span>
+mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing
+what he himself can do, he ascribes to his foe&mdash;no
+matter how insignificant may be his numbers&mdash;the
+same daring, recklessness, agility,
+and subtlety possessed by himself. These Indian
+scouts will march thirty-five or forty miles
+in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of
+waterless plains upon which a tropical sun
+beats down with fierceness, or climbing up the
+faces of precipitous mountains which stretch
+across this region in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>The two great points of superiority of the
+native or savage soldier over the representative
+of civilized discipline are his absolute knowledge
+of the country and his perfect ability to
+take care of himself at all times and under all
+circumstances. Though the rays of the sun
+pour down from the zenith, or the scorching
+sirocco blow from the south, the Apache scout
+trudges along as unconcerned as he was when
+the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his
+white comrade to the marrow. He finds food,
+and pretty good food too, where the Caucasian
+would starve. Knowing the habits of wild
+animals from his earliest youth, he can catch<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span>
+turkeys, quail, rabbits, doves, or field-mice, and,
+perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which will supply
+him with meat. For some reason he cannot
+be induced to touch fish, and bacon or any
+other product of the hog is eaten only under
+duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass,
+which has dropped exhausted on the march
+and been left to die on the trail, is a delicious
+morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon
+wherever possible. The stunted oak, growing
+on the mountain flanks, furnishes acorns; the
+Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in
+the ashes of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something
+like the banana. The whole region of
+Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted
+with varieties of the cactus, nearly every
+one of which is called upon for its tribute of
+fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of
+the century-plant&mdash;called mescal&mdash;are roasted
+between hot stones, and the product is rich in
+saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to the
+taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the
+“tule” are found in the damp mountain meadows;
+and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
+remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span>
+when ground fine, are rich and
+nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep ravines,
+and strawberries in favorable locations; in the
+proper season these, with the seeds of wild
+grasses and wild pumpkins, the gum of the
+“mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the
+pine, play their part in staving off the pangs of
+hunger.</p>
+
+<p>The above are merely a few of the resources
+of the Apache scout when separated from the
+main command. When his moccasins give out
+on a long march over the sharp rocks of the
+mountains or the cutting sands of the plains, a
+few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
+pair,&mdash;his own handiwork,&mdash;and so with other
+portions of his raiment. He is never without
+awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
+infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of
+some kind,&mdash;at first the bow and arrow, and
+later on the rifle,&mdash;he is perfectly at home with
+his weapons, and knowing from past experience
+how important they are for his preservation,
+takes much better care of them than does the
+white soldier out of garrison.</p>
+
+<p>He does not read the newspapers, but the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span>
+great book of nature is open to his perusal, and
+has been drained of much knowledge which his
+pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire.
+Every track in the trail, mark in the grass,
+scratch on the bark of a tree, explains itself to
+the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an
+hour, almost, when the man or animal making
+them passed by, and, like a hound, will keep
+on the scent until he catches up with the object
+of his pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier
+is sedate and taciturn. Seated around his
+little apology for a camp-fire, in the communion
+of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational.
+He is obedient to authority, but
+will not brook the restraints which, under our
+notions of discipline, change men into machines.
+He makes an excellent sentinel, and not a single
+instance can be adduced of property having been
+stolen from or by an Apache on guard.</p>
+
+<p>He has the peculiarity, noticed among so
+many savage tribes in various parts of the world,
+of not caring to give his true name to a stranger;
+if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one
+or remain mute and let a comrade answer for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span>
+him. This rule does not apply where he has
+been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers.
+In such case he will respond promptly,
+and tell the inquirer that he is “Stumpy,” “Tom
+Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed
+Reilly,” as the case may be. But there is no
+such exception in regard to the dead. Their
+names are never mentioned, even by the wailing
+friends who loudly chant their virtues.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i053" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i053.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE AMBUSCADE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a
+curious thing to witness. He avoids appearing
+suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that
+his figure projected against the sky can at such
+time be discerned from a great distance. He will
+carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of grass,
+or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl
+like a snake to the summit and carefully peer
+about, taking in with his keen black eyes the
+details of the country to the front with a rapidity,
+and thoroughness the American or European
+can never acquire. In battle he is again
+the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache
+has no false ideas about courage; he would prefer
+to skulk <ins class="corr" id="tn-34" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'like the cayote'">
+like the coyote</ins> for hours, and then
+kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span>
+by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal
+or otherwise. But he is no coward; on the
+contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
+bravest. The precautions taken for his safety
+prove that he is an exceptionally skillful soldier.
+His first duty under fire is to jump for a rock,
+bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive
+him except with loss of life or blood.</p>
+
+<p>The policy of Great Britain has always been
+to enlist a force of auxiliaries from among the
+natives of the countries falling under her sway.
+The Government of the United States, on the
+contrary, has persistently ignored the really excellent
+material, ready at hand, which could,
+with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be
+mobilized, and made to serve as a frontier police.
+General Crook is the only officer of our army
+who has fully recognized the incalculable value
+of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns
+of the past thirty-five years has drawn about
+him as soon as possible a force of Indians, which
+has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and
+also of consequence in reducing the strength of
+the opposition.</p>
+
+<p>The white army of the United States is a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span>
+much better body of officers and men than a
+critical and censorious public gives it credit for
+being. It represents intelligence of a high
+order, and a spirit of devotion to duty worthy
+of unbounded praise; but it does not represent
+the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
+follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may
+be brave and well-disciplined, but its members
+cannot tramp or ride, as the case may be, from
+forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without
+water, under a burning sun. No civilized army
+can do that. It is one of the defects of civilized
+training that man develops new wants, awakens
+new necessities,&mdash;becomes, in a word, more and
+more a creature of luxury.</p>
+
+<p>Take the Apache Indian under the glaring
+sun of Mexico. He quietly peels off all his
+clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more
+than otherwise. He may not be a great military
+genius, but he is inured to all sorts of
+fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when
+the civilized man is about to die of thirst.</p>
+
+<p>Prominent among these scouts was of course
+first of all “Peaches,” the captive guide. He
+was one of the handsomest men, physically, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span>
+be found in the world. He never knew what
+it was to be tired, cross, or out of humor. His
+knowledge of the topography of Northern Sonora
+was remarkable, and his absolute veracity
+and fidelity in all his dealings a notable feature
+in his character. With him might be mentioned
+“Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
+“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried
+and true men, experienced in warfare and devoted
+to the general whose standard they followed.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="II">II.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs,
+by the road the wagons followed, is an even
+100 miles. The march thither, through a most
+excellent grazing country, was made in five
+days, by which time the command was joined
+by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+with more than 100 additional Apache scouts
+and several trains of pack-mules.</p>
+
+<p>San Bernardino Springs break out from the
+ground upon the Boundary Line and flow
+south into the Yaqui River, of which the San
+Bernardino River is the extreme head. These
+springs yielded an abundance of water for all
+our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands
+of head of cattle, which have since disappeared
+under the attrition of constant warfare
+with the Apaches.</p>
+
+<p>The few days spent at San Bernardino were
+days of constant toil and labor; from the first
+streak of dawn until far into the night the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span>
+task of organizing and arranging went on.
+Telegrams were dispatched to the Mexican
+generals notifying them that the American
+troops would leave promptly by the date
+agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
+began their war-dances, and continued them
+without respite from each sunset until the next
+sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
+they informed him of their anxiety to put an
+end to the war and bring peace to Arizona, so
+that the white men and Apaches could live
+and work side by side.</p>
+
+<p>By the 29th of April all preparations were
+complete. Baggage had been cut down to a
+minimum. Every officer and man was allowed
+to carry the clothes on his back, one blanket
+and forty rounds of ammunition. Officers were
+ordered to mess with the packers and on the
+same food issued to soldiers and Indian scouts.
+One hundred and sixty rounds of extra ammunition
+and rations of hard-bread, coffee and
+bacon, for sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment General Sherman telegraphed
+to General Crook that he must not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span>
+cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians,
+except in strict accord with the terms of
+the treaty, without defining exactly what those
+terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging
+receipt of these instructions and saying that he
+would respect treaty stipulations.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition
+crossed the boundary into Mexico. Its exact
+composition was as follows: General George
+Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke,
+Third Cavalry, acting adjutant-general; Lieutenant
+G. S. Febiger, engineer officer, aid-de-camp;
+Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with
+Lieutenants West and Forsyth, and forty-two
+enlisted men of “I” company of that regiment;
+Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the
+General Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under
+Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
+Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al.
+Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient
+management, were divided into five trains, each
+with its complement of skilled packers. These<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span>
+trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins,
+Stanfield, “Long Jim Cook,” and “Short Jim
+Cook.”</p>
+
+<p>Each packer was armed with carbine and
+revolver, for self-protection, but nothing could
+be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
+beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently
+the effective fighting strength of the
+command was a little over fifty white men&mdash;officers
+and soldiers&mdash;and not quite 200 Apache
+scouts, representing the various bands, Chiricahua,
+White Mountain, Yuma, Mojave, and
+Tonto.</p>
+
+<p>The first rays of the sun were beaming upon
+the Eastern hills as we swung into our saddles,
+and, amid a chorus of good-byes and God-bless-yous
+from those left behind, pushed down the
+hot and sandy valley of the San Bernardino,
+past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to near
+the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty
+miles. Here camp was made on the banks of
+a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
+walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had
+scoured the country to the front and on both
+flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span>
+turkeys, the latter being run down and caught
+in the bushes. One escaped from its captors
+and started through camp on a full jump, pursued
+by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it,
+promptly twisted its head off.</p>
+
+<p>The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the
+“medicine-men” having repeated with emphasis
+the prediction that the expedition was
+to be a grand success. One of the most influential
+of them&mdash;a mere boy, who carried the
+most sacred medicine&mdash;was especially positive
+in his views, and, unlike most prophets, backed
+them up with a bet of $40.</p>
+
+<p>On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>
+The train&mdash;Monach’s&mdash;with which we took
+meals was composed equally of Americans and
+Mexicans. So, when the cook spread his canvas
+on the ground, one heard such expressions
+as <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Tantito’ zucarito quiero</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Sirve pasar el
+járabe</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Pase rebanada de pan</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Otra gotita
+mas de café</i>, quite as frequently as their English
+equivalents, “I’d like a little more sugar,”
+“Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of
+bread,” “A little drop of coffee.” Close by,
+the scouts consumed their meals, and with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span>
+more silence, yet not so silently but that their
+calls for <i>inchi</i> (salt), <i>ikôn</i> (flour), <i>pezá-a</i> (frying-pan),
+and other articles, could be plainly
+heard.</p>
+
+<p>Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He
+was not, as he himself admitted, a French cook
+by profession. His early life had been passed
+in the more romantic occupation of driving an
+ore-wagon between Willcox and Globe, and,
+to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
+down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this
+side the Rio Grande.”</p>
+
+<p>But what he lacked in culinary knowledge
+he more than made up in strength and agility.
+He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
+and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured,
+too, and averse to fighting. Such,
+at least, was the opinion I gathered from a
+remark he made the first evening I was thrown
+into his society.</p>
+
+<p>His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while
+he said quietly, “If there’s anybody here don’t
+like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of him!” I
+was just about suggesting that a couple of
+pounds less saleratus in the bread and a couple<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span>
+of gallons less water in the coffee would be
+grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
+conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks
+I made the better would be the chances of my
+enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said nothing.
+Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua,
+and I assert from the depths of an outraged
+stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
+never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.</p>
+
+<p>The march was continued down the San Bernardino
+until we reached its important affluent,
+the Bávispe, up which we made our way until
+the first signs of habitancy were encountered
+in the squalid villages of Bávispe, Basaraca,
+and Huachinera.</p>
+
+<p>The whole country was a desert. On each
+hand were the ruins of depopulated and abandoned
+hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
+bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling
+with crops of wheat and barley, were now
+covered with a thickly-matted jungle of semi-tropical
+vegetation. The river banks were
+choked by dense brakes of cane of great size
+and thickness. The narrow valley was hemmed
+in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span>
+and slashed with a thousand ravines, to cross
+which exhausted both strength and patience.
+The foot-hills were covered with <i>chevaux de
+frise</i> of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus.
+The lignum-vitæ flaunted its plumage of crimson
+flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
+in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so
+homely, here assumed a garniture of creamy
+blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
+upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest
+tendrils pendent from the branches of the
+mesquite.</p>
+
+<p>The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out
+the poor mules, which had as much as they
+could do to scramble over the steep hills, composed
+of a nondescript accumulation of lava,
+sandstone, porphyry, and limestone, half-rounded
+by the action of water, and so loosely
+held together as to slip apart and roll away
+the instant the feet of animals or men touched
+them.</p>
+
+<p>When they were not slipping over loose
+stones or climbing rugged hills, they were breaking
+their way through jungles of thorny vegetation,
+which tore their quivering flesh. One<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span>
+of the mules, falling from the rocks, impaled
+itself upon a mesquite branch, and had to be
+killed.</p>
+
+<p>Through all this the Apache scouts trudged
+without a complaint, and with many a laugh
+and jest. Each time camp was reached they
+showed themselves masters of the situation.
+They would gather the saponaceous roots of
+the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
+them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut
+sections of the bamboo-like cane and make pipes
+for smoking, or four-holed flutes, which emitted
+a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to
+with melodious chatter by countless birds
+perched in the shady seclusion of ash and cotton-wood.</p>
+
+<p>Those scouts who were not on watch gave
+themselves up to the luxury of the tá-a-chi, or
+sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
+willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in
+the ground and the upper extremities, united
+to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which
+are laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat.
+Three or four large rocks are heated and placed
+in the centre, the Indians arranging themselves<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span>
+around these rocks and bending over them.
+Silicious bowlders are invariably selected, and
+not calcareous&mdash;the Apaches being sufficiently
+familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know
+that the latter will frequently crack and explode
+under intense heat.</p>
+
+<p>When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge
+I could see nothing but a network of
+arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
+experience with Broadway omnibuses
+assured me that there must always be room for
+one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”&mdash;the
+master of ceremonies&mdash;encouraged me to
+push in first an arm, then a leg, and, finally,
+my whole body.</p>
+
+<p>Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it
+fell against the frame-work and shut out all
+light and air. The conductor of affairs inside
+threw a handful of water on the hot rocks, and
+steam, on the instant, filled every crevice of
+the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven;
+breathing was well-nigh impossible.</p>
+
+<p>“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy,
+“Keet,” whose legs and arms were sinuously intertwined
+with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span>
+to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The
+other bathers said that everybody must sing.
+I had to yield. My <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">repertoire</i> consists of but
+one song&mdash;the lovely ditty&mdash;“Our captain’s
+name is Murphy.” I gave them this with all
+the lung-power I had left, and was heartily encored;
+but I was too much exhausted to respond,
+and rushed out, dripping with perspiration,
+to plunge with my dusky comrades into
+the refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which
+had worn out for themselves tanks three to
+twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were
+all that the Apaches had predicted&mdash;a sound,
+refreshing sleep and increased appetite.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i070" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i070.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The farther we got into Mexico the greater
+the desolation. The valley of the Bávispe,
+like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
+thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy.
+Foot-prints indeed were plenty, but they were
+the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas, who
+apparently roamed with immunity over all this
+solitude. There were signs, too, of Mexican
+“travel;” but in every case these were “<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">conductas</i>”
+of pack-mules, guarded by companies
+of soldiers. Rattlesnakes were encountered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span>
+with greater frequency both in camp and on
+the march. When found in camp the Apaches,
+from superstitious reasons, refrained from killing
+them, but let the white men do it.</p>
+
+<p>The vegetation remained much the same as
+that of Southern Arizona, only denser and
+larger. The cactus began to bear odorous
+flowers&mdash;a species of night-blooming cereus&mdash;and
+parrots of gaudy plumage flitted about
+camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
+two or three, tore the feathers from their
+bodies and tied them in their inky locks.
+Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted
+from bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one
+felt that we were advancing into more torrid
+regions. However, by this time faces and
+hands were finely tanned and blistered, and the
+fervor of the sun was disregarded. The nights
+remained cool and refreshing throughout the
+trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed
+to the calmest rest.</p>
+
+<p>On the 5th of May the column reached the
+feeble, broken-down towns of Bávispe and Basaraca.
+The condition of the inhabitants was
+deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span>
+government had done their worst, and, even
+had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
+terror, it is doubtful whether they would have
+had energy enough to profit by the natural advantages,
+mineral and agricultural, of their immediate
+vicinity. The land appeared to be
+fertile and was well watered. Horses, cattle,
+and chickens throve; the cereals yielded an
+abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed
+in the waxy-green foliage of the pomegranate.</p>
+
+<p>Every man, woman, and child had gathered
+in the streets or squatted on the flat roofs of
+the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
+cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand
+national convention of scarecrows and rag-pickers,
+their garments old and dingy, but no
+man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero,
+with a snake-band of silver, or display
+a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
+Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">serapes</i> flung over the shoulders; those who
+had none went in their shirt-sleeves.</p>
+
+<p>The children were bright, dirty, and pretty;
+the women so closely enveloped in their <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rebozos</i>
+that only one eye could be seen. They<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span>
+greeted our people with warmth, and offered to
+go with us to the mountains. With the volubility
+of parrots they began to describe a most
+blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas,
+in which, of course, the Apaches had
+been completely and ignominiously routed, each
+Mexican having performed prodigies of valor
+on a par with those of Ajax. But at the same
+time they wouldn’t go alone into their fields,&mdash;only
+a quarter of a mile off,&mdash;which were <ins class="corr" id="tn-51" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'constantly patroled'">
+constantly patrolled</ins> by a detachment of twenty-five
+or thirty men of what was grandiloquently
+styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
+guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when
+told of this latest annihilation of the Chiricahuas.
+General Crook, without a moment’s hesitancy,
+determined to keep on the trail farther
+into the Sierra Madre.</p>
+
+<p>The food of these wretched Mexicans was
+mainly <em>atole</em>,&mdash;a weak flour-gruel resembling
+the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
+they had none, and newspapers had not yet
+been heard of. Their only recreation was in
+religious festivals, occurring with commendable
+frequency. The churches themselves were in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span>
+the last stages of dilapidation; the adobe exteriors
+showed dangerous indications of approaching
+dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments
+of the inside were foul and black with
+age, smoke, dust, and rain.</p>
+
+<p>I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold
+my horse for a moment until I had examined
+one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate
+title of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and
+our Lady of the Trance. This action evoked a
+eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man
+can’t be an American, he must be a Christian,”
+he sagely remarked; “he speaks Castilian, and
+goes to church the first thing.”</p>
+
+<p>It goes without saying that they have no
+mails in that country. What they call the
+post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
+town. The store had no goods for sale, and
+the post-office had no stamps. The postmaster
+didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
+to go every eight days, but now&mdash;<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">quien sabe?</i>
+Yes, he would send our letters the first opportunity.
+The price? Oh! the price?&mdash;did the
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">caballeros</i> want to know how much? Well, for
+Mexican people, he charged five cents, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span>
+the Americans would have to pay <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">dos reales</i>
+(twenty-five cents) for each letter.</p>
+
+<p>The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were
+fiery mescal, chile, and a few eggs, eagerly
+snapped up by the advance-guard. In making
+these purchases we had to enter different
+houses, which vied with each other in penury
+and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
+none of the comforts which the humblest
+laborers in our favored land demand as right
+and essential. The inmates in every instance
+received us urbanely and kindly. The women,
+who were uncovered inside their domiciles, were
+greatly superior in good looks and good breeding
+to their husbands and brothers; but the
+latter never neglected to employ all the punctilious
+expressions of Spanish politeness.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the round-stomached old man,
+whom, in ignorance of the correct title, we all
+agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a complimentary
+visit to General Crook, and with polite
+flourishes bade him welcome to the soil of Mexico
+informed him that he had received orders
+to render the expedition every assistance in his
+power, and offered to accompany it at the head<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span>
+of every man and boy in the vicinity. General
+Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance
+of these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission
+to buy four beeves to feed to the Apache
+scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
+meat.</p>
+
+<p>Bivouac was made that night on the banks
+of the Bávispe, under the bluff upon which
+perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
+visitors&mdash;men and boys&mdash;flocked in to see us,
+bringing bread and tobacco for barter and sale.
+In their turn a large body of our people went
+up to the town and indulged in the unexpected
+luxury of a ball. This was so entirely original
+in all its features that a mention of it is admissible.</p>
+
+<p>Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing
+that the morrow would be Sunday, when a prolonged
+thumping of drums signaled that the
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Baile</i> was about to begin.</p>
+
+<p>Wending our way to the corner whence the
+noise proceeded, we found that a half-dozen of
+the packers had bought out the whole stock of
+the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">tienda</i>, which dealt only in <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i>, paying
+therefor the princely sum of $12.50.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p>
+
+<p>Invitations had been extended to all the
+adult inhabitants to take part in the festivities.
+For some reason all the ladies sent regrets by
+the messenger; but of men there was no lack,
+the packers having taken the precaution to
+send out a patrol to scour the streets, “collar”
+and “run in” every male biped found outside
+his own threshold. These captives were first
+made to drink a tumbler of <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i> to the
+health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
+United States,&mdash;and then were formed into
+quadrille sets, moving in unison with the orchestra
+of five pieces,&mdash;two drums, two squeaky
+fiddles, and an accordion.</p>
+
+<p>None of the performers understood a note of
+music. When a new piece was demanded, the
+tune had to be whistled in the ears of the bass-drummer,
+who thumped it off on his instrument,
+followed energetically by his enthusiastic
+assistants.</p>
+
+<p>This orchestra was augmented in a few moments
+by the addition of a young boy with a
+sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had
+lost its several keys, but he added to the noise
+and was welcomed with screams of applause.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span>
+It was essentially a <em>stag</em> party, but a very funny
+one. The new player was doing some good
+work when a couple of dancers whirled into
+him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
+of the bass-drum and drummer.</p>
+
+<p>Confusion reigned only a moment; good
+order was soon restored, and the dance would
+have been resumed with increased jollity had
+not the head of the bass-drum been helplessly
+battered.</p>
+
+<p>Midnight had long since been passed, and
+there was nothing to be done but break up the
+party and return to camp.</p>
+
+<p>From Basaraca to Tesorababi&mdash;over twenty
+miles&mdash;the line of march followed a country
+almost exactly like that before described. The
+little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were
+perhaps a trifle more squalid than Bávispe or
+Basaraca, and their churches more dilapidated;
+but in that of Huachinera were two or three
+unusually good oil-paintings, brought from
+Spain a long time ago. Age, dust, weather,
+and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had
+not fully obliterated, the touch of the master-hand
+which had made them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p>
+
+<p>Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations
+since, a very noble ranch. It has
+plenty of water, great groves of oak and mesquite,
+with sycamore and cotton-wood growing
+near the water, and very nutritious grass upon
+the neighboring hills. The buildings have fallen
+into ruin, nothing being now visible but the
+stout walls of stone and adobe. Mesquite trees
+of noble size choke up the corral, and everything
+proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy
+of the Apache.</p>
+
+<p>Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an
+ancient pueblo, with quantities of broken pottery,
+stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and kindred
+<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">reliquiæ</i>.</p>
+
+<p>To Tesorababi the column was accompanied
+by a small party of guides sent out by the Alcalde
+of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them
+back, as they were not of the slightest use so
+long as we had such a force of Apache scouts.</p>
+
+<p>We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the
+night of May 7, and then marched straight for
+the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
+covered with rich <em>grama</em> and darkened by
+groves of scrub-oak. Soon the oak gave way<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span>
+to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
+ridges became steeper as we struck the trail
+lately made by the Chiricahuas driving off cattle
+from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
+fairly within the range, and had made good
+progress, when the scouts halted and began to
+explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
+luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an
+owl which one of our party had caught, and
+tied to the pommel of his saddle.</p>
+
+<p>They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen,
+and that we could not hope to whip the
+Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
+solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed
+bird of night was set free and the advance resumed.
+Shortly before midnight camp was
+made in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and
+having a small stream a thousand feet below
+our position. No fires were allowed, and some
+confusion prevailed among the pack-mules,
+which could not find their places.</p>
+
+<p>Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883)
+the command moved in easterly direction up
+the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
+Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span>
+and men slaked their fierce thirst. Indications
+of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The trail
+was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores&mdash;yes,
+hundreds&mdash;of stolen ponies and cattle.</p>
+
+<p>The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered
+beeves lay in one spot; close to them a couple
+more, and so on.</p>
+
+<p>The path wound up the face of the mountain,
+and became so precipitous that were a horse to
+slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
+of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt
+turns could be seen, deep down in the cañon,
+the mangled fragments of a steer which had
+fallen from the trail, and been dashed to pieces
+on the rocks below. It will save much repetition
+to say, at this point, that from now on we
+were never out of sight of ponies and cattle,
+butchered, in every stage of mutilation, or alive,
+and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
+and on the mountain flanks.</p>
+
+<p>Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit
+of one ridge only to learn that above it towered
+another, the face of nature fearfully corrugated
+into a perplexing alternation of ridges
+and chasms. Not far out from the last bivouac<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span>
+was passed the spot where a large body of Mexican
+troops had camped, the farthest point of
+their penetration into the range, although their
+scouts had been pushed in some distance farther,
+only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
+who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.</p>
+
+<p>These particulars may now be remarked of
+that country: It seemed to consist of a series of
+parallel and very high, knife-edged hills,&mdash;extremely
+rocky and bold; the cañons all contained
+water, either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of
+great depth. Dense pine forests covered the
+ridges near the crests, the lower skirts being
+matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally
+plentiful, but not invariably to be depended
+upon. Trails ran in every direction, and upon
+them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends
+plundered from the Mexicans,&mdash;dresses, made
+and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters, flour, onions,
+and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could
+be discerned the ruins,&mdash;buildings, walls, and
+dams, erected by an extinct race, once possessing
+this region.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting
+along. Six mules slipped from the trail, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span>
+rolled over and over until they struck the bottom
+of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected
+a comparatively easy grade, and none was
+badly hurt.</p>
+
+<p>The scouts became more and more vigilant
+and the “medicine-men” more and more devotional.
+When camp was made the high peaks
+were immediately picketed, and all the approaches
+carefully examined. Fires were allowed
+only in rare cases, and in positions
+affording absolute concealment. Before going
+to bed the scouts were careful to fortify themselves
+in such a manner that surprise was simply
+impossible.</p>
+
+<p>Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men”
+gathered together for the never-to-be-neglected
+duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
+After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining
+the privilege of sitting in the circle with them.
+All but one chanted in a low, melancholy tone,
+half song and half grunt. The solitary exception
+lay as if in a trance for a few moments,
+and then, half opening his lips, began to thump
+himself violently in the breast, and to point to
+the east and north, while he muttered: “Me<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span>
+can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby me see
+’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch
+’um, me no kill ’um. Mebbe so six day me
+catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
+send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail.
+Mebbe so tomollow catch ’um squaw. Chilicahua
+see me, me no get ’um. No see me,
+me catch him. Me see him little bit now.
+Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
+catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me
+catch ’um mool (mule), me catch ’um cow. Me
+catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
+’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies,
+translated for me by an old friend in the
+circle who spoke some English, were listened to
+with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck
+scouts on the exterior.</p>
+
+<p>The succeeding day brought increased trouble
+and danger. The mountains became, if anything,
+steeper; the trails, if anything, more
+perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows
+lined the path along which we toiled, dragging
+after us worn-out horses.</p>
+
+<p>It was not yet noon when the final ridge of
+the day was crossed and the trail turned down<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span>
+a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which gradually
+widened into a small amphitheatre.</p>
+
+<p>This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied
+by the Chiricahuas while he was with
+them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
+of defense, it was admirably situated.
+Water flowed in a cool, sparkling stream
+through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine,
+oak, and cedar in abundance and of good size
+clung to the steep flanks of the ridges, in whose
+crevices grew much grass. The country, for a
+considerable distance, could be watched from
+the pinnacles upon which the savage pickets
+had been posted, while their huts had been so
+scattered and concealed in the different brakes
+that the capture or destruction of the entire
+band could never have been effected.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this
+place a considerable time. The heads and bones
+of cows and ponies were scattered about on all
+sides. Meat must have been their principal
+food, since we discovered scarcely any mescal
+or other vegetables. At one point the scouts
+indicated where a mother had been cutting a
+child’s hair; at another, where a band of youngsters<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span>
+had been enjoying themselves sliding down
+rocks.</p>
+
+<p>Here were picked up the implements used
+by a young Chiricahua assuming the duties of
+manhood. Like all other Indians they make
+vows and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during
+which periods they will not put their lips to
+water, but suck up all they need through a
+quill or cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and
+arrows, and a Winchester rifle had likewise been
+left behind by the late occupants.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-trains experienced much difficulty
+in keeping the trail this morning (May 9).
+Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
+themselves, three breaking their necks and two
+having to be shot.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i087" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i087.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Being now in the very centre of the hostile
+country, May 10, 1883, unusual precautions
+were taken to guard against discovery or ambuscade,
+and to hurry along the pack-mules.
+Parties of Apache scouts were thrown out to
+the front, flanks, and rear to note carefully
+every track in the ground. A few were detailed
+to stay with the pack-mules and guide
+them over the best line of country. Ax-men<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span>
+were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees
+and remove rocks or other obstructions. Then
+began a climb which reflected the experience
+of the previous two days; if at all different, it
+was much worse. Upon the crest of the first
+high ridge were seen forty abandoned <em>jacales</em>
+or lodges of branches; after that, another dismantled
+village of thirty more, and then, in
+every protected nook, one, two, or three, as
+might be. Fearful as this trail was the Chiricahuas
+had forced over it a band of cattle
+and ponies, whose footprints had been fully
+outlined in the mud, just hardened into clay.</p>
+
+<p>After two miles of a very hard climb we slid
+down the almost perpendicular face of a high
+bluff of slippery clay and loose shale into an open
+space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a
+grassy space, the young savages had been playing
+their favorite game of mushka, or lance-billiards.</p>
+
+<p>Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the
+long file of scouts streaming down hill; a shower
+of rocks and stones greeted them, and there was
+much suppressed merriment, but not the least
+bit of noisy laughter, the orders being to avoid
+any cause of alarm to the enemy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span></p>
+
+<p>A fearful chute led from this point down
+into the gloomy chasm along which trickled
+the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in
+basins and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A
+tiny cascade babbled over a ledge of limestone
+and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir
+of unknown depth. There was no longer
+any excitement about Chiricahua signs; rather,
+wonder when none were to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused
+beds, the skeleton frame-work of dismantled
+huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
+mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible
+at every turn. The Chiricahuas must have felt
+perfectly secure amid these towering pinnacles
+of rock in these profound chasms, by these
+bottomless pools of water, and in the depths
+of this forest primeval. Here no human foe
+could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding
+this security of position, “Peaches” asserted
+that the Chiricahuas never relaxed vigilance.
+No fires were allowed at night, and all
+cooking was done at midday. Sentinels lurked
+in every crag, and bands of bold raiders kept
+the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span>
+Bávispe, the trail zigzagged up the vertical
+slope of a promontory nearly a thousand feet
+above the level of the water. Perspiration
+streamed from every brow, and mules and
+horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up!
+Up! Up! was the watchword.</p>
+
+<p>Look out! came the warning cry from those
+in the lead, and then those in the rear and
+bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
+of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and,
+gathering momentum as each bound hurled
+them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To
+look upon the country was a grand sensation;
+to travel in it, infernal. Away down at the
+foot of the mountains the pack-mules could
+be discerned&mdash;apparently not much bigger than
+jack-rabbits,&mdash;struggling and panting up the
+long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down
+these ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea
+seized them, ran like deer.</p>
+
+<p>One of them gave a low cry, half whisper,
+half whistle. Instantly all were on the alert,
+and by some indefinable means, the news
+flashed through the column that two Chiricahuas
+had been sighted a short distance ahead<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span>
+in a side cañon. Before I could write this
+down the scouts had stripped to the buff,
+placed their clothing in the rocks, and dispatched
+ten or twelve of their number in swift
+pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>This proved to be a false alarm, for in an
+hour they returned, having caught up with the
+supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of
+our own packers, off the trail, looking for stray
+mules.</p>
+
+<p>When camp was made that afternoon the
+Apache scouts had a long conference with
+General Crook. They called attention to the
+fact that the pack-trains could not keep up
+with them, that five mules had been killed on
+the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled
+off this morning, but been rescued with slight
+injuries. They proposed that the pack-trains
+and white troops remain in camp at this point,
+and in future move so as to be a day’s march
+or less behind the Apache scouts, 150 of whom,
+under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with
+Al. Zeiber and the other white guides, would
+move out well in advance to examine the
+country thoroughly in front.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p>
+
+<p>If they came upon scattered parties of the
+hostiles they would attack boldly, kill as many
+as they could, and take the rest back, prisoners,
+to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas
+be intrenched in a strong position, they would
+engage them, but do nothing rash, until reinforced
+by the rest of the command. General
+Crook told them they must be careful not to
+kill women or children, and that all who surrendered
+should be taken back to the reservation
+and made to work for their own living like
+white people.</p>
+
+<p>Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere;
+small fires were burning in secluded nooks, and
+upon the bright embers the scouts baked quantities
+of bread to be carried with them. Some
+ground coffee on flat stones; others examined
+their weapons critically and cleaned their cartridges.
+Those whose moccasins needed repair
+sewed and patched them, while the more cleanly
+and more religious indulged in the sweat-bath,
+which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.</p>
+
+<p>A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and
+Apaches climbed the mountains to the south,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span>
+and reached the locality in the foot-hills where
+the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had
+an engagement. Judging by signs it would
+appear conclusive that the Indians had enticed
+the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number
+with bullets and rocks, and put the rest to
+ignominious flight. The “medicine-men” had
+another song and pow-wow after dark. Before
+they adjourned it was announced that in two
+days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
+would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days
+kill a “heap.”</p>
+
+<p>On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and
+fifty Apache scouts, under the officers above
+named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started
+from camp, on foot, at daybreak. Each carried
+on his person four days’ rations, a canteen, 100
+rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those
+who were to remain in camp picketed the three
+high peaks overlooking it, and from which half
+a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance.
+Most of those not on guard went down
+to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
+severe climbing up and down rough mountains,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span>
+slipping, falling, and rolling in dust and clay,
+had blackened most of us like negroes.</p>
+
+<p>Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in
+numbers, four coming down the mountains of
+their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
+twenty were by this date in camp. The
+suggestions of the locality were rather peaceful
+in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
+bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay
+upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills
+in the west, a runner came back with a note
+from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
+place twelve or fifteen miles across the
+mountains to the south-east, with plenty of
+wood, water, and grass.</p>
+
+<p>For the ensuing three days the white soldiers
+and pack-trains cautiously followed in the footsteps
+of Crawford and the scouts, keeping a
+sufficient interval between the two bodies to
+insure thorough investigation of the rough
+country in front. The trail did not improve
+very much, although after the summit of a
+high, grassy plateau had been gained, there was
+easy traveling for several leagues. Pine-trees<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span>
+of majestic proportions covered the mountain-tops,
+and there was the usual thickness of
+scrub-oak on the lower elevations. By the side
+of the trail, either thrown away or else <em>cachéd</em>
+in the trees, were quantities of goods left by
+the Chiricahuas&mdash;calico, clothing, buckskin,
+horse-hides, beef-hides, dried meat, and things
+of that nature. The nights were very cool, the
+days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its
+tributaries were a succession of deep tanks of
+glassy, pure water, in which all our people
+bathed on every opportunity. The scouts
+escorting the pack-trains gathered in another
+score of stray ponies and mules, and were encouraged
+by another note sent back by Crawford,
+saying that he had passed the site of
+a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight <em>wickyups</em>
+(huts), that the enemy had a great drove of
+horses and cattle, and that the presence of
+Americans or Apache scouts in the country
+was yet undreamed of.</p>
+
+<p>Additional rations were pushed ahead to
+Crawford and his command, the pack-trains
+in rear taking their own time to march.
+There was an abundance of wood in the forest,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span>
+grass grew in sufficiency, and the Bávispe
+yielded water enough for a great army. The
+stream was so clear that it was a pleasure to
+count the pebbles at the bottom and to watch
+the graceful fishes swimming within the
+shadow of moss-grown rocks. The current
+was so deep that, sinking slowly, with uplifted
+arms, one was not always able to touch
+bottom with the toes, and so wide that twenty
+good, nervous strokes barely sufficed to propel
+the swimmer from shore to shore. The water
+was soft, cool, and refreshing, and a plunge
+beneath its ripples smoothed away the wrinkles
+of care.</p>
+
+<p>On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched
+ten or twelve miles to the south-east, crossing
+a piece of country recently burned over, the
+air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening
+and blistering our faces. Many more old ruins
+were passed and scores of walls of masonry.
+The trail was slightly improved, but still bad
+enough; the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish
+feldspar, with thin seams of quartz crystals.
+There were also granite, sandstone, shale, quartzite,
+and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span>
+of the cañons were all kinds of “float”&mdash;granite,
+basalt, sandstone, porphyry, schist,
+limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind
+of rock was, when struck upon the hill-sides it
+was almost invariably split and broken, and
+grievously retarded the advance.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="III">III.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>About noon of the 15th we had descended
+into a small box cañon, where we were met by
+two white men (packers) and nine Apache
+scouts.</p>
+
+<p>They had come back from Crawford with
+news for which all were prepared. The enemy
+was close in our front, and fighting might begin
+at any moment. The scouts in advance
+had picked up numbers of ponies, mules, burros,
+and cattle. This conversation was broken
+by the sudden arrival of an Apache runner,
+who had come six miles over the mountains in
+less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and
+handed General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating
+that the advance-guard had run across the
+Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had
+become much excited. Two Chiricahuas were
+fired at, two bucks and a squaw, by scouts,
+which action had alarmed the hostiles, and
+their camp was on the move. Crawford would<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span>
+pursue with all possible rapidity. At the same
+moment reports of distant musketry-firing were
+borne across the hills. Crawford was fighting
+the Chiricahuas! There could be no doubt
+about that; but exactly how many he had
+found, and what luck he was having, no one
+could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
+mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness
+to move forward to Crawford’s support, if
+necessary. The firing continued for a time, and
+then grew feeble and died away.</p>
+
+<p>All were anxious for a fight which should
+bring this Chiricahua trouble to an end; we
+had an abundance of ammunition and a sufficiency
+of rations for a pursuit of several days
+and nights, the moon being at its full.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after dark Crawford and his command
+came into camp. They had “jumped”
+“Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rancherías</i>, killing
+nine and capturing five&mdash;two boys, two girls,
+and one young woman, the daughter of
+“Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the
+<ins class="corr" id="tn-76" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'dead Chiracahuas'">
+dead Chiricahuas</ins> had been taken four nickel-plated,
+breech-loading Winchester repeating
+rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span>
+Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully
+broken country, gashed with countless
+ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
+pine and scrub-oak. How many had been
+killed and wounded could never be definitely
+known, the meagre official report, submitted by
+Captain Crawford, being of necessity confined
+to figures known to be exact. Although the
+impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated
+the engagement and somewhat impaired
+its effect, yet this little skirmish demonstrated
+two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their
+old friends and relatives from the San Carlos
+had invaded their strongholds as the allies of
+the white men, and could be depended upon
+to fight, whether backed up by white soldiers
+or not. The scouts next destroyed the village,
+consisting of thirty <em>wickyups</em>, disposed in
+two clusters, and carried off all the animals,
+loading down forty-seven of them with plunder.
+This included the traditional riffraff of
+an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal,
+blankets, and clothing, with occasional
+prizes of much greater value, originally stolen
+by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span>
+Americans. There were several gold and silver
+watches, a couple of albums, and a considerable
+sum of money&mdash;Mexican and American
+coin and paper. The captives behaved with
+great coolness and self-possession, considering
+their tender years. The eldest said that her
+people had been astounded and dismayed when
+they saw the long line of Apache scouts rushing
+in upon them; they would be still more
+disconcerted when they learned that our guide
+was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves with
+every nook in strongholds so long regarded as
+inaccessible. Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors
+were absent raiding in Sonora and Chihuahua.
+This young squaw was positive that
+the Chiricahuas would give up without further
+fighting, since the Americans had secured all
+the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,”
+she knew, would be glad to live
+peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
+“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t
+sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but none of his
+bands were left alive. Most important information
+of all, she said that in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> just
+destroyed was a little white boy about six<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span>
+years old, called “Charlie,” captured by
+“Chato” in his recent raid in Arizona. This
+boy had run away with the old squaws when
+the advance of the Apache scouts had been first
+detected. She said that if allowed to go out
+she would in less than two days bring in the
+whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them.
+All that night the lofty peak, the scene of the
+action, blazed with fire from the burning <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i>.
+Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and,
+after hours of threatening, broke into a severe
+but brief shower about sunrise next morning (May 15).</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i104" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i104.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The young woman was given a little hard
+bread and meat, enough to last two days, and
+allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
+the boy captives. The others stayed with us and
+were kindly treated. They were given all the
+baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
+of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself
+with basting a skirt, but, like another Penelope,
+as fast as her work was done she ripped it up
+and began anew&mdash;apparently afraid that idleness
+would entail punishment. The younger
+girl sobbed convulsively, but her little brother,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span>
+a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world
+through eyes as big as oysters and as black as jet.</p>
+
+<p>Later in the morning, after the fitful showers
+had turned into a blinding, soaking rain, the
+Apache scouts made for these young captives a
+little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs
+and dry grass. Pickets were thrown out to
+watch the country on all sides and seize upon
+any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly
+within their reach. The rain continued with
+exasperating persistency all day. The night
+cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails
+and kettles. The command moved out from
+this place, going to another and better location
+a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge
+had been scaled, when we descried on the summit
+of a prominent knoll directly in our front a
+thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
+was immediately answered by the scouts, who
+heaped up pine-cones and cedar branches,
+which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
+black, resinous signal above the tops of the
+loftiest pines.</p>
+
+<p>Five miles up and down mountains of no
+great height but of great asperity led to a fine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span>
+camping-place, at the junction of two well-watered
+cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and
+cedar in plenty, and an abundance of rich,
+juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up a
+second smoke signal, promptly responded to
+from a neighboring butte. A couple of minutes
+after two squaws were seen threading their
+way down through the timber and rocks and
+yelling with full voice. They were the sisters
+of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the scouts.
+They said that they had lost heavily in the
+fight, and that while endeavoring to escape
+over the rocks and ravines and through the
+timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc
+among them. They fully confirmed all that
+the captives had said about Charlie McComas.
+Two hours had scarcely passed when six other
+women had come in, approaching the pickets
+two and two, and waving white rags. One of
+these, the sister of “Chihuahua”&mdash;a prominent
+man among the Chiricahuas&mdash;said that her
+brother wanted to come in, and was trying to
+gather up his band, which had scattered like
+sheep after the fight; he might be looked for
+in our camp at any moment.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p>
+
+<p>On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>,
+six new arrivals were reported&mdash;four squaws,
+one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels followed
+sixteen others&mdash;men, women, and young
+children. In this band was “Chihuahua”
+himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
+betokened great decision and courage.</p>
+
+<p>This chief expressed to General Crook his
+earnest desire for peace, and acknowledged that
+all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
+future would be to prolong the contest a few
+weeks and defer their destruction. He was
+tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
+and all his property was in our hands.
+He wished to surrender his band just as soon
+as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent,
+fighting the Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”)
+had sent runners out to gather up his
+band and tell his people they must surrender,
+without reference to what the others
+did.</p>
+
+<p>Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come
+in&mdash;men, women, and children. “Chihuahua”
+asked permission to go out with two young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span>
+men and hurry his people in. This was
+granted. He promised to return without any
+delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed
+the wear and tear of a rugged mountain life,
+and the anxieties and disquietudes of a rugged
+Ishmaelitish war. The children were models
+of grace and beauty, which revealed themselves
+through dirt and rags.</p>
+
+<p>On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of
+six miles to a position giving the usual abundance
+of water and rather better grass. It was
+a small park in the centre of a thick growth of
+young pines. Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas
+were counted, and found to number seventy,
+which total before noon had swollen to
+an even hundred, not including “Chihuahua”
+and those gone back with him.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored.
+Several of them spoke Spanish
+fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
+ponies being killed for meat. Two or
+three of the Indians bore fresh bullet-wounds
+from the late fight. On the succeeding evening,
+May 20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again
+numbered at breakfast. They had increased to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span>
+121&mdash;sixty being women and girls, the remainder,
+old men, young men, and boys.</p>
+
+<p>All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades
+were hard at work gathering the tribe together
+and sending them in.</p>
+
+<p>Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was
+heard in the tall cliffs overlooking camp; Indians
+fully armed could be descried running
+about from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed
+and uncertain what to do. They began
+to interchange cries with those in our midst,
+and, after a brief interval, a couple of old
+squaws ventured down the face of the precipice,
+followed at irregular distances by warriors,
+who hid themselves in the rocks half-way
+down.</p>
+
+<p>They asked whether they were to be hurt if
+they came in.</p>
+
+<p>One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas
+went out to them to say that it made no difference
+whether they came in or not; that “Chihuahua”
+and all his people had surrendered,
+and that if these new arrivals came in during
+the day they should not be harmed; that until
+“Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span>
+a chance to come in and bring Charlie McComas
+hostilities should be suspended. The Chiricahuas
+were still fearful of treachery and hung
+like hawks or vultures to the protecting shadows
+of inaccessible pinnacles one thousand feet
+above our position. Gradually their fears wore
+off, and in parties of two and three, by various
+trails, they made their way to General Crook’s
+fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
+led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned
+from a bloody foray in Chihuahua. “Hieronymo”
+expressed a desire to have a talk; but
+General Crook declined to have anything to do
+with him or his party beyond saying that they
+had now an opportunity to see for themselves
+that their own people were against them; that
+we had penetrated to places vaunted as impregnable;
+that the Mexicans were coming in from
+all sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make
+up his mind for peace or war just as he chose.</p>
+
+<p>This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he
+waited for an hour, to resume the conversation,
+but received no encouragement. He and his
+warriors were certainly as fine-looking a lot of
+pirates as ever cut a throat or scuttled a ship;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span>
+not one among them who was not able to travel
+forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy
+precipices and along these gloomy cañons. In
+muscular development, lung and heart power,
+they were, without exception, the finest body
+of human beings I had ever looked upon. Each
+was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
+most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest
+pattern, and a few had also bows and lances.
+They soon began to talk with the Apache
+scouts, who improved the occasion to inform them
+that not only had they come down with General
+Crook, but that from both Sonora and
+Chihuahua Mexican soldiers might be looked
+for in swarms.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this,
+and went a second time to General Crook to
+have a talk. He assured him that he had always
+wanted to be at peace, but that he had
+been as much sinned against as sinning; that he
+had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
+away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous
+in their dealings with his people, and that
+he couldn’t believe a word they said. They had
+made war upon his women and children, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span>
+had run like coyotes from his soldiers. He had
+been trying to open communications with the
+Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for
+an exchange of prisoners. If General Crook
+would let him go back to San Carlos, and guarantee
+him just treatment, he would gladly work
+for his own living, and follow the path of peace.
+He simply asked for a trial; if he could not
+make peace, he and his men would die in these
+mountains, fighting to the last. He was not a
+bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but he could not
+hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and
+Americans united, in these ranges, and with so
+many Apache allies assisting them. General
+Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
+“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to
+what he wanted, peace or war.</p>
+
+<p>May 21st was one of the busiest days of the
+expedition. “Hieronymo,” at early dawn, came
+to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
+peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and
+begged to be taken back to San Carlos. He
+asked permission to get all his people together,
+and said he had sent some of his young men off
+to hurry them in from all points. He could not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span>
+get them to answer his signals, as they imagined
+them to be made by Apache scouts trying to
+ensnare them. Chiricahuas were coming in all
+the morning,&mdash;all ages, and both sexes,&mdash;sent in
+by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
+were mounted on good ponies, and all drove
+pack and loose animals before them. Early in
+the day there was seen winding through the pine
+timber a curious procession,&mdash;mostly young warriors,
+of an aggregate of thirty-eight souls,&mdash;driving
+steers and work cattle, and riding ponies
+and burros. All these were armed with Winchester
+and Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers
+and lances whose blades were old cavalry
+sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
+and bows and arrows. This was the band of
+Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass), a young chief, who
+claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong
+to the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had
+been born and raised.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i115" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i115.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WARFARE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The question of feeding all these mouths was
+getting to be a very serious one. We had started
+out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third of which
+had been consumed by our own command, and
+a considerable percentage lost or damaged when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span>
+mules rolled over the precipices. The great
+heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and
+there was the usual wastage incident to movements
+in campaign. Stringent orders were given
+to limit issues to the lowest possible amount;
+while the Chiricahuas were told that they must
+cut and roast all the mescal to be found, and
+kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
+The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty
+of butchering the meat. Standing within five
+or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
+the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust
+immediately behind the left fore-shoulder, and,
+with no noise other than a single bellow of fear
+and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its
+knees, dead.</p>
+
+<p>Camp at this period presented a medley of
+noises not often found united under a military
+standard. Horses were neighing, mules braying,
+and bells jingling, as the herds were brought
+in to be groomed. The ring of axes against the
+trunks of stout pines and oaks, the hum of voices,
+the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter of
+children at play, and the occasional music of an
+Apache fiddle or flute, combined in a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span>
+discord which left the listener uncertain whether
+he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
+among a band of school-children. Our Apache
+scouts&mdash;the Tontos especially&mdash;treated the Chiricahuas
+with dignified reserve: the Sierra Blancas
+(White Mountain) had intermarried with
+them, and were naturally more familiar, but all
+watched their rifles and cartridges very carefully
+to guard against treachery. The squaws
+kept at work, jerking and cooking meat and
+mescal for consumption on the way back to San
+Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions,
+for the possession of which the more greedy or
+more muscular fought with frequency.</p>
+
+<p>Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged
+in a pitched battle; they rushed for each other
+like a couple of infuriated Texas steers; hair
+flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and
+two “human forms divine” were scratched and
+torn by sharp nails accustomed to this mode of
+warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled,
+little children screamed and ran, warriors
+stood in a ring, and from a respectful distance
+gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
+to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span>
+than an infuriated squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate.
+The packers and soldiers looked on, discussing
+the “points” of the belligerents. “The little
+one’s built like a hired man,” remarks one critic.
+“Ya-as; but the old un’s a <em>He</em>, and doan’ you
+forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
+favor of the older contestant, although the
+younger remained on the ground, her bleeding
+nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing fire,
+and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.</p>
+
+<p>But all interest was withdrawn from this
+spectacle and converged upon a file of five
+wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of
+whom bore a nursing baby, who had come within
+the boundaries of our camp and stood in
+mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to
+realize that they were free. They were a party
+of captives seized by “Hieronymo” in his last
+raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested,
+and fed a small amount of food, they told a long,
+rambling story, which is here condensed: They
+were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
+near one of the stations of the Mexican Central
+Railway just two weeks previously. Originally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span>
+there had been six in the party, but “Hieronymo”
+had sent back the oldest and feeblest with
+a letter to the Mexican general, saying that he
+wanted to make peace with the whites, and
+would do so, provided the Mexicans returned
+the Apache women and children held prisoners
+by them; if they refused, he would steal all the
+Mexican women and children he could lay hands
+on, and keep them as hostages, and would continue
+the war until he had made Sonora and
+Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to
+say that the greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua
+at the mere mention of the name of
+“Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to
+be the devil, sent to punish them for their sins.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers
+with rocks, telling his warriors he had no
+ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The
+women had suffered incredible torture climbing
+the rough skirts of lofty ranges, fording deep
+streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
+morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments
+had been rent into rags by briars and brambles,
+feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen by
+contusions from sharp rocks. They said that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span>
+when “Hieronymo” had returned to the heart
+of the mountains, and had come upon one of
+our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was
+curious to witness. The Chiricahuas with him
+made a hurried but searching examination of
+the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their
+enemies&mdash;the Americans&mdash;had gained access to
+their strongholds, and that they had with them
+a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started
+away in the direction of our present bivouac,
+paying no further heed to the captured women
+or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were
+driving away from Chihuahua. It may be well
+to anticipate a little, and say that the cattle in
+question drifted out on the back trail, getting
+into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of
+the Mexicans in pursuit, who claimed their
+usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
+not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what
+course to pursue, stayed quietly by the half-dead
+embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up a
+few odds and ends of rags with which to cover
+their nakedness; and of castaway food, which
+they devoured with the voracity of famished
+wolves. When morning dawned they arose,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span>
+half frozen, from the couches they had made,
+and staggered along in the direction taken by
+the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated,
+they followed to where they now were.</p>
+
+<p>And now they were free! Great God!
+Could it be possible?</p>
+
+<p>The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down
+creatures welled forth in praise and glorification
+to God. “Praise be to the All-Powerful
+God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most
+Holy Sacrament!” echoed her companions.
+“Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
+“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad,
+who has taken pity upon us!” It brought
+tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
+witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us
+of our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters.
+All possible kindness and attention were shown
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The reaction came very near upsetting two,
+who became hysterical from over-excitement,
+and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
+were not going to take them away. They did
+not recover their natural composure until the
+expedition had crossed the boundary line.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” had another interview with
+General Crook, whom he assured he wanted to
+make a peace to last forever. General Crook
+replied that “Hieronymo” had waged such
+bloody war upon our people and the Mexicans
+that he did not care to let him go back to San
+Carlos; a howl would be raised against any
+man who dared to grant terms to an outlaw for
+whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo”
+were willing to lay down his arms and
+go to work at farming, General Crook would
+allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing
+he could do would be to remain just where he
+was and fight it out.</p>
+
+<p>“I am not taking your arms from you,” said
+the General, “because I am not afraid of you
+with them. You have been allowed to go
+about camp freely, merely to let you see that
+we have strength enough to exterminate you if
+we want to; and you have seen with your own
+eyes how many Apaches are fighting on our
+side and against you. In making peace with
+the Americans, you must also be understood as
+making peace with the Mexicans, and also that
+you are not to be fed in idleness, but set to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span>
+work at farming or herding, and make your
+own living.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his
+contempt for the Mexicans, asserted that he
+had whipped them every time, and in the last
+fight with them hadn’t lost a man. He would
+go to the San Carlos with General Crook and
+work at farming or anything else. All he asked
+for was fair play. He contended that it was
+unfair to start back to the San Carlos at that
+time, when his people were scattered like quail,
+and when the women and children now in our
+hands were without food or means of transportation.
+The old and the little ones could
+not walk. The Chiricahuas had many ponies
+and donkeys grazing in the different cañons.
+Why not remain one week longer? “Loco”
+and all the other Chiricahuas would then have
+arrived; all the ponies would be gathered up;
+a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and
+the march could be made securely and safely.
+But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre, the
+Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the
+remnant of the band, with whom “Hieronymo,”
+would cast his fortunes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p>
+
+<p>General Crook acknowledged the justice of
+much which “Hieronymo” had said, but declined
+to take any action not in strict accord
+with the terms of the convention. He would
+now move back slowly, so as not to crowd the
+young and feeble too much; they should have
+time to finish roasting mescal, and most of those
+now out could catch up with the column; but
+those who did not would have to take the
+chances of reaching San Carlos in safety.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace;
+said that he himself would start out to gather
+and bring in the remnants of his people, and
+he would cause the most diligent search to be
+made for Charlie McComas. If possible, he
+would join the Americans before they got out
+of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make
+his way to the San Carlos as soon as this could
+be done without danger; “but,” concluded he,
+“I will remain here until I have gathered up
+the last man, woman, and child of the Chiricahuas.”</p>
+
+<p>All night long the Chiricahuas and the
+Apache scouts danced together in sign of peace
+and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span>
+partly filled with water and covered tightly
+with a well-soaked piece of calico. The drumsticks
+were willow saplings curved into a hoop
+at one extremity. The beats recorded one hundred
+to the minute, and were the same dull,
+solemn thump which scared Cortés <ins class="corr" id="tn-98" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'and his beleagured'">
+and his beleaguered</ins> followers during <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">la Noche triste</i>.
+No Caucasian would refer to it as music;
+nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own
+comparable to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake.
+And so the song, chanted to the measure of the
+drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
+held listeners spell-bound. When the dance
+began, two old hags, white-haired and stiff with
+age, pranced in the centre of the ring, warming
+up under the stimulus of the chorus until they
+became lively as crickets. With them were
+two or three naked boys of very tender years.
+The ring itself included as many as two hundred
+Indians of both sexes, whose varied costumes
+of glittering hues made a strange setting
+to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang
+in the silvery rays of the moon and the flickering
+light of the camp-fires.</p>
+
+<p>On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span>
+Chiricahuas, and, soon after, Nané, one of the
+most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
+chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his
+people. He has a strong face, marked with intelligence,
+courage, and good nature, but with
+an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness.
+He has received many wounds in his countless
+fights with the whites, and limps very perceptibly
+in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas
+were coming in by every trail, and that all
+would go to the San Carlos as soon as they
+collected their families.</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th of May the march back to the
+San Carlos began. All the old Chiricahuas
+were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so
+were the weak little children and feeble women.
+The great majority streamed along on foot,
+nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood
+foliage to screen them from the sun. The distance
+travelled was not great, and camp was
+made by noon.</p>
+
+<p>The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully
+picturesque. Sit down on this flat rock
+and feast your eyes upon the silver waves flashing
+in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span>
+is about to give her baby brother a much-needed
+bath. The little dusky brat&mdash;all eyes&mdash;is
+looking furtively at you and ready to
+bawl if you draw nearer. Opposite are two
+old crones filling <em>ollas</em> (jugs or jars) of basket-work,
+rendered fully water-proof by a coating
+of either mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside
+of them are two others, who are utilizing the
+entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The
+splash and yell on your right, as you correctly
+divine, come from an Apache “Tom Sawyer,”
+who will one day mount the gallows. The
+friendly greeting and request for “tobacco
+shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys, who
+has kindly been eating a big portion of your
+meals for several days past, and feels so friendly
+toward you that he announces himself in a
+pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “<em>Sikisn</em>”
+(brother). Behind you are grouped Apache
+scouts, whose heads are encircled with red flannel
+bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges
+are never laid aside. Horses and mules plunge
+belly-deep into the sparkling current; soldiers
+come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets
+filled with water, and some to soak neck,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span>
+face, and hands, before going back to dinner.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i129" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i129.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE BASKET-WORK.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>In this camp we remained several days. The
+old and young squaws had cut and dried large
+packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought
+down from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal
+heads, which were piled in ovens of hot stones
+covered with wet grass and clay. The process
+of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes
+from three to four days, and resembles somewhat
+the mode of baking clams in New England.
+The Apache scouts passed the time
+agreeably enough in gambling with the Chiricahuas,
+whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning
+hundreds of dollars in gold, silver, and
+paper at the games of <em>monte</em>, <em>conquien</em>, <em>tzi-chis</em>,
+and <em>mushka</em>.</p>
+
+<p>The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed
+groups of white soldiers and packers, and
+nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua
+women and children, who disported in the refreshing
+waters with the agility and grace of
+nereids and tritons. The modesty of the
+Apaches of both sexes, under all circumstances,
+is praiseworthy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook
+this morning that “Hieronymo” had sent them
+back to say that the Chiricahuas were very
+much scattered since the fight, and that he had
+not been as successful as he anticipated in getting
+them united and in corraling their herds of
+ponies. They did not want to leave a single
+one of their people behind, and urged General
+Crook to stay in his present camp for a week
+longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed
+himself as anxious for peace. He had
+never wished to leave San Carlos. He wanted
+to go back there and obtain a little farm, and
+own cattle and horses, as he once did. Here it
+may be proper to say that all the chiefs of the
+Chiricahuas&mdash;“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,”
+“Nané,” “Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,”
+“Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”&mdash;are men of noticeable
+brain power, physically perfect and mentally
+acute&mdash;just the individuals to lead a forlorn
+hope in the face of every obstacle.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahua children, who had become
+tired of swimming, played at a new sport to-day,
+a mimic game of war, a school of practice
+analogous to that established by old Fagan for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span>
+the instruction of young London pickpockets.
+Three boys took the lead, and represented Mexicans,
+who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or
+elude their pursuers, who trailed them to their
+covert, surrounded it, and poured in a flight of
+arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon
+the ground, and the other two were seized and
+carried into captivity. The fun became very
+exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring
+the proprieties, raised itself up to see how the
+battle sped.</p>
+
+<p>In such sports, in such constant exercise,
+swimming, riding, running up and down the
+steepest and most slippery mountains, the
+Apache passes his boyish years. No wonder
+his bones are of iron, his sinews of wire, his
+muscles of India-rubber.</p>
+
+<p>On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished
+roasting enough mescal to last them to
+the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts
+came running in very much excited. He told
+his story to the effect that, while hunting some
+distance to the north, he had discovered a large
+body of Mexican soldiers; they were driving
+back the band of cattle run off by “Hieronymo,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span>
+and previously referred to. The scout
+tried to communicate with the Mexicans, who
+imagined him to be a hostile Indian, and fired
+three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al.
+Zeiber, and a small detachment of white and
+Indian soldiers started out to overtake the
+Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although
+they went some fifteen miles.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the
+march was continued back toward the San
+Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow,
+the Mexican captives not being able to ride
+any great distance along the rough trails, and
+several of our men being sick. Two of the
+scouts were so far gone with pneumonia that
+their death was predicted every hour, in spite
+of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
+their incantations would bring them through all
+right. “Hieronymo,” “Chato,” “Kan-tenné,”
+and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
+of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of
+their people, making an aggregate of 384 in
+camp on the 29th.</p>
+
+<p>On the 30th, after a march, quite long under
+the circumstances,&mdash;fifteen to eighteen miles,&mdash;we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span>
+crossed the main “divide” of the Sierra
+Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
+feet. The pine timber was large and dense,
+and much of it on fire, the smoke and heat
+parching our throats, and blackening our faces.</p>
+
+<p>With this pine grew a little mescal and a
+respectable amount of the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">madroña</i>, or mountain
+mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
+by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys;
+trout were visible in all the streams. The line
+of march was prolific in mineral formations,&mdash;basalt,
+lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone.
+The day the command descended the Chihuahua
+side of the range it struck the trail of a
+large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription
+cut into the bark of a mahogany stating
+that the Eleventh Battalion had been here
+on the 21st of May.</p>
+
+<p>The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward
+march may be greatly condensed. The
+line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and
+close to the summit of the range. The country
+was extremely rough, cut up with rocky
+cañons beyond number and ravines of great
+depth, all flowing with water. Pine forests covered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span>
+all the elevated ridges, but the cañons and
+lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
+character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and
+blackberry bushes, and strawberry vines. The
+weather continued almost as previously described,&mdash;the
+days clear and serene, the nights
+bitter cold, with ice forming in pails and kettles
+on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
+worthy of mention assailed the command, the
+sharp showers that fell two or three times being
+welcomed as laying the soot and dust.</p>
+
+<p>Game was found in abundance,&mdash;deer and
+turkey. This the Apache scouts were permitted
+to shoot and catch, to eke out the
+rations which had completely failed, the last
+issue being made June 4th. From that date
+till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon
+the country. The Apaches improved the excellent
+opportunity to show their skill as
+hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i138" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i138.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The command was threatened by a great
+prairie fire on coming down into the broad
+grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus
+of a fierce wind the flames were rushing
+upon camp. There was not a moment to be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span>
+lost. All hands turned out,&mdash;soldiers, scouts,
+squaws, Chiricahua warriors, and even children.
+Each bore a branch of willow or cotton-wood,
+a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
+had already seized the hill-crest nearest
+our position; brownish and gray clouds poured
+skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
+long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped
+high in air. It was a grand, a terrible sight:
+in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin and
+desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and
+the air, pouring in, made whirlwinds, which
+sent the black funnels of soot winding and
+twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses
+almost to the zenith. For one moment the
+line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining
+the hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she
+comes!” yelled the men on the left; and like
+a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of
+cloud and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire
+was upon, around, and about us.</p>
+
+<p>Our people stood bravely up to their work,
+and the swish! swish! swish! of willow brooms
+proved that camp was not to be surrendered
+without a struggle.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p>
+
+<p>We won the day; that is, we saved camp,
+herds, and a small area of pasturage; but over
+a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
+swept, mantling the land with soot and an
+opaque pall of mist and smoke through which
+the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
+horses and mules were badly burned, but none
+to death.</p>
+
+<p>For two or three nights afterwards the horizon
+was gloriously lighted with lines of fire
+creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
+into the broad plain, through which
+trickled the shriveled current of the Janos, no
+one would have suspected that we were not a
+column of Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched
+out for a mile upon the trail, resolved itself
+upon closer approach into a confused assemblage
+of ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles
+or without, but in every case freighted with
+humanity. Children were packed by twos and
+threes, while old women and feeble men got
+along as best they could, now riding, now walking.
+The scouts had decked themselves with
+paint and the Chiricahua women had donned
+all their finery of rough silver bracelets, wooden<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span>
+crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from Mexicans.
+This undulating plain, in which we now
+found ourselves, spread far to the north and
+east, and was covered with bunch and grama
+grasses, and dotted with cedar.&mdash;The march
+brought us to Alisos Creek (an affluent of the
+Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
+spot where the Mexican commander García,
+had slaughtered so many Chiricahua women
+and children. Human bones, picked white and
+clean by coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of
+the stream. Apache baskets and other furniture
+were strewn about. A clump of graves
+headed by rude crosses betrayed the severity of
+the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.</p>
+
+<p>Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed
+back (west) into Sonora, going over the asperous
+peak known as the Cocospera.</p>
+
+<p>In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral&mdash;granite
+gneiss, porphyry, conglomerate,
+shale, sandstone, and quartz,&mdash;and travel was
+as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier
+days of the march. We struck the head waters
+of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged cañon, then
+Elias Creek, going through another fine game<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span>
+region, and lastly, after crossing a broad tableland
+mantled with grama grass, mesquite, Spanish
+bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
+bivouacked on the San Bernardino river,
+close to a tule swamp of blue, slimy mud.</p>
+
+<p>The scouts plastered their heads with this
+mud, and dug up the bulbs of the tule, which,
+when roasted, are quite palatable.</p>
+
+<p>On the 15th of June the command recrossed
+the national boundary, and reached Silver
+Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
+Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of
+whose officers and men we received the warmest
+conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
+predicted and asserted regarding the column,
+from which no word had come, directly or indirectly
+since May 5th. The Mexican captives
+were returned to their own country and the
+Chiricahuas marched, under Crawford, to the
+San Carlos Agency.</p>
+
+<p>Unfortunately the papers received at Silver
+Springs were full of inflammatory telegrams,
+stating that the intention of the government
+was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without
+distinction, and to parcel out the women and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span>
+children among tribes in the Indian Territory.
+This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced
+its legitimate result. Several of the
+chiefs and many of the head men hid back in
+the mountains until they could learn exactly
+what was to be their fate. The Mexican troops
+went in after them, and had two or three severe
+engagements, and were, of course, whipped each
+time. When the road was clear the Chiricahuas
+kept their promises to the letter, and brought
+to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and
+child of their people.</p>
+
+<p>They have been quietly scattered in small
+groups around the reservation, the object being
+to effect tribal disintegration, to bring individuals
+and families face to face with the progress
+made by more peaceable Apaches, and at same
+time to enable trusted members of the latter
+bands to maintain a more perfect surveillance
+over every action of the Chiricahuas.</p>
+
+<p>Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas
+insist, and I think truthfully, that he
+was in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> destroyed by Crawford;
+that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths
+of the mountains; that the country was so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span>
+rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick that
+his tracks could not be followed, even had there
+not been such a violent fall of rain during the
+succeeding nights. All accounts agree in this.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up
+thirteen captives,&mdash;women and children,&mdash;held
+by them as hostages.</p>
+
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<div class="transnote">
+<a name="TN" id="TN"></a>
+<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
+
+<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
+corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
+the text and consultation of external sources.</p>
+
+<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
+and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.</p>
+
+<p>
+<a href="#tn-10">Pg 10</a>: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-11">Pg 11</a>: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-14">Pg 14</a>: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-18">Pg 18</a>: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-23">Pg 23</a>: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-24">Pg 24</a>: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-34">Pg 34</a>: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-51">Pg 51</a>: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-76">Pg 76</a>: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-98">Pg 98</a>: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 65040 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre, by
+John Gregory Bourke
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
+other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions 
+whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
+the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at 
+www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
+to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
+
+
+
+
+Title: An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre
+       An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the Spring of 1883 
+
+
+Author: John Gregory Bourke
+
+
+
+Release Date: April 9, 2021  [eBook #65040]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA
+MADRE***
+
+
+E-text prepared by John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading
+Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
+Internet Archive (https://archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 65040-h.htm or 65040-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65040/65040-h/65040-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65040/65040-h.zip)
+
+
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
+
+
+Transcriber’s note:
+
+      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
+
+      Changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.]
+
+
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE.
+
+An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the
+Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the
+Spring of 1883.
+
+by
+
+JOHN G. BOURKE,
+
+Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,
+Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis.”
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+New York
+Charles Scribner’S Sons.
+1886.
+
+Copyright 1886,
+By Charles Scribner’S Sons.
+
+Press of J. J. Little & Co.,
+Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The recent outbreak of a fraction of the Chiricahua Apaches, and the
+frightful atrocities which have marked their trail through Arizona,
+Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted renewed attention to
+these brave but bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed to
+their ravages.
+
+The contents of this book, which originally appeared in a serial
+form in the _Outing Magazine_ of Boston, represent the details of
+the expedition led by General Crook to the Sierra Madre, Mexico, in
+1883; but, as the present military operations are conducted by the
+same commander, against the same enemy, and upon the same field of
+action, a perusal of these pages will, it is confidently believed,
+place before the reader a better knowledge of the general situation
+than any article which is likely soon to appear.
+
+There is this difference to be noted, however; of the one hundred
+and twenty-five (125) fighting men brought back from the Sierra
+Madre, less than one-third have engaged in the present hostilities,
+from which fact an additional inference may be drawn both of the
+difficulties to be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
+and of the horrors which would surely have accumulated upon the heads
+of our citizens had the _whole_ fighting force of this fierce band
+taken to the mountains.
+
+One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas, during the period
+from November 15th, 1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
+(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the reservation, and no
+less than twenty-five (25) white men, women, and children. This
+bloody raid has been conducted through a country filled with regular
+troops, militia, and “rangers,”--and at a loss to the enemy, so far
+as can be shown, of only one man, whose head is now at Fort Apache.
+
+              JOHN G. BOURKE.
+
+  APACHE INDIAN AGENCY,
+  SAN CARLOS, ARIZONA,
+  _December 15th, 1885_.
+
+
+
+
+  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+                                                        PAGE
+
+  CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT      _Frontispiece._
+
+  APACHE VILLAGE SCENE                           to face   7
+
+  APACHE WAR-DANCE                                        17
+
+  APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT          23
+
+  APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, ETC.                    26
+
+  APACHE AMBUSCADE                                        34
+
+  APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.                  49
+
+  APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS                           64
+
+  APACHE GIRL, WITH TYPICAL DRESS                         79
+
+  APACHE WARFARE                                          88
+
+  APACHE BASKET-WORK                                     100
+
+  FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE                              107
+
+
+
+
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.
+
+
+
+
+I.
+
+
+Within the compass of this volume it is impossible to furnish a
+complete dissertation upon the Apache Indians or the causes which led
+up to the expedition about to be described. The object is simply to
+outline some of the difficulties attending the solution of the Indian
+question in the South-west and to make known the methods employed
+in conducting campaigns against savages in hostility. It is thought
+that the object desired can best be accomplished by submitting an
+unmutilated extract from the journal carefully kept during the whole
+period involved.
+
+Much has necessarily been excluded, but without exception it has
+been to avoid repetition, or else to escape the introduction of
+information bearing upon the language, the religion, marriages,
+funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting race, which would
+increase the bulk of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from its
+value in the eyes of the general reader.
+
+Ethnologically the Apache is classed with the Tinneh tribes, living
+close to the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
+For centuries he has been preëminent over the more peaceful nations
+about him for courage, skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
+and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack when skilfully-planned
+ambuscades have led an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
+brutality to captives; patient endurance and fortitude under the
+greatest privations.
+
+In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted intelligence, good
+fellowship, warmth of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
+wrong.
+
+No Indian has more virtues and none has been more truly ferocious
+when aroused. He was the first of the native Americans to defeat in
+battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering, smooth-tongued
+Spaniard, with whom and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has waged
+cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since the days of Cortés. When the
+Spaniard had fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to push
+back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided simply with lance and
+bow. The past fifty years have seen the Apache provided with arms
+of precision, and, especially since the introduction of magazine
+breech-loaders, the Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
+upon the Apache, but has trembled for the security of life and
+property in the squalid hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.
+
+In 1871 the War Department confided to General George Crook the task
+of whipping into submission all the bands of the Apache nation living
+in Arizona. How thoroughly that duty was accomplished is now a matter
+of history. But at the last moment one band--the Chiricahuas--was
+especially exempted from Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
+by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box sort of an existence,
+now popping into an agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
+own story is to be credited, to live at peace with the whites, but
+unable to do so from lack of nourishment.
+
+When they went upon the reservation, rations in abundance were
+promised for themselves and families. A difference of opinion soon
+arose with the agent as to what constituted a ration, the wicked
+Indians laboring under the delusion that it was enough food to
+keep the recipient from starving to death, and objecting to an
+issue of supplies based upon the principle according to which
+grumbling Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was formerly
+apportioned,--that is, by being thrown through the rungs of a
+ladder--what stuck being the share of the Indian, and what fell
+to the ground being the share of the agent. To the credit of the
+agent it must be said that he made a praiseworthy but ineffectual
+effort to alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
+of hymn-books among his wards. The perverse Chiricahuas, not being
+able to digest works of that nature, and unwilling to acknowledge
+the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic, made up their minds to
+sally out from San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable
+wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their discontent was not allayed by
+rumors whispered about of the intention of the agent to have the
+whole tribe removed bodily to the Indian Territory. Coal had been
+discovered on the reservation, and speculators clamored that the land
+involved be thrown open for development, regardless of the rights
+of the Indians. But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached a
+focus when the agent one day sent his chief of police to arrest a
+Chiricahua charged with some offense deemed worthy of punishment in
+the guard-house. The offender started to run through the Indian camp,
+and the chief of police fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
+luckless old squaw, who happened in range. This wretched marksmanship
+was resented by the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted by
+the profuse apologies tendered for the accident. They silently
+made their preparations, waiting long enough to catch the chief of
+police, kill him, cut off his head, and play a game of foot-ball with
+it; and then, like a flock of quail, the whole band, men, women,
+and children--710 in all--started on the dead run for the Mexican
+boundary, one hundred and fifty miles to the south.
+
+Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought their way across Southern
+Arizona and New Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
+The valleys of the Santa Cruz and San Pedro witnessed a repetition
+of the once familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields with
+rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle. While engaged in
+fighting off the American forces, which pressed too closely upon
+their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front by the Mexican column
+under Colonel Garcia, who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved
+a “substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and capturing thirty,
+eleven of which total of one hundred and fifteen were men, and the
+rest women and children. The Chiricahuas claim that when the main
+body of their warriors reached the scene of the engagement the
+Mexicans evinced no anxiety to come out from the rifle-pits they
+hastily dug. To this fact no allusion can be found in the Mexican
+commander’s published dispatches.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.]
+
+The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate of less than 600--150
+of whom were warriors and big boys, withdrew to the recesses of the
+adjacent Sierra Madre--their objective point. Not long after this the
+Chiricahuas made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans, who
+invited them to a little town near Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a
+conference. They were courteously received, plied with liquor until
+drunk, and then attacked tooth and nail, ten or twelve warriors being
+killed and some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off to captivity.
+
+This is a one-sided description of the affair, given by a Chiricahua
+who participated. The newspapers of that date contained telegraph
+accounts of a fierce battle and another “victory” from Mexican
+sources; so that no doubt there is some basis for the story.
+
+Meantime General Crook had been reassigned by the President to the
+command of the Department of Arizona, which he had left nearly
+ten years previously in a condition of peace and prosperity, with
+the Apaches hard at work upon the reservation, striving to gain a
+living by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and rascality, in the
+interval, had done their worst, and when Crook returned not only
+were the Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other bands of
+the Apache nation were in a state of scarcely concealed defection
+and hostility. Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old friends
+among the chiefs and warriors, and by the exercise of a strong
+personal influence, coupled with assurances that the wrongs of which
+the Apaches complained should be promptly redressed, succeeded in
+averting an outbreak which would have made blood flow from the
+Pecos to the Colorado, and for the suppression of which the gentle
+and genial tax-payer would have been compelled to contribute most
+liberally of his affluence. Attended by an aid-de-camp, a surgeon,
+and a dozen Apache scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
+south-east corner of Arizona, from which point he made an attempt
+to open up communication with the Chiricahuas. In this he was
+unsuccessful, but learned from a couple of squaws, intercepted
+while attempting to return to the San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas
+had sworn vengeance upon Mexicans and Americans alike; that
+their stronghold was an impregnable position in the Sierra Madre,
+a “great way” below the International Boundary; and that they
+supplied themselves with an abundance of food by raiding upon the
+cattle-ranches and “haciendas” in the valleys and plains below.
+
+Crook now found himself face to face with the following intricate
+problem: The Chiricahuas occupied a confessedly impregnable position
+in the precipitous range known as the Sierra Madre. This position was
+within the territory of another nation so jealous of its privileges
+as not always to be able to see clearly in what direction its best
+interests lay. The territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
+stretched across the boundary separating Mexico from the United
+States, but was divided into four military departments--two in
+each country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy, suspicion,
+fault-finding, and antagonism would surely dog the steps of him who
+should endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.
+
+To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas, and all the other
+Apaches as well, were filled with the notion that the Mexicans were
+a horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid to meet them in war
+but valiant enough to destroy their women and children, for whose
+blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood must in turn be
+shed. Affairs went on in this unsatisfactory course from October,
+1882, until March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a return of
+the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one knowing where the first attack
+should be made. The meagre military force allotted to the department
+was distributed so as to cover as many exposed points as possible,
+one body of 150 Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford, Third
+Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous duty of patrolling the
+Mexican boundary for a distance of two hundred miles, through a
+rugged country pierced with ravines and cañons. No one was surprised
+to learn that toward the end of March this skeleton line had been
+stealthily penetrated by a bold band of twenty-six Chiricahuas, under
+a very crafty and daring young chief named _Chato_ (Spanish for Flat
+Nose).
+
+By stealing fresh horses from every ranch they were successful in
+traversing from seventy-five to one hundred miles a day, killing and
+destroying all in their path, the culminating point in their bloody
+career being the butchery of Judge McComas and wife, prominent and
+refined people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction of their
+bright boy, Charlie, whom the Indians carried back with them on their
+retreat through New Mexico and Chihuahua.
+
+It may serve to give some idea of the courage, boldness, and subtlety
+of these raiders to state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
+New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of not less than eight hundred
+miles, they passed at times through localities fairly well settled
+and close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops--4,500 Mexican and
+500 American. They killed twenty-five persons, Mexican and American,
+and lost but two--one killed near the Total Wreck mine, Arizona, and
+one who fell into the hands of the American troops, of which last
+much has to be narrated.
+
+To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches by _direct_ pursuit would
+be about as hopeless a piece of business as that of catching so many
+fleas. All that could be done was done; the country was alarmed
+by telegraph; people at exposed points put upon their guard, while
+detachments of troops scoured in every direction, hoping, by good
+luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap destroy, the daring marauders.
+The trail they had made coming up from Mexico could, however, be
+followed, _back_ to the stronghold; and this, in a military sense,
+would be the most _direct_, as it would be the most practical pursuit.
+
+Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves. He first
+concentrated at the most eligible position on the Southern Pacific
+Railroad--Willcox--all the skeletons of companies which were
+available, for the protection of Arizona.
+
+Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were brought in on every
+train; the whole organization was carefully inspected, to secure
+the rejection of every unserviceable soldier, animal, or weapon;
+telegrams and letters were sent to the officers commanding the
+troops of Mexico, but no replies were received, the addresses of the
+respective generals not being accurately known. As their co-operation
+was desirable, General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad to
+Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua, there to see personally and
+confer with the Mexican civil and military authorities. The cordial
+reception extended him by all classes was the best evidence of the
+high regard in which he was held by the inhabitants of the two
+afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua, and of their readiness
+to welcome any force he would lead to effect the destruction or
+removal of the common enemy. Generals Topete and Carbó--soldiers of
+distinction--the governors of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran,
+of Chihuahua, were most earnest in their desire for a removal of
+savages whose presence was a cloud upon the prosperity of their
+fellow-citizens. General Crook made no delay in these conferences,
+but hurried back to Willcox and marched his command thence to the
+San Bernardino springs, in the south-east corner of the Territory
+(Arizona).
+
+But serious delays and serious complications were threatened by the
+intemperate behavior of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
+Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the San Carlos Agency
+with the avowed purpose of “cleaning out” all the Indians there
+congregated. The chiefs and head men of the Apaches had just caused
+word to be telegraphed to General Crook that they intended sending
+him another hundred of their picked warriors as an assurance and
+pledge that they were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on the
+war-path. Upon learning of the approach of the “Rangers” the chiefs
+prudently deferred the departure of the new levy of scouts until the
+horizon should clear, and enable them to see what was to be expected
+from their white neighbors.
+
+The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers” was exhausted in less
+than ten days, when the organization expired of thirst, to the
+gratification of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier, who
+repudiated an interference with the plans of the military commander,
+respected and esteemed by them for former distinguished services.
+
+At this point it may be well to insert an outline of the story told
+by the Chiricahua captive who had been brought down from the San
+Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that his name was Pa-nayo-tishn
+(the Coyote saw him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a White
+Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or Red Clay) clan, married to two
+Chiricahua women, by whom he had had children, and with whose people
+he had lived for years. He had left the Chiricahua stronghold in the
+mountain called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey below Casas
+Grandes in Chihuahua. From that stronghold the Chiricahuas had been
+raiding with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued they would draw
+the Mexicans into the depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
+kill them by rolling down rocks from the heights.
+
+The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and cattle, but little food of a
+vegetable character. They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
+breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of ammunition, and
+had made their recent raid into Arizona, hoping to replenish their
+supply of cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among the chiefs,
+some of whom, he thought, would be glad to return to the reservation.
+In making raids they counted upon riding from sixty to seventy-five
+miles a day as they stole fresh horses all the time and killed
+those abandoned. It would be useless to pursue them, but he would
+lead General Crook back along the trail they had made coming up
+from Mexico, and he had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken by
+surprise.
+
+He had not gone with them of his own free will, but had been
+compelled to leave the reservation, and had been badly treated while
+with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos because the agent had
+stolen their rations, beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
+He asserted emphatically that no communication of any kind had been
+held with the Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that direction
+having been frustrated.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WAR-DANCE.]
+
+The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn, numbered seventy
+full-grown warriors and fifty big boys able to fight, with an unknown
+number of women and children. In their fights with the Mexicans about
+one hundred and fifty had been killed and captured, principally women
+and children. The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was described as a
+dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible place, having plenty of wood,
+water, and grass, but no food except what was stolen from the
+Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas might be starved out.
+
+General Crook ordered the irons to be struck from the prisoner; to
+which he demurred, saying he would prefer to wear shackles for the
+present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity. A half-dozen
+prominent scouts promised to guard him and watch him; so the fetters
+were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or “Peaches,” as the soldiers
+called him, was installed in the responsible office of guide of the
+contemplated expedition.
+
+By the 22d of April many of the preliminary arrangements had
+been completed and some of the difficulties anticipated had been
+smoothed over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the command from the
+San Carlos Reservation, and in the first hours of night began a
+war-dance, which continued without a break until the first flush of
+dawn the next day. They were all in high feather, and entered into
+the spirit of the occasion with full zest. Not much time need be
+wasted upon a description of their dresses; they didn’t wear any,
+except breech-clout and moccasins. To the music of an improvised
+drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing yells and shrieks
+they pirouetted and charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
+violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly springing high in air,
+discharging their pieces, and all the time chanting a rude refrain,
+in which their own prowess was exalted and that of their enemies
+alluded to with contempt. Their enthusiasm was not abated by the
+announcement, quietly diffused, that the “medicine men” had been hard
+at work, and had succeeded in making a “medicine” which would surely
+bring the Chiricahuas to grief.
+
+In accordance with the agreement entered into with the Mexican
+authorities, the American troops were to reach the boundary line _not
+sooner than May 1_, the object being to let the restless Chiricahuas
+quiet down as much as possible, and relax their vigilance, while at
+the same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get into position for
+effective co-operation.
+
+The convention between our government and that of Mexico, by which
+a reciprocal crossing of the International Boundary was conceded
+to the troops of the two republics, stipulated that such crossing
+should be authorized when the troops were “in close pursuit of a band
+of savage Indians,” and the crossing was made “in the unpopulated
+or desert parts of said boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
+parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment or town of either
+country.” The commander of the troops crossing was to give notice
+at time of crossing, or before if possible, to the nearest military
+commander or civil authority of the country entered. The pursuing
+force was to retire to its own territory as soon as it should have
+fought the band of which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and in
+no case could it “establish itself or remain in the foreign territory
+for a longer time than necessary to make the pursuit of the band
+whose trail it had followed.”
+
+The weak points of this convention were the imperative stipulation
+that the troops should return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
+of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated country.” A friendly
+expedition from the United States might follow close on the heels of
+a party of depredating Apaches, but, under a rigid construction of
+the term “unpopulated,” have to turn back when it had reached some
+miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity of savage attack, and
+most in need of assistance, as afterwards proved to be the case.
+
+The complication was not diminished by the orders dispatched by
+General Sherman on March 31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit
+of the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental or national
+boundaries.” Both General Crook and General Topete, anxious to
+have every difficulty removed which lay in the way of a thorough
+adjustment of this vexed question, telegraphed to their respective
+governments asking that a more elastic interpretation be given to the
+terms of the convention.
+
+To this telegram General Crook received reply that he must abide
+strictly by the terms of the convention, which could only be changed
+with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate. But what these terms
+meant exactly was left just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
+of April General Crook moved out from Willcox, accompanied by the
+Indian scouts and a force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
+and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle, guarding a train of
+wagons, with supplies of ammunition and food for two months. This
+force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in reserve at or near San
+Bernardino Springs on the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
+flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments commanded by
+Rafferty, Vroom, Overton, and Anderson; this disposition affording
+the best possible protection to the settlements in case any of the
+Chiricahuas should make their way to the rear of the detachment
+penetrating Mexico.
+
+A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column as it left the line of
+the Southern Pacific Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
+scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar methods of the Apaches
+in marching and conducting themselves while on a campaign may not be
+out of place. To veterans of the campaigns of the Civil War familiar
+with the compact formations of the cavalry and infantry of the Army
+of the Potomac, the loose, straggling methods of the Apache scouts
+would appear startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend
+at a glance that the Apache was the perfect, the ideal, scout of
+the whole world. When Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
+gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé--Go!--the Apaches started as if
+shot from a gun, and in a minute or less had covered a space of one
+hundred yards front, which distance rapidly widened as they advanced,
+at a rough, shambling walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
+Heads), the mining camp near which the first halt was to be made.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.]
+
+They moved with no semblance of regularity; individual fancy alone
+governed. Here was a clump of three; not far off two more, and
+scattered in every point of the compass, singly or in clusters, were
+these indefatigable scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
+as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s, and ears so sensitive
+that nothing escapes them. An artist, possibly, would object to
+many of them as undersized, but in all other respects they would
+satisfy every requirement of anatomical criticism. Their chests
+were broad, deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight; limbs
+well-proportioned, strong, and muscular, without a suggestion
+of undue heaviness; hands and feet small and taper but wiry;
+heads well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with a pleasant,
+good-natured expression, which would be more constant, perhaps,
+were it not for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the loose,
+disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black, held away from the face
+by a broad, flat band of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright,
+clear, and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest good-humor
+and satisfaction. Uniforms had been issued, but were donned upon
+ceremonial occasions only. On the present march each wore a loosely
+fitting shirt of red, white, or gray stuff, generally of calico, in
+some gaudy figure, but not infrequently the sombre article of woollen
+raiment issued to white soldiers. This came down outside a pair of
+loose cotton drawers, reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins are
+the most important articles of Apache apparel. In a fight or on
+a long march they will discard all else, but under any and every
+circumstance will retain the moccasins. These had been freshly made
+before leaving Willcox. The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon
+the ground while a companion traces with a sharp knife the outlines
+of the sole of his foot upon a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made
+of soft buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to mid-thigh. For
+convenience in marching, it is allowed to hang in folds below the
+knee. The raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great toe, and turned
+upward in a shield, which protects from cactus and sharp stones. A
+leather belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of metallic
+cartridges, and also keeps in place the regulation blue blouse and
+pantaloons, which are worn upon the person only when the Indian scout
+is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier towns or military posts by a
+display of all his finery.
+
+The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries are a Springfield
+breech-loading rifle, army pattern, a canteen full of water, a
+butcher knife, an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and a
+tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins or work of that kind. With
+the tweezers the Apache young man carefully picks out each and every
+hair appearing upon his face. The tag marks his place in the tribe,
+and is in reality nothing more or less than a revival of a plan
+adopted during the war of the rebellion for the identification of
+soldiers belonging to the different corps and divisions. Each male
+Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered, and a descriptive
+list, corresponding to the tag kept, with a full recital of all his
+physical peculiarities.
+
+This is the equipment of each and every scout; but there are many,
+especially the more pious and influential, who carry besides,
+strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of Hoddentin, or sacred
+meal, with which to offer morning and evening sacrifice to the
+sun or other deity. Others, again, are provided with amulets of
+lightning-riven twigs, pieces of quartz crystal, petrified wood,
+concretionary sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
+representing some of their countless planetary gods or Kân, which
+are regarded as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the designs of
+the enemy or warding off arrows and bullets in the heat of action.
+And a few are happy in the possession of priceless sashes and shirts
+of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned the signs of the sun, moon,
+lightning, rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly, snake,
+centipede, and other powers to which they may appeal for aid in the
+hour of distress.
+
+The Apache is an eminently religious person, and the more deviltry he
+plans the more pronounced does his piety become.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES WORN
+BY YOUNG GIRLS.]
+
+The rate of speed attained by the Apaches in marching is about an
+even four miles an hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make a
+horse trot. They keep this up for about fifteen miles, at the end
+of which distance, if water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
+they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen each, hide in some
+convenient ravine, sit down, smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and
+stretch out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes of the South.
+If they want to make a little fire, they kindle one with matches, if
+they happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid twirl, between the
+palms, of a hard round stick fitting into a circular hole in another
+stick of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to forty-five
+seconds. The scouts by this time have painted their faces, daubing
+them with red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted “mescal.”
+The object of this is protection from wind and sun, as well as
+distinctive ornamentation.
+
+The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was broken by the shrill
+cry of Choddi! Choddi! (Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
+left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that the Apaches on that
+flank were getting fresh meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
+demonstrated that they were not the worst of shots; neither were
+they, by any means, bad cooks.
+
+When the command reached camp these restless, untiring nomads built
+in a trice all kinds of rude shelters. Those that had the army “dog
+tents” put them up on frame-works of willow or cotton-wood saplings;
+others, less fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches covered
+with grass, or of stones and boards covered with gunny sacks. Before
+these were finished smoke curled gracefully toward the sky from
+crackling embers, in front of which, transfixed on wooden spits,
+were the heads, hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
+the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to the _spolia opima_ was a
+cotton-tailed rabbit, run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
+South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught in the same manner.
+
+Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making bread,--the light, thin
+“tortillas” of the Mexicans, baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
+eating. Two others were fraternally occupied in preparing their bed
+for the night. Grass was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
+and covered with one blanket, another serving as cover. These
+Indians, with scarcely an exception, sleep with their feet pointed
+toward little fires, which, they claim, are warm, while the big ones
+built by the American soldiers, are so hot that they drive people
+away from them, and, besides, attract the attention of a lurking
+enemy. At the foot of this bed an Apache was playing on a home-made
+fiddle, fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or American aloe.
+This fiddle has four strings, and emits a sound like the wail of a
+cat with its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red man likes the
+music, which perhaps is, after all, not so very much inferior to that
+of Wagner.
+
+Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of sweet sounds, a party of
+six was playing fiercely at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards
+employed being of native manufacture, of horse-hide, covered with
+barbarous figures, and well worthy of a place in any museum.
+
+The cooking was by this time ended, and the savages, with genuine
+hospitality, invited the Americans near them to join in the feast. It
+was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty paws tearing bread
+and meat into fragments; yet the meat thus cooked was tender and
+juicy, the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and fairly well made.
+The Apaches squatted nearest to the American guests felt it incumbent
+upon them to explain everything as the meal progressed. They said
+this (pointing to the coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
+Zigosti (bread).
+
+All this time scouts had been posted commanding every possible line
+of approach. The Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite
+mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing what he himself can do,
+he ascribes to his foe--no matter how insignificant may be his
+numbers--the same daring, recklessness, agility, and subtlety
+possessed by himself. These Indian scouts will march thirty-five or
+forty miles in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of waterless
+plains upon which a tropical sun beats down with fierceness, or
+climbing up the faces of precipitous mountains which stretch across
+this region in every direction.
+
+The two great points of superiority of the native or savage soldier
+over the representative of civilized discipline are his absolute
+knowledge of the country and his perfect ability to take care of
+himself at all times and under all circumstances. Though the rays
+of the sun pour down from the zenith, or the scorching sirocco
+blow from the south, the Apache scout trudges along as unconcerned
+as he was when the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his white
+comrade to the marrow. He finds food, and pretty good food too,
+where the Caucasian would starve. Knowing the habits of wild animals
+from his earliest youth, he can catch turkeys, quail, rabbits,
+doves, or field-mice, and, perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which
+will supply him with meat. For some reason he cannot be induced to
+touch fish, and bacon or any other product of the hog is eaten only
+under duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass, which has
+dropped exhausted on the march and been left to die on the trail,
+is a delicious morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon wherever
+possible. The stunted oak, growing on the mountain flanks, furnishes
+acorns; the Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in the ashes
+of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something like the banana. The
+whole region of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted with
+varieties of the cactus, nearly every one of which is called upon
+for its tribute of fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of the
+century-plant--called mescal--are roasted between hot stones, and
+the product is rich in saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to
+the taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the “tule” are found in
+the damp mountain meadows; and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
+remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds, when
+ground fine, are rich and nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep
+ravines, and strawberries in favorable locations; in the proper
+season these, with the seeds of wild grasses and wild pumpkins, the
+gum of the “mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the pine,
+play their part in staving off the pangs of hunger.
+
+The above are merely a few of the resources of the Apache scout when
+separated from the main command. When his moccasins give out on a
+long march over the sharp rocks of the mountains or the cutting
+sands of the plains, a few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
+pair,--his own handiwork,--and so with other portions of his raiment.
+He is never without awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
+infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of some kind,--at first the
+bow and arrow, and later on the rifle,--he is perfectly at home with
+his weapons, and knowing from past experience how important they are
+for his preservation, takes much better care of them than does the
+white soldier out of garrison.
+
+He does not read the newspapers, but the great book of nature is
+open to his perusal, and has been drained of much knowledge which
+his pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire. Every track in the
+trail, mark in the grass, scratch on the bark of a tree, explains
+itself to the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an hour, almost,
+when the man or animal making them passed by, and, like a hound, will
+keep on the scent until he catches up with the object of his pursuit.
+
+In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier is sedate and
+taciturn. Seated around his little apology for a camp-fire, in the
+communion of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational. He
+is obedient to authority, but will not brook the restraints which,
+under our notions of discipline, change men into machines. He makes
+an excellent sentinel, and not a single instance can be adduced of
+property having been stolen from or by an Apache on guard.
+
+He has the peculiarity, noticed among so many savage tribes in
+various parts of the world, of not caring to give his true name to a
+stranger; if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one or remain
+mute and let a comrade answer for him. This rule does not apply
+where he has been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers. In
+such case he will respond promptly, and tell the inquirer that he is
+“Stumpy,” “Tom Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed Reilly,”
+as the case may be. But there is no such exception in regard to the
+dead. Their names are never mentioned, even by the wailing friends
+who loudly chant their virtues.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE AMBUSCADE.]
+
+Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a curious thing to witness. He
+avoids appearing suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that his
+figure projected against the sky can at such time be discerned from
+a great distance. He will carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of
+grass, or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl like a snake
+to the summit and carefully peer about, taking in with his keen black
+eyes the details of the country to the front with a rapidity, and
+thoroughness the American or European can never acquire. In battle
+he is again the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache has no false
+ideas about courage; he would prefer to skulk like the coyote for
+hours, and then kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,
+by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal or otherwise. But
+he is no coward; on the contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
+bravest. The precautions taken for his safety prove that he is an
+exceptionally skillful soldier. His first duty under fire is to jump
+for a rock, bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive him except
+with loss of life or blood.
+
+The policy of Great Britain has always been to enlist a force of
+auxiliaries from among the natives of the countries falling under
+her sway. The Government of the United States, on the contrary, has
+persistently ignored the really excellent material, ready at hand,
+which could, with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be mobilized,
+and made to serve as a frontier police. General Crook is the only
+officer of our army who has fully recognized the incalculable
+value of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns of the past
+thirty-five years has drawn about him as soon as possible a force of
+Indians, which has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and also
+of consequence in reducing the strength of the opposition.
+
+The white army of the United States is a much better body of
+officers and men than a critical and censorious public gives it
+credit for being. It represents intelligence of a high order, and
+a spirit of devotion to duty worthy of unbounded praise; but it
+does not represent the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
+follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may be brave and
+well-disciplined, but its members cannot tramp or ride, as the case
+may be, from forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without water,
+under a burning sun. No civilized army can do that. It is one of the
+defects of civilized training that man develops new wants, awakens
+new necessities,--becomes, in a word, more and more a creature of
+luxury.
+
+Take the Apache Indian under the glaring sun of Mexico. He quietly
+peels off all his clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more than
+otherwise. He may not be a great military genius, but he is inured
+to all sorts of fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when the
+civilized man is about to die of thirst.
+
+Prominent among these scouts was of course first of all “Peaches,”
+the captive guide. He was one of the handsomest men, physically,
+to be found in the world. He never knew what it was to be tired,
+cross, or out of humor. His knowledge of the topography of Northern
+Sonora was remarkable, and his absolute veracity and fidelity in all
+his dealings a notable feature in his character. With him might be
+mentioned “Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
+“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried and true men, experienced in
+warfare and devoted to the general whose standard they followed.
+
+
+
+
+II.
+
+
+From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs, by the road the wagons
+followed, is an even 100 miles. The march thither, through a most
+excellent grazing country, was made in five days, by which time
+the command was joined by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+with more than 100 additional Apache scouts and several trains of
+pack-mules.
+
+San Bernardino Springs break out from the ground upon the Boundary
+Line and flow south into the Yaqui River, of which the San Bernardino
+River is the extreme head. These springs yielded an abundance of
+water for all our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands of
+head of cattle, which have since disappeared under the attrition of
+constant warfare with the Apaches.
+
+The few days spent at San Bernardino were days of constant toil and
+labor; from the first streak of dawn until far into the night the
+task of organizing and arranging went on. Telegrams were dispatched
+to the Mexican generals notifying them that the American troops would
+leave promptly by the date agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
+began their war-dances, and continued them without respite from each
+sunset until the next sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
+they informed him of their anxiety to put an end to the war and bring
+peace to Arizona, so that the white men and Apaches could live and
+work side by side.
+
+By the 29th of April all preparations were complete. Baggage had been
+cut down to a minimum. Every officer and man was allowed to carry
+the clothes on his back, one blanket and forty rounds of ammunition.
+Officers were ordered to mess with the packers and on the same food
+issued to soldiers and Indian scouts. One hundred and sixty rounds
+of extra ammunition and rations of hard-bread, coffee and bacon, for
+sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.
+
+At this moment General Sherman telegraphed to General Crook that he
+must not cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians, except in
+strict accord with the terms of the treaty, without defining exactly
+what those terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging receipt of these
+instructions and saying that he would respect treaty stipulations.
+
+On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition crossed the boundary
+into Mexico. Its exact composition was as follows: General George
+Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke, Third Cavalry, acting
+adjutant-general; Lieutenant G. S. Febiger, engineer officer,
+aid-de-camp; Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with Lieutenants West
+and Forsyth, and forty-two enlisted men of “I” company of that
+regiment; Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the General
+Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
+Third Cavalry, Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
+Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al. Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,”
+Severiano, and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.
+
+The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient management, were divided
+into five trains, each with its complement of skilled packers. These
+trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins, Stanfield, “Long Jim
+Cook,” and “Short Jim Cook.”
+
+Each packer was armed with carbine and revolver, for self-protection,
+but nothing could be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
+beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently the effective
+fighting strength of the command was a little over fifty white
+men--officers and soldiers--and not quite 200 Apache scouts,
+representing the various bands, Chiricahua, White Mountain, Yuma,
+Mojave, and Tonto.
+
+The first rays of the sun were beaming upon the Eastern hills as
+we swung into our saddles, and, amid a chorus of good-byes and
+God-bless-yous from those left behind, pushed down the hot and sandy
+valley of the San Bernardino, past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to
+near the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty miles. Here camp was
+made on the banks of a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
+walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had scoured the country to
+the front and on both flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild
+turkeys, the latter being run down and caught in the bushes. One
+escaped from its captors and started through camp on a full jump,
+pursued by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it, promptly twisted
+its head off.
+
+The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the “medicine-men” having
+repeated with emphasis the prediction that the expedition was to be
+a grand success. One of the most influential of them--a mere boy,
+who carried the most sacred medicine--was especially positive in his
+views, and, unlike most prophets, backed them up with a bet of $40.
+
+On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 A.M. The train--Monach’s--with
+which we took meals was composed equally of Americans and Mexicans.
+So, when the cook spread his canvas on the ground, one heard
+such expressions as _Tantito’ zucarito quiero_; _Sirve pasar el
+járabe_; _Pase rebanada de pan_; _Otra gotita mas de café_, quite
+as frequently as their English equivalents, “I’d like a little more
+sugar,” “Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of bread,” “A
+little drop of coffee.” Close by, the scouts consumed their meals,
+and with more silence, yet not so silently but that their calls for
+_inchi_ (salt), _ikôn_ (flour), _pezá-a_ (frying-pan), and other
+articles, could be plainly heard.
+
+Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He was not, as he himself
+admitted, a French cook by profession. His early life had been passed
+in the more romantic occupation of driving an ore-wagon between
+Willcox and Globe, and, to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
+down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this side the Rio Grande.”
+
+But what he lacked in culinary knowledge he more than made up in
+strength and agility. He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
+and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured, too, and
+averse to fighting. Such, at least, was the opinion I gathered from
+a remark he made the first evening I was thrown into his society.
+
+His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while he said quietly, “If
+there’s anybody here don’t like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of
+him!” I was just about suggesting that a couple of pounds less
+saleratus in the bread and a couple of gallons less water in the
+coffee would be grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
+conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks I made the better
+would be the chances of my enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said
+nothing. Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua, and I assert from
+the depths of an outraged stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
+never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.
+
+The march was continued down the San Bernardino until we reached its
+important affluent, the Bávispe, up which we made our way until the
+first signs of habitancy were encountered in the squalid villages of
+Bávispe, Basaraca, and Huachinera.
+
+The whole country was a desert. On each hand were the ruins of
+depopulated and abandoned hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
+bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling with crops of
+wheat and barley, were now covered with a thickly-matted jungle
+of semi-tropical vegetation. The river banks were choked by dense
+brakes of cane of great size and thickness. The narrow valley was
+hemmed in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed and slashed
+with a thousand ravines, to cross which exhausted both strength
+and patience. The foot-hills were covered with _chevaux de frise_
+of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus. The lignum-vitæ flaunted
+its plumage of crimson flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
+in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so homely, here assumed a
+garniture of creamy blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
+upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest tendrils pendent from
+the branches of the mesquite.
+
+The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out the poor mules, which
+had as much as they could do to scramble over the steep hills,
+composed of a nondescript accumulation of lava, sandstone, porphyry,
+and limestone, half-rounded by the action of water, and so loosely
+held together as to slip apart and roll away the instant the feet of
+animals or men touched them.
+
+When they were not slipping over loose stones or climbing rugged
+hills, they were breaking their way through jungles of thorny
+vegetation, which tore their quivering flesh. One of the mules,
+falling from the rocks, impaled itself upon a mesquite branch, and
+had to be killed.
+
+Through all this the Apache scouts trudged without a complaint,
+and with many a laugh and jest. Each time camp was reached they
+showed themselves masters of the situation. They would gather the
+saponaceous roots of the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
+them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut sections of the
+bamboo-like cane and make pipes for smoking, or four-holed flutes,
+which emitted a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to with
+melodious chatter by countless birds perched in the shady seclusion
+of ash and cotton-wood.
+
+Those scouts who were not on watch gave themselves up to the luxury
+of the tá-a-chi, or sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
+willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in the ground and the upper
+extremities, united to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which are
+laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat. Three or four large
+rocks are heated and placed in the centre, the Indians arranging
+themselves around these rocks and bending over them. Silicious
+bowlders are invariably selected, and not calcareous--the Apaches
+being sufficiently familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know that
+the latter will frequently crack and explode under intense heat.
+
+When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge I could see nothing
+but a network of arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
+experience with Broadway omnibuses assured me that there must always
+be room for one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”--the master of
+ceremonies--encouraged me to push in first an arm, then a leg, and,
+finally, my whole body.
+
+Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it fell against the frame-work and
+shut out all light and air. The conductor of affairs inside threw a
+handful of water on the hot rocks, and steam, on the instant, filled
+every crevice of the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven; breathing
+was well-nigh impossible.
+
+“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy, “Keet,” whose legs and arms
+were sinuously intertwined with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho
+to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The other bathers said that
+everybody must sing. I had to yield. My _repertoire_ consists of
+but one song--the lovely ditty--“Our captain’s name is Murphy.” I
+gave them this with all the lung-power I had left, and was heartily
+encored; but I was too much exhausted to respond, and rushed out,
+dripping with perspiration, to plunge with my dusky comrades into the
+refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which had worn out for themselves
+tanks three to twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were all
+that the Apaches had predicted--a sound, refreshing sleep and
+increased appetite.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.]
+
+The farther we got into Mexico the greater the desolation. The valley
+of the Bávispe, like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
+thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy. Foot-prints indeed
+were plenty, but they were the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas,
+who apparently roamed with immunity over all this solitude. There
+were signs, too, of Mexican “travel;” but in every case these were
+“_conductas_” of pack-mules, guarded by companies of soldiers.
+Rattlesnakes were encountered with greater frequency both in camp
+and on the march. When found in camp the Apaches, from superstitious
+reasons, refrained from killing them, but let the white men do it.
+
+The vegetation remained much the same as that of Southern Arizona,
+only denser and larger. The cactus began to bear odorous flowers--a
+species of night-blooming cereus--and parrots of gaudy plumage
+flitted about camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
+two or three, tore the feathers from their bodies and tied them in
+their inky locks. Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted from
+bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one felt that we were advancing
+into more torrid regions. However, by this time faces and hands
+were finely tanned and blistered, and the fervor of the sun was
+disregarded. The nights remained cool and refreshing throughout the
+trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed to the calmest
+rest.
+
+On the 5th of May the column reached the feeble, broken-down towns
+of Bávispe and Basaraca. The condition of the inhabitants was
+deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad government had done
+their worst, and, even had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
+terror, it is doubtful whether they would have had energy enough to
+profit by the natural advantages, mineral and agricultural, of their
+immediate vicinity. The land appeared to be fertile and was well
+watered. Horses, cattle, and chickens throve; the cereals yielded
+an abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed in the waxy-green
+foliage of the pomegranate.
+
+Every man, woman, and child had gathered in the streets or squatted
+on the flat roofs of the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
+cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand national convention
+of scarecrows and rag-pickers, their garments old and dingy, but no
+man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero, with a snake-band
+of silver, or display a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
+Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued _serapes_ flung over the
+shoulders; those who had none went in their shirt-sleeves.
+
+The children were bright, dirty, and pretty; the women so closely
+enveloped in their _rebozos_ that only one eye could be seen. They
+greeted our people with warmth, and offered to go with us to the
+mountains. With the volubility of parrots they began to describe
+a most blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas, in
+which, of course, the Apaches had been completely and ignominiously
+routed, each Mexican having performed prodigies of valor on a par
+with those of Ajax. But at the same time they wouldn’t go alone
+into their fields,--only a quarter of a mile off,--which were
+constantly patrolled by a detachment of twenty-five or thirty men of
+what was grandiloquently styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
+guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when told of this latest
+annihilation of the Chiricahuas. General Crook, without a moment’s
+hesitancy, determined to keep on the trail farther into the Sierra
+Madre.
+
+The food of these wretched Mexicans was mainly _atole_,--a weak
+flour-gruel resembling the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
+they had none, and newspapers had not yet been heard of. Their only
+recreation was in religious festivals, occurring with commendable
+frequency. The churches themselves were in the last stages of
+dilapidation; the adobe exteriors showed dangerous indications of
+approaching dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments of the inside
+were foul and black with age, smoke, dust, and rain.
+
+I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold my horse for a moment until
+I had examined one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate title
+of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and our Lady of the Trance. This
+action evoked a eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man can’t be
+an American, he must be a Christian,” he sagely remarked; “he speaks
+Castilian, and goes to church the first thing.”
+
+It goes without saying that they have no mails in that country.
+What they call the post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
+town. The store had no goods for sale, and the post-office had no
+stamps. The postmaster didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
+to go every eight days, but now--_quien sabe?_ Yes, he would send
+our letters the first opportunity. The price? Oh! the price?--did
+the _caballeros_ want to know how much? Well, for Mexican people, he
+charged five cents, but the Americans would have to pay _dos reales_
+(twenty-five cents) for each letter.
+
+The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were fiery mescal, chile, and
+a few eggs, eagerly snapped up by the advance-guard. In making these
+purchases we had to enter different houses, which vied with each
+other in penury and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
+none of the comforts which the humblest laborers in our favored land
+demand as right and essential. The inmates in every instance received
+us urbanely and kindly. The women, who were uncovered inside their
+domiciles, were greatly superior in good looks and good breeding to
+their husbands and brothers; but the latter never neglected to employ
+all the punctilious expressions of Spanish politeness.
+
+That evening the round-stomached old man, whom, in ignorance of
+the correct title, we all agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a
+complimentary visit to General Crook, and with polite flourishes bade
+him welcome to the soil of Mexico informed him that he had received
+orders to render the expedition every assistance in his power, and
+offered to accompany it at the head of every man and boy in the
+vicinity. General Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance of
+these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission to buy four beeves
+to feed to the Apache scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
+meat.
+
+Bivouac was made that night on the banks of the Bávispe, under
+the bluff upon which perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
+visitors--men and boys--flocked in to see us, bringing bread and
+tobacco for barter and sale. In their turn a large body of our people
+went up to the town and indulged in the unexpected luxury of a ball.
+This was so entirely original in all its features that a mention of
+it is admissible.
+
+Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing that the morrow would be
+Sunday, when a prolonged thumping of drums signaled that the _Baile_
+was about to begin.
+
+Wending our way to the corner whence the noise proceeded, we found
+that a half-dozen of the packers had bought out the whole stock of
+the _tienda_, which dealt only in _mescal_, paying therefor the
+princely sum of $12.50.
+
+Invitations had been extended to all the adult inhabitants to
+take part in the festivities. For some reason all the ladies sent
+regrets by the messenger; but of men there was no lack, the packers
+having taken the precaution to send out a patrol to scour the
+streets, “collar” and “run in” every male biped found outside his
+own threshold. These captives were first made to drink a tumbler
+of _mescal_ to the health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
+United States,--and then were formed into quadrille sets, moving in
+unison with the orchestra of five pieces,--two drums, two squeaky
+fiddles, and an accordion.
+
+None of the performers understood a note of music. When a new
+piece was demanded, the tune had to be whistled in the ears of
+the bass-drummer, who thumped it off on his instrument, followed
+energetically by his enthusiastic assistants.
+
+This orchestra was augmented in a few moments by the addition of a
+young boy with a sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had lost
+its several keys, but he added to the noise and was welcomed with
+screams of applause. It was essentially a _stag_ party, but a very
+funny one. The new player was doing some good work when a couple of
+dancers whirled into him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
+of the bass-drum and drummer.
+
+Confusion reigned only a moment; good order was soon restored, and
+the dance would have been resumed with increased jollity had not the
+head of the bass-drum been helplessly battered.
+
+Midnight had long since been passed, and there was nothing to be done
+but break up the party and return to camp.
+
+From Basaraca to Tesorababi--over twenty miles--the line of march
+followed a country almost exactly like that before described. The
+little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were perhaps a trifle
+more squalid than Bávispe or Basaraca, and their churches more
+dilapidated; but in that of Huachinera were two or three unusually
+good oil-paintings, brought from Spain a long time ago. Age, dust,
+weather, and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had not fully
+obliterated, the touch of the master-hand which had made them.
+
+Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations since, a very
+noble ranch. It has plenty of water, great groves of oak and
+mesquite, with sycamore and cotton-wood growing near the water, and
+very nutritious grass upon the neighboring hills. The buildings have
+fallen into ruin, nothing being now visible but the stout walls of
+stone and adobe. Mesquite trees of noble size choke up the corral,
+and everything proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy of the
+Apache.
+
+Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an ancient pueblo, with
+quantities of broken pottery, stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and
+kindred _reliquiæ_.
+
+To Tesorababi the column was accompanied by a small party of guides
+sent out by the Alcalde of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them back,
+as they were not of the slightest use so long as we had such a force
+of Apache scouts.
+
+We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the night of May 7, and then
+marched straight for the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
+covered with rich _grama_ and darkened by groves of scrub-oak. Soon
+the oak gave way to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
+ridges became steeper as we struck the trail lately made by the
+Chiricahuas driving off cattle from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
+fairly within the range, and had made good progress, when the scouts
+halted and began to explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
+luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an owl which one of our
+party had caught, and tied to the pommel of his saddle.
+
+They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen, and that we could
+not hope to whip the Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
+solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed bird of night was set
+free and the advance resumed. Shortly before midnight camp was made
+in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and having a small stream a
+thousand feet below our position. No fires were allowed, and some
+confusion prevailed among the pack-mules, which could not find their
+places.
+
+Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883) the command moved in
+easterly direction up the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
+Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals and men slaked their
+fierce thirst. Indications of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The
+trail was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores--yes, hundreds--of
+stolen ponies and cattle.
+
+The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered beeves lay in one spot;
+close to them a couple more, and so on.
+
+The path wound up the face of the mountain, and became so precipitous
+that were a horse to slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
+of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt turns could be seen, deep
+down in the cañon, the mangled fragments of a steer which had fallen
+from the trail, and been dashed to pieces on the rocks below. It will
+save much repetition to say, at this point, that from now on we were
+never out of sight of ponies and cattle, butchered, in every stage of
+mutilation, or alive, and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
+and on the mountain flanks.
+
+Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit of one ridge only to
+learn that above it towered another, the face of nature fearfully
+corrugated into a perplexing alternation of ridges and chasms. Not
+far out from the last bivouac was passed the spot where a large
+body of Mexican troops had camped, the farthest point of their
+penetration into the range, although their scouts had been pushed in
+some distance farther, only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
+who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.
+
+These particulars may now be remarked of that country: It seemed
+to consist of a series of parallel and very high, knife-edged
+hills,--extremely rocky and bold; the cañons all contained water,
+either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of great depth. Dense
+pine forests covered the ridges near the crests, the lower skirts
+being matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally plentiful, but not
+invariably to be depended upon. Trails ran in every direction, and
+upon them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends plundered from
+the Mexicans,--dresses, made and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters,
+flour, onions, and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could be
+discerned the ruins,--buildings, walls, and dams, erected by an
+extinct race, once possessing this region.
+
+The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting along. Six mules
+slipped from the trail, and rolled over and over until they
+struck the bottom of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected a
+comparatively easy grade, and none was badly hurt.
+
+The scouts became more and more vigilant and the “medicine-men”
+more and more devotional. When camp was made the high peaks were
+immediately picketed, and all the approaches carefully examined.
+Fires were allowed only in rare cases, and in positions affording
+absolute concealment. Before going to bed the scouts were careful
+to fortify themselves in such a manner that surprise was simply
+impossible.
+
+Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men” gathered together for the
+never-to-be-neglected duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
+After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining the privilege of sitting
+in the circle with them. All but one chanted in a low, melancholy
+tone, half song and half grunt. The solitary exception lay as if in a
+trance for a few moments, and then, half opening his lips, began to
+thump himself violently in the breast, and to point to the east and
+north, while he muttered: “Me can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby
+me see ’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch ’um, me no kill
+’um. Mebbe so six day me catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
+send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail. Mebbe so tomollow catch
+’um squaw. Chilicahua see me, me no get ’um. No see me, me catch him.
+Me see him little bit now. Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
+catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me catch ’um mool (mule),
+me catch ’um cow. Me catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
+’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies, translated for me
+by an old friend in the circle who spoke some English, were listened
+to with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck scouts on the
+exterior.
+
+The succeeding day brought increased trouble and danger. The
+mountains became, if anything, steeper; the trails, if anything, more
+perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows lined the path along
+which we toiled, dragging after us worn-out horses.
+
+It was not yet noon when the final ridge of the day was crossed and
+the trail turned down a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which
+gradually widened into a small amphitheatre.
+
+This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied by the Chiricahuas
+while he was with them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
+of defense, it was admirably situated. Water flowed in a cool,
+sparkling stream through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine, oak,
+and cedar in abundance and of good size clung to the steep flanks
+of the ridges, in whose crevices grew much grass. The country, for
+a considerable distance, could be watched from the pinnacles upon
+which the savage pickets had been posted, while their huts had been
+so scattered and concealed in the different brakes that the capture
+or destruction of the entire band could never have been effected.
+
+The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this place a considerable
+time. The heads and bones of cows and ponies were scattered about
+on all sides. Meat must have been their principal food, since we
+discovered scarcely any mescal or other vegetables. At one point the
+scouts indicated where a mother had been cutting a child’s hair; at
+another, where a band of youngsters had been enjoying themselves
+sliding down rocks.
+
+Here were picked up the implements used by a young Chiricahua
+assuming the duties of manhood. Like all other Indians they make vows
+and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during which periods they will not
+put their lips to water, but suck up all they need through a quill or
+cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and arrows, and a Winchester rifle
+had likewise been left behind by the late occupants.
+
+The pack-trains experienced much difficulty in keeping the trail
+this morning (May 9). Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
+themselves, three breaking their necks and two having to be shot.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.]
+
+Being now in the very centre of the hostile country, May 10, 1883,
+unusual precautions were taken to guard against discovery or
+ambuscade, and to hurry along the pack-mules. Parties of Apache
+scouts were thrown out to the front, flanks, and rear to note
+carefully every track in the ground. A few were detailed to stay
+with the pack-mules and guide them over the best line of country.
+Ax-men were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees and remove
+rocks or other obstructions. Then began a climb which reflected the
+experience of the previous two days; if at all different, it was
+much worse. Upon the crest of the first high ridge were seen forty
+abandoned _jacales_ or lodges of branches; after that, another
+dismantled village of thirty more, and then, in every protected
+nook, one, two, or three, as might be. Fearful as this trail was the
+Chiricahuas had forced over it a band of cattle and ponies, whose
+footprints had been fully outlined in the mud, just hardened into
+clay.
+
+After two miles of a very hard climb we slid down the almost
+perpendicular face of a high bluff of slippery clay and loose shale
+into an open space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a grassy
+space, the young savages had been playing their favorite game of
+mushka, or lance-billiards.
+
+Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the long file of scouts
+streaming down hill; a shower of rocks and stones greeted them, and
+there was much suppressed merriment, but not the least bit of noisy
+laughter, the orders being to avoid any cause of alarm to the enemy.
+
+A fearful chute led from this point down into the gloomy chasm along
+which trickled the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in basins
+and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A tiny cascade babbled over a
+ledge of limestone and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir of
+unknown depth. There was no longer any excitement about Chiricahua
+signs; rather, wonder when none were to be seen.
+
+The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused beds, the skeleton
+frame-work of dismantled huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
+mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible at every turn. The
+Chiricahuas must have felt perfectly secure amid these towering
+pinnacles of rock in these profound chasms, by these bottomless
+pools of water, and in the depths of this forest primeval. Here no
+human foe could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding this security
+of position, “Peaches” asserted that the Chiricahuas never relaxed
+vigilance. No fires were allowed at night, and all cooking was done
+at midday. Sentinels lurked in every crag, and bands of bold raiders
+kept the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing Bávispe, the trail
+zigzagged up the vertical slope of a promontory nearly a thousand
+feet above the level of the water. Perspiration streamed from every
+brow, and mules and horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up! Up!
+Up! was the watchword.
+
+Look out! came the warning cry from those in the lead, and then
+those in the rear and bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
+of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and, gathering momentum as
+each bound hurled them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To look
+upon the country was a grand sensation; to travel in it, infernal.
+Away down at the foot of the mountains the pack-mules could be
+discerned--apparently not much bigger than jack-rabbits,--struggling
+and panting up the long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down these
+ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea seized them, ran like deer.
+
+One of them gave a low cry, half whisper, half whistle. Instantly all
+were on the alert, and by some indefinable means, the news flashed
+through the column that two Chiricahuas had been sighted a short
+distance ahead in a side cañon. Before I could write this down the
+scouts had stripped to the buff, placed their clothing in the rocks,
+and dispatched ten or twelve of their number in swift pursuit.
+
+This proved to be a false alarm, for in an hour they returned, having
+caught up with the supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of our own
+packers, off the trail, looking for stray mules.
+
+When camp was made that afternoon the Apache scouts had a long
+conference with General Crook. They called attention to the fact that
+the pack-trains could not keep up with them, that five mules had been
+killed on the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled off this
+morning, but been rescued with slight injuries. They proposed that
+the pack-trains and white troops remain in camp at this point, and
+in future move so as to be a day’s march or less behind the Apache
+scouts, 150 of whom, under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with Al.
+Zeiber and the other white guides, would move out well in advance to
+examine the country thoroughly in front.
+
+If they came upon scattered parties of the hostiles they would
+attack boldly, kill as many as they could, and take the rest back,
+prisoners, to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas be intrenched in a
+strong position, they would engage them, but do nothing rash, until
+reinforced by the rest of the command. General Crook told them they
+must be careful not to kill women or children, and that all who
+surrendered should be taken back to the reservation and made to work
+for their own living like white people.
+
+Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere; small fires were burning
+in secluded nooks, and upon the bright embers the scouts baked
+quantities of bread to be carried with them. Some ground coffee on
+flat stones; others examined their weapons critically and cleaned
+their cartridges. Those whose moccasins needed repair sewed and
+patched them, while the more cleanly and more religious indulged in
+the sweat-bath, which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.
+
+A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and Apaches climbed the
+mountains to the south, and reached the locality in the foot-hills
+where the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had an engagement.
+Judging by signs it would appear conclusive that the Indians had
+enticed the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number with bullets
+and rocks, and put the rest to ignominious flight. The “medicine-men”
+had another song and pow-wow after dark. Before they adjourned it
+was announced that in two days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
+would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days kill a “heap.”
+
+On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and fifty Apache scouts, under
+the officers above named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started from camp, on foot, at
+daybreak. Each carried on his person four days’ rations, a canteen,
+100 rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those who were to remain in
+camp picketed the three high peaks overlooking it, and from which
+half a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance. Most of those
+not on guard went down to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
+severe climbing up and down rough mountains, slipping, falling, and
+rolling in dust and clay, had blackened most of us like negroes.
+
+Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in numbers, four coming down the
+mountains of their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
+twenty were by this date in camp. The suggestions of the locality
+were rather peaceful in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
+bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay upon the ground.
+
+Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills in the west, a runner
+came back with a note from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
+place twelve or fifteen miles across the mountains to the south-east,
+with plenty of wood, water, and grass.
+
+For the ensuing three days the white soldiers and pack-trains
+cautiously followed in the footsteps of Crawford and the scouts,
+keeping a sufficient interval between the two bodies to insure
+thorough investigation of the rough country in front. The trail
+did not improve very much, although after the summit of a high,
+grassy plateau had been gained, there was easy traveling for
+several leagues. Pine-trees of majestic proportions covered the
+mountain-tops, and there was the usual thickness of scrub-oak on
+the lower elevations. By the side of the trail, either thrown away
+or else _cachéd_ in the trees, were quantities of goods left by the
+Chiricahuas--calico, clothing, buckskin, horse-hides, beef-hides,
+dried meat, and things of that nature. The nights were very cool,
+the days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its tributaries were
+a succession of deep tanks of glassy, pure water, in which all
+our people bathed on every opportunity. The scouts escorting the
+pack-trains gathered in another score of stray ponies and mules,
+and were encouraged by another note sent back by Crawford, saying
+that he had passed the site of a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight
+_wickyups_ (huts), that the enemy had a great drove of horses and
+cattle, and that the presence of Americans or Apache scouts in the
+country was yet undreamed of.
+
+Additional rations were pushed ahead to Crawford and his command,
+the pack-trains in rear taking their own time to march. There was
+an abundance of wood in the forest, grass grew in sufficiency,
+and the Bávispe yielded water enough for a great army. The stream
+was so clear that it was a pleasure to count the pebbles at the
+bottom and to watch the graceful fishes swimming within the shadow
+of moss-grown rocks. The current was so deep that, sinking slowly,
+with uplifted arms, one was not always able to touch bottom with the
+toes, and so wide that twenty good, nervous strokes barely sufficed
+to propel the swimmer from shore to shore. The water was soft, cool,
+and refreshing, and a plunge beneath its ripples smoothed away the
+wrinkles of care.
+
+On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched ten or twelve miles to
+the south-east, crossing a piece of country recently burned over,
+the air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening and blistering
+our faces. Many more old ruins were passed and scores of walls of
+masonry. The trail was slightly improved, but still bad enough;
+the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish feldspar, with thin seams
+of quartz crystals. There were also granite, sandstone, shale,
+quartzite, and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms of the cañons
+were all kinds of “float”--granite, basalt, sandstone, porphyry,
+schist, limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind of rock was,
+when struck upon the hill-sides it was almost invariably split and
+broken, and grievously retarded the advance.
+
+
+
+
+III.
+
+
+About noon of the 15th we had descended into a small box cañon, where
+we were met by two white men (packers) and nine Apache scouts.
+
+They had come back from Crawford with news for which all were
+prepared. The enemy was close in our front, and fighting might
+begin at any moment. The scouts in advance had picked up numbers of
+ponies, mules, burros, and cattle. This conversation was broken by
+the sudden arrival of an Apache runner, who had come six miles over
+the mountains in less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and handed
+General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating that the advance-guard had
+run across the Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had become
+much excited. Two Chiricahuas were fired at, two bucks and a squaw,
+by scouts, which action had alarmed the hostiles, and their camp was
+on the move. Crawford would pursue with all possible rapidity. At
+the same moment reports of distant musketry-firing were borne across
+the hills. Crawford was fighting the Chiricahuas! There could be no
+doubt about that; but exactly how many he had found, and what luck
+he was having, no one could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
+mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness to move forward to
+Crawford’s support, if necessary. The firing continued for a time,
+and then grew feeble and died away.
+
+All were anxious for a fight which should bring this Chiricahua
+trouble to an end; we had an abundance of ammunition and a
+sufficiency of rations for a pursuit of several days and nights, the
+moon being at its full.
+
+Shortly after dark Crawford and his command came into camp. They
+had “jumped” “Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” _rancherías_, killing nine
+and capturing five--two boys, two girls, and one young woman, the
+daughter of “Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the dead
+Chiricahuas had been taken four nickel-plated, breech-loading
+Winchester repeating rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model.
+The Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully broken country,
+gashed with countless ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
+pine and scrub-oak. How many had been killed and wounded could never
+be definitely known, the meagre official report, submitted by Captain
+Crawford, being of necessity confined to figures known to be exact.
+Although the impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated the
+engagement and somewhat impaired its effect, yet this little skirmish
+demonstrated two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their old friends
+and relatives from the San Carlos had invaded their strongholds as
+the allies of the white men, and could be depended upon to fight,
+whether backed up by white soldiers or not. The scouts next destroyed
+the village, consisting of thirty _wickyups_, disposed in two
+clusters, and carried off all the animals, loading down forty-seven
+of them with plunder. This included the traditional riffraff of
+an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal, blankets, and
+clothing, with occasional prizes of much greater value, originally
+stolen by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or Americans. There
+were several gold and silver watches, a couple of albums, and a
+considerable sum of money--Mexican and American coin and paper. The
+captives behaved with great coolness and self-possession, considering
+their tender years. The eldest said that her people had been
+astounded and dismayed when they saw the long line of Apache scouts
+rushing in upon them; they would be still more disconcerted when
+they learned that our guide was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves
+with every nook in strongholds so long regarded as inaccessible.
+Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors were absent raiding in Sonora and
+Chihuahua. This young squaw was positive that the Chiricahuas would
+give up without further fighting, since the Americans had secured all
+the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,” she knew, would
+be glad to live peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
+“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but
+none of his bands were left alive. Most important information of all,
+she said that in the _ranchería_ just destroyed was a little white
+boy about six years old, called “Charlie,” captured by “Chato”
+in his recent raid in Arizona. This boy had run away with the old
+squaws when the advance of the Apache scouts had been first detected.
+She said that if allowed to go out she would in less than two days
+bring in the whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them. All that
+night the lofty peak, the scene of the action, blazed with fire from
+the burning _ranchería_. Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and, after
+hours of threatening, broke into a severe but brief shower about
+sunrise next morning (May 15).
+
+[Illustration: APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.]
+
+The young woman was given a little hard bread and meat, enough to
+last two days, and allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
+the boy captives. The others stayed with us and were kindly treated.
+They were given all the baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
+of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself with basting a skirt,
+but, like another Penelope, as fast as her work was done she ripped
+it up and began anew--apparently afraid that idleness would entail
+punishment. The younger girl sobbed convulsively, but her little
+brother, a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world through eyes
+as big as oysters and as black as jet.
+
+Later in the morning, after the fitful showers had turned into a
+blinding, soaking rain, the Apache scouts made for these young
+captives a little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs and dry
+grass. Pickets were thrown out to watch the country on all sides
+and seize upon any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly within
+their reach. The rain continued with exasperating persistency all
+day. The night cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails and
+kettles. The command moved out from this place, going to another and
+better location a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge had
+been scaled, when we descried on the summit of a prominent knoll
+directly in our front a thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
+was immediately answered by the scouts, who heaped up pine-cones
+and cedar branches, which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
+black, resinous signal above the tops of the loftiest pines.
+
+Five miles up and down mountains of no great height but of great
+asperity led to a fine camping-place, at the junction of two
+well-watered cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and cedar in plenty,
+and an abundance of rich, juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up
+a second smoke signal, promptly responded to from a neighboring
+butte. A couple of minutes after two squaws were seen threading
+their way down through the timber and rocks and yelling with full
+voice. They were the sisters of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the
+scouts. They said that they had lost heavily in the fight, and that
+while endeavoring to escape over the rocks and ravines and through
+the timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc among them.
+They fully confirmed all that the captives had said about Charlie
+McComas. Two hours had scarcely passed when six other women had come
+in, approaching the pickets two and two, and waving white rags.
+One of these, the sister of “Chihuahua”--a prominent man among the
+Chiricahuas--said that her brother wanted to come in, and was trying
+to gather up his band, which had scattered like sheep after the
+fight; he might be looked for in our camp at any moment.
+
+On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 A.M., six new arrivals were
+reported--four squaws, one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels
+followed sixteen others--men, women, and young children. In this
+band was “Chihuahua” himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
+betokened great decision and courage.
+
+This chief expressed to General Crook his earnest desire for peace,
+and acknowledged that all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
+future would be to prolong the contest a few weeks and defer their
+destruction. He was tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
+and all his property was in our hands. He wished to surrender his
+band just as soon as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent, fighting the
+Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”) had sent runners out to gather up his
+band and tell his people they must surrender, without reference to
+what the others did.
+
+Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come in--men, women, and
+children. “Chihuahua” asked permission to go out with two young men
+and hurry his people in. This was granted. He promised to return
+without any delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed the wear and
+tear of a rugged mountain life, and the anxieties and disquietudes
+of a rugged Ishmaelitish war. The children were models of grace and
+beauty, which revealed themselves through dirt and rags.
+
+On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of six miles to a position
+giving the usual abundance of water and rather better grass. It
+was a small park in the centre of a thick growth of young pines.
+Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas were counted, and found to number
+seventy, which total before noon had swollen to an even hundred, not
+including “Chihuahua” and those gone back with him.
+
+The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored. Several of them
+spoke Spanish fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
+ponies being killed for meat. Two or three of the Indians bore fresh
+bullet-wounds from the late fight. On the succeeding evening, May
+20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again numbered at breakfast. They had
+increased to 121--sixty being women and girls, the remainder, old
+men, young men, and boys.
+
+All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades were hard at work
+gathering the tribe together and sending them in.
+
+Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was heard in the tall cliffs
+overlooking camp; Indians fully armed could be descried running about
+from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed and uncertain what to do.
+They began to interchange cries with those in our midst, and, after
+a brief interval, a couple of old squaws ventured down the face of
+the precipice, followed at irregular distances by warriors, who hid
+themselves in the rocks half-way down.
+
+They asked whether they were to be hurt if they came in.
+
+One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas went out to them to
+say that it made no difference whether they came in or not; that
+“Chihuahua” and all his people had surrendered, and that if these
+new arrivals came in during the day they should not be harmed; that
+until “Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had a chance to come
+in and bring Charlie McComas hostilities should be suspended. The
+Chiricahuas were still fearful of treachery and hung like hawks or
+vultures to the protecting shadows of inaccessible pinnacles one
+thousand feet above our position. Gradually their fears wore off, and
+in parties of two and three, by various trails, they made their way
+to General Crook’s fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
+led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned from a bloody foray in
+Chihuahua. “Hieronymo” expressed a desire to have a talk; but General
+Crook declined to have anything to do with him or his party beyond
+saying that they had now an opportunity to see for themselves that
+their own people were against them; that we had penetrated to places
+vaunted as impregnable; that the Mexicans were coming in from all
+sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make up his mind for peace or war
+just as he chose.
+
+This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he waited for an hour, to resume
+the conversation, but received no encouragement. He and his warriors
+were certainly as fine-looking a lot of pirates as ever cut a throat
+or scuttled a ship; not one among them who was not able to travel
+forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy precipices and along
+these gloomy cañons. In muscular development, lung and heart power,
+they were, without exception, the finest body of human beings I had
+ever looked upon. Each was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
+most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest pattern, and a few had
+also bows and lances. They soon began to talk with the Apache scouts,
+who improved the occasion to inform them that not only had they come
+down with General Crook, but that from both Sonora and Chihuahua
+Mexican soldiers might be looked for in swarms.
+
+“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this, and went a second time to
+General Crook to have a talk. He assured him that he had always
+wanted to be at peace, but that he had been as much sinned against as
+sinning; that he had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
+away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous in their dealings
+with his people, and that he couldn’t believe a word they said. They
+had made war upon his women and children, but had run like coyotes
+from his soldiers. He had been trying to open communications with
+the Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for an exchange of
+prisoners. If General Crook would let him go back to San Carlos,
+and guarantee him just treatment, he would gladly work for his own
+living, and follow the path of peace. He simply asked for a trial; if
+he could not make peace, he and his men would die in these mountains,
+fighting to the last. He was not a bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but
+he could not hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and Americans
+united, in these ranges, and with so many Apache allies assisting
+them. General Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
+“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to what he wanted, peace or war.
+
+May 21st was one of the busiest days of the expedition. “Hieronymo,”
+at early dawn, came to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
+peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and begged to be taken back
+to San Carlos. He asked permission to get all his people together,
+and said he had sent some of his young men off to hurry them in
+from all points. He could not get them to answer his signals, as
+they imagined them to be made by Apache scouts trying to ensnare
+them. Chiricahuas were coming in all the morning,--all ages, and
+both sexes,--sent in by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
+were mounted on good ponies, and all drove pack and loose animals
+before them. Early in the day there was seen winding through the
+pine timber a curious procession,--mostly young warriors, of an
+aggregate of thirty-eight souls,--driving steers and work cattle, and
+riding ponies and burros. All these were armed with Winchester and
+Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers and lances whose blades
+were old cavalry sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
+and bows and arrows. This was the band of Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass),
+a young chief, who claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong to
+the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had been born and raised.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE WARFARE.]
+
+The question of feeding all these mouths was getting to be a very
+serious one. We had started out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third
+of which had been consumed by our own command, and a considerable
+percentage lost or damaged when mules rolled over the precipices.
+The great heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and there was the
+usual wastage incident to movements in campaign. Stringent orders
+were given to limit issues to the lowest possible amount; while the
+Chiricahuas were told that they must cut and roast all the mescal
+to be found, and kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
+The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty of butchering the meat.
+Standing within five or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
+the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust immediately behind the
+left fore-shoulder, and, with no noise other than a single bellow of
+fear and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its knees, dead.
+
+Camp at this period presented a medley of noises not often found
+united under a military standard. Horses were neighing, mules
+braying, and bells jingling, as the herds were brought in to be
+groomed. The ring of axes against the trunks of stout pines and oaks,
+the hum of voices, the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter
+of children at play, and the occasional music of an Apache fiddle
+or flute, combined in a pleasant discord which left the listener
+uncertain whether he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
+among a band of school-children. Our Apache scouts--the Tontos
+especially--treated the Chiricahuas with dignified reserve: the
+Sierra Blancas (White Mountain) had intermarried with them, and were
+naturally more familiar, but all watched their rifles and cartridges
+very carefully to guard against treachery. The squaws kept at work,
+jerking and cooking meat and mescal for consumption on the way back
+to San Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions, for the
+possession of which the more greedy or more muscular fought with
+frequency.
+
+Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged in a pitched battle;
+they rushed for each other like a couple of infuriated Texas steers;
+hair flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and two “human forms
+divine” were scratched and torn by sharp nails accustomed to this
+mode of warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled, little
+children screamed and ran, warriors stood in a ring, and from a
+respectful distance gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
+to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous than an infuriated
+squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate. The packers and soldiers looked on,
+discussing the “points” of the belligerents. “The little one’s built
+like a hired man,” remarks one critic. “Ya-as; but the old un’s a
+_He_, and doan’ you forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
+favor of the older contestant, although the younger remained on the
+ground, her bleeding nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing
+fire, and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.
+
+But all interest was withdrawn from this spectacle and converged upon
+a file of five wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of whom bore
+a nursing baby, who had come within the boundaries of our camp and
+stood in mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to realize that
+they were free. They were a party of captives seized by “Hieronymo”
+in his last raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested, and fed a
+small amount of food, they told a long, rambling story, which is
+here condensed: They were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
+near one of the stations of the Mexican Central Railway just two
+weeks previously. Originally there had been six in the party, but
+“Hieronymo” had sent back the oldest and feeblest with a letter to
+the Mexican general, saying that he wanted to make peace with the
+whites, and would do so, provided the Mexicans returned the Apache
+women and children held prisoners by them; if they refused, he would
+steal all the Mexican women and children he could lay hands on, and
+keep them as hostages, and would continue the war until he had made
+Sonora and Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to say that the
+greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua at the mere mention of the
+name of “Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to be the devil,
+sent to punish them for their sins.
+
+“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers with rocks, telling his
+warriors he had no ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The women
+had suffered incredible torture climbing the rough skirts of lofty
+ranges, fording deep streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
+morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments had been rent into rags
+by briars and brambles, feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen
+by contusions from sharp rocks. They said that when “Hieronymo”
+had returned to the heart of the mountains, and had come upon one
+of our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was curious to witness.
+The Chiricahuas with him made a hurried but searching examination
+of the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their enemies--the
+Americans--had gained access to their strongholds, and that they had
+with them a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started away in
+the direction of our present bivouac, paying no further heed to the
+captured women or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were driving
+away from Chihuahua. It may be well to anticipate a little, and say
+that the cattle in question drifted out on the back trail, getting
+into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of the Mexicans in
+pursuit, who claimed their usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
+not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what course to pursue, stayed
+quietly by the half-dead embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up
+a few odds and ends of rags with which to cover their nakedness; and
+of castaway food, which they devoured with the voracity of famished
+wolves. When morning dawned they arose, half frozen, from the
+couches they had made, and staggered along in the direction taken by
+the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated, they followed to
+where they now were.
+
+And now they were free! Great God! Could it be possible?
+
+The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down creatures
+welled forth in praise and glorification to God. “Praise be to the
+All-Powerful God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most Holy Sacrament!”
+echoed her companions. “Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
+“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad, who has taken pity
+upon us!” It brought tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
+witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us of our mothers,
+wives, sisters, and daughters. All possible kindness and attention
+were shown them.
+
+The reaction came very near upsetting two, who became hysterical
+from over-excitement, and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
+were not going to take them away. They did not recover their natural
+composure until the expedition had crossed the boundary line.
+
+“Hieronymo” had another interview with General Crook, whom he assured
+he wanted to make a peace to last forever. General Crook replied
+that “Hieronymo” had waged such bloody war upon our people and the
+Mexicans that he did not care to let him go back to San Carlos; a
+howl would be raised against any man who dared to grant terms to
+an outlaw for whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo” were
+willing to lay down his arms and go to work at farming, General Crook
+would allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing he could do
+would be to remain just where he was and fight it out.
+
+“I am not taking your arms from you,” said the General, “because I
+am not afraid of you with them. You have been allowed to go about
+camp freely, merely to let you see that we have strength enough to
+exterminate you if we want to; and you have seen with your own eyes
+how many Apaches are fighting on our side and against you. In making
+peace with the Americans, you must also be understood as making peace
+with the Mexicans, and also that you are not to be fed in idleness,
+but set to work at farming or herding, and make your own living.”
+
+“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his contempt for the Mexicans,
+asserted that he had whipped them every time, and in the last fight
+with them hadn’t lost a man. He would go to the San Carlos with
+General Crook and work at farming or anything else. All he asked for
+was fair play. He contended that it was unfair to start back to the
+San Carlos at that time, when his people were scattered like quail,
+and when the women and children now in our hands were without food or
+means of transportation. The old and the little ones could not walk.
+The Chiricahuas had many ponies and donkeys grazing in the different
+cañons. Why not remain one week longer? “Loco” and all the other
+Chiricahuas would then have arrived; all the ponies would be gathered
+up; a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and the march could be
+made securely and safely. But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre,
+the Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the remnant of the band,
+with whom “Hieronymo,” would cast his fortunes.
+
+General Crook acknowledged the justice of much which “Hieronymo” had
+said, but declined to take any action not in strict accord with the
+terms of the convention. He would now move back slowly, so as not
+to crowd the young and feeble too much; they should have time to
+finish roasting mescal, and most of those now out could catch up with
+the column; but those who did not would have to take the chances of
+reaching San Carlos in safety.
+
+“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace; said that he himself
+would start out to gather and bring in the remnants of his people,
+and he would cause the most diligent search to be made for Charlie
+McComas. If possible, he would join the Americans before they got out
+of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make his way to the San Carlos
+as soon as this could be done without danger; “but,” concluded he, “I
+will remain here until I have gathered up the last man, woman, and
+child of the Chiricahuas.”
+
+All night long the Chiricahuas and the Apache scouts danced together
+in sign of peace and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles partly
+filled with water and covered tightly with a well-soaked piece of
+calico. The drumsticks were willow saplings curved into a hoop at one
+extremity. The beats recorded one hundred to the minute, and were
+the same dull, solemn thump which scared Cortés and his beleaguered
+followers during _la Noche triste_. No Caucasian would refer to it
+as music; nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own comparable
+to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake. And so the song, chanted to
+the measure of the drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
+held listeners spell-bound. When the dance began, two old hags,
+white-haired and stiff with age, pranced in the centre of the ring,
+warming up under the stimulus of the chorus until they became lively
+as crickets. With them were two or three naked boys of very tender
+years. The ring itself included as many as two hundred Indians of
+both sexes, whose varied costumes of glittering hues made a strange
+setting to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang in the silvery
+rays of the moon and the flickering light of the camp-fires.
+
+On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220 Chiricahuas, and, soon
+after, Nané, one of the most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
+chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his people. He has a strong
+face, marked with intelligence, courage, and good nature, but with
+an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness. He has received
+many wounds in his countless fights with the whites, and limps very
+perceptibly in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas were coming in
+by every trail, and that all would go to the San Carlos as soon as
+they collected their families.
+
+On the 24th of May the march back to the San Carlos began. All the
+old Chiricahuas were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so were the
+weak little children and feeble women. The great majority streamed
+along on foot, nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood foliage to
+screen them from the sun. The distance travelled was not great, and
+camp was made by noon.
+
+The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully picturesque. Sit
+down on this flat rock and feast your eyes upon the silver waves
+flashing in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who is about to
+give her baby brother a much-needed bath. The little dusky brat--all
+eyes--is looking furtively at you and ready to bawl if you draw
+nearer. Opposite are two old crones filling _ollas_ (jugs or jars)
+of basket-work, rendered fully water-proof by a coating of either
+mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside of them are two others, who are
+utilizing the entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The splash and
+yell on your right, as you correctly divine, come from an Apache “Tom
+Sawyer,” who will one day mount the gallows. The friendly greeting
+and request for “tobacco shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys,
+who has kindly been eating a big portion of your meals for several
+days past, and feels so friendly toward you that he announces himself
+in a pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “_Sikisn_” (brother).
+Behind you are grouped Apache scouts, whose heads are encircled with
+red flannel bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges are never laid
+aside. Horses and mules plunge belly-deep into the sparkling current;
+soldiers come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets filled with
+water, and some to soak neck, face, and hands, before going back
+to dinner.
+
+[Illustration: APACHE BASKET-WORK.]
+
+In this camp we remained several days. The old and young squaws had
+cut and dried large packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought down
+from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal heads, which were piled
+in ovens of hot stones covered with wet grass and clay. The process
+of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes from three to four
+days, and resembles somewhat the mode of baking clams in New England.
+The Apache scouts passed the time agreeably enough in gambling with
+the Chiricahuas, whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning hundreds
+of dollars in gold, silver, and paper at the games of _monte_,
+_conquien_, _tzi-chis_, and _mushka_.
+
+The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed groups of white soldiers
+and packers, and nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua women
+and children, who disported in the refreshing waters with the agility
+and grace of nereids and tritons. The modesty of the Apaches of both
+sexes, under all circumstances, is praiseworthy.
+
+“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook this morning that “Hieronymo”
+had sent them back to say that the Chiricahuas were very much
+scattered since the fight, and that he had not been as successful as
+he anticipated in getting them united and in corraling their herds
+of ponies. They did not want to leave a single one of their people
+behind, and urged General Crook to stay in his present camp for a
+week longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed himself
+as anxious for peace. He had never wished to leave San Carlos. He
+wanted to go back there and obtain a little farm, and own cattle and
+horses, as he once did. Here it may be proper to say that all the
+chiefs of the Chiricahuas--“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,” “Nané,”
+“Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,” “Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”--are men of
+noticeable brain power, physically perfect and mentally acute--just
+the individuals to lead a forlorn hope in the face of every obstacle.
+
+The Chiricahua children, who had become tired of swimming, played
+at a new sport to-day, a mimic game of war, a school of practice
+analogous to that established by old Fagan for the instruction of
+young London pickpockets. Three boys took the lead, and represented
+Mexicans, who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or elude their
+pursuers, who trailed them to their covert, surrounded it, and poured
+in a flight of arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon the
+ground, and the other two were seized and carried into captivity. The
+fun became very exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring the
+proprieties, raised itself up to see how the battle sped.
+
+In such sports, in such constant exercise, swimming, riding, running
+up and down the steepest and most slippery mountains, the Apache
+passes his boyish years. No wonder his bones are of iron, his sinews
+of wire, his muscles of India-rubber.
+
+On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished roasting enough mescal
+to last them to the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts came running
+in very much excited. He told his story to the effect that, while
+hunting some distance to the north, he had discovered a large body
+of Mexican soldiers; they were driving back the band of cattle run
+off by “Hieronymo,” and previously referred to. The scout tried
+to communicate with the Mexicans, who imagined him to be a hostile
+Indian, and fired three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al. Zeiber,
+and a small detachment of white and Indian soldiers started out to
+overtake the Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although they
+went some fifteen miles.
+
+On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the march was continued back
+toward the San Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow, the
+Mexican captives not being able to ride any great distance along the
+rough trails, and several of our men being sick. Two of the scouts
+were so far gone with pneumonia that their death was predicted
+every hour, in spite of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
+their incantations would bring them through all right. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” “Kan-tenné,” and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
+of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of their people, making an
+aggregate of 384 in camp on the 29th.
+
+On the 30th, after a march, quite long under the
+circumstances,--fifteen to eighteen miles,--we crossed the main
+“divide” of the Sierra Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
+feet. The pine timber was large and dense, and much of it on fire,
+the smoke and heat parching our throats, and blackening our faces.
+
+With this pine grew a little mescal and a respectable amount of
+the _madroña_, or mountain mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
+by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys; trout were visible
+in all the streams. The line of march was prolific in mineral
+formations,--basalt, lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone. The day
+the command descended the Chihuahua side of the range it struck the
+trail of a large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription cut
+into the bark of a mahogany stating that the Eleventh Battalion had
+been here on the 21st of May.
+
+The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward march may be greatly
+condensed. The line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and close
+to the summit of the range. The country was extremely rough, cut
+up with rocky cañons beyond number and ravines of great depth, all
+flowing with water. Pine forests covered all the elevated ridges,
+but the cañons and lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
+character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and blackberry bushes,
+and strawberry vines. The weather continued almost as previously
+described,--the days clear and serene, the nights bitter cold, with
+ice forming in pails and kettles on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
+worthy of mention assailed the command, the sharp showers that fell
+two or three times being welcomed as laying the soot and dust.
+
+Game was found in abundance,--deer and turkey. This the Apache scouts
+were permitted to shoot and catch, to eke out the rations which had
+completely failed, the last issue being made June 4th. From that date
+till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon the country. The
+Apaches improved the excellent opportunity to show their skill as
+hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.
+
+[Illustration: FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.]
+
+The command was threatened by a great prairie fire on coming down
+into the broad grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus of a
+fierce wind the flames were rushing upon camp. There was not a moment
+to be lost. All hands turned out,--soldiers, scouts, squaws,
+Chiricahua warriors, and even children. Each bore a branch of willow
+or cotton-wood, a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
+had already seized the hill-crest nearest our position; brownish
+and gray clouds poured skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
+long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped high in air. It was a
+grand, a terrible sight: in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin
+and desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and the air, pouring in,
+made whirlwinds, which sent the black funnels of soot winding and
+twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses almost to the zenith. For
+one moment the line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining the
+hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she comes!” yelled the men on
+the left; and like a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of cloud
+and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire was upon, around, and about
+us.
+
+Our people stood bravely up to their work, and the swish! swish!
+swish! of willow brooms proved that camp was not to be surrendered
+without a struggle.
+
+We won the day; that is, we saved camp, herds, and a small area of
+pasturage; but over a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
+swept, mantling the land with soot and an opaque pall of mist and
+smoke through which the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
+horses and mules were badly burned, but none to death.
+
+For two or three nights afterwards the horizon was gloriously lighted
+with lines of fire creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
+into the broad plain, through which trickled the shriveled current of
+the Janos, no one would have suspected that we were not a column of
+Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched out for a mile upon the trail,
+resolved itself upon closer approach into a confused assemblage of
+ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles or without, but in every case
+freighted with humanity. Children were packed by twos and threes,
+while old women and feeble men got along as best they could, now
+riding, now walking. The scouts had decked themselves with paint and
+the Chiricahua women had donned all their finery of rough silver
+bracelets, wooden crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from
+Mexicans. This undulating plain, in which we now found ourselves,
+spread far to the north and east, and was covered with bunch and
+grama grasses, and dotted with cedar.--The march brought us to Alisos
+Creek (an affluent of the Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
+spot where the Mexican commander García, had slaughtered so many
+Chiricahua women and children. Human bones, picked white and clean by
+coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of the stream. Apache baskets and
+other furniture were strewn about. A clump of graves headed by rude
+crosses betrayed the severity of the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.
+
+Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed back (west) into Sonora,
+going over the asperous peak known as the Cocospera.
+
+In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral--granite gneiss,
+porphyry, conglomerate, shale, sandstone, and quartz,--and travel
+was as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier days of the
+march. We struck the head waters of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged
+cañon, then Elias Creek, going through another fine game region, and
+lastly, after crossing a broad tableland mantled with grama grass,
+mesquite, Spanish bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
+bivouacked on the San Bernardino river, close to a tule swamp of
+blue, slimy mud.
+
+The scouts plastered their heads with this mud, and dug up the bulbs
+of the tule, which, when roasted, are quite palatable.
+
+On the 15th of June the command recrossed the national boundary,
+and reached Silver Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
+Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of whose officers and men we
+received the warmest conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
+predicted and asserted regarding the column, from which no word had
+come, directly or indirectly since May 5th. The Mexican captives were
+returned to their own country and the Chiricahuas marched, under
+Crawford, to the San Carlos Agency.
+
+Unfortunately the papers received at Silver Springs were full of
+inflammatory telegrams, stating that the intention of the government
+was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without distinction, and to
+parcel out the women and children among tribes in the Indian
+Territory. This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced its
+legitimate result. Several of the chiefs and many of the head men
+hid back in the mountains until they could learn exactly what was to
+be their fate. The Mexican troops went in after them, and had two or
+three severe engagements, and were, of course, whipped each time.
+When the road was clear the Chiricahuas kept their promises to the
+letter, and brought to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and child
+of their people.
+
+They have been quietly scattered in small groups around the
+reservation, the object being to effect tribal disintegration, to
+bring individuals and families face to face with the progress made by
+more peaceable Apaches, and at same time to enable trusted members of
+the latter bands to maintain a more perfect surveillance over every
+action of the Chiricahuas.
+
+Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas insist, and I think
+truthfully, that he was in the _ranchería_ destroyed by Crawford;
+that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths of the mountains;
+that the country was so rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick
+that his tracks could not be followed, even had there not been such a
+violent fall of rain during the succeeding nights. All accounts agree
+in this.
+
+Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up thirteen captives,--women and
+children,--held by them as hostages.
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber’s note:
+
+  Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
+  corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
+  the text and consultation of external sources.
+
+  Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
+  and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
+
+  Pg 10: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.
+
+  Pg 11: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.
+
+  Pg 14: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.
+
+  Pg 18: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.
+
+  Pg 23: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.
+
+  Pg 24: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.
+
+  Pg 34: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.
+
+  Pg 51: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.
+
+  Pg 76: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.
+
+  Pg 98: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA
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+<body>
+<h1 class="pgx" title="">The Project Gutenberg eBook, An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre, by
+John Gregory Bourke</h1>
+<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
+and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
+under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
+eBook or online at <a
+href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not
+located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the
+country where you are located before using this ebook.</p>
+<p>Title: An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre</p>
+<p>       An Account of the Expedition in Pursuit of the Hostile Chiricahua Apaches in the Spring of 1883 </p>
+<p>Author: John Gregory Bourke</p>
+<p>Release Date: April 9, 2021  [eBook #65040]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4 class="pgx" title="">E-text prepared by John Campbell<br />
+    and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (https://www.pgdp.net)<br />
+    from page images generously made available by<br />
+    Internet Archive<br />
+    (https://archive.org)</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10">
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">
+      Note:
+    </td>
+    <td>
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      https://archive.org/details/anapachecampaign00bourrich
+    </td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="transnote">
+<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
+
+<p>Changes to the text are noted at the <a href="#TN">end of the book.</a></p>
+</div>
+<hr class="pgx" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="cover" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="original cover" />
+</div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i002" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i002.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">CRAWFORD’S COLUMN MOVING TO THE FRONT.</div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h1>
+AN APACHE CAMPAIGN<br />
+<span class="fs80">IN THE SIERRA MADRE.</span></h1>
+</div>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs80"><em>AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION IN PURSUIT OF THE<br />
+HOSTILE CHIRICAHUA APACHES IN THE<br />
+SPRING OF 1883.</em></p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs70">BY</p>
+<p class="pfs100">JOHN G. BOURKE,</p>
+
+<p class="p1 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Captain Third Cavalry, U. S. Army,<br />
+Author of “The Snake Dance of the Moquis</span>.”</p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs90"><em>ILLUSTRATED</em></p>
+
+<p class="p4 pfs80">NEW YORK</p>
+<p class="pfs100">CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</p>
+<p class="pfs80">1886.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<p class="p6 pfs70"><span class="smcap">Copyright 1886,<br />
+By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS.</span></p>
+
+<p class="p6 pfs70">Press of J  J. Little &amp; Co.,<br />
+Nos. 10 to 20 Astor Place, New York.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iii"></a>[Pg iii]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p1 nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r10" />
+
+<p>The recent outbreak of a fraction of the
+Chiricahua Apaches, and the frightful atrocities
+which have marked their trail through Arizona,
+Sonora, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, has attracted
+renewed attention to these brave but
+bloodthirsty aborigines and to the country exposed
+to their ravages.</p>
+
+<p>The contents of this book, which originally
+appeared in a serial form in the <cite>Outing Magazine</cite>
+of Boston, represent the details of the expedition
+led by General Crook to the Sierra
+Madre, Mexico, in 1883; but, as the present
+military operations are conducted by the same
+commander, against the same enemy, and upon
+the same field of action, a perusal of these pages
+will, it is confidently believed, place before the
+reader a better knowledge of the general situation
+than any article which is likely soon to
+appear.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_iv"></a>[iv]</span></p>
+
+<p>There is this difference to be noted, however;
+of the one hundred and twenty-five (125) fighting
+men brought back from the Sierra Madre,
+less than one-third have engaged in the present
+hostilities, from which fact an additional inference
+may be drawn both of the difficulties to
+be overcome in the repression of these disturbances
+and of the horrors which would surely
+have accumulated upon the heads of our citizens
+had the <em>whole</em> fighting force of this fierce
+band taken to the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>One small party of eleven (11) hostile Chiricahuas,
+during the period from November 15th,
+1885, to the present date, has killed twenty-one
+(21) friendly Apaches living in peace upon the
+reservation, and no less than twenty-five (25)
+white men, women, and children. This bloody
+raid has been conducted through a country
+filled with regular troops, militia, and “rangers,”&mdash;and
+at a loss to the enemy, so far as can be
+shown, of only one man, whose head is now at
+Fort Apache.</p>
+
+<p class="right fs90">JOHN G. BOURKE.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent fs70"><span class="smcap">Apache Indian Agency,<br />
+&nbsp; San Carlos, Arizona</span>,<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; <em>December 15th, 1885</em>.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[v]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="LOI">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r20" />
+
+
+<table class="autotable fs90 smcap" summary="">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"></td>
+<td class="tdr fs70">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Crawford’s Column Moving to the Front</td>
+<td class="tdr fvnormal"><a href="#i002"><em>Frontispiece.</em></a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Village Scene</td>
+<td class="tdr fvnormal">to face &nbsp; <a href="#i018">7</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache War-Dance</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i030">17</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Indian Scouts Examining Trails by Night</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i038">23</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Awl-Cases, Tobacco Bags, etc.</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i043">26</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Ambuscade</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i053">34</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Head-Dresses, Shoes, Toys, etc.</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i070">49</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Weapons and Equipments</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i087">64</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Girl, with Typical Dress</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i104">79</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Warfare</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i115">88</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Apache Basket-Work</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i129">100</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">Fighting the Prairie Fire</td>
+<td class="tdr"><a href="#i138">107</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[Pg 1]</span><br /></p>
+
+<p class="p2 pfs180">AN APACHE CAMPAIGN.</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="r20" />
+
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="I">I.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Within the compass of this volume it is impossible
+to furnish a complete dissertation
+upon the Apache Indians or the causes which
+led up to the expedition about to be described.
+The object is simply to outline some of the difficulties
+attending the solution of the Indian
+question in the South-west and to make known
+the methods employed in conducting campaigns
+against savages in hostility. It is thought that
+the object desired can best be accomplished by
+submitting an unmutilated extract from the
+journal carefully kept during the whole period
+involved.</p>
+
+<p>Much has necessarily been excluded, but
+without exception it has been to avoid repetition,
+or else to escape the introduction of information
+bearing upon the language, the religion,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span>
+marriages, funeral ceremonies, etc., of this interesting
+race, which would increase the bulk
+of the manuscript, and, perhaps, detract from
+its value in the eyes of the general reader.</p>
+
+<p>Ethnologically the Apache is classed with
+the Tinneh tribes, living close to the Yukon
+and Mackenzie rivers, within the Arctic circle.
+For centuries he has been preëminent over the
+more peaceful nations about him for courage,
+skill, and daring in war; cunning in deceiving
+and evading his enemies; ferocity in attack
+when skilfully-planned ambuscades have led
+an unwary foe into his clutches; cruelty and
+brutality to captives; patient endurance and
+fortitude under the greatest privations.</p>
+
+<p>In peace he has commanded respect for keen-sighted
+intelligence, good fellowship, warmth
+of feeling for his friends, and impatience of
+wrong.</p>
+
+<p>No Indian has more virtues and none has
+been more truly ferocious when aroused. He
+was the first of the native Americans to defeat
+in battle or outwit in diplomacy the all-conquering,
+smooth-tongued Spaniard, with whom
+and his Mexican-mongrel descendants he has<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span>
+waged cold-blooded, heart-sickening war since
+the days of Cortés. When the Spaniard had
+fire-arms and corselet of steel he was unable to
+push back this fierce, astute aborigine, provided
+simply with lance and bow. The past fifty
+years have seen the Apache provided with
+arms of precision, and, especially since the introduction
+of magazine breech-loaders, the
+Mexican has not only ceased to be an intruder
+upon the Apache, but has trembled for the
+security of life and property in the squalid
+hamlets of the States of Chihuahua and Sonora.</p>
+
+<p>In 1871 the War Department confided to
+General George Crook the task of whipping
+into submission all the bands of the Apache
+nation living in Arizona. How thoroughly
+that duty was accomplished is now a matter of
+history. But at the last moment one band&mdash;the
+Chiricahuas&mdash;was especially exempted from
+Crook’s jurisdiction. They were not attacked
+by troops, and for years led a Jack-in-the-box
+sort of an existence, now popping into an
+agency and now popping out, anxious, if their
+own story is to be credited, to live at peace<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span>
+with the whites, but unable to do so from lack
+of nourishment.</p>
+
+<p>When they went upon the reservation, rations
+in abundance were promised for themselves
+and families. A difference of opinion
+soon arose with the agent as to what constituted
+a ration, the wicked Indians laboring
+under the delusion that it was enough food to
+keep the recipient from starving to death, and
+objecting to an issue of supplies based upon
+the principle according to which grumbling
+Jack-tars used to say that prize-money was
+formerly apportioned,&mdash;that is, by being thrown
+through the rungs of a ladder&mdash;what stuck being
+the share of the Indian, and what fell to
+the ground being the share of the agent. To
+the credit of the agent it must be said that he
+made a praiseworthy but ineffectual effort to
+alleviate the pangs of hunger by a liberal distribution
+of hymn-books among his wards.
+The perverse Chiricahuas, not being able to
+digest works of that nature, and unwilling to
+acknowledge the correctness of the agent’s arithmetic,
+made up their minds to sally out from
+San Carlos and take refuge in the more hospitable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span>
+wilderness of the Sierra Madre. Their
+discontent was not allayed by rumors whispered
+about of the intention of the agent to
+have the whole tribe removed bodily to the
+Indian Territory. Coal had been discovered on
+the reservation, and speculators clamored that
+the land involved be thrown open for development,
+regardless of the rights of the Indians.
+But, so the story goes, matters suddenly reached
+a focus when the agent one day sent his chief of
+police to arrest a Chiricahua charged with some
+offense deemed worthy of punishment in the
+guard-house. The offender started to run
+through the Indian camp, and the chief of police
+fired at him, but missed his aim and killed a
+luckless old squaw, who happened in range.
+This wretched marksmanship was resented by
+the Chiricahuas, who refused to be comforted
+by the profuse apologies tendered for the accident.
+They silently made their preparations,
+waiting long enough to catch the chief of police,
+kill him, cut off his head, and play a game
+of foot-ball with it; and then, like a flock of
+quail, the whole band, men, women, and children&mdash;710
+in all&mdash;started on the dead run for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span>
+the Mexican boundary, one hundred and fifty
+miles to the south.</p>
+
+<p>Hotly pursued by the troops, they fought
+their way across Southern Arizona and New
+Mexico, their route marked by blood and devastation.
+The valleys of the Santa Cruz and
+San Pedro witnessed a repetition of the once
+familiar scenes of farmers tilling their fields
+with rifles and shot-guns strapped to the plow-handle.
+While engaged in fighting off the
+American forces, which pressed too closely upon
+their rear, the Apaches were attacked in front
+by the Mexican column under Colonel Garcia,
+who, in a savagely contested fight, achieved a
+“substantial victory,” killing eighty-five and
+capturing thirty, eleven of which total of one
+hundred and fifteen were men, and the rest
+women and children. The Chiricahuas claim
+that when the main body of their warriors
+reached the scene of the engagement the Mexicans
+evinced no anxiety to come out from the
+rifle-pits they hastily dug. To this fact no
+allusion can be found in the Mexican commander’s
+published dispatches.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i018" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i018.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE VILLAGE SCENE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas, now reduced to an aggregate<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span>
+of less than 600&mdash;150 of whom were warriors
+and big boys, withdrew to the recesses
+of the adjacent Sierra Madre&mdash;their objective
+point. Not long after this the Chiricahuas
+made overtures for an armistice with the Mexicans,
+who invited them to a little town near
+Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, for a conference.
+They were courteously received, plied with
+liquor until drunk, and then attacked tooth and
+nail, ten or twelve warriors being killed and
+some twenty-live or thirty women hurried off
+to captivity.</p>
+
+<p>This is a one-sided description of the affair,
+given by a Chiricahua who participated. The
+newspapers of that date contained telegraph accounts
+of a fierce battle and another “victory”
+from Mexican sources; so that no doubt there
+is some basis for the story.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime General Crook had been reassigned
+by the President to the command of the Department
+of Arizona, which he had left nearly
+ten years previously in a condition of peace and
+prosperity, with the Apaches hard at work
+upon the reservation, striving to gain a living
+by cultivating the soil. Incompetency and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span>
+rascality, in the interval, had done their worst,
+and when Crook returned not only were the
+Chiricahuas on the war-path, but all the other
+bands of the Apache nation were in a state
+of scarcely concealed defection and hostility.
+Crook lost not a moment in visiting his old
+friends among the chiefs and warriors, and by
+the exercise of a strong personal influence,
+coupled with assurances that the wrongs of
+which the Apaches complained should be
+promptly redressed, succeeded in averting an
+outbreak which would have made blood flow
+from the Pecos to the Colorado, and for the
+suppression of which the gentle and genial tax-payer
+would have been compelled to contribute
+most liberally of his affluence. Attended by
+an aid-de-camp, a surgeon, and a dozen Apache
+scouts, General Crook next proceeded to the
+south-east corner of Arizona, from which point
+he made an attempt to open up communication
+with the Chiricahuas. In this he was unsuccessful,
+but learned from a couple of squaws,
+intercepted while attempting to return to the
+San Carlos, that the Chiricahuas had sworn vengeance
+upon Mexicans and Americans alike;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span>
+that their stronghold was an impregnable position
+in the Sierra Madre, a “great way” below
+the International Boundary; and that they supplied
+themselves with an abundance of food by
+raiding upon the cattle-ranches and “haciendas”
+in the valleys and plains below.</p>
+
+<p>Crook now found himself face to face with
+the following intricate problem: The Chiricahuas
+occupied a confessedly impregnable position
+in the precipitous range known as the
+Sierra Madre. This position was within the
+territory of another nation so jealous of its
+privileges as not always to be able to see clearly
+in what direction its best interests lay. The
+territory harassed by the Chiricahuas not only
+stretched across the boundary separating Mexico
+from the United States, but was divided
+into four military departments&mdash;two in each
+country; hence an interminable amount of jealousy,
+suspicion, fault-finding, and antagonism
+would surely dog the steps of him who should
+endeavor to bring the problem to a solution.</p>
+
+<p>To complicate matters further, the Chiricahuas,
+and all the other Apaches as well, were
+filled with the notion that the Mexicans were a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span>
+horde of cowards and treacherous liars, afraid
+to meet them in war but valiant enough to destroy
+their women and children, for whose
+blood, by the savage’s law of retaliation, blood
+must in turn be shed. Affairs went on in this
+unsatisfactory course from October, 1882, until
+March, 1883, everybody in Arizona expecting a
+return of the dreaded Chiricahuas, but no one
+knowing where the first attack should be made.
+The meagre military force allotted to the department
+was distributed so as to cover as many
+exposed points as possible, one body of 150
+Apache scouts, under Captain Emmet Crawford,
+Third Cavalry, being assigned to the arduous
+duty of patrolling the Mexican boundary
+for a distance of two hundred miles, through
+a rugged country pierced with ravines and
+cañons. No <ins class="corr" id="tn-10" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'one was suprised'">
+one was surprised</ins> to learn that
+toward the end of March this skeleton line had
+been stealthily penetrated by a bold band of
+twenty-six Chiricahuas, under a very crafty
+and daring young chief named <em>Chato</em> (Spanish
+for Flat Nose).</p>
+
+<p>By stealing fresh horses from every ranch
+they were successful in traversing from seventy-five<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span>
+to one hundred miles a day, killing and destroying
+all in their path, the culminating point
+in their bloody career being the butchery of
+Judge McComas and wife, prominent and refined
+people of Silver City, N. M., and the abduction
+of their bright boy, Charlie, whom the
+Indians carried back with them on their retreat
+through New Mexico and Chihuahua.</p>
+
+<p>It may serve to give some idea of the courage,
+<ins class="corr" id="tn-11" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'boldness, and sublety'">
+boldness, and subtlety</ins> of these raiders to
+state that in their dash through Sonora, Arizona,
+New Mexico, and Chihuahua, a distance of
+not less than eight hundred miles, they passed
+at times through localities fairly well settled and
+close to an aggregate of at least 5,000 troops&mdash;4,500
+Mexican and 500 American. They killed
+twenty-five persons, Mexican and American, and
+lost but two&mdash;one killed near the Total Wreck
+mine, Arizona, and one who fell into the hands
+of the American troops, of which last much has
+to be narrated.</p>
+
+<p>To attempt to catch such a band of Apaches
+by <em>direct</em> pursuit would be about as hopeless a
+piece of business as that of catching so many
+fleas. All that could be done was done; the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span>
+country was alarmed by telegraph; people at
+exposed points put upon their guard, while detachments
+of troops scoured in every direction,
+hoping, by good luck, to intercept, retard, mayhap
+destroy, the daring marauders. The trail
+they had made coming up from Mexico could,
+however, be followed, <em>back</em> to the stronghold;
+and this, in a military sense, would be the most
+<em>direct</em>, as it would be the most practical pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>Crook’s plans soon began to outline themselves.
+He first concentrated at the most eligible
+position on the Southern Pacific Railroad&mdash;Willcox&mdash;all
+the skeletons of companies which
+were available, for the protection of Arizona.</p>
+
+<p>Forage, ammunition, and subsistence were
+brought in on every train; the whole organization
+was carefully inspected, to secure the rejection
+of every unserviceable soldier, animal,
+or weapon; telegrams and letters were sent to
+the officers commanding the troops of Mexico,
+but no replies were received, the addresses of
+the respective generals not being accurately
+known. As their co-operation was desirable,
+General Crook, as a last resort, went by railroad
+to Guaymas, Hermosillo, and Chihuahua,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span>
+there to see personally and confer with the
+Mexican civil and military authorities. The
+cordial reception extended him by all classes
+was the best evidence of the high regard in
+which he was held by the inhabitants of the
+two afflicted States of Sonora and Chihuahua,
+and of their readiness to welcome any force he
+would lead to effect the destruction or removal
+of the common enemy. Generals Topete and
+Carbó&mdash;soldiers of distinction&mdash;the governors
+of the two States, and Mayor Zubiran, of Chihuahua,
+were most earnest in their desire for
+a removal of savages whose presence was a
+cloud upon the prosperity of their fellow-citizens.
+General Crook made no delay in these
+conferences, but hurried back to Willcox and
+marched his command thence to the San Bernardino
+springs, in the south-east corner of the
+Territory (Arizona).</p>
+
+<p>But serious delays and serious complications
+were threatened by the intemperate behavior
+of an organization calling itself the “Tombstone
+Rangers,” which marched in the direction of the
+San Carlos Agency with the avowed purpose
+of “cleaning out” all the Indians there congregated.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span>
+The chiefs and head men of the
+Apaches had just caused word to be telegraphed
+to General Crook that they intended
+sending him another hundred of their picked
+warriors as an assurance and pledge that they
+were not in sympathy with the Chiricahuas on
+the war-path. Upon learning of the approach
+of the “Rangers” the chiefs prudently deferred
+the departure of the new levy of scouts until
+the horizon should clear, and enable them to
+see what was to be expected from their white
+neighbors.</p>
+
+<p>The whiskey taken along by the “Rangers”
+was exhausted in less than ten days, when the
+organization expired of thirst, to the gratification
+of the respectable inhabitants of the frontier,
+who repudiated an interference with the
+plans of the military commander, respected and
+esteemed by them for former distinguished services.</p>
+
+<p>At this point it may be well to insert an
+outline of the story told by the Chiricahua
+captive who had been brought down from the
+San Carlos Agency to Willcox. He said that
+his name was Pa-nayo-tishn (<ins class="corr" id="tn-14" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Cayote saw'">
+the Coyote saw</ins><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span>
+him); that he was not a Chiricahua, but a
+White Mountain Apache of the Dest-chin (or
+Red Clay) clan, married to two Chiricahua women,
+by whom he had had children, and with
+whose people he had lived for years. He had
+left the Chiricahua stronghold in the mountain
+called Pa-gotzin-kay some five days’ journey
+below Casas Grandes in Chihuahua. From that
+stronghold the Chiricahuas had been raiding
+with impunity upon the Mexicans. When pursued
+they would draw the Mexicans into the
+depths of the mountains, ambuscade them, and
+kill them by rolling down rocks from the
+heights.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas had plenty of horses and
+cattle, but little food of a vegetable character.
+They were finely provided with sixteen-shooting
+breech-loading rifles, but were getting short of
+ammunition, and had made their recent raid into
+Arizona, hoping to replenish their supply of
+cartridges. Dissensions had broken out among
+the chiefs, some of whom, he thought, would
+be glad to return to the reservation. In making
+raids they counted upon riding from sixty to
+seventy-five miles a day as they stole fresh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span>
+horses all the time and killed those abandoned.
+It would be useless to pursue them, but he
+would lead General Crook back along the trail
+they had made coming up from Mexico, and he
+had no doubt the Chiricahuas could be taken
+by surprise.</p>
+
+<p>He had not gone with them of his own free
+will, but had been compelled to leave the reservation,
+and had been badly treated while
+with them. The Chiricahuas left the San Carlos
+because the agent had stolen their rations,
+beaten their women, and killed an old squaw.
+He asserted emphatically that no communication
+of any kind had been held with the
+Apaches at San Carlos, every attempt in that
+direction having been frustrated.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i030" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i030.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WAR-DANCE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas, according to Pa-nayo-tishn,
+numbered seventy full-grown warriors and fifty
+big boys able to fight, with an unknown number
+of women and children. In their fights with the
+Mexicans about one hundred and fifty had been
+killed and captured, principally women and children.
+The stronghold in the Sierra Madre was
+described as a dangerous, rocky, almost inaccessible
+place, having plenty of wood, water, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span>
+grass, but no food except what was stolen from
+the Mexicans. Consequently the Chiricahuas
+might be starved out.</p>
+
+<p>General Crook ordered the irons to be struck
+from the prisoner; to which he demurred, saying
+he would prefer to wear shackles for the
+present, until his conduct should prove his sincerity.
+A half-dozen prominent scouts promised
+to guard him and watch him; so the
+fetters were removed, and Pa-nayo-tishn or
+“Peaches,” as the soldiers called him, was installed
+in the responsible office of guide of the
+contemplated expedition.</p>
+
+<p>By the 22d of April many of the preliminary
+arrangements had been completed and some of
+the difficulties anticipated had been smoothed
+over. Nearly 100 Apache scouts joined the
+command from the San Carlos Reservation, and
+in the first hours of night began a war-dance,
+which continued without a break until the first
+flush of dawn the next day. They were all in
+high feather, and entered into the spirit of the
+occasion with full zest. Not much time need
+be wasted upon a description of their dresses;
+they didn’t wear any, except breech-clout and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span>
+moccasins. To the music of an improvised
+drum and the accompaniment of marrow-freezing
+yells and shrieks they pirouetted and
+charged in all directions, swaying their bodies
+violently, dropping on one knee, then suddenly
+springing high in air, discharging their pieces,
+and all the time chanting a rude refrain, in
+which their own prowess was exalted and that
+of their enemies alluded to with contempt.
+Their enthusiasm was not abated by the announcement,
+quietly diffused, that the “medicine
+men” had been hard at work, and had
+succeeded in making a “medicine” which
+would surely bring the Chiricahuas to grief.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with the agreement entered
+into with the Mexican authorities, <ins class="corr" id="tn-18" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'the Amercan troops'">
+the American troops</ins> were to reach the boundary line <em>not
+sooner than May 1</em>, the object being to let the
+restless Chiricahuas quiet down as much as
+possible, and relax their vigilance, while at the
+same time it enabled the Mexican troops to get
+into position for effective co-operation.</p>
+
+<p>The convention between our government and
+that of Mexico, by which a reciprocal crossing
+of the International Boundary was conceded to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span>
+the troops of the two republics, stipulated that
+such crossing should be authorized when the
+troops were “in close pursuit of a band of
+savage Indians,” and the crossing was made
+“in the unpopulated or desert parts of said
+boundary line,” which unpopulated or desert
+parts “had to be two leagues from any encampment
+or town of either country.” The
+commander of the troops crossing was to give
+notice at time of crossing, or before if possible,
+to the nearest military commander or civil
+authority of the country entered. The pursuing
+force was to retire to its own territory as
+soon as it should have fought the band of
+which it was in pursuit, or lost the trail; and
+in no case could it “establish itself or remain
+in the foreign territory for a longer time than
+necessary to make the pursuit of the band
+whose trail it had followed.”</p>
+
+<p>The weak points of this convention were the
+imperative stipulation that the troops should
+return at once after a fight and the ambiguity
+of the terms “close pursuit,” and “unpopulated
+country.” A friendly expedition from the
+United States might follow close on the heels<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span>
+of a party of depredating Apaches, but, under
+a rigid construction of the term “unpopulated,”
+have to turn back when it had reached some
+miserable hamlet exposed to the full ferocity
+of savage attack, and most in need of assistance,
+as afterwards proved to be the case.</p>
+
+<p>The complication was not diminished by the
+orders dispatched by General Sherman on March
+31 to General Crook to continue the pursuit of
+the Chiricahuas “without regard to departmental
+or national boundaries.” Both General Crook
+and General Topete, anxious to have every difficulty
+removed which lay in the way of a
+thorough adjustment of this vexed question,
+telegraphed to their respective governments
+asking that a more elastic interpretation be given
+to the terms of the convention.</p>
+
+<p>To this telegram General Crook received reply
+that he must abide strictly by the terms of
+the convention, which could only be changed
+with the concurrence of the Mexican Senate.
+But what these terms meant exactly was left
+just as much in the dark as before. On the 23d
+of April General Crook moved out from Willcox,
+accompanied by the Indian scouts and a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span>
+force of seven skeleton companies of the Third
+and Sixth Cavalry, under Colonel James Biddle,
+guarding a train of wagons, with supplies of
+ammunition and food for two months. This
+force, under Colonel Biddle, was to remain in
+reserve at or near San Bernardino Springs on
+the Mexican boundary, while its right and left
+flanks respectively were to be covered by detachments
+commanded by Rafferty, Vroom, Overton,
+and Anderson; this disposition affording the best
+possible protection to the settlements in case any
+of the Chiricahuas should make their way to
+the rear of the detachment penetrating Mexico.</p>
+
+<p>A disagreeable sand-storm enveloped the column
+as it left the line of the Southern Pacific
+Railroad, preceded by the detachment of Apache
+scouts. A few words in regard to the peculiar
+methods of the Apaches in marching and conducting
+themselves while on a campaign may
+not be out of place. To veterans of the campaigns
+of the Civil War familiar with the compact
+formations of the cavalry and infantry of
+the Army of the Potomac, the loose, straggling
+methods of the Apache scouts would appear
+startling, and yet no soldier would fail to apprehend<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span>
+at a glance that the Apache was the perfect,
+the ideal, scout of the whole world. When
+Lieutenant Gatewood, the officer in command,
+gave the short, jerky order, Ugashé&mdash;Go!&mdash;the
+Apaches started as if shot from a gun, and in a
+minute or less had covered a space of one hundred
+yards front, which distance rapidly widened
+as they advanced, at a rough, shambling
+walk, in the direction of Dos Cabezas (Two
+Heads), the mining camp near which the first
+halt was to be made.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i038" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i038.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE INDIAN SCOUTS EXAMINING TRAILS BY NIGHT.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>They moved with no semblance of regularity;
+individual fancy alone governed. Here
+was a clump of three; not far off two more,
+and scattered in every point of the compass,
+singly or in clusters, were these indefatigable
+scouts, with vision as keen as a hawk’s, tread
+as untiring and as stealthy as the panther’s,
+and ears so sensitive that nothing escapes them.
+An artist, possibly, would object to many of
+them as undersized, but in all other respects
+they would satisfy every requirement of anatomical
+criticism. Their chests were broad,
+deep, and full; shoulders perfectly straight;
+limbs well-proportioned, strong, and muscular,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span>
+without a suggestion of undue heaviness; hands
+and feet small and taper but wiry; heads
+well-shaped, and countenances often lit up with
+a pleasant, good-natured expression, which
+would be more constant, perhaps, were it not
+for the savage, untamed cast imparted by the
+loose, disheveled, gypsy locks of raven black,
+held away from the face by a broad, flat band
+of scarlet cloth. Their eyes were bright, clear,
+and bold, frequently expressive of the greatest
+good-humor and satisfaction. Uniforms had
+been issued, but were donned upon ceremonial
+occasions only. On the present march each
+wore a loosely fitting shirt of red, white, or
+gray stuff, generally of calico, in some gaudy
+figure, but <ins class="corr" id="tn-23" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'not infreqently the'">
+not infrequently the</ins> sombre article of
+woollen raiment issued to white soldiers. This
+came down outside a pair of loose cotton drawers,
+reaching to the moccasins. The moccasins
+are the most important articles of Apache apparel.
+In a fight or on a long march they will
+discard all else, but under any and every circumstance
+will retain the moccasins. These
+had been freshly made before leaving Willcox.
+The Indian to be fitted stands erect upon the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span>
+ground while a companion traces with a sharp
+knife the outlines of the sole of his foot upon
+a piece of rawhide. The leggin is made of soft
+buckskin, attached to the foot and reaching to
+mid-thigh. For convenience in marching, it is
+allowed to hang in folds below the knee. The
+raw-hide sole is prolonged beyond the great
+toe, and turned upward in a shield, which protects
+from cactus and sharp stones. A leather
+belt encircling the waist holds forty rounds of
+metallic cartridges, and also keeps in place the
+regulation blue blouse and pantaloons, which
+are worn upon the person only when the Indian
+scout is anxious to “paralyze” the frontier
+towns <ins class="corr" id="tn-24" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'or millitary posts'">
+or military posts</ins> by a display of all his
+finery.</p>
+
+<p>The other trappings of these savage auxiliaries
+are a Springfield breech-loading rifle, army
+pattern, a canteen full of water, a butcher knife,
+an awl in leather case, a pair of tweezers, and
+a tag. The awl is used for sewing moccasins
+or work of that kind. With the tweezers the
+Apache young man carefully picks out each
+and every hair appearing upon his face. The
+tag marks his place in the tribe, and is in reality<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span>
+nothing more or less than a revival of a
+plan adopted during the war of the rebellion
+for the identification of soldiers belonging to
+the different corps and divisions. Each male
+Indian at the San Carlos is tagged and numbered,
+and a descriptive list, corresponding to
+the tag kept, with a full recital of all his physical
+peculiarities.</p>
+
+<p>This is the equipment of each and every
+scout; but there are many, especially the
+more pious and influential, who carry besides,
+strapped at the waist, little buckskin bags of
+Hoddentin, or sacred meal, with which to
+offer morning and evening sacrifice to the sun
+or other deity. Others, again, are provided
+with amulets of lightning-riven twigs, pieces
+of quartz crystal, petrified wood, concretionary
+sandstone, galena, or chalchihuitls, or fetiches
+representing some of their countless
+planetary gods or Kân, which are regarded
+as the “dead medicine” for frustrating the
+designs of the enemy or warding off arrows
+and bullets in the heat of action. And a few
+are happy in the possession of priceless sashes
+and shirts of buckskin, upon which are emblazoned<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span>
+the signs of the sun, moon, lightning,
+rainbow, hail, fire, the water-beetle, butterfly,
+snake, centipede, and other powers to
+which they may appeal for aid in the hour
+of distress.</p>
+
+<p>The Apache is an eminently religious person,
+and the more deviltry he plans the more
+pronounced does his piety become.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i043" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i043.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE AWL-CASES, TOBACCO BAGS, AND HEAD-DRESSES
+WORN BY YOUNG GIRLS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The rate of speed attained by the Apaches
+in marching is about an even four miles an
+hour on foot, or not quite fast enough to make
+a horse trot. They keep this up for about
+fifteen miles, at the end of which distance, if
+water be encountered and no enemy be sighted,
+they congregate in bands of from ten to fifteen
+each, hide in some convenient ravine, sit down,
+smoke cigarettes, chat and joke, and stretch
+out in the sunlight, basking like the negroes
+of the South. If they want to make a little
+fire, they kindle one with matches, if they
+happen to have any with them; if not, a rapid
+twirl, between the palms, of a hard round
+stick fitting into a circular hole in another stick
+of softer fiber, will bring fire in from eight to
+forty-five seconds. The scouts by this time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span>
+have painted their faces, daubing them with
+red ochre, deer’s blood, or the juice of roasted
+“mescal.” The object of this is protection
+from wind and sun, as well as distinctive ornamentation.</p>
+
+<p>The first morning’s rest of the Apaches was
+broken by the shrill cry of Choddi! Choddi!
+(Antelope! Antelope!) and far away on the
+left the dull slump! slump! of rifles told that
+the Apaches on that flank were getting fresh
+meat for the evening meal. Twenty carcasses
+demonstrated that they were not the worst of
+shots; neither were they, by any means, bad
+cooks.</p>
+
+<p>When the command reached camp these restless,
+untiring nomads built in a trice all kinds
+of rude shelters. Those that had the army
+“dog tents” put them up on frame-works of
+willow or cotton-wood saplings; others, less
+fortunate, improvised domiciles of branches
+covered with grass, or of stones and boards
+covered with gunny sacks. Before these were
+finished smoke curled gracefully toward the
+sky from crackling embers, in front of which,
+transfixed on wooden spits, were the heads,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span>
+hearts, and livers of several of the victims of
+the afternoon’s chase. Another addition to
+the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">spolia opima</i> was a cotton-tailed rabbit,
+run down by these fleet-footed Bedouins of the
+South-west. Turkeys and quail are caught
+in the same manner.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile a couple of scouts were making
+bread,&mdash;the light, thin “tortillas” of the Mexicans,
+baked quickly in a pan, and not bad
+eating. Two others were fraternally occupied
+in preparing their bed for the night. Grass
+was pulled by handfuls, laid upon the ground,
+and covered with one blanket, another serving
+as cover. These Indians, with scarcely an
+exception, sleep with their feet pointed toward
+little fires, which, they claim, are warm,
+while the big ones built by the American soldiers,
+are so hot that they drive people away
+from them, and, besides, attract the attention
+of a lurking enemy. At the foot of this bed
+an Apache was playing on a home-made fiddle,
+fabricated from the stalk of the “mescal,” or
+American aloe. This fiddle has four strings,
+and emits a sound like the wail of a cat with
+its tail caught in a fence. But the noble red<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span>
+man likes the music, which perhaps is, after
+all, not so very much inferior to that of
+Wagner.</p>
+
+<p>Enchanted and stimulated by the concord of
+sweet sounds, a party of six was playing fiercely
+at the Mexican game of “monte,” the cards employed
+being of native manufacture, of horse-hide,
+covered with barbarous figures, and well
+worthy of a place in any museum.</p>
+
+<p>The cooking was by this time ended, and the
+savages, with genuine hospitality, invited the
+Americans near them to join in the feast. It
+was not conducive to appetite to glance at dirty
+paws tearing bread and meat into fragments;
+yet the meat thus cooked was tender and juicy,
+the bread not bad, and the coffee strong and
+fairly well made. The Apaches squatted nearest
+to the American guests felt it incumbent
+upon them to explain everything as the meal
+progressed. They said this (pointing to the
+coffee) is Tu-dishishn (black water), and that
+Zigosti (bread).</p>
+
+<p>All this time scouts had been posted commanding
+every possible line of approach. The
+Apache dreads surprise. It is his own favorite<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span>
+mode of destroying an enemy, and knowing
+what he himself can do, he ascribes to his foe&mdash;no
+matter how insignificant may be his numbers&mdash;the
+same daring, recklessness, agility,
+and subtlety possessed by himself. These Indian
+scouts will march thirty-five or forty miles
+in a day on foot, crossing wide stretches of
+waterless plains upon which a tropical sun
+beats down with fierceness, or climbing up the
+faces of precipitous mountains which stretch
+across this region in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>The two great points of superiority of the
+native or savage soldier over the representative
+of civilized discipline are his absolute knowledge
+of the country and his perfect ability to
+take care of himself at all times and under all
+circumstances. Though the rays of the sun
+pour down from the zenith, or the scorching
+sirocco blow from the south, the Apache scout
+trudges along as unconcerned as he was when
+the cold rain or snow of winter chilled his
+white comrade to the marrow. He finds food,
+and pretty good food too, where the Caucasian
+would starve. Knowing the habits of wild
+animals from his earliest youth, he can catch<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span>
+turkeys, quail, rabbits, doves, or field-mice, and,
+perhaps, a prairie-dog or two, which will supply
+him with meat. For some reason he cannot
+be induced to touch fish, and bacon or any
+other product of the hog is eaten only under
+duress; but the flesh of a horse, mule, or jackass,
+which has dropped exhausted on the march
+and been left to die on the trail, is a delicious
+morsel which the Apache epicure seizes upon
+wherever possible. The stunted oak, growing
+on the mountain flanks, furnishes acorns; the
+Spanish bayonet, a fruit that, when roasted in
+the ashes of a camp-fire, looks and tastes something
+like the banana. The whole region of
+Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico is matted
+with varieties of the cactus, nearly every
+one of which is called upon for its tribute of
+fruit or seed. The broad leaves and stalks of
+the century-plant&mdash;called mescal&mdash;are roasted
+between hot stones, and the product is rich in
+saccharine matter and extremely pleasant to the
+taste. The wild potato and the bulb of the
+“tule” are found in the damp mountain meadows;
+and the nest of the ground-bee is raided
+remorselessly for its little store of honey. Sunflower-seeds,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span>
+when ground fine, are rich and
+nutritious. Walnuts grow in the deep ravines,
+and strawberries in favorable locations; in the
+proper season these, with the seeds of wild
+grasses and wild pumpkins, the gum of the
+“mesquite,” or the sweet, soft inner bark of the
+pine, play their part in staving off the pangs of
+hunger.</p>
+
+<p>The above are merely a few of the resources
+of the Apache scout when separated from the
+main command. When his moccasins give out
+on a long march over the sharp rocks of the
+mountains or the cutting sands of the plains, a
+few hours’ rest sees him equipped with a new
+pair,&mdash;his own handiwork,&mdash;and so with other
+portions of his raiment. He is never without
+awl, needle, thread, or sinew. Brought up from
+infancy to the knowledge and use of arms of
+some kind,&mdash;at first the bow and arrow, and
+later on the rifle,&mdash;he is perfectly at home with
+his weapons, and knowing from past experience
+how important they are for his preservation,
+takes much better care of them than does the
+white soldier out of garrison.</p>
+
+<p>He does not read the newspapers, but the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span>
+great book of nature is open to his perusal, and
+has been drained of much knowledge which his
+pale-faced brother would be glad to acquire.
+Every track in the trail, mark in the grass,
+scratch on the bark of a tree, explains itself to
+the “untutored” Apache. He can tell to an
+hour, almost, when the man or animal making
+them passed by, and, like a hound, will keep
+on the scent until he catches up with the object
+of his pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>In the presence of strangers the Apache soldier
+is sedate and taciturn. Seated around his
+little apology for a camp-fire, in the communion
+of his fellows, he becomes vivacious and conversational.
+He is obedient to authority, but
+will not brook the restraints which, under our
+notions of discipline, change men into machines.
+He makes an excellent sentinel, and not a single
+instance can be adduced of property having been
+stolen from or by an Apache on guard.</p>
+
+<p>He has the peculiarity, noticed among so
+many savage tribes in various parts of the world,
+of not caring to give his true name to a stranger;
+if asked for it, he will either give a wrong one
+or remain mute and let a comrade answer for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span>
+him. This rule does not apply where he has
+been dubbed with a sobriquet by the white soldiers.
+In such case he will respond promptly,
+and tell the inquirer that he is “Stumpy,” “Tom
+Thumb,” “Bill,” “Humpy Sam,” or “One-Eyed
+Reilly,” as the case may be. But there is no
+such exception in regard to the dead. Their
+names are never mentioned, even by the wailing
+friends who loudly chant their virtues.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i053" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i053.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE AMBUSCADE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Approaching the enemy his vigilance is a
+curious thing to witness. He avoids appearing
+suddenly upon the crest of a hill, knowing that
+his figure projected against the sky can at such
+time be discerned from a great distance. He will
+carefully bind around his brow a sheaf of grass,
+or some other foliage, and thus disguised crawl
+like a snake to the summit and carefully peer
+about, taking in with his keen black eyes the
+details of the country to the front with a rapidity,
+and thoroughness the American or European
+can never acquire. In battle he is again
+the antithesis of the Caucasian. The Apache
+has no false ideas about courage; he would prefer
+to skulk <ins class="corr" id="tn-34" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'like the cayote'">
+like the coyote</ins> for hours, and then
+kill his enemy, or capture his herd, rather than,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span>
+by injudicious exposure, receive a wound, fatal
+or otherwise. But he is no coward; on the
+contrary, he is entitled to rank among the
+bravest. The precautions taken for his safety
+prove that he is an exceptionally skillful soldier.
+His first duty under fire is to jump for a rock,
+bush, or hole, from which no enemy can drive
+him except with loss of life or blood.</p>
+
+<p>The policy of Great Britain has always been
+to enlist a force of auxiliaries from among the
+natives of the countries falling under her sway.
+The Government of the United States, on the
+contrary, has persistently ignored the really excellent
+material, ready at hand, which could,
+with scarcely an effort and at no expense, be
+mobilized, and made to serve as a frontier police.
+General Crook is the only officer of our army
+who has fully recognized the incalculable value
+of a native contingent, and in all his campaigns
+of the past thirty-five years has drawn about
+him as soon as possible a force of Indians, which
+has been serviceable as guides and trailers, and
+also of consequence in reducing the strength of
+the opposition.</p>
+
+<p>The white army of the United States is a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span>
+much better body of officers and men than a
+critical and censorious public gives it credit for
+being. It represents intelligence of a high
+order, and a spirit of devotion to duty worthy
+of unbounded praise; but it does not represent
+the acuteness of the savage races. It cannot
+follow the trail like a dog on the scent. It may
+be brave and well-disciplined, but its members
+cannot tramp or ride, as the case may be, from
+forty to seventy-five miles in a day, without
+water, under a burning sun. No civilized army
+can do that. It is one of the defects of civilized
+training that man develops new wants, awakens
+new necessities,&mdash;becomes, in a word, more and
+more a creature of luxury.</p>
+
+<p>Take the Apache Indian under the glaring
+sun of Mexico. He quietly peels off all his
+clothing and enjoys the fervor of the day more
+than otherwise. He may not be a great military
+genius, but he is inured to all sorts of
+fatigue, and will be hilarious and jovial when
+the civilized man is about to die of thirst.</p>
+
+<p>Prominent among these scouts was of course
+first of all “Peaches,” the captive guide. He
+was one of the handsomest men, physically, to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span>
+be found in the world. He never knew what
+it was to be tired, cross, or out of humor. His
+knowledge of the topography of Northern Sonora
+was remarkable, and his absolute veracity
+and fidelity in all his dealings a notable feature
+in his character. With him might be mentioned
+“Alchise,” “Mickey Free,” “Severiano,” “Nockié-cholli,”
+“Nott,” and dozens of others, all tried
+and true men, experienced in warfare and devoted
+to the general whose standard they followed.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="II">II.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>From Willcox to San Bernardino Springs,
+by the road the wagons followed, is an even
+100 miles. The march thither, through a most
+excellent grazing country, was made in five
+days, by which time the command was joined
+by Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+with more than 100 additional Apache scouts
+and several trains of pack-mules.</p>
+
+<p>San Bernardino Springs break out from the
+ground upon the Boundary Line and flow
+south into the Yaqui River, of which the San
+Bernardino River is the extreme head. These
+springs yielded an abundance of water for all
+our needs, and at one time had refreshed thousands
+of head of cattle, which have since disappeared
+under the attrition of constant warfare
+with the Apaches.</p>
+
+<p>The few days spent at San Bernardino were
+days of constant toil and labor; from the first
+streak of dawn until far into the night the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span>
+task of organizing and arranging went on.
+Telegrams were dispatched to the Mexican
+generals notifying them that the American
+troops would leave promptly by the date
+agreed upon, and at last the Indian scouts
+began their war-dances, and continued them
+without respite from each sunset until the next
+sunrise. In a conference with General Crook
+they informed him of their anxiety to put an
+end to the war and bring peace to Arizona, so
+that the white men and Apaches could live
+and work side by side.</p>
+
+<p>By the 29th of April all preparations were
+complete. Baggage had been cut down to a
+minimum. Every officer and man was allowed
+to carry the clothes on his back, one blanket
+and forty rounds of ammunition. Officers were
+ordered to mess with the packers and on the
+same food issued to soldiers and Indian scouts.
+One hundred and sixty rounds of extra ammunition
+and rations of hard-bread, coffee and
+bacon, for sixty days, were carried on pack-mules.</p>
+
+<p>At this moment General Sherman telegraphed
+to General Crook that he must not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span>
+cross the Mexican boundary in pursuit of Indians,
+except in strict accord with the terms of
+the treaty, without defining exactly what those
+terms meant. Crook replied, acknowledging
+receipt of these instructions and saying that he
+would respect treaty stipulations.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday, May 1st, 1883, the expedition
+crossed the boundary into Mexico. Its exact
+composition was as follows: General George
+Crook, in command. Captain John G. Bourke,
+Third Cavalry, acting adjutant-general; Lieutenant
+G. S. Febiger, engineer officer, aid-de-camp;
+Captain Chaffee, Sixth Cavalry, with
+Lieutenants West and Forsyth, and forty-two
+enlisted men of “I” company of that regiment;
+Doctor Andrews, Private A. F. Harmer of the
+General Service, and 193 Indian scouts, under
+Captain Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry,
+Lieutenant Mackey, Third Cavalry, and Gatewood,
+Sixth Cavalry, with whom were Al.
+Zeiber, McIntosh, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+and Sam Bowman, as interpreters.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-mules, for purposes of efficient
+management, were divided into five trains, each
+with its complement of skilled packers. These<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span>
+trains were under charge of Monach, Hopkins,
+Stanfield, “Long Jim Cook,” and “Short Jim
+Cook.”</p>
+
+<p>Each packer was armed with carbine and
+revolver, for self-protection, but nothing could
+be expected of them, in the event of an attack,
+beyond looking out for the animals. Consequently
+the effective fighting strength of the
+command was a little over fifty white men&mdash;officers
+and soldiers&mdash;and not quite 200 Apache
+scouts, representing the various bands, Chiricahua,
+White Mountain, Yuma, Mojave, and
+Tonto.</p>
+
+<p>The first rays of the sun were beaming upon
+the Eastern hills as we swung into our saddles,
+and, amid a chorus of good-byes and God-bless-yous
+from those left behind, pushed down the
+hot and sandy valley of the San Bernardino,
+past the mouth of Guadalupe cañon, to near
+the confluence of Elias Creek, some twenty
+miles. Here camp was made on the banks of
+a pellucid stream, under the shadow of graceful
+walnut and ash trees. The Apache scouts had
+scoured the country to the front and on both
+flanks, and returned loaded with deer and wild<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span>
+turkeys, the latter being run down and caught
+in the bushes. One escaped from its captors
+and started through camp on a full jump, pursued
+by the Apaches, who, upon re-catching it,
+promptly twisted its head off.</p>
+
+<p>The Apaches were in excellent spirits, the
+“medicine-men” having repeated with emphasis
+the prediction that the expedition was
+to be a grand success. One of the most influential
+of them&mdash;a mere boy, who carried the
+most sacred medicine&mdash;was especially positive
+in his views, and, unlike most prophets, backed
+them up with a bet of $40.</p>
+
+<p>On May 2, 1883, breakfasted at 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>
+The train&mdash;Monach’s&mdash;with which we took
+meals was composed equally of Americans and
+Mexicans. So, when the cook spread his canvas
+on the ground, one heard such expressions
+as <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Tantito’ zucarito quiero</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Sirve pasar el
+járabe</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Pase rebanada de pan</i>; <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Otra gotita
+mas de café</i>, quite as frequently as their English
+equivalents, “I’d like a little more sugar,”
+“Please pass the sirup,” “Hand me a slice of
+bread,” “A little drop of coffee.” Close by,
+the scouts consumed their meals, and with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span>
+more silence, yet not so silently but that their
+calls for <i>inchi</i> (salt), <i>ikôn</i> (flour), <i>pezá-a</i> (frying-pan),
+and other articles, could be plainly
+heard.</p>
+
+<p>Martin, the cook, deserves some notice. He
+was not, as he himself admitted, a French cook
+by profession. His early life had been passed
+in the more romantic occupation of driving an
+ore-wagon between Willcox and Globe, and,
+to quote his own proud boast, he could “hold
+down a sixteen-mule team with any outfit this
+side the Rio Grande.”</p>
+
+<p>But what he lacked in culinary knowledge
+he more than made up in strength and agility.
+He was not less than six feet two in his socks,
+and built like a young Hercules. He was gentle-natured,
+too, and averse to fighting. Such,
+at least, was the opinion I gathered from a
+remark he made the first evening I was thrown
+into his society.</p>
+
+<p>His eyes somehow were fixed on mine, while
+he said quietly, “If there’s anybody here don’t
+like the grub, I’ll kick a lung out of him!” I
+was just about suggesting that a couple of
+pounds less saleratus in the bread and a couple<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span>
+of gallons less water in the coffee would be
+grateful to my Sybarite palate; but, after this
+conversation, I reflected that the fewer remarks
+I made the better would be the chances of my
+enjoying the rest of the trip; so I said nothing.
+Martin, I believe, is now in Chihuahua,
+and I assert from the depths of an outraged
+stomach, that a better man or a worse cook
+never thumped a mule or turned a flapjack.</p>
+
+<p>The march was continued down the San Bernardino
+until we reached its important affluent,
+the Bávispe, up which we made our way until
+the first signs of habitancy were encountered
+in the squalid villages of Bávispe, Basaraca,
+and Huachinera.</p>
+
+<p>The whole country was a desert. On each
+hand were the ruins of depopulated and abandoned
+hamlets, destroyed by the Apaches. The
+bottom-lands of the San Bernardino, once smiling
+with crops of wheat and barley, were now
+covered with a thickly-matted jungle of semi-tropical
+vegetation. The river banks were
+choked by dense brakes of cane of great size
+and thickness. The narrow valley was hemmed
+in by rugged and forbidding mountains, gashed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span>
+and slashed with a thousand ravines, to cross
+which exhausted both strength and patience.
+The foot-hills were covered with <i>chevaux de
+frise</i> of Spanish bayonet, mescal, and cactus.
+The lignum-vitæ flaunted its plumage of crimson
+flowers, much like the fuchsia, but growing
+in clusters. The grease-wood, ordinarily so
+homely, here assumed a garniture of creamy
+blossoms, rivaling the gaudy dahlia-like cups
+upon the nopal, and putting to shame the modest
+tendrils pendent from the branches of the
+mesquite.</p>
+
+<p>The sun glared down pitilessly, wearing out
+the poor mules, which had as much as they
+could do to scramble over the steep hills, composed
+of a nondescript accumulation of lava,
+sandstone, porphyry, and limestone, half-rounded
+by the action of water, and so loosely
+held together as to slip apart and roll away
+the instant the feet of animals or men touched
+them.</p>
+
+<p>When they were not slipping over loose
+stones or climbing rugged hills, they were breaking
+their way through jungles of thorny vegetation,
+which tore their quivering flesh. One<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span>
+of the mules, falling from the rocks, impaled
+itself upon a mesquite branch, and had to be
+killed.</p>
+
+<p>Through all this the Apache scouts trudged
+without a complaint, and with many a laugh
+and jest. Each time camp was reached they
+showed themselves masters of the situation.
+They would gather the saponaceous roots of
+the yucca and Spanish bayonet, to make use of
+them in cleaning their long, black hair, or cut
+sections of the bamboo-like cane and make pipes
+for smoking, or four-holed flutes, which emitted
+a weird, Chinese sort of music, responded to
+with melodious chatter by countless birds
+perched in the shady seclusion of ash and cotton-wood.</p>
+
+<p>Those scouts who were not on watch gave
+themselves up to the luxury of the tá-a-chi, or
+sweat-bath. To construct these baths, a dozen
+willow or cotton-wood branches are stuck in
+the ground and the upper extremities, united
+to form a dome-shaped frame-work, upon which
+are laid blankets to prevent the escape of heat.
+Three or four large rocks are heated and placed
+in the centre, the Indians arranging themselves<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span>
+around these rocks and bending over them.
+Silicious bowlders are invariably selected, and
+not calcareous&mdash;the Apaches being sufficiently
+familiar with rudimentary mineralogy to know
+that the latter will frequently crack and explode
+under intense heat.</p>
+
+<p>When it came to my time to enter the sweat-lodge
+I could see nothing but a network of
+arms and legs, packed like sardines. An extended
+experience with Broadway omnibuses
+assured me that there must always be room for
+one more. The smile of the “medicine-man”&mdash;the
+master of ceremonies&mdash;encouraged me to
+push in first an arm, then a leg, and, finally,
+my whole body.</p>
+
+<p>Thump! sounded the damp blanket as it
+fell against the frame-work and shut out all
+light and air. The conductor of affairs inside
+threw a handful of water on the hot rocks, and
+steam, on the instant, filled every crevice of
+the den. The heat was that of a bake-oven;
+breathing was well-nigh impossible.</p>
+
+<p>“Sing,” said in English the Apache boy,
+“Keet,” whose legs and arms were sinuously intertwined
+with mine; “sing heap; sleep moocho<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span>
+to-night; eat plenny dinna to-mollo.” The
+other bathers said that everybody must sing.
+I had to yield. My <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">repertoire</i> consists of but
+one song&mdash;the lovely ditty&mdash;“Our captain’s
+name is Murphy.” I gave them this with all
+the lung-power I had left, and was heartily encored;
+but I was too much exhausted to respond,
+and rushed out, dripping with perspiration,
+to plunge with my dusky comrades into
+the refreshing waters of the Bávispe, which
+had worn out for themselves tanks three to
+twenty feet deep. The effects of the bath were
+all that the Apaches had predicted&mdash;a sound,
+refreshing sleep and increased appetite.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i070" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i070.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE HEAD-DRESSES, SHOES, TOYS, ETC.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The farther we got into Mexico the greater
+the desolation. The valley of the Bávispe,
+like that of the San Bernardino, had once been
+thickly populated; now all was wild and gloomy.
+Foot-prints indeed were plenty, but they were
+the fresh moccasin-tracks of Chiricahuas, who
+apparently roamed with immunity over all this
+solitude. There were signs, too, of Mexican
+“travel;” but in every case these were “<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">conductas</i>”
+of pack-mules, guarded by companies
+of soldiers. Rattlesnakes were encountered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span>
+with greater frequency both in camp and on
+the march. When found in camp the Apaches,
+from superstitious reasons, refrained from killing
+them, but let the white men do it.</p>
+
+<p>The vegetation remained much the same as
+that of Southern Arizona, only denser and
+larger. The cactus began to bear odorous
+flowers&mdash;a species of night-blooming cereus&mdash;and
+parrots of gaudy plumage flitted about
+camp, to the great joy of the scouts, who, catching
+two or three, tore the feathers from their
+bodies and tied them in their inky locks.
+Queenly humming-birds of sapphire hue darted
+from bush to bush and tree to tree. Every one
+felt that we were advancing into more torrid
+regions. However, by this time faces and
+hands were finely tanned and blistered, and the
+fervor of the sun was disregarded. The nights
+remained cool and refreshing throughout the
+trip, and, after the daily march or climb, soothed
+to the calmest rest.</p>
+
+<p>On the 5th of May the column reached the
+feeble, broken-down towns of Bávispe and Basaraca.
+The condition of the inhabitants was
+deplorable. Superstition, illiteracy, and bad<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span>
+government had done their worst, and, even
+had not the Chiricahuas kept them in mortal
+terror, it is doubtful whether they would have
+had energy enough to profit by the natural advantages,
+mineral and agricultural, of their immediate
+vicinity. The land appeared to be
+fertile and was well watered. Horses, cattle,
+and chickens throve; the cereals yielded an
+abundant return; and scarlet blossoms blushed
+in the waxy-green foliage of the pomegranate.</p>
+
+<p>Every man, woman, and child had gathered
+in the streets or squatted on the flat roofs of
+the adobe houses to welcome our approach with
+cordial acclamations. They looked like a grand
+national convention of scarecrows and rag-pickers,
+their garments old and dingy, but no
+man so poor that he didn’t own a gorgeous sombrero,
+with a snake-band of silver, or display
+a flaming sash of cheap red silk and wool.
+Those who had them displayed rainbow-hued
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">serapes</i> flung over the shoulders; those who
+had none went in their shirt-sleeves.</p>
+
+<p>The children were bright, dirty, and pretty;
+the women so closely enveloped in their <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rebozos</i>
+that only one eye could be seen. They<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span>
+greeted our people with warmth, and offered to
+go with us to the mountains. With the volubility
+of parrots they began to describe a most
+blood-thirsty fight recently had with the Chiricahuas,
+in which, of course, the Apaches had
+been completely and ignominiously routed, each
+Mexican having performed prodigies of valor
+on a par with those of Ajax. But at the same
+time they wouldn’t go alone into their fields,&mdash;only
+a quarter of a mile off,&mdash;which were <ins class="corr" id="tn-51" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'constantly patroled'">
+constantly patrolled</ins> by a detachment of twenty-five
+or thirty men of what was grandiloquently
+styled the National Guard. “Peaches,” the
+guide, smiled quietly, but said nothing, when
+told of this latest annihilation of the Chiricahuas.
+General Crook, without a moment’s hesitancy,
+determined to keep on the trail farther
+into the Sierra Madre.</p>
+
+<p>The food of these wretched Mexicans was
+mainly <em>atole</em>,&mdash;a weak flour-gruel resembling
+the paste used by our paper-hangers. Books
+they had none, and newspapers had not yet
+been heard of. Their only recreation was in
+religious festivals, occurring with commendable
+frequency. The churches themselves were in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span>
+the last stages of dilapidation; the adobe exteriors
+showed dangerous indications of approaching
+dissolution, while the tawdry ornaments
+of the inside were foul and black with
+age, smoke, dust, and rain.</p>
+
+<p>I asked a small, open-mouthed boy to hold
+my horse for a moment until I had examined
+one of these edifices, which bore the elaborate
+title of the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre and
+our Lady of the Trance. This action evoked a
+eulogy from one of the bystanders: “This man
+can’t be an American, he must be a Christian,”
+he sagely remarked; “he speaks Castilian, and
+goes to church the first thing.”</p>
+
+<p>It goes without saying that they have no
+mails in that country. What they call the
+post-office of Basaraca is in the store of the
+town. The store had no goods for sale, and
+the post-office had no stamps. The postmaster
+didn’t know when the mail would go; it used
+to go every eight days, but now&mdash;<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">quien sabe?</i>
+Yes, he would send our letters the first opportunity.
+The price? Oh! the price?&mdash;did the
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">caballeros</i> want to know how much? Well, for
+Mexican people, he charged five cents, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span>
+the Americans would have to pay <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">dos reales</i>
+(twenty-five cents) for each letter.</p>
+
+<p>The only supplies for sale in Basaraca were
+fiery mescal, chile, and a few eggs, eagerly
+snapped up by the advance-guard. In making
+these purchases we had to enter different
+houses, which vied with each other in penury
+and destitution. There were no chairs, no tables,
+none of the comforts which the humblest
+laborers in our favored land demand as right
+and essential. The inmates in every instance
+received us urbanely and kindly. The women,
+who were uncovered inside their domiciles, were
+greatly superior in good looks and good breeding
+to their husbands and brothers; but the
+latter never neglected to employ all the punctilious
+expressions of Spanish politeness.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the round-stomached old man,
+whom, in ignorance of the correct title, we all
+agreed to call the Alcalde, paid a complimentary
+visit to General Crook, and with polite
+flourishes bade him welcome to the soil of Mexico
+informed him that he had received orders
+to render the expedition every assistance in his
+power, and offered to accompany it at the head<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span>
+of every man and boy in the vicinity. General
+Crook felt compelled to decline the assistance
+of these valiant auxiliaries, but asked permission
+to buy four beeves to feed to the Apache
+scouts, who did not relish bacon or other salt
+meat.</p>
+
+<p>Bivouac was made that night on the banks
+of the Bávispe, under the bluff upon which
+perched the town of Basaraca. Numbers of
+visitors&mdash;men and boys&mdash;flocked in to see us,
+bringing bread and tobacco for barter and sale.
+In their turn a large body of our people went
+up to the town and indulged in the unexpected
+luxury of a ball. This was so entirely original
+in all its features that a mention of it is admissible.</p>
+
+<p>Bells were ringing a loud peal, announcing
+that the morrow would be Sunday, when a prolonged
+thumping of drums signaled that the
+<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Baile</i> was about to begin.</p>
+
+<p>Wending our way to the corner whence the
+noise proceeded, we found that a half-dozen of
+the packers had bought out the whole stock of
+the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">tienda</i>, which dealt only in <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i>, paying
+therefor the princely sum of $12.50.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p>
+
+<p>Invitations had been extended to all the
+adult inhabitants to take part in the festivities.
+For some reason all the ladies sent regrets by
+the messenger; but of men there was no lack,
+the packers having taken the precaution to
+send out a patrol to scour the streets, “collar”
+and “run in” every male biped found outside
+his own threshold. These captives were first
+made to drink a tumbler of <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">mescal</i> to the
+health of the two great nations, Mexico and the
+United States,&mdash;and then were formed into
+quadrille sets, moving in unison with the orchestra
+of five pieces,&mdash;two drums, two squeaky
+fiddles, and an accordion.</p>
+
+<p>None of the performers understood a note of
+music. When a new piece was demanded, the
+tune had to be whistled in the ears of the bass-drummer,
+who thumped it off on his instrument,
+followed energetically by his enthusiastic
+assistants.</p>
+
+<p>This orchestra was augmented in a few moments
+by the addition of a young boy with a
+sax-horn. He couldn’t play, and the horn had
+lost its several keys, but he added to the noise
+and was welcomed with screams of applause.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span>
+It was essentially a <em>stag</em> party, but a very funny
+one. The new player was doing some good
+work when a couple of dancers whirled into
+him, knocking him clear off his pins and astride
+of the bass-drum and drummer.</p>
+
+<p>Confusion reigned only a moment; good
+order was soon restored, and the dance would
+have been resumed with increased jollity had
+not the head of the bass-drum been helplessly
+battered.</p>
+
+<p>Midnight had long since been passed, and
+there was nothing to be done but break up the
+party and return to camp.</p>
+
+<p>From Basaraca to Tesorababi&mdash;over twenty
+miles&mdash;the line of march followed a country
+almost exactly like that before described. The
+little hamlets of Estancia and Huachinera were
+perhaps a trifle more squalid than Bávispe or
+Basaraca, and their churches more dilapidated;
+but in that of Huachinera were two or three
+unusually good oil-paintings, brought from
+Spain a long time ago. Age, dust, weather,
+and candle-grease had almost ruined, but had
+not fully obliterated, the touch of the master-hand
+which had made them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p>
+
+<p>Tesorababi must have been, a couple of generations
+since, a very noble ranch. It has
+plenty of water, great groves of oak and mesquite,
+with sycamore and cotton-wood growing
+near the water, and very nutritious grass upon
+the neighboring hills. The buildings have fallen
+into ruin, nothing being now visible but the
+stout walls of stone and adobe. Mesquite trees
+of noble size choke up the corral, and everything
+proclaims with mute eloquence the supremacy
+of the Apache.</p>
+
+<p>Alongside of this ranch are the ruins of an
+ancient pueblo, with quantities of broken pottery,
+stone mortars, Obsidian flakes and kindred
+<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">reliquiæ</i>.</p>
+
+<p>To Tesorababi the column was accompanied
+by a small party of guides sent out by the Alcalde
+of Basaraca. General Crook ordered them
+back, as they were not of the slightest use so
+long as we had such a force of Apache scouts.</p>
+
+<p>We kept in camp at Tesorababi until the
+night of May 7, and then marched straight for
+the Sierra Madre. The foot-hills were thickly
+covered with rich <em>grama</em> and darkened by
+groves of scrub-oak. Soon the oak gave way<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span>
+to cedar in great abundance, and the hills and
+ridges became steeper as we struck the trail
+lately made by the Chiricahuas driving off cattle
+from Sahuaripa and Oposura. We were
+fairly within the range, and had made good
+progress, when the scouts halted and began to
+explain to General Crook that nothing but bad
+luck could be expected if he didn’t set free an
+owl which one of our party had caught, and
+tied to the pommel of his saddle.</p>
+
+<p>They said the owl (Bû) was a bird of ill-omen,
+and that we could not hope to whip the
+Chiricahuas so long as we retained it. These
+solicitations bore good fruit. The moon-eyed
+bird of night was set free and the advance resumed.
+Shortly before midnight camp was
+made in a very deep cañon, thickly wooded, and
+having a small stream a thousand feet below
+our position. No fires were allowed, and some
+confusion prevailed among the pack-mules,
+which could not find their places.</p>
+
+<p>Very early the next morning (May 8, 1883)
+the command moved in easterly direction up
+the cañon. This was extremely rocky and steep.
+Water stood in pools everywhere, and animals<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span>
+and men slaked their fierce thirst. Indications
+of Chiricahua depredations multiplied. The trail
+was fresh and well-beaten, as if by scores&mdash;yes,
+hundreds&mdash;of stolen ponies and cattle.</p>
+
+<p>The carcasses of five freshly slaughtered
+beeves lay in one spot; close to them a couple
+more, and so on.</p>
+
+<p>The path wound up the face of the mountain,
+and became so precipitous that were a horse to
+slip his footing he would roll and fall hundreds
+of feet to the bottom. At one of the abrupt
+turns could be seen, deep down in the cañon,
+the mangled fragments of a steer which had
+fallen from the trail, and been dashed to pieces
+on the rocks below. It will save much repetition
+to say, at this point, that from now on we
+were never out of sight of ponies and cattle,
+butchered, in every stage of mutilation, or alive,
+and roaming by twos and threes in the ravines
+and on the mountain flanks.</p>
+
+<p>Climb! Climb! Climb! Gaining the summit
+of one ridge only to learn that above it towered
+another, the face of nature fearfully corrugated
+into a perplexing alternation of ridges
+and chasms. Not far out from the last bivouac<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span>
+was passed the spot where a large body of Mexican
+troops had camped, the farthest point of
+their penetration into the range, although their
+scouts had been pushed in some distance farther,
+only to be badly whipped by the Chiricahuas,
+who sent them flying back, utterly demoralized.</p>
+
+<p>These particulars may now be remarked of
+that country: It seemed to consist of a series of
+parallel and very high, knife-edged hills,&mdash;extremely
+rocky and bold; the cañons all contained
+water, either flowing rapidly, or else in tanks of
+great depth. Dense pine forests covered the
+ridges near the crests, the lower skirts being
+matted with scrub-oak. Grass was generally
+plentiful, but not invariably to be depended
+upon. Trails ran in every direction, and upon
+them were picked up all sorts of odds and ends
+plundered from the Mexicans,&mdash;dresses, made
+and unmade, saddles, bridles, letters, flour, onions,
+and other stuff. In every sheltered spot could
+be discerned the ruins,&mdash;buildings, walls, and
+dams, erected by an extinct race, once possessing
+this region.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-trains had much difficulty in getting
+along. Six mules slipped from the trail, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span>
+rolled over and over until they struck the bottom
+of the cañon. Fortunately they had selected
+a comparatively easy grade, and none was
+badly hurt.</p>
+
+<p>The scouts became more and more vigilant
+and the “medicine-men” more and more devotional.
+When camp was made the high peaks
+were immediately picketed, and all the approaches
+carefully examined. Fires were allowed
+only in rare cases, and in positions
+affording absolute concealment. Before going
+to bed the scouts were careful to fortify themselves
+in such a manner that surprise was simply
+impossible.</p>
+
+<p>Late at night (May 8th) the “medicine-men”
+gathered together for the never-to-be-neglected
+duty of singing and “seeing” the Chiricahuas.
+After some palaver I succeeded in obtaining
+the privilege of sitting in the circle with them.
+All but one chanted in a low, melancholy tone,
+half song and half grunt. The solitary exception
+lay as if in a trance for a few moments,
+and then, half opening his lips, began to thump
+himself violently in the breast, and to point to
+the east and north, while he muttered: “Me<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span>
+can’t see the Chilicahuas yet. Bimeby me see
+’um. Me catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me no catch
+’um, me no kill ’um. Mebbe so six day me
+catch ’um; mebbe so two day. Tomollow me
+send twenty-pibe (25) men to hunt ’um tlail.
+Mebbe so tomollow catch ’um squaw. Chilicahua
+see me, me no get ’um. No see me,
+me catch him. Me see him little bit now.
+Mebbe so me see ’um more tomollow. Me
+catch ’um, me kill ’um. Me catch ’um hoss, me
+catch ’um mool (mule), me catch ’um cow. Me
+catch Chilicahua pooty soon, bimeby. Me kill
+’um heap, and catch ’um squaw.” These prophecies,
+translated for me by an old friend in the
+circle who spoke some English, were listened to
+with rapt attention and reverence by the awe-struck
+scouts on the exterior.</p>
+
+<p>The succeeding day brought increased trouble
+and danger. The mountains became, if anything,
+steeper; the trails, if anything, more
+perilous. Carcasses of mules, ponies, and cows
+lined the path along which we toiled, dragging
+after us worn-out horses.</p>
+
+<p>It was not yet noon when the final ridge of
+the day was crossed and the trail turned down<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span>
+a narrow, gloomy, and rocky gorge, which gradually
+widened into a small amphitheatre.</p>
+
+<p>This, the guide said, was the stronghold occupied
+by the Chiricahuas while he was with
+them; but no one was there now. For all purposes
+of defense, it was admirably situated.
+Water flowed in a cool, sparkling stream
+through the middle of the amphitheatre. Pine,
+oak, and cedar in abundance and of good size
+clung to the steep flanks of the ridges, in whose
+crevices grew much grass. The country, for a
+considerable distance, could be watched from
+the pinnacles upon which the savage pickets
+had been posted, while their huts had been so
+scattered and concealed in the different brakes
+that the capture or destruction of the entire
+band could never have been effected.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas had evidently lived in this
+place a considerable time. The heads and bones
+of cows and ponies were scattered about on all
+sides. Meat must have been their principal
+food, since we discovered scarcely any mescal
+or other vegetables. At one point the scouts
+indicated where a mother had been cutting a
+child’s hair; at another, where a band of youngsters<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span>
+had been enjoying themselves sliding down
+rocks.</p>
+
+<p>Here were picked up the implements used
+by a young Chiricahua assuming the duties of
+manhood. Like all other Indians they make
+vows and pilgrimages to secluded spots, during
+which periods they will not put their lips to
+water, but suck up all they need through a
+quill or cane. Hair-brushes of grass, bows and
+arrows, and a Winchester rifle had likewise been
+left behind by the late occupants.</p>
+
+<p>The pack-trains experienced much difficulty
+in keeping the trail this morning (May 9).
+Five mules fell over the precipice and killed
+themselves, three breaking their necks and two
+having to be shot.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i087" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i087.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENTS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>Being now in the very centre of the hostile
+country, May 10, 1883, unusual precautions
+were taken to guard against discovery or ambuscade,
+and to hurry along the pack-mules.
+Parties of Apache scouts were thrown out to
+the front, flanks, and rear to note carefully
+every track in the ground. A few were detailed
+to stay with the pack-mules and guide
+them over the best line of country. Ax-men<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span>
+were sent ahead on the trail to chop out trees
+and remove rocks or other obstructions. Then
+began a climb which reflected the experience
+of the previous two days; if at all different, it
+was much worse. Upon the crest of the first
+high ridge were seen forty abandoned <em>jacales</em>
+or lodges of branches; after that, another dismantled
+village of thirty more, and then, in
+every protected nook, one, two, or three, as
+might be. Fearful as this trail was the Chiricahuas
+had forced over it a band of cattle
+and ponies, whose footprints had been fully
+outlined in the mud, just hardened into clay.</p>
+
+<p>After two miles of a very hard climb we slid
+down the almost perpendicular face of a high
+bluff of slippery clay and loose shale into an open
+space dotted with Chiricahua huts, where, on a
+grassy space, the young savages had been playing
+their favorite game of mushka, or lance-billiards.</p>
+
+<p>Two white-tailed deer ran straight into the
+long file of scouts streaming down hill; a shower
+of rocks and stones greeted them, and there was
+much suppressed merriment, but not the least
+bit of noisy laughter, the orders being to avoid
+any cause of alarm to the enemy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span></p>
+
+<p>A fearful chute led from this point down
+into the gloomy chasm along which trickled
+the head-waters of the Bávispe, gathering in
+basins and pools clear as mirrors of crystal. A
+tiny cascade babbled over a ledge of limestone
+and filled at the bottom a dark-green reservoir
+of unknown depth. There was no longer
+any excitement about Chiricahua signs; rather,
+wonder when none were to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>The ashes of extinct fires, the straw of unused
+beds, the skeleton frame-work of dismantled
+huts, the play-grounds and dance-grounds,
+mescal-pits and acorn-meal mills were visible
+at every turn. The Chiricahuas must have felt
+perfectly secure amid these towering pinnacles
+of rock in these profound chasms, by these
+bottomless pools of water, and in the depths
+of this forest primeval. Here no human foe
+could hope to conquer them. Notwithstanding
+this security of position, “Peaches” asserted
+that the Chiricahuas never relaxed vigilance.
+No fires were allowed at night, and all
+cooking was done at midday. Sentinels lurked
+in every crag, and bands of bold raiders kept
+the foot-hills thoroughly explored. Crossing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span>
+Bávispe, the trail zigzagged up the vertical
+slope of a promontory nearly a thousand feet
+above the level of the water. Perspiration
+streamed from every brow, and mules and
+horses panted, sweated, and coughed; but Up!
+Up! Up! was the watchword.</p>
+
+<p>Look out! came the warning cry from those
+in the lead, and then those in the rear and
+bottom dodged nervously from the trajectory
+of rocks dislodged from the parent mass, and,
+gathering momentum as each bound hurled
+them closer to the bottom of the cañon. To
+look upon the country was a grand sensation;
+to travel in it, infernal. Away down at the
+foot of the mountains the pack-mules could
+be discerned&mdash;apparently not much bigger than
+jack-rabbits,&mdash;struggling and panting up the
+long, tortuous grade. And yet, up and down
+these ridges the Apache scouts, when the idea
+seized them, ran like deer.</p>
+
+<p>One of them gave a low cry, half whisper,
+half whistle. Instantly all were on the alert,
+and by some indefinable means, the news
+flashed through the column that two Chiricahuas
+had been sighted a short distance ahead<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span>
+in a side cañon. Before I could write this
+down the scouts had stripped to the buff,
+placed their clothing in the rocks, and dispatched
+ten or twelve of their number in swift
+pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>This proved to be a false alarm, for in an
+hour they returned, having caught up with the
+supposed Chiricahuas, who were a couple of
+our own packers, off the trail, looking for stray
+mules.</p>
+
+<p>When camp was made that afternoon the
+Apache scouts had a long conference with
+General Crook. They called attention to the
+fact that the pack-trains could not keep up
+with them, that five mules had been killed on
+the trail yesterday, and five others had rolled
+off this morning, but been rescued with slight
+injuries. They proposed that the pack-trains
+and white troops remain in camp at this point,
+and in future move so as to be a day’s march
+or less behind the Apache scouts, 150 of whom,
+under Crawford, Gatewood, and Mackey, with
+Al. Zeiber and the other white guides, would
+move out well in advance to examine the
+country thoroughly in front.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p>
+
+<p>If they came upon scattered parties of the
+hostiles they would attack boldly, kill as many
+as they could, and take the rest back, prisoners,
+to San Carlos. Should the Chiricahuas
+be intrenched in a strong position, they would
+engage them, but do nothing rash, until reinforced
+by the rest of the command. General
+Crook told them they must be careful not to
+kill women or children, and that all who surrendered
+should be taken back to the reservation
+and made to work for their own living like
+white people.</p>
+
+<p>Animation and bustle prevailed everywhere;
+small fires were burning in secluded nooks, and
+upon the bright embers the scouts baked quantities
+of bread to be carried with them. Some
+ground coffee on flat stones; others examined
+their weapons critically and cleaned their cartridges.
+Those whose moccasins needed repair
+sewed and patched them, while the more cleanly
+and more religious indulged in the sweat-bath,
+which has a semi-sacred character on such occasions.</p>
+
+<p>A strong detachment of packers, soldiers, and
+Apaches climbed the mountains to the south,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span>
+and reached the locality in the foot-hills where
+the Mexicans and Chiricahuas had recently had
+an engagement. Judging by signs it would
+appear conclusive that the Indians had enticed
+the Mexicans into an ambuscade, killed a number
+with bullets and rocks, and put the rest to
+ignominious flight. The “medicine-men” had
+another song and pow-wow after dark. Before
+they adjourned it was announced that in two
+days, counting from the morrow, the scouts
+would find the Chiricahuas, and in three days
+kill a “heap.”</p>
+
+<p>On May 11, 1883 (Friday), one hundred and
+fifty Apache scouts, under the officers above
+named, with Zeiber, “Mickey Free,” Severiano,
+Archie McIntosh, and Sam Bowman, started
+from camp, on foot, at daybreak. Each carried
+on his person four days’ rations, a canteen, 100
+rounds of ammunition, and a blanket. Those
+who were to remain in camp picketed the three
+high peaks overlooking it, and from which half
+a dozen Chiricahuas could offer serious annoyance.
+Most of those not on guard went down
+to the water, bathed, and washed clothes. The
+severe climbing up and down rough mountains,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span>
+slipping, falling, and rolling in dust and clay,
+had blackened most of us like negroes.</p>
+
+<p>Chiricahua ponies had been picked up in
+numbers, four coming down the mountains of
+their own accord, to join our herds; and altogether,
+twenty were by this date in camp. The
+suggestions of the locality were rather peaceful
+in type; lovely blue humming-birds flitted from
+bush to bush, and two Apache doll-babies lay
+upon the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Just as the sun was sinking behind the hills
+in the west, a runner came back with a note
+from Crawford, saying there was a fine camping
+place twelve or fifteen miles across the
+mountains to the south-east, with plenty of
+wood, water, and grass.</p>
+
+<p>For the ensuing three days the white soldiers
+and pack-trains cautiously followed in the footsteps
+of Crawford and the scouts, keeping a
+sufficient interval between the two bodies to
+insure thorough investigation of the rough
+country in front. The trail did not improve
+very much, although after the summit of a
+high, grassy plateau had been gained, there was
+easy traveling for several leagues. Pine-trees<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span>
+of majestic proportions covered the mountain-tops,
+and there was the usual thickness of
+scrub-oak on the lower elevations. By the side
+of the trail, either thrown away or else <em>cachéd</em>
+in the trees, were quantities of goods left by
+the Chiricahuas&mdash;calico, clothing, buckskin,
+horse-hides, beef-hides, dried meat, and things
+of that nature. The nights were very cool, the
+days bright and warm. The Bávispe and its
+tributaries were a succession of deep tanks of
+glassy, pure water, in which all our people
+bathed on every opportunity. The scouts
+escorting the pack-trains gathered in another
+score of stray ponies and mules, and were encouraged
+by another note sent back by Crawford,
+saying that he had passed the site of
+a Chiricahua village of ninety-eight <em>wickyups</em>
+(huts), that the enemy had a great drove of
+horses and cattle, and that the presence of
+Americans or Apache scouts in the country
+was yet undreamed of.</p>
+
+<p>Additional rations were pushed ahead to
+Crawford and his command, the pack-trains
+in rear taking their own time to march.
+There was an abundance of wood in the forest,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span>
+grass grew in sufficiency, and the Bávispe
+yielded water enough for a great army. The
+stream was so clear that it was a pleasure to
+count the pebbles at the bottom and to watch
+the graceful fishes swimming within the
+shadow of moss-grown rocks. The current
+was so deep that, sinking slowly, with uplifted
+arms, one was not always able to touch
+bottom with the toes, and so wide that twenty
+good, nervous strokes barely sufficed to propel
+the swimmer from shore to shore. The water
+was soft, cool, and refreshing, and a plunge
+beneath its ripples smoothed away the wrinkles
+of care.</p>
+
+<p>On May 15, 1883, we climbed and marched
+ten or twelve miles to the south-east, crossing
+a piece of country recently burned over, the
+air, filled with soot and hot dust, blackening
+and blistering our faces. Many more old ruins
+were passed and scores of walls of masonry.
+The trail was slightly improved, but still bad
+enough; the soil, a half-disintegrated, reddish
+feldspar, with thin seams of quartz crystals.
+There were also granite, sandstone, shale, quartzite,
+and round masses of basalt. In the bottoms<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span>
+of the cañons were all kinds of “float”&mdash;granite,
+basalt, sandstone, porphyry, schist,
+limestone, etc.; but no matter what the kind
+of rock was, when struck upon the hill-sides it
+was almost invariably split and broken, and
+grievously retarded the advance.</p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span><br /></p>
+
+<h2 class="p2 nobreak" id="III">III.</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<p>About noon of the 15th we had descended
+into a small box cañon, where we were met by
+two white men (packers) and nine Apache
+scouts.</p>
+
+<p>They had come back from Crawford with
+news for which all were prepared. The enemy
+was close in our front, and fighting might begin
+at any moment. The scouts in advance
+had picked up numbers of ponies, mules, burros,
+and cattle. This conversation was broken
+by the sudden arrival of an Apache runner,
+who had come six miles over the mountains in
+less than an hour. He reached us at 1.05, and
+handed General Crook a note, dated 12.15, stating
+that the advance-guard had run across the
+Chiricahuas this morning in a cañon, and had
+become much excited. Two Chiricahuas were
+fired at, two bucks and a squaw, by scouts,
+which action had alarmed the hostiles, and
+their camp was on the move. Crawford would<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span>
+pursue with all possible rapidity. At the same
+moment reports of distant musketry-firing were
+borne across the hills. Crawford was fighting
+the Chiricahuas! There could be no doubt
+about that; but exactly how many he had
+found, and what luck he was having, no one
+could tell. General Crook ordered Chaffee to
+mount his men, and everybody to be in readiness
+to move forward to Crawford’s support, if
+necessary. The firing continued for a time, and
+then grew feeble and died away.</p>
+
+<p>All were anxious for a fight which should
+bring this Chiricahua trouble to an end; we
+had an abundance of ammunition and a sufficiency
+of rations for a pursuit of several days
+and nights, the moon being at its full.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after dark Crawford and his command
+came into camp. They had “jumped”
+“Bonito’s” and “Chato’s” <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">rancherías</i>, killing
+nine and capturing five&mdash;two boys, two girls,
+and one young woman, the daughter of
+“Bonito,” without loss to our side. From the
+<ins class="corr" id="tn-76" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'dead Chiracahuas'">
+dead Chiricahuas</ins> had been taken four nickel-plated,
+breech-loading Winchester repeating
+rifles, and one Colt’s revolver, new model. The<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span>
+Chiricahuas had been pursued across a fearfully
+broken country, gashed with countless
+ravines, and shrouded with a heavy growth of
+pine and scrub-oak. How many had been
+killed and wounded could never be definitely
+known, the meagre official report, submitted by
+Captain Crawford, being of necessity confined
+to figures known to be exact. Although the
+impetuosity of the younger scouts had precipitated
+the engagement and somewhat impaired
+its effect, yet this little skirmish demonstrated
+two things to the hostile Chiricahuas; their
+old friends and relatives from the San Carlos
+had invaded their strongholds as the allies of
+the white men, and could be depended upon
+to fight, whether backed up by white soldiers
+or not. The scouts next destroyed the village,
+consisting of thirty <em>wickyups</em>, disposed in
+two clusters, and carried off all the animals,
+loading down forty-seven of them with plunder.
+This included the traditional riffraff of
+an Indian village: saddles, bridles, meat, mescal,
+blankets, and clothing, with occasional
+prizes of much greater value, originally stolen
+by the Chiricahuas in raids upon Mexicans or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span>
+Americans. There were several gold and silver
+watches, a couple of albums, and a considerable
+sum of money&mdash;Mexican and American
+coin and paper. The captives behaved with
+great coolness and self-possession, considering
+their tender years. The eldest said that her
+people had been astounded and dismayed when
+they saw the long line of Apache scouts rushing
+in upon them; they would be still more
+disconcerted when they learned that our guide
+was “Peaches,” as familiar as themselves with
+every nook in strongholds so long regarded as
+inaccessible. Nearly all the Chiricahua warriors
+were absent raiding in Sonora and Chihuahua.
+This young squaw was positive that
+the Chiricahuas would give up without further
+fighting, since the Americans had secured all
+the advantages of position. “Loco” and “Chihuahua,”
+she knew, would be glad to live
+peaceably upon the reservation, if justly treated;
+“Hieronymo” and “Chato” she wasn’t
+sure about. “Ju” was defiant, but none of his
+bands were left alive. Most important information
+of all, she said that in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> just
+destroyed was a little white boy about six<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span>
+years old, called “Charlie,” captured by
+“Chato” in his recent raid in Arizona. This
+boy had run away with the old squaws when
+the advance of the Apache scouts had been first
+detected. She said that if allowed to go out
+she would in less than two days bring in the
+whole band, and Charlie (McComas) with them.
+All that night the lofty peak, the scene of the
+action, blazed with fire from the burning <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i>.
+Rain-clouds gathered in the sky, and,
+after hours of threatening, broke into a severe
+but brief shower about sunrise next morning (May 15).</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i104" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i104.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE GIRL WITH TYPICAL DRESS.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The young woman was given a little hard
+bread and meat, enough to last two days, and
+allowed to go off, taking with her the elder of
+the boy captives. The others stayed with us and
+were kindly treated. They were given all the
+baked mescal they could eat and a sufficiency
+of bread and meat. The eldest busied herself
+with basting a skirt, but, like another Penelope,
+as fast as her work was done she ripped it up
+and began anew&mdash;apparently afraid that idleness
+would entail punishment. The younger
+girl sobbed convulsively, but her little brother,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span>
+a handsome brat, gazed stolidly at the world
+through eyes as big as oysters and as black as jet.</p>
+
+<p>Later in the morning, after the fitful showers
+had turned into a blinding, soaking rain, the
+Apache scouts made for these young captives a
+little shelter of branches and a bed of boughs
+and dry grass. Pickets were thrown out to
+watch the country on all sides and seize upon
+any stray Chiricahua coming unsuspectingly
+within their reach. The rain continued with
+exasperating persistency all day. The night
+cleared off bitter cold and water froze in pails
+and kettles. The command moved out from
+this place, going to another and better location
+a few miles south-east. The first lofty ridge
+had been scaled, when we descried on the summit
+of a prominent knoll directly in our front a
+thin curl of smoke wreathing upwards. This
+was immediately answered by the scouts, who
+heaped up pine-cones and cedar branches,
+which, in a second after ignition, shot a bold,
+black, resinous signal above the tops of the
+loftiest pines.</p>
+
+<p>Five miles up and down mountains of no
+great height but of great asperity led to a fine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span>
+camping-place, at the junction of two well-watered
+cañons, near which grew pine, oak, and
+cedar in plenty, and an abundance of rich,
+juicy grasses. The Apache scouts sent up a
+second smoke signal, promptly responded to
+from a neighboring butte. A couple of minutes
+after two squaws were seen threading their
+way down through the timber and rocks and
+yelling with full voice. They were the sisters
+of Tô-klani (Plenty Water), one of the scouts.
+They said that they had lost heavily in the
+fight, and that while endeavoring to escape
+over the rocks and ravines and through the
+timber the fire of the scouts had played havoc
+among them. They fully confirmed all that
+the captives had said about Charlie McComas.
+Two hours had scarcely passed when six other
+women had come in, approaching the pickets
+two and two, and waving white rags. One of
+these, the sister of “Chihuahua”&mdash;a prominent
+man among the Chiricahuas&mdash;said that her
+brother wanted to come in, and was trying to
+gather up his band, which had scattered like
+sheep after the fight; he might be looked for
+in our camp at any moment.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p>
+
+<p>On the 18th (May, 1883), before 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>,
+six new arrivals were reported&mdash;four squaws,
+one buck and a boy. Close upon their heels followed
+sixteen others&mdash;men, women, and young
+children. In this band was “Chihuahua”
+himself, a fine-looking man, whose countenance
+betokened great decision and courage.</p>
+
+<p>This chief expressed to General Crook his
+earnest desire for peace, and acknowledged that
+all the Chiricahuas could hope to do in the
+future would be to prolong the contest a few
+weeks and defer their destruction. He was
+tired of fighting. His village had been destroyed
+and all his property was in our hands.
+He wished to surrender his band just as soon
+as he could gather it together. “Hieronymo,”
+“Chato,” and nearly all the warriors were absent,
+fighting the Mexicans, but he (“Chihuahua”)
+had sent runners out to gather up his
+band and tell his people they must surrender,
+without reference to what the others
+did.</p>
+
+<p>Before night forty-five Chiricahuas had come
+in&mdash;men, women, and children. “Chihuahua”
+asked permission to go out with two young<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span>
+men and hurry his people in. This was
+granted. He promised to return without any
+delay. The women of the Chiricahuas showed
+the wear and tear of a rugged mountain life,
+and the anxieties and disquietudes of a rugged
+Ishmaelitish war. The children were models
+of grace and beauty, which revealed themselves
+through dirt and rags.</p>
+
+<p>On May 19, 1883, camp was moved five of
+six miles to a position giving the usual abundance
+of water and rather better grass. It was
+a small park in the centre of a thick growth of
+young pines. Upon unsaddling, the Chiricahuas
+were counted, and found to number seventy,
+which total before noon had swollen to
+an even hundred, not including “Chihuahua”
+and those gone back with him.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahuas were reserved, but good-humored.
+Several of them spoke Spanish
+fluently. Rations were issued in small quantity,
+ponies being killed for meat. Two or
+three of the Indians bore fresh bullet-wounds
+from the late fight. On the succeeding evening,
+May 20, 1883, the Chiricahuas were again
+numbered at breakfast. They had increased to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span>
+121&mdash;sixty being women and girls, the remainder,
+old men, young men, and boys.</p>
+
+<p>All said that “Chihuahua” and his comrades
+were hard at work gathering the tribe together
+and sending them in.</p>
+
+<p>Toward eight o’clock a fearful hubbub was
+heard in the tall cliffs overlooking camp; Indians
+fully armed could be descried running
+about from crag to crag, evidently much perplexed
+and uncertain what to do. They began
+to interchange cries with those in our midst,
+and, after a brief interval, a couple of old
+squaws ventured down the face of the precipice,
+followed at irregular distances by warriors,
+who hid themselves in the rocks half-way
+down.</p>
+
+<p>They asked whether they were to be hurt if
+they came in.</p>
+
+<p>One of the scouts and one of the Chiricahuas
+went out to them to say that it made no difference
+whether they came in or not; that “Chihuahua”
+and all his people had surrendered,
+and that if these new arrivals came in during
+the day they should not be harmed; that until
+“Chihuahua” and the last of his band had had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span>
+a chance to come in and bring Charlie McComas
+hostilities should be suspended. The Chiricahuas
+were still fearful of treachery and hung
+like hawks or vultures to the protecting shadows
+of inaccessible pinnacles one thousand feet
+above our position. Gradually their fears wore
+off, and in parties of two and three, by various
+trails, they made their way to General Crook’s
+fire. They were a band of thirty-six warriors,
+led by “Hieronymo,” who had just returned
+from a bloody foray in Chihuahua. “Hieronymo”
+expressed a desire to have a talk; but
+General Crook declined to have anything to do
+with him or his party beyond saying that they
+had now an opportunity to see for themselves
+that their own people were against them; that
+we had penetrated to places vaunted as impregnable;
+that the Mexicans were coming in from
+all sides; and that “Hieronymo” could make
+up his mind for peace or war just as he chose.</p>
+
+<p>This reply disconcerted “Hieronymo;” he
+waited for an hour, to resume the conversation,
+but received no encouragement. He and his
+warriors were certainly as fine-looking a lot of
+pirates as ever cut a throat or scuttled a ship;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span>
+not one among them who was not able to travel
+forty to fifty miles a day over these gloomy
+precipices and along these gloomy cañons. In
+muscular development, lung and heart power,
+they were, without exception, the finest body
+of human beings I had ever looked upon. Each
+was armed with a breech-loading Winchester;
+most had nickel-plated revolvers of the latest
+pattern, and a few had also bows and lances.
+They soon began to talk with the Apache
+scouts, who improved the occasion to inform them
+that not only had they come down with General
+Crook, but that from both Sonora and
+Chihuahua Mexican soldiers might be looked
+for in swarms.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” was much humbled by this,
+and went a second time to General Crook to
+have a talk. He assured him that he had always
+wanted to be at peace, but that he had
+been as much sinned against as sinning; that he
+had been ill-treated at the San Carlos and driven
+away; that the Mexicans had been most treacherous
+in their dealings with his people, and that
+he couldn’t believe a word they said. They had
+made war upon his women and children, but<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span>
+had run like coyotes from his soldiers. He had
+been trying to open communications with the
+Mexican generals in Chihuahua to arrange for
+an exchange of prisoners. If General Crook
+would let him go back to San Carlos, and guarantee
+him just treatment, he would gladly work
+for his own living, and follow the path of peace.
+He simply asked for a trial; if he could not
+make peace, he and his men would die in these
+mountains, fighting to the last. He was not a
+bit afraid of Mexicans alone; but he could not
+hope to prolong a contest with Mexicans and
+Americans united, in these ranges, and with so
+many Apache allies assisting them. General
+Crook said but little; it amounted to this: that
+“Hieronymo” could make up his mind as to
+what he wanted, peace or war.</p>
+
+<p>May 21st was one of the busiest days of the
+expedition. “Hieronymo,” at early dawn, came
+to see General Crook, and told him he wished for
+peace. He earnestly promised amendment, and
+begged to be taken back to San Carlos. He
+asked permission to get all his people together,
+and said he had sent some of his young men off
+to hurry them in from all points. He could not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span>
+get them to answer his signals, as they imagined
+them to be made by Apache scouts trying to
+ensnare them. Chiricahuas were coming in all
+the morning,&mdash;all ages, and both sexes,&mdash;sent in
+by “Chihuahua” and his party; most of these
+were mounted on good ponies, and all drove
+pack and loose animals before them. Early in
+the day there was seen winding through the pine
+timber a curious procession,&mdash;mostly young warriors,
+of an aggregate of thirty-eight souls,&mdash;driving
+steers and work cattle, and riding ponies
+and burros. All these were armed with Winchester
+and Springfield breech-loaders, with revolvers
+and lances whose blades were old cavalry
+sabres. The little boys carried revolvers, lances,
+and bows and arrows. This was the band of
+Kaw-tenné (Looking-Glass), a young chief, who
+claimed to be a Mexican Apache and to belong
+to the Sierra Madre, in whose recesses he had
+been born and raised.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i115" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i115.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE WARFARE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The question of feeding all these mouths was
+getting to be a very serious one. We had started
+out with sixty days’ supplies, one-third of which
+had been consumed by our own command, and
+a considerable percentage lost or damaged when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span>
+mules rolled over the precipices. The great
+heat of the sun had melted much bacon, and
+there was the usual wastage incident to movements
+in campaign. Stringent orders were given
+to limit issues to the lowest possible amount;
+while the Chiricahuas were told that they must
+cut and roast all the mescal to be found, and
+kill such cattle and ponies as could be spared.
+The Chiricahua young men assumed the duty
+of butchering the meat. Standing within five
+or six feet of a steer, a young buck would prod
+the doomed beast one lightning lance-thrust
+immediately behind the left fore-shoulder, and,
+with no noise other than a single bellow of fear
+and agony, the beef would fall forward upon its
+knees, dead.</p>
+
+<p>Camp at this period presented a medley of
+noises not often found united under a military
+standard. Horses were neighing, mules braying,
+and bells jingling, as the herds were brought
+in to be groomed. The ring of axes against the
+trunks of stout pines and oaks, the hum of voices,
+the squalling of babies, the silvery laughter of
+children at play, and the occasional music of an
+Apache fiddle or flute, combined in a pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span>
+discord which left the listener uncertain whether
+he was in the bivouac of grim-visaged war or
+among a band of school-children. Our Apache
+scouts&mdash;the Tontos especially&mdash;treated the Chiricahuas
+with dignified reserve: the Sierra Blancas
+(White Mountain) had intermarried with
+them, and were naturally more familiar, but all
+watched their rifles and cartridges very carefully
+to guard against treachery. The squaws
+kept at work, jerking and cooking meat and
+mescal for consumption on the way back to San
+Carlos. The entrails were the coveted portions,
+for the possession of which the more greedy or
+more muscular fought with frequency.</p>
+
+<p>Two of these copper-skinned “ladies” engaged
+in a pitched battle; they rushed for each other
+like a couple of infuriated Texas steers; hair
+flew, blood dripped from battered noses, and
+two “human forms divine” were scratched and
+torn by sharp nails accustomed to this mode of
+warfare. The old squaws chattered and gabbled,
+little children screamed and ran, warriors
+stood in a ring, and from a respectful distance
+gazed stolidly upon the affray. No one dared
+to interfere. There is no tiger more dangerous<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span>
+than an infuriated squaw; she’s a fiend incarnate.
+The packers and soldiers looked on, discussing
+the “points” of the belligerents. “The little
+one’s built like a hired man,” remarks one critic.
+“Ya-as; but the old un’s a <em>He</em>, and doan’ you
+forgit it.” Two rounds settled the battle in
+favor of the older contestant, although the
+younger remained on the ground, her bleeding
+nostrils snorting defiance, her eyes blazing fire,
+and her tongue volleying forth Apache imprecations.</p>
+
+<p>But all interest was withdrawn from this
+spectacle and converged upon a file of five
+wretched, broken-down Mexican women, one of
+whom bore a nursing baby, who had come within
+the boundaries of our camp and stood in
+mute terror, wonder, joy, and hope, unable to
+realize that they were free. They were a party
+of captives seized by “Hieronymo” in his last
+raid into Chihuahua. When washed, rested,
+and fed a small amount of food, they told a long,
+rambling story, which is here condensed: They
+were the wives of Mexican soldiers captured
+near one of the stations of the Mexican Central
+Railway just two weeks previously. Originally<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span>
+there had been six in the party, but “Hieronymo”
+had sent back the oldest and feeblest with
+a letter to the Mexican general, saying that he
+wanted to make peace with the whites, and
+would do so, provided the Mexicans returned
+the Apache women and children held prisoners
+by them; if they refused, he would steal all the
+Mexican women and children he could lay hands
+on, and keep them as hostages, and would continue
+the war until he had made Sonora and
+Chihuahua a desert. The women went on to
+say that the greatest terror prevailed in Chihuahua
+at the mere mention of the name of
+“Hieronymo,” whom the peasantry believed to
+be the devil, sent to punish them for their sins.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” had killed the Mexican soldiers
+with rocks, telling his warriors he had no
+ammunition to waste upon Mexicans. The
+women had suffered incredible torture climbing
+the rough skirts of lofty ranges, fording deep
+streams of icy-cold water, and breaking through
+morasses, jungles and forests. Their garments
+had been rent into rags by briars and brambles,
+feet and ankles scratched, torn, and swollen by
+contusions from sharp rocks. They said that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span>
+when “Hieronymo” had returned to the heart
+of the mountains, and had come upon one of
+our lately abandoned camps, his dismay was
+curious to witness. The Chiricahuas with him
+made a hurried but searching examination of
+the neighborhood, satisfied themselves that their
+enemies&mdash;the Americans&mdash;had gained access to
+their strongholds, and that they had with them
+a multitude of Apache scouts, and then started
+away in the direction of our present bivouac,
+paying no further heed to the captured women
+or to the hundreds of stolen stock they were
+driving away from Chihuahua. It may be well
+to anticipate a little, and say that the cattle in
+question drifted out on the back trail, getting
+into the foot-hills and falling into the hands of
+the Mexicans in pursuit, who claimed their
+usual wonderful “victory.” The women did
+not dare to turn back, and, uncertain what
+course to pursue, stayed quietly by the half-dead
+embers of our old camp-fires, gathering up a
+few odds and ends of rags with which to cover
+their nakedness; and of castaway food, which
+they devoured with the voracity of famished
+wolves. When morning dawned they arose,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span>
+half frozen, from the couches they had made,
+and staggered along in the direction taken by
+the fleeing Chiricahuas, whom, as already narrated,
+they followed to where they now were.</p>
+
+<p>And now they were free! Great God!
+Could it be possible?</p>
+
+<p>The gratitude of these poor, ignorant, broken-down
+creatures welled forth in praise and glorification
+to God. “Praise be to the All-Powerful
+God!” ejaculated one. “And to the most
+Holy Sacrament!” echoed her companions.
+“Thanks to our Blessed Lady of Guadalupe!”
+“And to the most Holy Mary, Virgin of Soledad,
+who has taken pity upon us!” It brought
+tears to the eyes of the stoutest veterans to
+witness this line of unfortunates, reminding us
+of our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters.
+All possible kindness and attention were shown
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The reaction came very near upsetting two,
+who became hysterical from over-excitement,
+and could not be assured that the Chiricahuas
+were not going to take them away. They did
+not recover their natural composure until the
+expedition had crossed the boundary line.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” had another interview with
+General Crook, whom he assured he wanted to
+make a peace to last forever. General Crook
+replied that “Hieronymo” had waged such
+bloody war upon our people and the Mexicans
+that he did not care to let him go back to San
+Carlos; a howl would be raised against any
+man who dared to grant terms to an outlaw for
+whose head two nations clamored. If “Hieronymo”
+were willing to lay down his arms and
+go to work at farming, General Crook would
+allow him to go back; otherwise the best thing
+he could do would be to remain just where he
+was and fight it out.</p>
+
+<p>“I am not taking your arms from you,” said
+the General, “because I am not afraid of you
+with them. You have been allowed to go
+about camp freely, merely to let you see that
+we have strength enough to exterminate you if
+we want to; and you have seen with your own
+eyes how many Apaches are fighting on our
+side and against you. In making peace with
+the Americans, you must also be understood as
+making peace with the Mexicans, and also that
+you are not to be fed in idleness, but set to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span>
+work at farming or herding, and make your
+own living.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo,” in his reply, made known his
+contempt for the Mexicans, asserted that he
+had whipped them every time, and in the last
+fight with them hadn’t lost a man. He would
+go to the San Carlos with General Crook and
+work at farming or anything else. All he asked
+for was fair play. He contended that it was
+unfair to start back to the San Carlos at that
+time, when his people were scattered like quail,
+and when the women and children now in our
+hands were without food or means of transportation.
+The old and the little ones could
+not walk. The Chiricahuas had many ponies
+and donkeys grazing in the different cañons.
+Why not remain one week longer? “Loco”
+and all the other Chiricahuas would then have
+arrived; all the ponies would be gathered up;
+a plenty of mescal and pony-meat on hand, and
+the march could be made securely and safely.
+But if General Crook left the Sierra Madre, the
+Mexicans would come in to catch and kill the
+remnant of the band, with whom “Hieronymo,”
+would cast his fortunes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span></p>
+
+<p>General Crook acknowledged the justice of
+much which “Hieronymo” had said, but declined
+to take any action not in strict accord
+with the terms of the convention. He would
+now move back slowly, so as not to crowd the
+young and feeble too much; they should have
+time to finish roasting mescal, and most of those
+now out could catch up with the column; but
+those who did not would have to take the
+chances of reaching San Carlos in safety.</p>
+
+<p>“Hieronymo” reiterated his desire for peace;
+said that he himself would start out to gather
+and bring in the remnants of his people, and
+he would cause the most diligent search to be
+made for Charlie McComas. If possible, he
+would join the Americans before they got out
+of the Sierra Madre. If not, he would make
+his way to the San Carlos as soon as this could
+be done without danger; “but,” concluded he,
+“I will remain here until I have gathered up
+the last man, woman, and child of the Chiricahuas.”</p>
+
+<p>All night long the Chiricahuas and the
+Apache scouts danced together in sign of peace
+and good-will. The drums were camp-kettles<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span>
+partly filled with water and covered tightly
+with a well-soaked piece of calico. The drumsticks
+were willow saplings curved into a hoop
+at one extremity. The beats recorded one hundred
+to the minute, and were the same dull,
+solemn thump which scared Cortés <ins class="corr" id="tn-98" title="Transcriber’s Note&mdash;Original text: 'and his beleagured'">
+and his beleaguered</ins> followers during <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">la Noche triste</i>.
+No Caucasian would refer to it as music;
+nevertheless, it had a fascination all its own
+comparable to the whirr-r-r of a rattlesnake.
+And so the song, chanted to the measure of the
+drumming, had about it a weird harmony which
+held listeners spell-bound. When the dance
+began, two old hags, white-haired and stiff with
+age, pranced in the centre of the ring, warming
+up under the stimulus of the chorus until they
+became lively as crickets. With them were
+two or three naked boys of very tender years.
+The ring itself included as many as two hundred
+Indians of both sexes, whose varied costumes
+of glittering hues made a strange setting
+to the scene as the dancers shuffled and sang
+in the silvery rays of the moon and the flickering
+light of the camp-fires.</p>
+
+<p>On May 23, 1883, rations were issued to 220<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span>
+Chiricahuas, and, soon after, Nané, one of the
+most noted and influential of the Chiricahua
+chiefs, rode into camp with seventeen of his
+people. He has a strong face, marked with intelligence,
+courage, and good nature, but with
+an under stratum of cruelty and vindictiveness.
+He has received many wounds in his countless
+fights with the whites, and limps very perceptibly
+in one leg. He reported that Chiricahuas
+were coming in by every trail, and that all
+would go to the San Carlos as soon as they
+collected their families.</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th of May the march back to the
+San Carlos began. All the old Chiricahuas
+were piled on mules, donkeys, and ponies; so
+were the weak little children and feeble women.
+The great majority streamed along on foot,
+nearly all wearing garlands of cotton-wood
+foliage to screen them from the sun. The distance
+travelled was not great, and camp was
+made by noon.</p>
+
+<p>The scene at the Bávispe River was wonderfully
+picturesque. Sit down on this flat rock
+and feast your eyes upon the silver waves flashing
+in the sun. Don’t scare that little girl who<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span>
+is about to give her baby brother a much-needed
+bath. The little dusky brat&mdash;all eyes&mdash;is
+looking furtively at you and ready to
+bawl if you draw nearer. Opposite are two
+old crones filling <em>ollas</em> (jugs or jars) of basket-work,
+rendered fully water-proof by a coating
+of either mesquite or piñon pitch. Alongside
+of them are two others, who are utilizing the
+entrails of a cow for the same purpose. The
+splash and yell on your right, as you correctly
+divine, come from an Apache “Tom Sawyer,”
+who will one day mount the gallows. The
+friendly greeting and request for “tobacco
+shmoke” are proffered by one of the boys, who
+has kindly been eating a big portion of your
+meals for several days past, and feels so friendly
+toward you that he announces himself in a
+pleasant, off-hand sort of way as your “<em>Sikisn</em>”
+(brother). Behind you are grouped Apache
+scouts, whose heads are encircled with red flannel
+bandages, and whose rifles and cartridges
+are never laid aside. Horses and mules plunge
+belly-deep into the sparkling current; soldiers
+come and go, some to drink, some to get buckets
+filled with water, and some to soak neck,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span>
+face, and hands, before going back to dinner.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp70" id="i129" style="max-width: 35em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i129.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">APACHE BASKET-WORK.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>In this camp we remained several days. The
+old and young squaws had cut and dried large
+packages of “jerked” beef, and had brought
+down from the hill-sides donkey-loads of mescal
+heads, which were piled in ovens of hot stones
+covered with wet grass and clay. The process
+of roasting, or rather steaming, mescal takes
+from three to four days, and resembles somewhat
+the mode of baking clams in New England.
+The Apache scouts passed the time
+agreeably enough in gambling with the Chiricahuas,
+whom they fleeced unmercifully, winning
+hundreds of dollars in gold, silver, and
+paper at the games of <em>monte</em>, <em>conquien</em>, <em>tzi-chis</em>,
+and <em>mushka</em>.</p>
+
+<p>The attractive pools of the Bávispe wooed
+groups of white soldiers and packers, and
+nearly the whole strength of the Chiricahua
+women and children, who disported in the refreshing
+waters with the agility and grace of
+nereids and tritons. The modesty of the
+Apaches of both sexes, under all circumstances,
+is praiseworthy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Chato” and “Loco” told General Crook
+this morning that “Hieronymo” had sent them
+back to say that the Chiricahuas were very
+much scattered since the fight, and that he had
+not been as successful as he anticipated in getting
+them united and in corraling their herds of
+ponies. They did not want to leave a single
+one of their people behind, and urged General
+Crook to stay in his present camp for a week
+longer, if possible. “Loco,” for his part, expressed
+himself as anxious for peace. He had
+never wished to leave San Carlos. He wanted
+to go back there and obtain a little farm, and
+own cattle and horses, as he once did. Here it
+may be proper to say that all the chiefs of the
+Chiricahuas&mdash;“Hieronymo,” “Loco,” “Chato,”
+“Nané,” “Bonito,” “Chihuahua,” “Maugas,”
+“Zelé,” and “Kan-tenné”&mdash;are men of noticeable
+brain power, physically perfect and mentally
+acute&mdash;just the individuals to lead a forlorn
+hope in the face of every obstacle.</p>
+
+<p>The Chiricahua children, who had become
+tired of swimming, played at a new sport to-day,
+a mimic game of war, a school of practice
+analogous to that established by old Fagan for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span>
+the instruction of young London pickpockets.
+Three boys took the lead, and represented Mexicans,
+who endeavored to outrun, hide from, or
+elude their pursuers, who trailed them to their
+covert, surrounded it, and poured in a flight of
+arrows. One was left for dead, stretched upon
+the ground, and the other two were seized and
+carried into captivity. The fun became very
+exciting, so much so that the corpse, ignoring
+the proprieties, raised itself up to see how the
+battle sped.</p>
+
+<p>In such sports, in such constant exercise,
+swimming, riding, running up and down the
+steepest and most slippery mountains, the
+Apache passes his boyish years. No wonder
+his bones are of iron, his sinews of wire, his
+muscles of India-rubber.</p>
+
+<p>On May 27, 1883, the Chiricahuas had finished
+roasting enough mescal to last them to
+the San Carlos. One of the Apache scouts
+came running in very much excited. He told
+his story to the effect that, while hunting some
+distance to the north, he had discovered a large
+body of Mexican soldiers; they were driving
+back the band of cattle run off by “Hieronymo,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span>
+and previously referred to. The scout
+tried to communicate with the Mexicans, who
+imagined him to be a hostile Indian, and fired
+three shots at him. Lieutenant Forsyth, Al.
+Zeiber, and a small detachment of white and
+Indian soldiers started out to overtake the
+Mexicans. This they were unable to do, although
+they went some fifteen miles.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th, 29th, and 30th of May the
+march was continued back toward the San
+Carlos. The rate of progress was very slow,
+the Mexican captives not being able to ride
+any great distance along the rough trails, and
+several of our men being sick. Two of the
+scouts were so far gone with pneumonia that
+their death was predicted every hour, in spite
+of the assurances of the “medicine-men” that
+their incantations would bring them through all
+right. “Hieronymo,” “Chato,” “Kan-tenné,”
+and “Chihuahua” came back late on the night
+of the 28th, leading a large body of 116 of
+their people, making an aggregate of 384 in
+camp on the 29th.</p>
+
+<p>On the 30th, after a march, quite long under
+the circumstances,&mdash;fifteen to eighteen miles,&mdash;we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span>
+crossed the main “divide” of the Sierra
+Madre at an altitude of something over 8,000
+feet. The pine timber was large and dense,
+and much of it on fire, the smoke and heat
+parching our throats, and blackening our faces.</p>
+
+<p>With this pine grew a little mescal and a
+respectable amount of the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">madroña</i>, or mountain
+mahogany. Two or three deer were killed
+by the Apache scouts, and as many turkeys;
+trout were visible in all the streams. The line
+of march was prolific in mineral formations,&mdash;basalt,
+lava, sandstone, granite, and limestone.
+The day the command descended the Chihuahua
+side of the range it struck the trail of a
+large body of Mexican troops, and saw an inscription
+cut into the bark of a mahogany stating
+that the Eleventh Battalion had been here
+on the 21st of May.</p>
+
+<p>The itinerary of the remainder of the homeward
+march may be greatly condensed. The
+line of travel lay on the Chihuahua side and
+close to the summit of the range. The country
+was extremely rough, cut up with rocky
+cañons beyond number and ravines of great
+depth, all flowing with water. Pine forests covered<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span>
+all the elevated ridges, but the cañons and
+lower foot-hills had vegetation of a different
+character: oak, juniper, maple, willow, rose, and
+blackberry bushes, and strawberry vines. The
+weather continued almost as previously described,&mdash;the
+days clear and serene, the nights
+bitter cold, with ice forming in pails and kettles
+on the 2d and 3d of June. No storms
+worthy of mention assailed the command, the
+sharp showers that fell two or three times being
+welcomed as laying the soot and dust.</p>
+
+<p>Game was found in abundance,&mdash;deer and
+turkey. This the Apache scouts were permitted
+to shoot and catch, to eke out the
+rations which had completely failed, the last
+issue being made June 4th. From that date
+till June 11th, inclusive, all hands lived upon
+the country. The Apaches improved the excellent
+opportunity to show their skill as
+hunters and their accuracy with fire-arms.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="i138" style="max-width: 40em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/i138.jpg" alt="" />
+  <div class="caption">FIGHTING THE PRAIRIE FIRE.</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The command was threatened by a great
+prairie fire on coming down into the broad
+grassy valley of the Janos. Under the impetus
+of a fierce wind the flames were rushing
+upon camp. There was not a moment to be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span>
+lost. All hands turned out,&mdash;soldiers, scouts,
+squaws, Chiricahua warriors, and even children.
+Each bore a branch of willow or cotton-wood,
+a blanket, or scrap of canvas. The conflagration
+had already seized the hill-crest nearest
+our position; brownish and gray clouds poured
+skyward in compact masses; at their feet a
+long line of scarlet flame flashed and leaped
+high in air. It was a grand, a terrible sight:
+in front was smiling nature, behind, ruin and
+desolation. The heat created a vacuum, and
+the air, pouring in, made whirlwinds, which
+sent the black funnels of soot winding and
+twisting with the symmetry of hour-glasses
+almost to the zenith. For one moment the
+line of fire paused, as if to rest after gaining
+the hill-top; it was only a moment. “Here she
+comes!” yelled the men on the left; and like
+a wild beast flinging high its tawny mane of
+cloud and flashing its fangs of flame, the fire
+was upon, around, and about us.</p>
+
+<p>Our people stood bravely up to their work,
+and the swish! swish! swish! of willow brooms
+proved that camp was not to be surrendered
+without a struggle.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span></p>
+
+<p>We won the day; that is, we saved camp,
+herds, and a small area of pasturage; but over
+a vast surface of territory the ruthless flames
+swept, mantling the land with soot and an
+opaque pall of mist and smoke through which
+the sun’s rays could not penetrate. Several
+horses and mules were badly burned, but none
+to death.</p>
+
+<p>For two or three nights afterwards the horizon
+was gloriously lighted with lines of fire
+creeping over the higher ridges. As we debouched
+into the broad plain, through which
+trickled the shriveled current of the Janos, no
+one would have suspected that we were not a
+column of Bedouins. A long caravan, stretched
+out for a mile upon the trail, resolved itself
+upon closer approach into a confused assemblage
+of ponies, horses, and mules, with bundles
+or without, but in every case freighted with
+humanity. Children were packed by twos and
+threes, while old women and feeble men got
+along as best they could, now riding, now walking.
+The scouts had decked themselves with
+paint and the Chiricahua women had donned
+all their finery of rough silver bracelets, wooden<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span>
+crosses, and saints’ pictures captured from Mexicans.
+This undulating plain, in which we now
+found ourselves, spread far to the north and
+east, and was covered with bunch and grama
+grasses, and dotted with cedar.&mdash;The march
+brought us to Alisos Creek (an affluent of the
+Janos), a thousand yards or more above the
+spot where the Mexican commander García,
+had slaughtered so many Chiricahua women
+and children. Human bones, picked white and
+clean by coyotes, glistened in the sandy bed of
+the stream. Apache baskets and other furniture
+were strewn about. A clump of graves
+headed by rude crosses betrayed the severity of
+the loss inflicted upon the Mexicans.</p>
+
+<p>Between the 5th and 8th of June we crossed
+back (west) into Sonora, going over the asperous
+peak known as the Cocospera.</p>
+
+<p>In this vicinity were many varieties of mineral&mdash;granite
+gneiss, porphyry, conglomerate,
+shale, sandstone, and quartz,&mdash;and travel was
+as difficult almost as it had been in the earlier
+days of the march. We struck the head waters
+of Pitisco Creek, in a very rugged cañon, then
+Elias Creek, going through another fine game<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span>
+region, and lastly, after crossing a broad tableland
+mantled with grama grass, mesquite, Spanish
+bayonet, and Palo Verde, mescal, and palmilla,
+bivouacked on the San Bernardino river,
+close to a tule swamp of blue, slimy mud.</p>
+
+<p>The scouts plastered their heads with this
+mud, and dug up the bulbs of the tule, which,
+when roasted, are quite palatable.</p>
+
+<p>On the 15th of June the command recrossed
+the national boundary, and reached Silver
+Springs, Arizona, the camp of the reserve under
+Colonel Biddle, from whom and from all of
+whose officers and men we received the warmest
+conceivable welcome. Every disaster had been
+predicted and asserted regarding the column,
+from which no word had come, directly or indirectly
+since May 5th. The Mexican captives
+were returned to their own country and the
+Chiricahuas marched, under Crawford, to the
+San Carlos Agency.</p>
+
+<p>Unfortunately the papers received at Silver
+Springs were full of inflammatory telegrams,
+stating that the intention of the government
+was to hang all the Chiricahua men, without
+distinction, and to parcel out the women and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span>
+children among tribes in the Indian Territory.
+This news, getting among the Chiricahuas, produced
+its legitimate result. Several of the
+chiefs and many of the head men hid back in
+the mountains until they could learn exactly
+what was to be their fate. The Mexican troops
+went in after them, and had two or three severe
+engagements, and were, of course, whipped each
+time. When the road was clear the Chiricahuas
+kept their promises to the letter, and brought
+to the San Carlos the last man, woman, and
+child of their people.</p>
+
+<p>They have been quietly scattered in small
+groups around the reservation, the object being
+to effect tribal disintegration, to bring individuals
+and families face to face with the progress
+made by more peaceable Apaches, and at same
+time to enable trusted members of the latter
+bands to maintain a more perfect surveillance
+over every action of the Chiricahuas.</p>
+
+<p>Charlie McComas was never found; the Chiricahuas
+insist, and I think truthfully, that he
+was in the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">ranchería</i> destroyed by Crawford;
+that he escaped, terror-stricken, to the depths
+of the mountains; that the country was so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span>
+rough, the timber and brush-wood so thick that
+his tracks could not be followed, even had there
+not been such a violent fall of rain during the
+succeeding nights. All accounts agree in this.</p>
+
+<p>Altogether the Chiricahuas delivered up
+thirteen captives,&mdash;women and children,&mdash;held
+by them as hostages.</p>
+
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="chapter"></div>
+<div class="transnote">
+<a name="TN" id="TN"></a>
+<p class="bold">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</p>
+
+<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
+corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
+the text and consultation of external sources.</p>
+
+<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
+and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.</p>
+
+<p>
+<a href="#tn-10">Pg 10</a>: ‘one was suprised’ replaced by ‘one was surprised’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-11">Pg 11</a>: ‘boldness, and sublety’ replaced by ‘boldness, and subtlety’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-14">Pg 14</a>: ‘the Cayote saw’ replaced by ‘the Coyote saw’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-18">Pg 18</a>: ‘the Amercan troops’ replaced by ‘the American troops’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-23">Pg 23</a>: ‘not infreqently the’ replaced by ‘not infrequently the’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-24">Pg 24</a>: ‘or millitary posts’ replaced by ‘or military posts’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-34">Pg 34</a>: ‘like the cayote’ replaced by ‘like the coyote’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-51">Pg 51</a>: ‘constantly patroled’ replaced by ‘constantly patrolled’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-76">Pg 76</a>: ‘dead Chiracahuas’ replaced by ‘dead Chiricahuas’.<br />
+<a href="#tn-98">Pg 98</a>: ‘and his beleagured’ replaced by ‘and his beleaguered’.<br />
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="pgx" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN APACHE CAMPAIGN IN THE SIERRA MADRE***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 65040-h.htm or 65040-h.zip *******</p>
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author	nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org>	2025-01-23 03:55:00 -0800
committer	nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org>	2025-01-23 03:55:00 -0800
commit	efa0e6fb50d8388603ed57727a6ef7a0bda7e5ff (patch)
tree	eec374750ee3c83c2b34cc751dd8f59f9c30ed77
parent	f4908187318a15795d4211471e95c06e16e3301b (diff)