USA > Arizona > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 25
USA > New Mexico > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 25
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The doctor here requested Jimmy to talk less, while he proceeded to examine him; and then, calling me to see him, he informed me, with a very grave face, that Jimmy. was suffering from a severe attack of "tartarus emitticus cholera," which he much feared would prove fatal.
This announcement caused Jimmy to utter a terrible groan, and then to call loudly upon the saints for "protiction from thi awful dezases that wuz a lyin' hauld ov his vitals."
Kneeling by his side, I commenced an examination, and found him looking pale, and evidently very much frightened at what he seemed to consider the near approach of the King of Terrors. After a few moments I remarked, "Jimmy, I think you must have caten too much."
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474
A DIAGNOSIS.
"Atin, atin too much; me atin too much!" said Jimmy. "Do I look like a mon that's atin too much ?" and here another violent paroxysm of retching seized him. "May the saints furgiv yez, docther, fur standin' thare an' seein' a human craythur pirish, widout liftin' up yez hand to save him, an' on his weddin'-day, too."
"What's that, Jimmy ? Were you to have been married to-day? Who to?" asked the doctor; "for I must save you, even at the risk of my own life."
"Go at it quick, thin, docther, for I've not more thin tin minnits to live. Jist look at that, now," and another fit of retching came upon him. IIcre I asked Jimmy if he felt qualmish.
"No, I don't fale clamish at all; but I fale as tho' mi boots had cum up thro' mi stumick."
Both the doctor and myself assured Jimmy that if he could go to sleep, he would feel better by morning; and at last he became quiet, and sank into a slumber, from which he did not arouse until late the next morning, when, pale and ghastly, he informed us that he wouldn't be able to "stir from his bid in a wake," at which statement we were much rejoiced, and also convinced that tartar emetic hath its perfect work.
The doctor having forbidden Jimmy to rise from his bed without his permission, we went to our breakfast, which we relished most heartily, notwithstanding Jimmy's doleful
475
VISITORS.
remark, that it was "a bruthal thing fur min to ate, whin a human craythur lay a dyin' widin tin fate ov thim."
About noon we were surprised to see the cacique approaching, in company with a strange-looking man, whom
ANDREW-SOM.
WE TREAT JIMMY FOR A NEW DISEASE.
we at once recognized as an American, and two Indians, who proved to be Moquis.
The American was a large, powerful, haggard-looking man about sixty years of age, with a long white beard that flowed over his breast, and reached nearly to his waist. He
.476
A STRANGER.
wore neither coat nor vest, while, with a handkerchief bound tightly around his head, and his shirt covered with blood, he presented as wild and crazed an appearance as it is possible to imagine.
The instant he caught sight of us he sprang forward, and . grasping our hands, exclaimed, while the tears rolled freely down his cheeks, "Thank God, friends at last!" almost at the same instant falling insensible at our feet.
A hasty examination revealed the fact that the man had fainted from excessive fatigue and hunger, also that he was suffering from an ugly arrow-wound in his right shoulder, which, although from its appearance was several days old, had not been dressed, and must have become very painful.
While the doctor was administering to the old man's needs and comforts, the cacique informed me that the Moquis had found the man wandering near the Zuni trail about twenty miles from their villages, and as they could not understand what he wanted, supposed that he desired to go to Zuni, consequently, had guided him through.
They had arrived at Zuni during the morning, and as no one there could understand who he was, or what he wanted, they very properly had brought him to our camp.
In the course of half an hour he had so far recovered as to be able to take some stimulants, as well as to sparingly par- take of a little nourishment, which the doctor administered
477.
PARLEY STEWART'S SAD STORY.
from time to time. Later in the day, we succeeded in getting from him his sad, sad story.
IIe was a Missourian, by name Parley Stewart, and had left his home two months before, for the purpose of going to Los Angeles, California, by the thirty-fifth parallel route. Near Los Angeles he had a son living, whose wife and child were accompanying him, in addition to which his own wife and six children, the youngest being a girl thirteen years of age, made up the party, in all, ten persons: four grown men, and six women and children.
Their household effects they carried in four covered wagons, cach one being drawn by two mules; and without doubt it was the party that the cacique had mentioned to ns, as passing Zuni some days before our arrival there, and whose camp we had discovered at the Carizo Springs.
They had met with no accident since leaving home; had passed to the south of what they had supposed to be the Moquis country, and a couple of days' journey beyond it, without seeing any signs of hostile Indians, when, upon coming to a beautiful valley abounding in fine grass, through which ran a stream of clear, beautiful water, they deter- mined to halt for a few days, for the purpose of giving their weary animals a little much-needed rest.
From Mr. Stewart's description of the place, the cacique, as well as the Moquis, thought that it was without doubt upon one of the tributaries of the Colorado, perhaps upon
478
A LITTLE EDEN.
the Colorado Chiquito itself; for he described the valley as very large, and the pasturage fine; magnificent great oaks were scattered throughout, and the banks of the stream, the waters of which were clear and very cold, were entirely free from underbrush, yet skirted by trees of great size, which afforded a most refreshing shade, while the base of the rough and rugged mountains that formed the setting of this jewel of the desert, seemed to be covered with a fine growth of pine, cedar, and fir trees.
After toiling for months over the hot, dry, and dusty road across the plains, exposed to the burning heat of a solstitial sun, is it any wonder that this quiet, beautiful valley, with its grateful shade, luxuriant herbage, and cool waters, seemed to the tired and travel-worn wayfarers a little Eden, into which no serpent had yet intruded ?
Is it any wonder that they should determine to pause here for a while, and enjoy the beauties with which Nature's hand had so lavishly bestowed her good gifts?
It was in this delightful spot that they, with one accord, determined to pass at least a week, in order that they might give their weary and well-deserving animals an opportunity to recruit from the toils of the past, and to prepare them- selves for the fatigues of the future.
The first night one of the sons mounted guard, but noth- ing disturbed the solitude of their Eden. This was con- tinued for the second night, and in the morning they all
479
ATTACKED BY APACHES.
decided that it was a useless task, to keep guard while they should be encamped there. They would therefore abandon the habit, and sleep soundly at night, the better to enable them to bear the hardships of the long and desolate route they must travel before they should reach the golden sands, where the loved one was anxiously waiting to embrace them.
During the day two of the sons went out hunting, and returned ere nightfall loaded down with the spoils of the hunt, and reporting that they had seen no trace of hostile foes.
The women of the party, having spent the day in washing and mending the clothing, were all very tired, and imme- diately after partaking of their supper, retired to rest.
Once during the night Mr. Stewart arose and replenished the camp-fire, which had been kept burning brightly, as a precaution against wild beasts; but seeing nor hearing noth- ing unusual, again retired to rest.
How long he had been sleeping he had no means of know- ing; but they were all aroused from their sound slumber by the terrible war-whoop of the Apaches, sounding in their ears like the death-knell that it proved to be, and so frightening and intimidating them all, that in their ter- ror, and the confusion that ensued, they knew not what to do, the screams of the terror-stricken women and children but adding to the consternation.
Springing to their feet, they grasped their rifles, utterly
480
A DESPERATE DEFENCE.
unconscious of the direction from which the appalling danger threatened them, although they had received a shower of arrows, that, in their fatal and well-directed aim, had laid low in death five of this little party: Mrs. Stewart the elder, the daughter-in-law with her infant, and two of the sons.
Before they could recover from the horror into which this murderous attack had thrown them, the terrifying war- whoop again burst upon their ears, accompanied by another and another volley of arrows, that in their deadly aim once more brought death upon their wings, for another daughter fell before the murderous fire.
Mr. Stewart and his second son, who thus far had escaped unscathed, in the mean while had been using their rifles and revolvers, though firing entirely at random, for up to this time they had not seen an Indian.
Observing that the bright light of the camp-fire prevented him from distinguishing any object beyond its immediate vicinity, while at the same time it enabled the Indians to distinctly see every movement in camp, Mr. Stewart ordered his son to extinguish it if possible. This he attempted to do, by separating the burning brands. While engaged in this task, a shot from a rifle was heard, and the son, crying out, "Father, they've killed me!" fell dead upon the dying embers of the fire, from which his body was dragged by one of his sisters.
.
481
HORRIBLE MASSACRE.
Mr. Stewart stated that the moment he heard the rifle- shot, and saw his son fall, he gave up all hope, and hurriedly telling his daughters to conceal themselves in the water behind the bank of the river, but a few yards distant, where he would immediately join them, he discharged the remain- ing barrels of his son's revolver at the Indians, and hastily abandoned the camp; not, however, before receiving an arrow-wound in his shoulder.
As soon as possible, he sought the friendly river-bank, where he expected to meet his daughters.
Upon reaching the river, he failed to find either of them; therefore he hastily concealed himself as best he was able in the water, and while lying there, he both heard and saw Indians searching for him in all directions. He managed, however, to elude their observation; and after waiting an hour or two, ventured forth to resume the search for his children, which he was obliged to prosecute with the utmost caution, not daring to call upon them, lest the Indians whom he had seen at work plundering and destroying his camp should overhear him; he counted twenty of these human fiends engaged in this work of demolition, but could see nor hear nothing of his daughters.
Still quietly and cautiously pursuing his search, he waited until the Indians had completed their work of destruction, and had disappeared, going in a southerly direction. Then he carefully approached the spot where at sunset, with his
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482
A HORRIBLE SIGHT.
family around him, they were happy in the thought that they were approaching the end of the long and tedious journey that was to restore at once a husband, brother, father, and son to the family circle, and at the same time furnish a home for him and his in their declining years.
What a sight met his horrified gaze! Upon a large fire lay the nude bodies of his wife and six children, all scalped, and fast being reduced to ashes by the flames that their bod- ies were feeding, and that at the same time were consuming the woodwork of the wagons, with which the bodies had been covered, seemingly for the purpose of adding to the intensity and power of the flames.
The sight completely unmanned him, and throwing him- self down upon the blood-stained sward, he watched the fire feeding upon the bodies of the loved ones, with neither the ability nor disposition to attempt to stay the angry, hungry tongues that were fast lapping up, not only his household gods, but the bone of his bone and the flesh of his flesh, upon whom the love of a life-time had been so lavishly bestowed; his only consolation being in the thought that even that was better than to leave their bodies to be torn asunder and devoured by wild beasts.
Daylight found him still gazing upon the horrible pyre, and it was with an almost fiendish delight he saw that a few charred bones and a little handful of ashes were all that remained of those dear ones, who, but twelve short hours
483
DESPAIR.
before were full of life and hope, and looking forward with bright anticipations to a happy home by the broad waters of the blue Pacific.
Childless, wifeless, homeless, and heart-broken, the old man sorrowfully started out to renew the now almost hope- less search for his two remaining daughters, but no trace of them could he anywhere discover.
Reluctantly he abandoned the search, and once more returned to the desolate scene that he had left within the hour, and which, as he said, completely fascinated him by its terrible reality. Here seating himself upon'an old stool that he found, he again surveyed the scene.
The sun shone as brightly, the cloudless sky was as blue, and the grass as green as it was the day before. The leaves of the same magnificent old oak rustled in the breeze, and the little birds in its branches as gayly carolled forth their sweetest songs of praise; the same snow-clad mountain-peaks coldly arose out of their sea of verdure, that had so calmly looked down upon the happy scene of a few short hours before, but alas! now how changed. Was it not a horrid, horrid dream ?
Convincing himself at last that it was indeed true, he rose, and gathering up a handful of the still warm ashes, be placed them in his tobacco-box, and prepared to leave the spot that had witnessed the termination of all his earthly happiness.
484
FRIENDS.
As he slowly turned away, vainly endeavoring to discover some memento of the dear ones that might have escaped the notice of the fiends who had so ruthlessly destroyed his all, his eyes fell upon a little coop containing some chickens which he had brought with him from his old Missouri home, that in some unaccountable manner had been left behind by the savages. Ile went to it, and releasing its occupants, turned them loose into the green valley that they might not die of starvation and thirst; then gathering up a few of the fatal arrows that had brought this terrible desolation to him, he took a last lingering look upon the scene before him, and reluctantly turned away.
Taking a trail which he supposed would carry him to the Moquis villages, he left the valley forever.
How he passed the night, or where, or if he slept at all, he could not tell; but the next morning very early he met the two friendly Moquis, who gave him the food and water which he so much needed, and kindly conducted him to the pueblo of Zuni, a three days' journey, although neither party could converse save by signs. Upon arriving there he became almost wild with joy at the sight of Americans, and fainted as I have related.
The old man's grief while relating his story was heart- rending, and during its recital the tears ran down his weather- beaten cheeks like rain, nor did he make any effort to restrain them; and so contagious was his sorrow that it was
485
THE MOQUIS GUIDES.
impossible to prevent the tears from falling from our own eyes.
After the doctor had again dressed the old man's wound, and given him more nourishment, he administered to him an opiate, and in a short time we had the satisfaction of secing him in a quiet slumber, the first that he had enjoyed for four days.
Signifying to the cacique a desire to have some conversa- tion with the Moquis who had so kindly guided Mr. Stewart to the pueblo, he at once volunteered his services as an in- terpreter, at the same time informing us that he was not very familiar with the Moquis dialect.
Their dress was similar to that of all the Pueblo Indians, and in general appearance they strongly resembled them, although I fancied them more intelligent looking, their faces having a frank and manly expression; in fact, save in dress and complexion, they resembled American rather than Indian nationality. They had in their possession four arrows that Mr. Stewart had given them, and which they unhesitatingly pronounced to be those of the Tonto Apaches, a statement that afterwards proved to be true, thus fixing this horrible massacre unquestionably upon that band.
I was much surprised, upon offering them some whiskey, to have them decline it, also to learn that the vice of drunken- ness was unknown among them, and that they used no kind of fermented liquors, notwithstanding Neal Dow and the
486
MARRIAGE CONTRACTS.
Prohibitory Law were strangers to them. I also learned that the crime of murder was unknown in their nation, that they never made war, but were brave and valiant when attacked.
At home the Moquis go about their houses naked, breech- clout and moccasins excepted. Their women are very pretty, as well as industrious, and have a manner of dressing their hair, which, to the initiated, proclaims their condition in life.
If unmarried, they do it up in two inverse rolls, which gives to the head a very singular appearance, not unlike that of having horns; after marriage, it is worn in two large braids on cach side of the face.
A proposal of marriage always emanates from the fair damsel herself, who, after selecting the happy youth, informs her father of her choice, and he forthwith proposes to the father of the lucky swain, who is never known to refuse to sanction the choice.
. The preliminaries being thus happily arranged, the young man is required to present his bride with two pair of moc- casins, two pair of fine blankets, two mattresses, and two sashes, which latter articles are considered very ornamental by them all. The young woman, in her turn, is obliged to furnish a goodly store of catables cooked by herself, as a proof that she is capable of making home attractive, so far as creature comforts are concerned, and then the marriage is celebrated with dancing and feasting.
This union continues until one or the other of the par-
THEIR DANCES. 487
ties become dissatisfied, when the marriage between them is dissolved by a joint declaration to that effect, made before the cacique. Should there be children, the respective grand- parents are expected to provide for them.
The women are never permitted to join in any of their dances; the place that would naturally seem to belong to them being filled by young men dressed to represent them.
The faces of the dancers are always covered by a mask made of small willow twigs peeled and curiously interwoven together. Those worn by the men are colored a dark brown, while those worn by the supposed women are painted a bright yellow.
Each house has its patron saint represented by an ugly little Aztec image, made of wood or clay, gaudily painted and gorgeously decorated with feathers. These images are suspended by a string from the rafters of their houses, and are supposed to exert a great influence for weal or woe over its inmates.
Every village has an estufa underground, or, more prop- erly, a council-chamber, which is used as a public room; here the people are wont to congregate, to sit and smoke and talk over the affairs of the nation. The only light or air is obtained from a scuttle in the roof, which also serves as a door.
From all that I saw or could learn of the Moquis, I came to the conclusion that they were a most simple, moral,
/
488
THE MOQUIS, AS A PEOPLE.
happy, industrious, and very hospitable people, and without doubt are legitimate descendants of the Aztec race.
We gladly made them presents of such articles in our possession as we thought would please them, besides giving them a good supply of tobacco, of which they are extremely fond; and they left us very happy, and feeling well repaid for the kindness that they had shown to Mr. Stewart.
The doctor having declared that there was no longer good reason for delaying our departure from Zuni, and being myself convinced that I could endure the fatigue of travelling without any very great degree of inconvenience, I thought it a good opportunity to tell the cacique of our determination to leave Zuni, which I did, informing him that we expected to start on the following day, in time to reach El Moro, where we intended to make our camp the first night out.
The cacique expressed many regrets at the idea of our leaving so soon, which I have no doubt were somewhat mollified by our presenting him with a bale of smoking tobacco, as well as the large pipe which he had so much enjoyed during his visits to our camp.
Thanking us many times over, and promising to see us in the morning before we should start, he left, assuring us that we could have presented him with nothing that he so much desired, or would have prized more highly.
As dinner was being served, Jimmy put in an appearance,
489
ONCE AGAIN.
looking a little pale and somewhat woc-begone, and almost as much frightened at the news of our departure, as he had been the night previous at the prospect of his own for the "mysterious realm."
He endeavored to persuade us to tarry another day, by as- suring us that his health "wouldn't parmit 'im to start so soon afther a most dangerous and complicayted dizase like his own had attacked him," but the doctor was obdurate, and assured him that once on the road he would again be entirely well.
Finding that nothing he could say changed our determi- nation to start on the following morning, he began to mani- fest a strong desire to again visit the pueblo; a desire that both the doctor and myself were determined to prevent his accomplishing, if possible; to which end the doctor slyly conveyed into Jimmy's cup of tea dose number two, which he unsuspectingly drank.
As he arose from his supper, he announced in the most careless manner possible, that he "thaught he'd take a bit ov a thramp, which he gissed wud make him fayle all the bitther," to which proposition both the doctor and myself most cheerfully assented.
As he was about starting upon his "thramp," I asked him to assist Don Rafael in packing some things that we should not again require before our departure.
This he at once proceeded to do with an alacrity that
62
490
ITS CAUSE.
promised well for the speedy accomplishment of the task, but alas!
" The best laid schemes of mice and men
Gang aft agley,"
for, long before the task was finished, Jimmy lay upon the flat of his back assuring the doctor that "this time fur thrue, he was a-dyin' fur shure."
No reasoning had any effect in convincing him to the con- trary, no assurances seemed to quiet him, his time had cer- tainly come, and said he, "If yez would only bring to mi bidside mi ould father and mither to recave mi blessin', I'd die contint, be jabers."
Assuring him that if it were possible we would gladly do it, but that as his father and mother were in Ireland, we did not see how it could be done, he declared between the par- oxysms of retching that "say-sickness was hilth compared to the bastely sufferin' that he was goin' thro' wid," and said he, "Docther, I'd die contint, if ye'd till me the cause ov it."
To which request the doctor gravely and unhesitatingly responded, that his sickness was "undoubtedly owing to the malarious results superinduced by too frequent and undue exposure to the deleterious effects of the Hesperian ether while in an unacclimated physical condition."
"Ilowly mother," said Jimmy - retch - "is all - retch - that - retch - the matther wid me ? - retch - Thin
-
ยท
491
SLEEP AT LAST.
I'll - retch - die fur shure - retch -fur I can't live wid all that - retch - in me constitootion - retch - I'll not survive - retch - an hour."
Some time after the most violent of Jimmy's paroxysms had subsided, we left him, quite well satisfied that for the night, at least, we had reason to apprehend no further trouble from him.
Upon turning our attention to old Mr. Stewart, whom we found still sleeping quietly, the doctor remarked that sleep would do him more good than any medicine; for after the terrible shock his nervous system had sustained, it was very probable that at his advanced age he would never fully rally, but long before he could by any possibility reach his old Missouri home, strangers' hands would have to perform the last sad offices that could be performed for the old man on cartb.
A prediction that proved but too true, for in less than two weeks the old man's spirit went aloft, to join those of the dear ones that had gone before from the beautiful valley of the Colorado Chiquito.
CHAPTER XXX.
ILE first faint streak of light in the castern skies was heralding the approach of dawn, when my eyes chanced to fall upon a fig- ure bowed down and de- jected, as if by the accumu- lated weight of misfortune and grief, over the smoul- dering embers of our dying camp-fire. So still, motionless, and white did it seem in the gray light of the morning, that I could scarcely realize it to be a breathing object endowed with life, but almost fancied that it had been fashioned from pure white marble by the afreets in a single night, and placed in our camp that it might serve as a crowning surprise on this, the morning of our departure from a country which, for so many thousand years, Nature had reserved as the theatre in which to ercet the
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