Wild Life in the Far West: Being the Personal Adventures of a Border Mountain Man. Captain James Hobbs
cave barely large enough for him to lie down
SINGLE-HANDED FIGHT WITH APACHES. 77
in, the mouth of which was nearly closed by a large stone. He could load his rifle while he lay on his back as well as standing up, and, using the rock at the mouth of the cave (which was a good protection for his head) as a rest for his rifle, he could pick off the Apaches at a long range. He had killed three of them in this manner, and escaped with slight injuries himself, though around the rock were battered bullets and an armful of arrows. He had got one eye full of sand, but thought the three scalps he took off the Apaches' heads a good thing, and better than so many deer. He went into camp with the scalps elevated on a pole, and attracted much attention. Mr. Speyers complimented him for his bravery, and promised him three hundred dollars for the scalps at Chihuahua, from the authorities.
We traveled one day more down the Rio Grande, and then, leaving the river, took a southerly direction straight for Chihuahua, arriving at Sacramento, about fifteen miles from Chihuahua, the fourth day after leaving the river. Here we discharged and "cached," or concealed, four wagon-loads of contraband goods, to escape seizure at Chihuahua, and left four of our Shawnees to watch them. The next afternoon, we arrived, with our train, before the custom-house at Chihuahua, and an officer and ten privates watched our wagons, to see that no goods were taken out till we had paid the duties. The next day, we were allowed to discharge our freight, and the first thing Mr. Speyers did was to establish a store for trading purposes.
Some six days after our arrival at Chihuahua, an American named Riddle volunteered to bring in the concealed goods left back at the "cache," saying he could do it without danger. Mr. Speyers told him to
78 FAIR AT SAN JUAN.
bribe the custom-house officer, and he consented. So did the custom-house officer consent, for he had been bribed before. I was detailed to assist in bringing in these goods to the city. The customs official in- structed us as to which side of the city to come in, agreeing to meet us a mile from town. He met us, with a rile of ten soldiers, about midnight, and escorted us secretly to a room, where our goods were dis- charged, and the official was paid one hundred dollars, which he said was a good night's job,—far better than he expected, and more than he could make in a month out of government! His soldiers were each presented by Mr. Speyers with a dollar, a pair of shoes, and a bottle of whisky, the last of which they could fully appreciate.
We stayed in Chihuahua some two months (Novem- ber and December, 1841), enjoying ourselves very much among the Mexicans of both sexes, who were remark- ably friendly, as we had plenty of money.
Being out of employment, and ready for an adven- ture, I was selected, with several others of the party, to go with a train of wagons loaded with goods for the fair at San Juan, which place is very central and con- venient for people to meet from all parts of Mexico. This trip occupied eighteen days. This fair is the worst place I ever saw, for thieving, gambling, and vice of all sorts. The rich people play a game called monte, at which they sometimes stake thousands of dollars; while the lower classes indulge in bull-fights, cock-fights, and all sorts of low gambling. The place is situated near the San Juan river, under a hill, and there are not over four thousand inhabitants when there is no fair. This great carnival lasts from fifteen to twenty days, and is thronged by Mexicans, Ameri-
MEETING WITH COMANCHES. 79
cans, French, Germans, Spanish, and all sorts of people, to the number, perhaps, of fifty thousand. At the close of the fair, which is intended for trading purposes mainly, we started on our return.
One morning, while we were on our homeward journey through the state of Durango, moving quietly along, the train of seventy wagons being stretched along some two miles, I, being in advance, discovered a body of about four hundred Indians. On their approach, the alarm was passed along to the rear of the train: "Corral your wagons and teams! Fix for a fight! The Indians are coming!"
Putting a white flag on the ramrod of my gun, I made directly for the Indians; for, by certain pecu- liarities, I knew they were a war-party of Comanches, who were on a Mexican raid. One of the party ad- vanced to meet me, in response to signals I had made, and, after each had dropped our arms, we advanced for a friendly greeting. All my friends were calling out to me to come back, or I should be killed. They were not aware of my acquaintance with the Comanches, nor of my being able to speak their language. Upon meeting the Indian, he knew me in a moment, jumped from his horse, and embraced me. He inquired if those were my teams, and I replied that they were. I asked after my wife and child and other friends in their tribe. He said they were well, but that my brother-in-law ("Old Wolf's" son), the first chief, had been killed, and that he was chief in his place; also, that Henry Brown, the next in command, was back in their war-party. I told him to wait for me, and I would go and get them some presents.
I soon returned, with pipes, tobacco, flannel, and handkerchiefs for the Comanches, and, meeting the
80 EXPLANATIONS TO FRIENDS.
chief again, we went back to where he had left his warriors formed for battle. Upon arriving among them, they all knew me, dismounted, and formed a ring for smoking. I saw Henry Brown, and had a sociable smoke with him and the chief. Henry could not be told from an Indian, except by his long red hair, which hung in plaits over his shoulders.
They asked me if I knew where the Mexicans had any horses. I answered that there were horses in almost every direction, probably; but the country was new to me, and I was on a peaceable trading expe- dition. We then mounted our horses, and they told me not to be afraid of them, but turn our mules out to feed at night, and they would not molest them. Then, with a rousing war-whoop, they darted away over the plain.
On my return to the train, our owners and teamsters all gathered around me, asking what the Indians had said. I told them not to be uneasy; that I spoke the Comanche language, and they were friendly Coman- ches, with a captive American among them, who was second chief. They inquired how I came to know their language, and I explained by telling them of my four years' experience among them. They were so thankful for this providential escape from the Indians, that they made up an extra purse of one hundred and fifty dollars for me on our return to Chihuahua.
CHAPTER V.
SOON after I returned to Chihuahua, I was informed that a white man, named James Kirker, a Scotch- man, was chief of the Apache nation, and that the gov- ernor of Chihuahua had offered a reward of nine thou- sand dollars for his head. The Apaches had stolen great numbers of mules from the State of Chihuahua and sold them in New Mexico, through Kirker's agency. He had sold the property and put the money in his pocket intending never to return to the Apache nation.
Kirker was a blue eyed, gray haired and gray whiskered man, about fifty years old, short and stout, weighing probably about one hundred and seventy- five pounds. He was a very hard drinking man, which may have had some connection with his mysterious death, as he was found dead in his cabin at Mount Diablo, California, in 1852. He died poor, as his habits were such that he could never keep what he acquired.
After the governor offered the reward for his life, Kirker desired to treat with him, and proposed to help him kill off the Apaches, as he knew their traits, and would turn against them if the governor would co- operate with him and spare his life. This proposal, which was sent by a friend, was accepted, and he soon same down to Chihuahua for a conference with gov- ernor Trios.
He stated that he had been taken prisoner by the Apaches while trapping; that he had no sympathy
6
82 JAMES KIRKER.
with them, but had taken the part he had to save his own life; and that this was the first chance he had to escape from them.
Mr. Kirker then came to ns Americans and Shawnees, who had come from, various quarters as teamsters and guards, and were now out of employment. Spiebuck