Jewels from Jane-May 24
Drawing of Indian attack
Tuesday, May 24, 1870
"We camped at 9:00 o'clock. Whilst partaking of our evening refection, sixteen soldiers rode up and informed us that they had been sent to escort some travelers, they know not whom, and supposed we were the persons, as they saw no others. We conjectured that our good Father, St. Joseph, had sent them to our assistance; although at the time we were not aware of how much we stood in need of their escort. We might, in all probablility, have been massacred by the savages, had they not been our safeguard. The Indians are afraid to appear when they hear the soldiers, unless they are sufficiently strong in number to fight them. They continued with us for the remaining seventy-five miles of our journey.
"Whilst at breakfast this morning, three of the citizens of Tucson, who were a portion of the number appointed to meet us (the others having remained at the next station) rode up. We resumed our journey at 5:00 o'clock p.m. Some miners joined us, in order to share our protection. The soldiers followed close in the rear; they had two mules to carry their baggage -- one carried the blankets; the other the cooking utensils. We titled them respectively, the 'chambermaid and cook.' The latter looked quite amusing with her pots and pans hanging from her side.
"At noon we reached the station where the remainder of the escort from Tucson was awaiting us -- sixty-five miles from the city. There was great rejoicing among them; but as they could not speak either French or English, we did not understand them.
"At 5:00 o'clock p.m., we set out again. Everyone was in fine spirits; especially the citizens. All passed off pleasantly until midnight, when a serious turn of mind and manner seemed to take possession of each and every one. We were then approaching Picacho Peak, where the Apaches are accustomed to attack travelers. A fearful massacre had been perpetrated there, only a week previous.
"The road winds through a narrow pass in the mountain, where the Indians conceal themselves, and throw out their poisoned arrows at the passers-by. The place is literally filled with graves -- sorrowful monuments of savage barbarity. Each one prepared his firearms; even good Father Francisco. The citizens pressed around our carriage. The soldiers rode about like bloodhounds in search of prey. In passing through the peak, the horses began to neigh, which is a sure indication of the close proximity of the savages. 'The Indians! The Indians!' was echoed from every mouth. Whip and spurs were given to the horses -- we went like lightning -- the men yelling like so many fiends, in order to frighten the savages. The novelty of the scene kept us from being afraid. We traveled in this manner until 4:00 o'clock a.m."
From Trek of the Seven Sisters: Diary of Sister Monica Corrigan, 1870
