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117111110411 Dec. 3, 3, 1937
The Alms Massacre
Our family left Sherman, Texas Sept., 1879 for Arizona, where one of my uncles
was supposed to be living. We came by Deming where we were warned that the Indians
were out and we had better not go by Cookels Peak, one of the Indians favorite Places
of attack. My father never having had any dealing with any Indians, 'as not afraid
of the Indians and cane on brythe Peek; luck was apparently with um for a big snow
storm came up„ and we never saw an Indian.
When we got to Silver City the weather WAR so disagreeable that father got a
place for us to stay. While in Silver City we heard that my uncle was in the Frisco
Valley, area up in the hills mining.
lather took us to the /risco Valley and settled. We made the third family in
the volley.
up in the hills Mexican sheepmen became angry hecauee the eettlern were coming
into the valley, they told the Apaches that the white settlers would be easily taken
as they were new to this country, and as the Apaches were always ready to att-ck an
easy victim they were ready to raid the new settlers at once.
In the later part of April 1880 the Indians under their chief, Victorio, at the
Cooney mine up in the hills. The attack was made just as the men were quitting work
for the day. Three of the men from the mine were killed, another, Mr. Taylor was
shot in the leg the shot breaking his leg. Mr. Taylor hid out in a near by cave.
The rest of the men scattered into the hills. Mother and we children slept in the
wagon; as the only house that we had was a lean to. When I went out to the wagon toe
go to bed heard a strange noise up in the hills. ran into the house and said,
"There is something up in the hills". The entire family came out to listen, when that
didn't hear anything they tried to make me believe that it was the frogs down in
the swamp. had been raised in town, and any unusual noise attracted my attention,
and I knew the noise I heard was up in the hills, and wasnit a noise umually heard
at night. After the family had gone to bed I could not sleep, because I kept think-
ing about the noise in the hills. I got up and. sat on a big trunk in the front
of the wagon. I heard some loud talking, and soon decided that it was ever at the
Robert's house. I thought that probably that some of the family was sick and need-
ing help. I was Just ready to wake up mother when I heard a horse coming. Thinking
that it was some of the Roberts family I waited to see what theynarty wanted. The
horse came up on the far side of the leanto. I celled "We are on this side of the
house." A man rode around the house and asked "Where is your father?"
I replied: "In the house aslerp".
"GO wake him, and tell him that the Apaches are out, that he had better get all
of his stock in the corral at once and get ready !or an attack. haven't the time
to awaken him as I mast go warn others."
I thanked the man, and ran to the house to awaken father. The family soon was
busy, father put the stock in the corral and went after my brother end uncle that
slept in the store across the creek. When the men came back my uncle and oldest
brother stayed at the corral to guard the stock. Mother and started to moulding
bullets for our old 44 Winchester.
Mr. Cooney and another man called Chick came down from the hills, and told us
that they had been hiding in the hills after the attack at the mine. When night
came they began to howl so the dogs would bark and they could get their bearing,
thereby explaining the noise that I had heard.
Mr. Cooney had been an Indian scout for five years, and said that we need not
that the Indians would raid their cabins and no bother the settlers we did not worry
as we thought that Mr. Cooney knew what the Indians were likely to do. We laughed
and moulded bullets the rest of the night.
When morning cane Chick kept wanting to teturn to the mine. Mr. Cooney. the
Indians will just raid the cabins, but is not safe to go un there now as the Indian*
are still in the country." Chick insisted that he was going; finally rather than
let him go alone Mr. Cooney consented to go if they could borrow some horses to
rids. My father did not have any horses as we drove mules from Sherman, and he was
using them to make his crop.
After several hours the horses returned riderless with blood on them Mr.
Potter and Mr. Motsinor jumped on the horses and took off up the mine as it was feared
that the men had run into trouble and needed help. The men were ambushed by the
Indians. Potter's gun was shot from his hand, the jar of the shot injuring his
arm, but he drew his six-shooter and fought his way out of the ambush, and rode back
to the ranch before the Indians were able to attack the ranch.
The Indians had always feared Capt. Cooney, and when they s,w that they killed
him they rejoiced. They thought that if they could surprise Cooneyp the settlers
were not expecting an attack. The warriors left the squaws to mutilate the bodies
of Cooney and Chick.
When the horses returned riderless the Roberts f•mily decided to send out an
alarm. A man rode over to our house and told us to hurry to the Roberts house.
My father thought that we should fortify our place as our house was on a plain
and the Roberts house was at the foot of a hill, and the Indians haul& shoot dawn
the hill. Mother insisted that we go on over to the Roberts Ranch. My brother said
that he would stay with the stock at the corral. We finally got the two white males
to the wagon and started for the ranch.
We sew some cattle standing on a hill, the clttle wens watching something.
Mother said "Paw drive faster the Indians are coming the cattle are watching them."
"Oh mother, there is a plenty of time those cattle are watdhing us, the Indians
aren't near yet."
Paw just would not hurry, and :mother would urge him to drive fester. Paw would
just tease her and never drive ray faster. We were leisure driving along when we
came to the top of the hill, and the cattle started to ran, and our salute was a
bullet. The Indians were coming toward us. I grabbed the old Springfield, which was
a old model being the 1866 model. Paw called: "It isn't loaded. The shells are in
my belt." The belt was a new belt and very stiff. tagged but could. not '-et any
of the shells out; paw was driving very fast. And I was pointing the gun At the
Indians in hopee that they would stay back if they saw a gun. If I had been able
to load the gun I could never hi* the Indians as the gun was bouncine around so;
as father was really making a race for the Roberts ranch now. I screenea to the fa-
mily to lie down in the weenn no the Indians couldn't hit them eaeilv. Ballets
were whizzing all around us. The Indians were gettinr nearer -41 the time. My
brother Ilq"; standing pt the eor-el watching the atack, but could not heln us, es
his gun was not a lone renee gun. The men et the Poberts Ranch saw the trouble
that we were in and six of the nen rode out 4o hoOn us; *hereby risking *heir
lives; the party of nen rode between us and the Indians. The Indians began to shoot
at the men on the horses; there -fore givinr us a hance to gee to the ranch. We
were traveling Pt tuite r sheed by th- tine we reached the ranch. T,e had to nass
by the house, and pulled un behind r old lor: shed. Jut we we halted one of the
white mules fell dead, the first shot of the Apaches to take effect for thy wore
sure shooting wild. 'v'e got out of the singer down Irr the wall. My sister said;
havmalt seen any Indians.* She bed been lyt n inIthe wagon. She decided to
pep around the corner to see en /ndian, a shot missed her heed about an inch.
To get to the house we were going to have to lean a ditch, the men told us soon
as there was a slack in the firing to make for the house. The firing ceased, and
we kne the Indians ware surrounding the place. We made a dash for the house, the
Children made it across alright, but we were nftaid mother would be unable to melee
the leap across the ditch as she wns short and mighed about one hundred and sixty-
five pounds. When mother came to the ditch dhe leaped across that ditch as spry
as a deer. She said it wan time to pet in etiurry.
The house was a long house made of logs with a door at each end. The beds were
placed around the wall of the room, and the women -nd children put in the center of
the room for protection. Therewere thirtve.one men in the house besides the six
members of the Colter family, five in the Reherts family and six in the Meader fam-
ily.
My brother couldn't stand the suspense of not knowing what happened to us,
made a ride for the ranch, and arrived without a scratch. Luck tys surely with us
for bulletskae hit all around us, and not a one was unjured. The Indians were eble
to keep upa constant fire as fifteen warriors would erive up and fire; .hen drop
b,ck to reload their guns and another fifteen would teke their place thereby keep
up a a constant fire as they were always moving in a circle. There were two -hundred
thirteen warriors counted.
The Indians surrounded the house some shooting down the hill many of tie shots
lodged on the dirt roof, others knocked holes in the wall making it unsafe to move
about as the Indians could see any movement in the house through the cracks.
Late in the afternoon one of the small children wen crying for something to
eat, and the food was all across the room in the cupboard. My brother wee standing
on one side of the cupboard, and I wished to take his place as I knee. that he was
tired. I asked Mrs. Roberts if tLe mild was in the cupboard; when She -said it was
I had an excuse to go after the mild as the children Hadn't had anythini; to eat
all day.
I made a dart across the room safely. I asked, wBrother do you want me to
take your place for a while?"
"No, it is too dangerous as the Indians have nearly hit me several times througb
the cracks in the wall.*
The girls in those days were taught to shoot the some as the boys. have
spent many hours at target practice with my brhthere and father.
W. Wilcox was stenting on the other side of the cupboard spoke up and said
"Agnes, when you start back -crose the room you go as fast eessible; those
Indians are shooting at every thing they see move.w
Before I started back Mr. nicox sew his partner out in the yard trying to
get to the house. Mr. Wilcox stepped to the door to aid his partner in getting to
the hose by exposing himself. I darted across the room and. as I handed the child tb
the eflase of mile W. Wilcox cried: "My God, boys I'm shot." He stood hes gun down
by the door facing and welked ovee to the fieeplece rad laid !me. 3efere Anyone
could ranch him he wee deed.
Early in the fight en Aetche lied been shot, the erier relle- he a the ditch,
that we hod to j, into the water. We thought the' he ro ded, rhich he erobebly
wee; but he diseppeered when Mr. Murray tried to ee- to the house. Mr Vurray had
gone into the hills e rly in she morning to round up some cattle, when he heerd
the firing he knee the Indians had fttecked end hid lu' in the hills. Dote in the
afternoon he decided that it was time to try to make it to the house, but he tried
to come in too esrly. The boys sure did hove to do some reel shooting to make the
Indians stay beck; in order for Mr. Murray to get to the house. Mile the boys were
making eery- effort to ret Yr.Vurray to the hcune the Indian in the ditch had
disarpeared. Whether the Indian was unjured, and shw chance to get away or one
of the other warrior 'lipeed down, and carried him erry or wl.t hFnnene to him
wa never known.
Mr. Foster understood the Anrohe 1Pnguage and signs, he told the boys that
Victorio was trying to get his warriors to rush down to the house, es cur ammunition
wee low he crutioned the boys to never shoot unless they were sure of the shot. 'or
if the Apcches ever did get to the house it would be ell off with the Eet lers, as
the werriore
eould moon cepture the place as they had plenty ammunition.
The 'wheels
elwees hod emmunition, e Indian scout esuld always go out with e lot ef ammuntion
when he returned he never had eny, he would tell his commanding officer that he shot
at rabbits end birds, but he w -s storing it ow for future use as he knew he would
probably be beck with the tripe the next yeer, many tines he sent his emmantion to
his tribe. The warriors made eeverel rushes for the house, but the boys made it too
hot to get too close.
The Apaches ere eaperstitious about fighting after night, end when ei:rk came
the Indians made camp at the nresent site of Aleme. The yelling and whooping reejly
came off. They danced and made merry for they had the white settlers penned. Our
men soon became tired of their fun making, end. sent fer shots over in their direction.
The Indains moved a. little fcrther away and no more wes heard of them, so close to
the ranch.
figared that we vere iu for a eiege, and had .;:;etr fill everething with water.
If the Indians were to cut the ditch re roul_d prcb-ble have to #lere up the fit
from thirst.
Two men volunteered to try to get teerough to Silver City for help and. ammunition.
To go to Silver they must co hy he Indilin care). The men ceme 'round ena told 122 all
good-bye, they never expected to cone back, and I don't supecee anyone in the -loom
ever expected to see them again, Jut God was merciful for they went be the camp
safely. At the ranohes alone the road they were eble to secure fresh mounts. The
men arrived in Silver City early the next day end geve the alern, and ealhed over to
the fort.
Captain Madden had been out on an Indian scoutine. trip, and Irti3 Jut returning
to the poet with thirty-five of his troops and scouts he ordered Wiegman to turn
and march to the Frisco Valley. The men marched by Silver City where seventy-
five citizens joined the troop. The men were tired but they never let this hinder
them in their mush to the settlers.
The morning after the battle we eere eurprised that ee 'eren't fired on, but Mr.
Indian heal decided that the white settlers weren't to be taken so eastly, and had
sent runeer over to the San Carlos Re3ervation for more r-rricrs. The men decideda
the Indians weren't bothering to try to bur 7 Mr. niece. They constructed a
crude wooden coffin and e.ecided tebur..' him on the hill behind the hoa,e. If the
Indians were seen coming e shot r: -is to be fired from a -pistol.
The men were carrying tee coffin u? the hill ethen a shot was heard- The man
hastily pieced the body under a tree and made n run for the house. When the men had
gathered at the house it wae diseovere! teat one of the men had 1.ccidently. aropped his
an, and. made it go off. !luny days later we were able to laugh about the inoid,,tnt,
bnt it eare wasn't funny then.
There was seventeen Need of etock in the Robert, cereal when +Ye 'ieht started.
but they were all killed. Our old white male stood by the old lee house ell day,
and woo never hit.
The second mereitg-efter the fight Ceptein Wedeen c -me in lif4lt of the rench.
As soen re he could see the Tench with his field elesees: lee tried to see the eonde.
tion of the ranch ha cried; *We ere eerie eneuela for I see white men." The cry
of rojnicine went up from that groun could be heard for meny milea.
Mr. Indian had +may it the moraine 'moved on into the %sills for thee neenrently
heard that soldiers were coming. They went by the nlnces where the mexic n sheep-
herders were and killed thirty-five men. The Indiene were nnery -eecnese the sheenmen
hpd told them that the new settlers would be easily teken, end they hednst been able
to accomplish their victory. A Mexican taken nrisonee b- the /ndiene tee' us that
the Indians told ue thetlhe Indians had nine dead werriors with them.
After the soldiers arrived and found us sere they decide' thet it would be fool-
ieh to try to follow the Indians, no the men were all tired as well as their mounts,
also meny of the men from Silver City were afoot.
Men we returned home we didn't have a thing left. Sheriff Whitehill wee in the
valley at the time of the attack and Ore* on to the ranch, and. fether sent usieck to
Silver with him.
Sometime after the fight an Aeache scout came into the mJnine ceme with Chicks
cont en, the one he had on the day he wee klred. The boys at once tool,. r. Scout
nrieellsr, and took noesession of his horee. The Indian scouts Always helnod his
tribe against the white tesonle.
One morning the boys told the Indians that he was to follow them. The Indian
asked:elf/here are you taking leer
One of the boys answered; "Going to show you the trell."
"Tee I know the trail that you will show me, end it wil' be a lone one."
The boys took the scout out and hung him.
My father bergLined with the boys, for the scouts' herse or mule to make the crop.
Sometiem after the hanging of the Indian a government men clew by, an:. demended
the horse from the boys. They told him that the horse had been sold and paid for,
and they guessed that he couldn't have him.
The government agent came to faller and &emended the horse. 7etcr told him;
eI Lenit intend to let you have the horse. The Indians took everything I had, and
have bought and paid for this horse, and 1 intend to keep it. The agent told father
the government couldn't be responsible for their scouts end father Eeid; your
damhed Indiene loose and we sill take care of them.0 then father told hie this the
man went on about his business and was never heard of again.
The families that were in the valley never did receive ythine for their loss,
as the gevernment agent said. that the Indians weren't at wer with the rnment. A
neeyo detachment was sent into the valley but they eere uselbss. rether was talking
to one of them once and he said; deren't shoot et an Iec:iem. e are just out here
to bury the
Mrs. Agnes Meader Snyder.