Seven Little Indians

They drew straws to see who would kill the babies.Itoak bushes to dry while they cooked the larger portion
was a fall day at an Indian encampment in the Tontoof horsemeat over an open fire.When the meat was
Basin of Arizona. Lined up on their cradleboardscooked, the men gorged themselves on the sweet
against a rock wall were seven little Apache babies.horseflesh, which they favored above all other. When
The weather was so nice, some babies slept whilethe men finished, the women too, then ate with gusto.
others gazed out upon the strange world aroundAfter tending and nursing their babies, the cherubs
them.The late Roscoe G. Willson, in his Arizona Taleswere returned to their papoose baskets along the wall.
run regularly by The Arizona Republic newspaper, toldThe women joined the group of men sleeping off their
this story. The story illustrated how otherwiseheavy meal beneath the deep shade of oak
hard-bitten men could not overcome the power thattrees.Soon, a clattering of blue jays signaled to the
emanates from a baby.All about the camp, in 1871,Indians that something was amiss. Before the Indians
there was a scene of great activity. The men in thecould rise to their feet, rifle shots rang out from the
Apache camp came dashing in at early morn, driving ahillsides and oak thickets. Several Apache men and
large herd of horses, stolen that very morning from thewomen were killed before they could rise.The
Bowers Ranch east of Prescott, Arizona.The Apacheattackers were settlers from Prescott, on the hunt for
men and women of the camp were excited as theythe horses stolen that morning from the Bowers
talked about their great success. The women busiedRanch. John B. Townsend, an Indian fighter, headed the
themselves cooking the meat of a horse they hadgroup. The Indians knew him to be brave and fearless
slaughtered. They laid strips of raw horseflesh on theand held him in great respect.