| Notes |
- The following letter printed in a Morgan, TX newspaper (?) in 1903 is long.
I've gotten such a kick out of it, that I thought perhaps other people would, too.
G. C. Barry, who wrote it, was Griffith Coombe Barry, Jr. my g uncle and brother to
Lilly Barry, who married Edward McGary McKisick, son of John Wilson McKisick.
Lilly and Ed were parents of my grandmother, Stella Brown McKisick.
As follows:
Printed in paper in Morgan, Texas, Sat., Nov. 7, 1903
Naconi, Montezuma Dist. Sonora, Mex. Oct 10, 1903
[TO]
Jack Hunter
Morgan, Texas
Dear Friend:
We have just written a letter home and will drop you a few lines to let you
know we are still living, after falling and rolling and tumbling up and down some of the
highest mountains in the Sierra Madres, and we are thankful that we are still alive
and no bones broken. Though Bob and I are both a little grayer then when we left on
account of a quiet little meeting with Mr. Bear, of which I will tell you later on.
The evening we left Naco, we followed the line east and at good dark struck
a fine camp, ten miles from town. From there we went east to Fronteras river, down it
to the town of same name, where we had to stand inspection by Mexican custom officers.
They found our papers all o.k., and we proceeded south.
Traveling south-east for about 100 miles when we passed Hot Springs, Aqua
Calteiua, where I met an old friend named Foster who has said springs leased. Here
we bought some mercal and proceeded east and crossed the head waters of the Yaqui
river, where Deel's son-in-law, Lee Hudspeth has a ranch. Here we rested a few days and
traveled down he river. One day after leaving the river and going over a high
mountain, came down on a canon [canyon] covered with beautiful palm trees and a big cold
mountain stream flowing through it. When we first struck the river we found fish
plentiful, and after being surfeited on fish, we needed some venison. We decided to lay
over in this palm grove and hunt over the adjoining country. So next morning, Bob and I
saddled up, took our artillery and started out on what came near being our last
campaign. About noon we were riding over a little hill, when up jumped two big bucks. I
was in front and dropped one with my 30-30, when Bob cut down on he other one and broke his
hip. We stuck the one that fell and went after the crippled one. We could not get
sight of him, so we began trailing. In this entire country it is a succession of mountains
and deep canyons, and many of these canyons are what they call boxed. They come
together like two walls, hundreds of feet high. I find that when you jump a white-tail
deer, they are like a mountain sheep, and make for the highest points. We followed him a
very long distance, and all the time going higher till he went into and up the bed of
a big canyon. This canyon narrowed as we went up until it boxed up. We could tell by the
trail of blood that we were close to our game, and were down afoot leading the
horses. I was ahead and Bob close to me, when just as we went around a rocky cliff we came
right upon to....not our deer, but a big silver tip bear. This was something we
were not hunting and were surprised to find. He had evidently smelt the deer's blood and was
looking for a nice fat supper. I am satisfied that he thought Bob and I would fill the
bill from the way he performed. Gena told us that the cannibals would get us, and it
began to look like the cannibals would not have a chance at the good fat "gringos." If I had a
little room I would have side stepped and introduced Mr. Bruin to Bob, but the bear filled
up the canyon in front and Bob behind, so I had to do something. I dropped my
reins and cut down on him with my little 30-30 and caught him through the neck. It did
not break his neck, so he came up on hishi9nd feet with the blood running out of his
mouth, and he looked big as a mountain. When I fired, I worked my gun so quick that the
shell would not eject, or a cartridge go in. You know Bob had a big 40-72 Winchester,
which we called the heavy artillery7. Well, right here the heavy artillery saved
the day and my scalp. When my gun hung, I jerked out my knife and dropped on my knees and
began gouging out the shell that had hung. Bob stepped up and fired over me and
the bear let out a horrible grunt when those 40-72's ploughed through him. In a few
seconds I had my gun all right, and we sent a solid stream of lead in Mr. Bruin and he
rolled over not ten feet from us. The sweat was rolling off of Bob like a summer shower,
and I was a little wet myself. Our horses had run off down the canyon and we found
them half a mild away. By the time we got them and got our bear trimmed up, we pulled
out, leading the horses with the bear packed on them, cut in two. We went by and got the
deer and by the time we got to camp it was 9:30 o'clock and very dark. The boys were
very uneasy, as we expected to get in to a late dinner. We stayed over there two days,
like the Indians, eating and fishing. We left our bear hide at a Mexican camp and if we
return that way will take it home.
We traveled from there down the Yazis to Apute and Huasabos. Here we left
the river and turned east to Bacadahuachi, where we discovered an interesting old
town. There is a church there over three hundred years old, built by the Spanish priest, of
brick and mortar. It is a beautiful old structure, but was partly destroyed by an
earthquake sixteen years ago. From there we came to this place to look at the range and
cattle. This is a fine cattle range, and we have looked around here for several days. We
came back today from the Gordova ranch, several leagues east of here. He has a ranch of
about 40,000 acres and 500 cattle. If his ranch was not so badly eat out, we would have
bought it and the cattle.
The cattle are fat all over this country, but there is no level land except
the few streams. Fine streams of water are running everywhere, but it is a common thing to
see a good sized river with no bottom or valley at all. We are going north of here
tomorrow to look over a country that has no stock in it. It is a fine watered country but no
ranchers have gone into it on account of the Apaches. 'Tis almost dark, so I will
close. We expect some mail at Sauhuaripa, which is ninety miles from here. All of these
little valleys here were first settled by the Spaniards over three hundred years ago, and at
every town a fine church was built by the priests. In those days the priests were the law
givers and controlled the people like sheep. At this place the old church was
destroyed sixteen years ago by an earthquake which pass3ed over all this country and north through
Arizona and New Mexico. All that is left of this old church is four bells which have
Latin inscriptions on them dated 1718. They were cast of native copper. After
these towns were settled by the Spanish, the Apaches [ ] is only ten
years ago that they were suppressed. The presidente has been here 54 years, and has seen the Apaches
massacre the people in the valley three different times.
The weather is fine through these Montezumas. I judge the altitude is five
or six thousand feet.
Give our regards to Mr. Frazier and family. We expect to be in Naco by
about Nov. 1st or 15th. I supposed you are home by now.
Yours truly,
G. C. Barry
Mr. Barry was formerly a citizen of Bosque county and is well known there.
Bob, to whom he refers in his letter, is our old friend, Bob Frazier, who left
Morgan about a year ago for Naco, Arizona.
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1863 - 1917 (~ 54 years)
[3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11] 