SANTA ORUZ. 293 
the Apaches on the Gila, and thence go to the Mogo- 
llon Mountains, near the Copper Mines. After half an 
hour spent with the General, I rode a mile from the 
town, and there found my party encamped on the 
banks of the Santa Cruz River, where there was an 
abundance of grass. 
Near our camp we found Mr. Coons, an American, 
on his way to San Francisco, with 14,000 sheep. For 
the protection of this large flock, he had sixty persons, 
forty-five of whom were Americans, and fifteen Mexi- 
cans. He quieted our anxiety as to grass and water, 
having found an abundance of both on his route. 
There had been much rain, and the grass was in conse- 
quence in fine condition. He had met many Indians 
near the Guadalupe Pass, but would not allow them to 
enter his camp. When near Janos, a party of Apaches 
rushed among them during the day, and succeeded in 
running off fourteen mules and horses. Mr. Coons 
was entirely unprepared for the attack, particularly as 
the rascals approached him from the town where they 
had been. Before he could get a party mounted, the 
robbers had got a long start of them, which rendered 
pursuit in vain. This loss so disabled Mr. C., that he 
was compelled to return to the city of Chihuahua, pur- 
chase more animals, and strengthen his party ; which 
detained him six weeks. His party was now well 
armed, and he felt himself strong enough to cope with 
any roving band that might attempt to interrupt him. 
General Blanco with his staff, and several other 
officers from Tucson, escorted by a troop of lancers, 
called on me in the afternoon. These lancers were 
well dressed and equipped, and made a handsome 
