During the early years of the war, over-…

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During the early years of the war, over- land mail via the Mimbres was interrupted, but in 1863 a renewal of the contract for carrying the mails was let, the route being through Cook’s canyon to Mowry city. One of the first, if not the very first of the coaches which came through Cook’s canyon, was laden with brave determined men, armed to the teeth, not one of whom ever lived to reach the Mimbres. They died fighting desperately — fighting as they ex- pected to fight, and some miles this side of Fort Cummings, alongside of the road, is a slight mound or cairn, under which their bones repose. Brave men all of them, who have alas! since then had many victims sent to keep them com- pany. Mangas Colorado, chief of the Mimbres Apaches, led the hellish horde which extermi- nated this band of brave determined pioneers.