The Lost Adams - 5

After the departure of Gotch Ear, it was up to Adams, as the group's erstwhile leader, to arrange an efficient and fair division of labor and spoils. It was agreed that all the gold would be pooled and divided evenly, to prevent squabbles over the best panning territory, and he put the men lacking equipment to work constructing housing for the group, who would need shelter from the approaching winter. The year-round warmth of southern Arizona is an anomaly of the region as a whole, which can often as not, see cold, snowy winters - especially in the mountains.

Snow covers the cliff dwellings of Gila in New Mexico, NPS Photo.

The miners dug out a special spot in their communal cabin, under the largest hearthstone, to hide their increasing cache of gold nuggets. After a few days, when the cabin was well on its way to completion, a party of Apache came into the hidden valley to pay the newcomers a call. At its head was Chief Nana, a famous historical figure himself, accompanied by 30 warriors. As they rode in, the braves formed a line at the door of the cabin, holding this intimidating display until their chief broke the silence, asking Adams of the prospectors intentions.

Chief Nana and General Crook.

Despite being known by the Mexican word for Grandmother, Nana was a fierce warrior and chief of the Chihenne band of the Chiricahua Apache. His name in Apache was Kas-tziden, and Adams knew he was not to be crossed. He assured the Apache that the prospectors sought gold and nothing more. Kas-tziden informed them that the valley, called Sno-ta-hey, was Apache land, but that they were not interested in its gold. If the men would not venture past the waterfall, they could remain unmolested. He warned, however, that the valley beyond the falls was sacred ground, and trespassing would exact a heavy toll. His warning thus delivered, the chief rode away with his party, leaving Adams and the miners to their lucrative task.

Chief Nana - Kas-tziden.