s neighbors to the west. Bascoms men had marched directly into Apache Pass and had set camp near there about one mile from the stage station. I feel that it is important to point out that the Chokonen or Cochises people were well received by the people of this area; they were not enemies so to speak. Bascom reportedly waited impatiently for the arrival of Cochise who was probably awaiting word from his runners in the west (Sweeney 149). Then it is difficult to account for what happened next because of different accounts, but I will go with the most popular story. Apparently Cochise arrived with several members of his family, including his brother, two or three warriors believed to be his nephews, his wife and two of his children. This exemplified that Cochise may have gone to talk on a friendly basis to the soldiers. Cochise denied any involvement in the matter, and was even willing to help in retrieval of the boy, but Bascom was not convinced. Cochise and his people were to be detained until the boy was returned, a move by Bascom that prompted Cochise to escape immediately by slitting his way through the tent and running away. Men had surrounded the tent, by order of Bascom, and Cochise was shot twice before his escape. His family was not so fortunate, all were captured and at least one warrior was killed. Cochise vowed revenge. (Sweeney 151). On February 5, several days later, a mutual meeting ground for the two leaders was proposed and the two met under a white flag of truce. Cochise pleaded for the release of his family, but Bascom held firm saying that they would be freed just as soon as the boy was restored; again Cochise denied having the boy . Three civilians entered into the matter under protest of Bascom and they entered into a ravine and were seized. Cochise broke for cover and the Apaches opened fire on Bascoms unarmed party wounding two. Bascom estimated the strength of Cochise at five hundred, and fires and war cries could...
