Arizona citizen., 1872-08-03

with them.
 The "Camp Grant massacre" whichwas so familiar to the public year ago by the visit and report of my predecessor, occurred aoout five miles from the military post.
 On the 24th I visited ithe grounds with scy eral Apaches. They showed us the bones of their dead, now exposed, the camp uten- sils, the clothing, and blankets strewn around, also the bundles of hay that the women were bringing in.
 The scene after the massacre can easily be depie:ed from this point, where Whit man went out to meet the Indians when they could not drink the coffee nor eat the | food he brought them for their crying. The Indians said the strong influence he gained over them was due to his going to them in their hour of sorrow and showing them his sympathy; to the fact that he always seemed neither to FEAR nor HATE them. and that an old man of influence believ ed in him, one who had died at the massacre, the one "who used to go out alone and talk with God all night
 The 25th of April I was again in the same vicinity, with Colonel Roger Jones and Major Crittenden, inspecting the coun- try with a view to find better post on the Arivipai river than the present one on the San Pedro.
 We came upon an Indian family at their | home; there were here men, women, and children. They brought little girl, eight or nine years of age, to me that had es- capped with her life, but was sadly wounded under her ear and in her side. They no longer encamp in very large numbers lest they be surprised again.
 There is a strong feeling in Arizona on the subject of this affair, and the people wonder that WE cannot see more clearly the provocations they labored under, that induced certain leading men to do this deed. I certainly DID LEARN the provocations, and do not forget them. Yet under no cir cumstances whatever can the civilized world justify deed like this, and l could not see the need of men attempting to do so pub lcly and in the press, when really oEly few wicked men were engaged ID It.
 Friday, April 26, Lieutenant Whitman having come. the Indians were ready for a talk. At the Agency building 1 heard them from 10 A. NJ. till nearly P. NJ. As this council is important as preliminary to the other. I will here insert the points made blythe Indians through Es-kim-in- zin their chief and place the body of the document in the appendix marked Il.
 First. They ask the return of those children that had been captured by the Americans, Mexicans, and Papagos, at what is called "The Camp Grant Mas sacrc." They say twenty nine were taken, and two escaped from their captors and found their way back, leaving twenty-seven still gone. They had made peace, and were being cared for by us some five miles from the post of Camp Grant
 Nv predecessor, Mir. Colyer, had, in the name of the President, promised the return of these children, but it had not beer done
 Second. They asked that Lleutenant Royal E. Whitman, Sd cavalry, be rcstor- ed to them as agent, and remain Wltn theiil; Lieutenant Whitman, Dr. Bendell, ana myself, endeavored to show them the ad- vantages of permanent civil agent. Whitman said there were thousand others who could do as much or more for them than he Still they pressed hard for him. Gratitude. affection, and superstition com- bined to render him the desirable advocate and friend.
 Third. They wished to change their reservation on account of the prevailing sickness along that portion of the San Pedro river, near Camp Grant, on account of its proximity to citizens who were an noyed by their presence, and to get where the supply of water was sure and the land | good for cultivation.
 Fourth. They reiterated an oft ex- pressed wish to enter into formal relations of peace with the Indians in the territory with whom they had been at war. They embraced all under the term Papagos."
 What they had complained of with re- gard to rations I had already remedled. I engaged to do what 1 could to bring back the children, but from the nature of their formal preliminary conditions saw that it would require time, so that ap- pointed another conference to be held m twenty five days, Con the Fist of May.) had already written Governor Safford, m answer to kind letter from him, accept Ing his hospitality, and asking him to aid me in procuring the return of the children who were still in Arizona. After this formal talk with the Indians, in addition to information that 1 obtained through MT. E. P. Smith, who staid night and day among the Indians atthe agency building, through Captain Wilkins on and others, l became convinced of their determination 1 to stay on the reservation and keep their engagements. Their chief speaker, Els | kim -in-zin, was disappointed and veXed that one who claimed so much authority as I, should not act on the spot, especially with regard to Whitman, yet l deemed 1t wise to make no promises then.
 We proceeded immediately to Tucson, where we were received in the kindest manner by the Governor, the District At tornev, the Surveyor General, and other ! citizens. l The Governor and District Attorney promised hearty CO operation in recovering | the children When we came to find them | in inc families of MeXicans who had pur- |