The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-06
THE POOR INDIANS.

AN EYR-wITNEss-How INDIAN WARS ORIGIN
ATE-HoRRIBLE "REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR
WITH THE sAvAGEs-THE REFORMS NEEDED.
PHILADELPHIA, August 8, 1875.
In a controversy like the present. involving the
mismanagement-or worse-of the Indian Gem
mission the testimony OF an impartial and In
telligent observer becomes OF value, the more so
from the fact that the Indian country so remote
from our Eastern civilization that trustworthy in
formation regarding It is not so easily obtained, a
condition or affairs which has doubtless been
taken every advantage Of by the men who have
been guilty OF such gross frauds on the Indians
ana the general government Their distance from
the East has been the security OF the thieves OF
the Inoian Ring for a long WHILE and 1t is only
since railroads have made the Western wilds more
accessible that the testimony OF honest witnesses
has been obtained. One Of those who have an In
innate personal knowledge OF the great country
between the Missouri River and the Rocky
Mountains and Of the manner in which the
Indians are treated by the agents OF the govern
ment is Mr.. R. 7. Ackley, well known Walnut
street Merchant OF this city. He Is q gentleman
OF intelligence and observation, and, being man
of refinement and humanity, came back from a
residence OF nine years on the frontier Disguised
and indignant at the corruption and cruelty OF our
Indian policy. Mr.. Ackley left the west in 1868.
lie was several expeditions under the govern
ment against the Indians. He spent year and a
half in Arizona vita Kit Carson against this
Navajo Indians, ana has been more or less with
most Of the tribes frequenting the country from
Nebraska TO exico.
ONE CAUSE OF TROUBLE.
he does not consider, from what ne himself saw
as superintendent for great trading 1rm, that
the charges made against the Indian agents are
in the least exaggerated. In the first place, he
says, the whole system on which appointments to
these positions are made should be denounced.
Indian agencies should not be given TO men
fresh rom the East who have never before
seen An Indian III their lives, probably,
merely because they have certain amount
honest-and the chances are that they are not
encouragement and coH1usloH, II not fraud, Is
Even when they conscientiousy try TO do their
duty they cannot be expected to make out very
well with people OF whom they know nothing,
| whose habits and wants they are ignorant OF and
| whose language they do not understand, sur
rounded as they are by shrewd traders and con-
tractors who are anything but scrupulous In
their methods and who do not lind 1t difficult to
deceive both the government and the Indians:
rom among men who have spent years among
the Indians and who would not have to talk to
them through interpreters, there would be bet
ter understanding and better treatment OF the
Indians. These men might be rough IN their
manner, but with their knowledge OF the Indians
| ana tine love OF fair play which many OF them
nave then services would be valuable.
UNFULFILLED PROMISES.
Another mistake on the part or the govern
ment Mr.. Ackley thinks TO be this In making
treaties with the Indians Nor In other dealings
| With them on the part OF the government agents
| IL is the custom to promise to furnish them sup
Plies &C.. or TO carry out other pledges at q GER
ference, inefficiency or red tape causes delays,
and that the government is generally behind
time IN iulnlling these engagements, SO that 1t
often happens that when the Indians assemble at
certain time and place the government Is not
power to be withouI limit that he can command
the elements almost; and they regard these
failures 10 Keep pledges as intentional 1t L. no
could be avoided by merely explaining matters TO
the Indians They would be Just as Wen satisfied
! II 70 exact date was fixed In these matters.
HOW INDIAN WARS ORIGINATE
Many Of she alarming stories OF Indian out
breaks and muraerS originate from the cupdty
! OF INSCRIPTIONS white men, traders usually Mr..
Ackley says he has known instances wnere a
party Of mischIevous Indians have made q raid on
somebody's herd and sGampeded lew head OF
cattle. Perhaps somebody might be killed also in
then raise clamor about .'Indian atrocities. y
''horrlble outrages," &c, knowing very well thar
they were serving tAelr own Interests thereby;
order large command OF soldiers to the 'seat OF
war; 1t would be bringing business into their
hands.
In May. 1868, Mr.. Ackley accompanied the
dams In New Mexico with Kit Carson,
the soldiers being under the command
war ne has yet 10 learn. me Navajes were indus
trlous, peaceahle friendly to the whites, and were
/
OF the sol and the manufacturing OF blankets and
other WORK. There were ABOUT 300 to 1000
ton, and Mr.. Ackley draws a terrible picture OF
their cruelty. At first they took no prisoners and
killed the wounded, even massacreng tne women
and children In the most terrible manner.
| At Fort Defiance an old indian surrendered him
| self and was taken into the guardhouse. The
next morning he was found dead out the soldiers
who had killed him during the night were never
puMsned. on another occasion five Indians OF
| A.
son. came int Fort Defiance and and
o up and as aouna %
| dian OF powerful build. They were kept In the
guardhouse for two days and then were taken
outside the fort ana set ut work digging five holes
in the earth. When the holes, deep enough for
shallow graves, had been made, the prisoners
manding the guard to run for their lives. AS they
ran four OF them were shot down, killed aud
thrown into tAe graves they had dug for them
selves. The only one who escaped was the young
man. Later on In this exterminatinR warfare
and sent to a reservation. When they were cap
tured and brought into camp they were nearly
starved starved They were all allowed to eat the
! when they were given beef It was that
Of animals that had died Of disease or
the troops because OF the dlfllculty Of obtaining
! forage for the herds; but this was not sufficient
excuse, Mr.. Ackley thinks. for the cruel treat
meat OF Indian prisoners. Mnen any prisoners
| were taken SICK ana sent to the camp hospital
they were not allowed 80 get well. The surgeons
we're in the haOit OF experimenting on them ..for
the benefit OF science,D either with polsons or
some other similar way, as pleased them best.
INDIAN SUPPLIES.
! AS to the supplies furnished the Indians on the
! reservations, oar. Ackley could testify TO their
| wretched quality. He was aware or the most
| olsgracefu frauds In the contracts but preferred
not 10 do more than confirm generally the testt-
mony OF others on this point, being unwilling TO
mention names. In brief, all this gentleman's
statements go TO show that there is the most
CRIMINAL mismanagement on the part OF the In
| dian Bureau, ana that there is urgent, pressing
need Tor investigation and reform.
A DEAD WHALE At ROCKAWAY.