National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-02
THE INDIAN COUNTRY
LIFE AMONG THE RED MEN.


In the southwestern portion OF the Indian Terri
tory, looks varlIke enough to-day. Everybody
appears 70 be busfly busting and skirmishIng
about as though II were well that they make the
most Of physical life to-day sfor tomorrow ye al
must die" Everything appears as many OF our
Southern garrisons did in the sombre, gloWerinR
days Of the great fratrcidal STRIFE on the eve Of
sortie or an expectant attack. PlAtoons Of blue
coats Are marching and counteFmArching through
the spacious avenues which skirt the parade
grounds; orderlies are rushing hither and thIther
bearing instructions; squads ofFegulars ere col
leeted here and there, conversing with gesticu-
lated animation upon single topic which Is
evidently Interesting them into . fever excite
ment. .-z..r,- 49, .r-s.
From the doors and windows OF the long line Of
barracks are continually appearing and dissp-
pearing Individual heads and bodies, apparently
lost to All seltoontrol, and consequently bobbtpg
sR01t hks gyrsting rubber balls attaened 70 cord
In all directions, urged on by the blows and gruh
bowls Of grim-looking drivers. The great stone
he SaIe1on 9RSs 81 n1S PrSspe.v Deeairs ID
heavtly-laden wagons move away from its doors
and dozens Of empty, numbering ones back and
boxes, barrels, ropes, canvass, and any trappfngs
Of all conceivable kinds and quantities are tura-
bling, isiling, cavorting about Is though pos
same time endowed with o very meagre knoWl.
edge Of how to use It judiciOusly.
p181lfe COltelf1QR M
selves with series OF searching brays, while the
more vicious and stubborn Of the species are tele-
graphing their heels into the tanks and other
convenient portions Of their comrades, Who in re-
turn, distend their nostrils IN an effort 10 note
objections, horiEontalize their ears, and for thu
want OF something better to kick, plant their re-
always landing outside Of the traces in the at
tempt. Long lines Of cavalry horses, tied to
stretched rope after the military fashion, seem
to have caught the spirit OF the hour, and are
stamping, paving, neighing and switching their
rear appendsges with an energy quite Beyond
rious saTageS, encased In briIiiSntiy.coI solo ed
blankets, the variety Of whose hues put Joseph's
famous jacket completely in the shade, are
mumbIiDg and chewing their mongrel Language
ina tones both raspish and gruh. Even In
the ice-house, the great refrigerator prison,
the one hundred and sixty braves confined there
as prisoners Of war are gathered together In little
bands. growing and snarling In their Erotesque
the noise and hustle without, but on the brow Of
the plateau alone the old bleak guard-house
which, too, enters into the scene with marked
eagerness, Old Woman's Heart and Sore Ewes
have been aroused from q long siege of stoIid
musing by the excitementand hubb1b, and may
be seen clinging feebly to the iron bars Of the
dungeon window, staring curiOusly out, with
blurred and swollen eyes, upon the limited view
which the narrow eoudns affords them. 1t is, In
deed, busy, tumultuous place to-day, all of which
Is owing simply to the fact that tomorrow Gen.
Dayidson's command, comprising five companies
q infantry and cavalry once more sally forthIfOr
the present Indian trouble.
1t seems to have been the general impression
throughout the country that the Indian war Is
speaking, 1t is not BY any means tottering on It's
last legs. On the contrary, the dusky monster Is
month ago. THIS far all forces have merely
succeeded in eliminating from the barbaric
hordes only that portion Of them who entered the
strife with hesltancy and mtsgiVings. The
palms Of their dusky maWlers were itching for
Texan sealps and Texan plumber, but by long
season Of humane treatment and Governmental
they had learned to love Government
forage and blankets better than any other, and
finding that the two quantities could not by any
possibility mix they chose the latter and have at
divers times come skulking and sneaking back 70
their reservations, sometimes being trailed in
by the military, 81 other times voluntarily laying
down their arms and quietly submitting to i'm
friends who unearthed the Ratchet at the out
break. At least 2, 500 Of these bold, entraileat-
skIrmisning about in the rocky Businesses and
almost impenetrable strongholds of the Staked
Plains. Antelope Buttes and the treaeherous can
yons Of the Southwest are defiant and brimfuIl Of
light. 1t is true, that being confined to these
haunts and hiding places, they can Go no positive
harm, save now and then by eluding the military
protected settiemsnts Of the adjoining country,
and returning hurriedly to their dens la1ened
with plundcr and prey; but let the regulars for
time, even Of the shortest Duration relax the par
tIal grip they now have 81 these why and insfdu-
GUS creatures, and they will straightWay creep
forth from their beastlike LARS, spreading havoc
murder, and conformation through the upper
Of Texas and over the exposed regions Of
bordering States. -.-'-'l
General Augur, commanding the department
Of Texas, who is at present soourning here, after
having had CONSULTATION aad understanding
with the authorities in Washington, is evidently
convinced Of this fact, and is therefore taking
prompt measures to prosecute the war with the
utmost vigor and earnestness. He says that
nothing will be left undone which can by any
possibility hasten peace, and proper punish
wagtng war, as we'll as the thorough chaStise-
ment Of those who are in confinement in and
19s a. between Ss sas
the War Department respecting the punishment
and disposition Of all the tribes that have been
As yet the public has not been made acquainted
with the real intentions OF the Government in
this affair; still there is foreshadowing which
will be tried by coSrt-martial and hung or i'm
prisoned, as their respective cases may merit.
There will be general disseminating Of the sew
eral tribes and their ponies will be disposed Of at
public auction the proceeds Of which will be held
as Q common fund, which will lie used n buying
to enter the stock breeding and ockfaising bust
ness. There are about 40 900 Of these ponies taken
in the aggregate, and each one being valued at
twenty dollars It would establish q fund Of nearly
million OF dollars, which would be SUFFICIENT not
only to place them all in the cattle business on a
limited scale, but would also furnish them with
the necessary aCCOuILcmeulS Win WHICH 70 ply
their vocation successfully.
It's much easier, as the present war has clearly
to feed the Indians than to Eight
them and as an ounce Of prevention is better than
4 pound Of cure, It Is tar more judioious 70 take
away from them that resource, wherein lies vast
amount Of their power TO do eVil-their ponies
now, while they deserve and expect punishment,
than to leave them this element Of strength, which
they will ever be ready to WELD against the in
terests Of the Government when an opportunity
affords. A band Of dIsmounted Indians are as
harmless as q bevy OF church mice, and without
the assistance Of their ponies their days Of plum
der and raiding viii pass.
On the 10th instant about twelve hundred of
these ponies, which were captured on the trail,
will be sold at public auction on the military
srYation Of this post, and the proceeds viii be
used in procuring cattle and sheep, with the aid
Of which the barbaric rebels will be compelled TO
fellow the pursuits Of peace, and thus give .E3
country long needed rest from the depredations
and butcherfes Of these bloodthirsty, narrow
headed, lazy, beastboWel consuming, monotonous
humbugs. w. UPP.