Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-06-03
a Sad Picture.


hua Indian agency, published in THT
CITIZEN of May 20, we added thereto
as a closing paragraph, but IN no way
affecting the strength and validity OF
the main charges, that after the com
mission of the late murders by the Ind
ians, and the return of the guilty ones
to the reservation, the Ex-Agent's at.
tention was called to their presence by
the commanding officer Of Camp
Bowie and upon the former being ask
ed by the latter if he did not wish or
intend to have the murderers arrested,
The then agent refused 10 take any &C
ton in the matter We were positively
informed by party on the ground at
the time that such was the case. We
the more readily believed it because
such action on the part of the army of
icer referred to would naturally be
dictated by every sentiment of duty,
decency and manhood. Here was a
military officer backed by two compa.
mics of United States Cavalry IN the i'm
mediate vicinity of a handful accord
ing to Jefiords) of savages reeking
with the blood of American citizens.
The civil agent was doing nothing
towards their apprehension. If Cap.
tam c. b. Mcclellan, of the Sixth
Cavalry and commanding two compa-
MES Of troops at Camp Bowie, in the
very midst of these Indians, had ever
been born for any purpose, and had
ever been hOnored and supported by
his government for any earthly end nj
was to act in just such an emergency
as this. But this captain in the army"
is now either a miserable liar, or on the
identical occasion referred to he show
Ell himself wretched failure and dis
grace to his profession. That he Is
here published as one or the other is /
not our fault or seeking, but his own.
Posted on bulletin board in Tucson
we have read IA letter addressed to
Thos. J. Jeffords, United States Indian
agent, dated Camp Bowie, May %, and
signed Curwin B. Mcclellan, Captain
Sixth Cavalry, Commanding Post, in
which the writer denies the truth of
the passing reference to himself in
connection with Jeffords. ia The CITI-
ZEN of May 20, as given in the com
mencement of this article, and says:
" The first knowledge | had of their
(the murderersD return was conveyed to
me officially by you never asked
you whether you intended to take
measures to have them arrested, nor
did you refuse 70 take any action in
the matter, bat to the contrary you re-
ported to me that yoI were at all times
ready to assist in making the arrest of
he murderers." Let us add to thisi
painful confession, that there was no
lctlnn whatever taken in the matter
md the Indians were not molested. :
4 Captain Mcclellan tells the truth. il q
nay relieve Jefrords to a slight extent
N one particular point in his history. q
mt where Toes it leave Mcclellan ?
tere was a great steel-clad warrior
lacked by two companies of men bred '
D arms. Here also. were ten or n a
oxen according to local accounts y
lurderers, and down in the western p
alleys were the fostering corpscs of "
lelr poor victims. Here too should Il
ave sprung spontaneous in every sol. II
ler's heart cry for instant vengeance. Il
We believe this combination of cir. u
took place just previous to II
knowledge that the CLiricahua Ind d
ms were 10 he removed TO San Carlos o.
he Indians had lately been pursued Z
y some forty United States Cavalry 10
nd had repulsed he latter. The troops th
al returned to Bowie: the murderers a.
kewise had returned to Bowie; the IN
tier were at last Of their own accord II
1t of their mountain Businesses and IN pu
c plain; according to local accounts
ey were small in numbers and IN co
mpathized with by the remaining pc
dlans on the reservation: the murder. da
were on the ground, they were bel
ming and going to the suffers store pc
Il resting easy with their blusbing Tn
horS thick upon them: they were Jal
tIlnS down again in the customary FIR
inner to a life of well earned ease ic
Il ration drawing bliss: the knowl fol
&c al their return was conveyed OF Oh
lally to the post commander by the ma
III agent of the Indians. (or else the rilI
st commander lles) And now mark Oh
H. citizens Of southern Arizona. this rad
stcommander had the honor" 10 CHI
down quietly in his camp chair and
u every Indictment Of moral obliga aid
N, the promplings of common man Fe
od and the spur of soldierly honor. are
does absolutely nothing. And when cat
t people see the drift Of things and col
rough public journal charge this of
"ss inaction to the account of the ma
uian agent this post commander
lldnily says the journal lies and ,l,a, 49,.
Is the corner stone on which rests =
Is criminal inaetion For under any :
ID all circumstances j; was criminal -.
ID we have the best Of reasons, by 10,
st experience. for believing that un- RI
$ the whole country had risen and Wi
I'll this thing SHOULD 20 no further