The Russellville Democrat., 1881-09-15
Gen. Crook on Pedro.

Gen. Crook says the Apaches divided ip-
 to twenty or more bands, over one of which
 Pedro is chief They number over 2000
 in all. of which 500 are known as White
 Mountains, on account of their occupying
 that portion of the reservation. Crook
 took command in 1871, but the Govern
 ment restrained him from making cam
 paign against them until Q year later.
 When an attempt to subdue them was
 made they showed most desperate front
 and fought with great bravery until the
 following May. when they surrendered.
 The campaign was very hard one. The
 country in which they live is almost inac-
 cessibe. The lava beds of the Modocs are
 n.acadamized roads in comparison with
 the heights and crags where these hostile
 Apaches are at home. They are very brave. desperate and the most cunning Indians
 on the American continent. During the
 campaign against them he found it very
 difficult to track them at times for consider
 able distances, as band might travel fifty
 miles at places in mountains and never
 leave track or trace on hard lava form-a tion. The old reservation of the San Car los included the country of White Noun tains. Since Gen. Wilcox took command, the mountain part of the reservation was cut off, and an attempt made to get the In. dians inhabiting that part to go down to the lower lands. All went except Pedro's band. Subsequently the White Mountain Indians were allowed to go back, and have remained there since The White Noun tains abound iD game, also in the mescal plant, something like the aloe plant It grows very large, and frequently bears growth as large as barrel around it's stalk, and an ixside core. This core is frequently six inches in diameter, is white, and of about the consistency of sweet potatoes.
 When prepared by the Indians it is very eatable. Hundreds of acres of this mescal grow in these mountains, and squaw can gather enough in day to provide the fam ily's subsistence for an entire year. It is evident that the Indians can not be starved out. As to water, they seem to be able to get along without it. My troops frequently drove them to almost inaccessible heights, and the Apaches would camp four or five miles from water and seem to suffer no inconvenience. At the time of the cam paign Pedro was peaceable, and was at the head of only small band. He appeared to be very sensible Indian and man of pretty good character. If he has gone into this fight as leader O. hostiles, it may prove Q dangerous one, as he has more than ordi- nary Knowledge of the military tactics. He is full-blooded Apache, and probably &C., quired his name from the Jesuits, who number of years ago went among these Indians. The White Mountain Apaches have been hostile ever since the whites have had anything to do with them. The 13,000 or 14,000 who are living on the lower reser- vation are apparently peaceable by nature, but are so mixed up and intermarried with others that it is impossible to tell how much they may be aiding the latter. They have a code of smoke signals by which they can telegraph for hundred miles. They never make fighting stand unless they are sure of force and position. Among the 6,000 hostiles there are probably 200 to 300 warriors.