New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
SCENE OF THE DISASTER.

The following is part of a report made in 1878 by
Assistant Surgeons l. b. Girard and L. L. Loring u.
office:
Camp Apache situated the south bank of the East
FoTk OF White M Mountain RIyeT short distance above
tude $50 1V north; longitude 800 52' altitude.
the country, in the heart of which Camp Apache now
stands was only KNOWN as The home Of the Coy2tero
relations with the white and Mexican populations the
cded hostility. In order the nroads OF the saw
ages on the settlements sonth of the ella River military
which for several years was one of the links of
ton of the white settlers. That place proved to be
one of the mott maarial stations III Arizona. owing
the garrison to favorable locality Major John
snew, Of the let Cavalry then commanding officer of
aud ahording the best facilities for controlling hos
companies, and of his regiment, in May, 1870. A
few months later, Camp Goodwin totally broken up
fnantry "n HERETOFORE e ~ in cOme ehasse 2 Of
The new camp was designed at first as a Temporary
station but the experience OF the following years
armed force this region that during the sumer Of
SasG saoeese camp o cap RSs
Camp Thomas and finally the name of Camp Apache
The White Mountains. Sierra Blanca, on the south
western slope Of which the post is situated consist of
In height which constitute the elevated range
during great portion Of the year To the eastward thew
extend into New Mexico. and connect with other
ery direction by somewhat lower range known as the
Mogolon, which gradually in the so-caled Black
Mesa an extensive system OF volcanic plaeaus extend
ing to the Grand Canon OF the Colorado. The Black
Mesa terminates abruptly the south by long line
cliffs or bold escarpments.
These cliffs and the above described he
divide between the running into the Col
Orado Chquito and those flowing southwark into the
Giia. CHIEF among the latter is the Rio Salado
River. which, with its tributaries in the Sierra
blanca itself and their waters during the
course of past have deepened their
beds to cut profound canons into the Hanks
Df the mountains, and hollow out extern
sive valleys wherever underlying rocks
was favorable TO that process In of these valleys
and near the junction OF the forks he White
Mountain River stands Camp Apache, in fun of the
main submits OF the Sierra Blanca which loom high up
AZ the eastern horizon. dark during the
season aud snowy crests in winter North OF post
COLON range, beyond which stretches the broad plain Of
fhe Colorado Cmqdito; southwark rapid
descent OF nearly 1000 feet leads the ella River
miles distant Westward the valley of the White Noun
9ain River slopes by easy degrees down the Tonic
Basin, broken and hllly region between the Black
Mesa and the Rio SaladO.
The post itself is built basatc plateau OF seventy
the level OF the East Fork White Mountain RIVER
(which here hOws through narrow and abrupt canon.
Camp Apache is two hundred and thirty
from TuscOn, the capitol of the Territory aud about
equaly distant from Prescott the military
OF the department The roads u this place except the
one to New Mexico are but little better than trails
census taken in the winter of 1879 the
enumeration showing 1852 men, n and
children, to which must be added 100 men who
were absent, employed by the military department
OF the Government Iii the Territory scouts.