The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-05-13
CLUTE's FALsEHOODs.
His Aspersions on Captain Mad V
 Warmly Denied by that Ofhce1

JSSe~hNoyf ohN thC toPtoih "~S s.~~N ~~ hand by an EPITAPH man last evening and put through the interviewlng<pFocess regarding the assertions of Colon Clute in the Tucson Star. After little prelimin- ary skirmishing the interviewer asked what cause Clute had for making such a state- ment The Captain sad, in order that the situation would be thoroughly understood, he would give Q short account of his par ticipation in the recent campaign, and said:
 left Wilcox on the 25th of April, with the understanding that was to proceed as rapidly as possible, west of the Chirica- huas through Rucker to San Simon. Got into camp at Pinery creek, about thirty miles from W illcox in the evening. Ordered herds to be at picket line at three o'clock, so as to pull out at dawn, in order to reach point about ten miles southeast of Skeleton canyon. Suspected the hostiles would have to pass either through there or White Water canyon aud hoped to inter. cept them, Cloverdale being the objective point wished to strike at, not later than the evening of the 27th, and would succeed in doing 80 were not the false statements of Clue that he was attacked by 150 In- dIsns, received by Major Perry. The dispatch was taken Dy Mir. Scow, of Dos Cabezas. On receipt of Clutes Information, Perry telegraphed me to pro ceed at once to Ayers camp. Received the dispatch at ten o'clock at night. It woulG 3e sheer madness to move to Pinery canyon in the night time with force of 15O Indians there, but gave orders to com. mence to pack at 5 a. m., and proceeded to Ayers camp at daylight. Stopped at Riggs a short time, and A few moments at Prue's where left my pack train, and proceeded with my force up the canyon. At the mouth of the canyon found COW killed during the night. The hind quar. ters and tongue were taken, and from the indications there must have been four In dians there. A little further oH, at Down ing's old sawmill, found two Indians had ritied cabin, occupied by a man who watched the premises for Major Downing. This was the only evidence seen of In. disns, though my Indian scouts were in advance all the way up the canyon to Clute's house. On my arrival at the camp encountered Cute, the so-cslled colonel !; | he was in very excited condition, wanted | to embrace ne. and seemed filled with exubersnt joy at seeing me. l ques- tioned him about the Indians, the number of them seen around the camp, and what depredations they had committed. He replied that they were all around, that the woods was full of t"'em." l asked him how many of them he had seen personally, and he hesitatingly answered he had seen none, but 'the boys" had seen plenty of them around the camp, heard them talking and saw their guns | elistening. The absurdity of this state ment can be imagined when it is re- membered the night was pitch dark. asked him to point out man or two to me
 who had seen any Indans about his camp,
 and he failed to do SO. went and asked
 men myself, and questioned several oi
 them closely, but none could say that 2
 single Indian had been seen about Ayers
 camp The men at Sorgum Smiths camp
 had seen Indlans; so had Fife, the wound
 ed man. but the only reliable information
 was from two men whose names l neglect
 ed to take. One of them had seen six and
 the other four Indians. I refrained from
 questioning Fife in consequence of hii
 condition, but heard from others that he
 was attacked by nine. To the credit o
 the men at Clues camp, must say tha
 all were calm and collected, save him
 self. The first thing he said was, "I must
 break up my camp" He said none ol
 the men would stay with him. This
 afterwards learned was false, as ten men
 had volunteered to remain if he would
 pay them three dollars per day. Mir
 Kendell is my authority for thls Tha Cute had reason for breaking up hiI
 camp was manifest to all. II vas God
 send to him to have the excuseof Indians being in the country. It was common talk among those who ought to know tha
 he had no mine. cannot understand what his object was ia attacking me. heard he had written 8 scurrilous letter
 did everything possible for him. Througl
 his infamous lies and false reprepresenta- tions was divlrted from the main trail : when could have rendered some services In connection with this matter, Majo . Downing, of Downlngs saw mill, in tn,
 Chiricahuas, who with his family spent
 portion of night In my camp, and wht
 left his family at Riggs and accompanied
 me to Ayers camp, can be appealed to
 The Major is now in town, and can bea testimony as to my conduct on that occa
 sion. l mention Major Downing's nam,
 because he is well known as man O
 integrity and reputation in the communi
 ty. l am willing that the ofRcers ana
 men of my command be interviewed con cerning this matter. l would not notice l
 at all, only that strangers may be infOrmet
 of the facts in the case, who do not know the so-called Colonel" Clute or myself. have no hesitation in denouncing Clute a
 liar and a coward, beneath the notice O
 an honest, honorable man.
 Captain Madden was much affected while reciting portions of the above state ment. He said he had more interest 1T punishing Indians than any officer in Ari zons. Not much more than yea ago his son was killed by the savsges, an( he thought he would be given an oppor
 tunity during the present ourtbreak to hay, a little revenge. This opportunity would
 doubtless be within his reach were it no for tue insane reports sent broadcast by
 Clute concerning the whereabouts of Iu dians in the Chirachucas.
 Captain Madden has an honorable recors in the military service of his country. H'
 has been in the cavalry for thirty-tw' years, and graduated from the ranks, win
 ming his spurs during the civil war for gal, lant and meritorious conduct. This is tn,
 only time the Captains conduct as sol dier has been called in question and witt those who know him, it will require proo
 stronger than Col. Clute can produce, to con
 vince them that his conduct was un- soldierly.