Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-04-21
A Military View.

FORT BowIE, A. T., April 18th, lSoS'
 EDITOR CIrIzRS:-I will take this oc- casion to remark that the CITIZEN has been rather flush with false statements fer several days, and 1t is astonishing to me that a leading paper of the Territory would give publication to every article coming within its range, whether II De false or true. see by the Star and CITIZEN, that the Chiricahua mountains have been and are yet infested with hos tile Indians, although there has not been and is not one about them Mike Gray's herder, killed and took the scalp of one, but when LieLt. Hunter called on him to show signs, the Indian or scalp, Mir. Mason refused to do either, and would not go until almost forced to do so. Mir. Mason failed to show any signs whatever, nor could he show his Indian, nor his scalp, yet. according to the papers, Mir. Mason has performed the wonderful act of kIlhng an Apache and taking his scalp. 1 only wish he had done so, but it is a fact to be lamented, that this heroic deed was all the work of his imagination. Frank Leslie had similar experience, but, unfortunately he too was suffering with alteration of mind, as not a slngle hos
 uIe Apache had been any where near him. It IS the sole ambition or the average frontlersman to have his name appear m print, as having mad bloody sIifray with al A Facae ID when the Apa- che lost his life and scalp, and Tn thls fact alone will be found the origin of al- most all the reports which have appear ed in the daily papers. IL Is well known fact that the mlDet, rustler or travelIng man, never sees the lurking Apache until 1t IS too late, and most generally, no one IS left Co tell the tale.
 It would be difficult to decide winch Is the more damaging to the Territory, the Apache or newspapers, but am inclined
 to believe that the latter would take the
 preference or rather lead, If far ln- yestigation were made. The simplest
 way to annihilate the hostile Apaches of
 Arlzoua, would be to blow up all the newspaper offices and If that were done to-day, don't believe there would be 8 single hostile left in the Territory. As
 soon as a small band makes an appear ance and the report IS well circulated, one can hear of Apaches all over the
 Territory, and numerous bloody and
 daring fights. Everybody at once leaves
 work and property, and strikes for a
 town or post, sO who Is the greater
 enemy to the Territory, the citizen or Apache? If you were sent after the Apaches, whose report would you believe in preference to all others? To follow
 up the report. you would simply visit all
 the ranches and find out that the report
 was in each case a mistake. If you pro ceed to the place where you think It
 most probable that you will either strike the Apache or their trail, the sll-knowing ranch man at once reports that the military have used every effort to avoid the
 Apaches. As soon as the report reaches the papers 1t becomes a fact. As soon
 as you call upon the ranchmsn for proof
 of his report, be swears that he never
 made any such report. And so it turns out in nine cases out of every ten. As
 soon as the next band appears, come up and go out with us that you may see for yourself what the troops have to contend with when in the field. It IS but natural that those who remain at home should know more than those who
 are in the field, yet some might profit a l little if they would only go out on one | trip. It Is very easy matter to follow
 an Indian trail, but come up and try 1t once for there IS a great deal of pleasure and certainty in 1t and no work what
 ever. It Is such an easy thing to do and | the trail Is 50 plain, as the Indians never | scatter, that you can travel at trOt, or | even faster, If you so desire, so come up
 next time and We will try it. Twill furnish you good horse, bridle and
 everything you can possibly wish and It l shall not cost you cent. Since one of
 the Duncan boys, in a mile race near
 Huachuca, proved more nimble of foot | than the flashing stride of six Apaches,
 there has not been a single hostile h
 the Territory. l beg pardon, one of | those Indians did keep up with Duncan | but he was killed, suppose that that | Apache rode a blOoded horse, at all | events he was very fast to keep up with | Duncan on foot for R mile.
 The CITIZEN has shown far more jus
 tice than either the Star or Tombstone | Epitaph or Republican, yet 1t has been sufficiently unjust for all practical pur- poses. If you will come up, you might | bring along Hughes and representative | from each of the Tombstone papers, for
 We will be glad to have you all go along
 with us. understand your papers ob- | iect, still you know 1t Is very provoking
 to read of all these Indian stories when you know they are nearly all vastly false.
 If any one m the army fails to do his
 duty, say give it to him red hot, but it
 is better to be certain about such mat
 ters, as every one IS liable to do wrong.
 1 have no sympathy or respect for any man who fails to do his duty, and 1
 should not hesitate for moment to ex-
 pose him. If man does his best no
 one can justly ask more of him. Don't
 think for moment that I am in tHe | least angry, for l am not. l have sim ply written this letter to show you the absurdity of the various reports which
 have appeared in the papers and the
 damage which they do to the Territory. x.