Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-07-20
SAVAGE INDIANS.
0h.nct.ristios Of the Blooathirst, Apache

Characterization Of the Bloodthirsty Apache.
An artist, no doubt, would object to
many Of the Apaches as understood, but
In all other respects they would satisfy
any requirement of anatomical criticism.
Their chests were broad. deep and full;
shoulders perfectly straight. limbs we'll
propOrtioned, straight and muscular.
without suggestion of undue heaviness.
Hands and feet are small and taper. but
wiry. Heads are well shaped. and their
countenances often lit UP with a pleas
ant good-natured expression, which
would be more constant. perhaps, were
II not for the savage. untamed cast inn
parted by the loose. disheveled. gypsy
locks of raven black, held away from
the face BY broad, flat band of scarlet
cloth. Their eyes are bright, clear and
bold. and. II little experience enables
one to Judge accurately. are frequently
expressive of the greatest good humor
and satisfaction. Uniforms are issued
to them, but donned upon ceremonious
occasions only. On the march each
wore loosely fitting shirt of red. white
or grey stuff, generally of calico in some
gaudy figure. but not unfrequently the
sOmber article of wooden raiment issued
to white soldiers. This came down out
side a pair of loose cotton drawers
reaching to the moccasins. The moe
casins are their most important article
of apparel. In fight or on long
march it is said that they will discarda all
else, but under any and every circum-
stance will retain the moccasin. The
leggin is made of soft buckskin and
reaches to midthigh, but for convenience
in marching is allowed to hang in folds
below the knee. The rawhide sole is
prolonged beyond the great toe of each
foot and turned upward in a shield to
protect from cactus and sharp stones.
A leather belt encircling the waist holds
forty rounds of metallic cartridges,
and also keeps in place the regulation
blue blouse and pantaloons, which are
worn upon the person only when the In
dian scout is anxious to ''paralyze" the
frontier town or military posts by a dis
play of all his finery. The other trap
pings of these savage auxiliaries are q
Springfield breech-loading rifle, army
pattern, a canteen full of water. a BUTCH
er knife, an awl in leather case, pair
If tweezers and tag. The awl is used
for sewing moccasins and work of that
kind. With the tweeezrs the Apache
young man carefully picks out each
and every hair appearing upon his
lace. The tag marks his place in the
tribe.
HOW TIE APACHE LIVES.
These Indian scouts will march thirty
Eve and forty miles in day on foot,
crossing wide stretches of waterless
plains upon which Il tropical sun beats
down with ficrceness, or climbing up the
faces of PERCEPTIONS mountains, which
stretch across thisregion in every direc.
ton. The two great points of superior
ity of the native or savage soldier over
the representative of civilized discipline
are his absolute knowledge of the coun-
try and his perfect ability to take care
of himself at all times and under all cir
cumstances. If the rays of the sun pom
down from the zenith or the scorching
sirocco blow from the south, the Apache
scout trudges along as unconcernedly rs
he was when the cold rain or snow of
winter chills his white comrades to the
marrow. He finds food-and pretty
good food, too-where the Caucasian
would starve. Knowing the habits of
wild animals from his earliest youth he
can catch wild turkeys, quail, rabbits,
doves, or field mice, and perhaps
prairie dog or two; which will supply
him with meat. For some reason he
cannot be induced to eat fish, and bacon,
for any product of the hog is eaten only
under duress; but the flesh Of a horse,
mule or jackass which has dropped ex-
hausted on the march and been left to
die by the trail is a delicious morsel
which the Apache epicurc seizes upon
whenever possible. The stunted oaks,
growing on the mountain TANKS, fur
nish acorns; the Spanish bayonet, fruit
that. when roasted in the ashes of a |
camp fire, looks and tastes something
like the banana. The whole territory
of Southern Arizona and Northern Mex
leo is covered with varieties of the cac-
tus. nearly all of which are called upon
for contributions of fruit or seed. The
broad leaves and stalks of the mescal |
Century plan) are roasted between hot
stones, and the product is rich in sac.
charine matter and extremely pleasant
to the taste. The wild potato and the
bulb Of the tule are found in many of |
the damp, mountain meadows, and the
nes. of the ground bee is raided remorse-
lessly for its little store of honey. These
are merely few of the resources of the
Apache scout, when separated from the
main command. When his moccasins
give out on a long march over the sharp
rocks of the mountains few hours rest
sees him equipped with new pair, his
OWL handiwork, and SO with other por-
lions Of his raiment
APACHE CHARACTERISTICS.
Brought up from childhood to the use
Of arms of some kind, at first the bow
and arrow, and later on the rifle, he is
perfectly at home with his weapons. and
knowing from past experience how i'm
portant they are for his preservation.
lakes much better care of them than
Ices the white soldier of the garrison.
He does not read the newspapers, but
he great book of nature is open to his
and has been drained of much
which his white brother
would be glad to acquire. Every track
n the trail, mark in the grass, scratch
N the bark of tree. explains itself to i.
he untutOred Apache. He can tell to :
n hour almost when the man or animal :