Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-17
General Crook in Washington.

Letter to Philadelphia Times.
A tall, soldierly -looking, sandy-whisk-
cred man was ushered into the room of
the secretary of war this morning and
the latter quickly roso to his feet and
grasped heartily the hand of his visitor,
81 am glad to sec you, Gen, Crook,
said tho secretary, and the few spectators
of the meeting gazed intently Mt the cele-
brated Indian fighter. The General was
anxious to report the result of his cam
paign, however, and craved n private au-
dience with the head of the war depart
ment. This was promptly accorded him
and it was after midday before the con
ference ended. 1t being cabinet day,
Secretary Lincoln was due at the White
House about noon, but when he
walked from the war department to his
destination he was accompanied by Gen.
Crook. The latter was anxious to meet
the president, and after being presented
to Secretary Chandler and Postmaster
General Gresham in the ante-room, he
remained until the president came in
from his cottage at the soldiers home.
Gen. Crook went into the cabinet room,
and his story must have proved interest
ing, as all formalities were dispensed with
and it was announced that the cabinet
meeting had been postponed till next
week. Indian hunting and fishing were
then freely discussed, the president TAX
ing an active part in the dialogue.
Gen. Crook created n sensation wher-
ever he appeared to-day, and his quar-
ters at the hotel has been beseiged with
visitors, who wanted just to get n sight
of him. He is about six feet high,
weighs in the neighborhood of 175 pounds
and his hair, which is inclined to be san
dy, is tinged with gray. He is probably
30 years of age, and his appearance is en-
HANGED by the brown mustache and
sharp-pointed beard. In conversation
with ex-Gov, Fletcher, of Missouri, who
met Gen. Crook several years ago while
the former was acting rs an Indian com
missioner, it was stated that the General
knew everything necessary forthe proper
treatment of the Indians. "While rest.
ing on a blanket with Gen. Crook in
Arizona" said Governor Fletcher,
she gave mi more information
lin one night concerning the people
ne had recently %subjugated than could be
obtained from frontiersmen in n month"
He had shown a thorough knowledge of
the savages and the speaker was not sur
prised that his campaign had been
crowned with success. 1t was impossible
for him to be misled by any actions of
the Indians, and they feared and respect
ed him more than any other officer on the
frontier. Seven years ago he had tanned
a tribe Of Apaches by his r~esolute bear
ing and kindly solicitude for their well
fare and had actually succee ,ed in in
sitting n love for farming in them.
Whatever advice he would give in the
present difficulty would be the result of
attention to his charges and Il practical
knowledge of their wants.
"The true and practical way of deal
ing with the savage Tribes said the
governor, ''is to plant them east of the
Mississippi and in the very middle of
civilization, instead of fencing them off
from it, as is now done. 1t would be
cheaper to feed and clothe them in the
east, cost of lands, etc, included. The
expense of II Indian policy is immense.
We have to pay double for everything on
the frontier, with the army to maintain
additionally. Such practical men as
Gen. Crook agree with me in this.