, 1883-06-16
Gen. Howard Interviewed.

anxiety IN regard fo General Crook, nov
in Mexico after the Apaches, the follow
ing statement ni General o. o. Howard
will Re Of great interest
"In 1872 President Grant, at the re-
quest of Mr.. Delano. secretary Of the in-
terror. sent me to attempt 10 make peace
with rhese Indians, the only tribe then at
wHr with the United states- The Pnsi
dent gave me letters to the diYision and
Department. commanders, the latter being
Gen. Crook, and directad me to report
for specific instructions to the secretary cf
the interior These letters aud ins,ruc
tions are matters # record succ edvd
in carrying out the latter, hut never *
eeedsd them. Gen. Crock and IN, self
we're acting under orders then as nov
He is judicinus officer, and wish hun
abundant success"
DANGEROUS TRIP.
The general gave sketch of his trip at
tho time Of the treaty and said. with
half amile':
81 may have been too Jealous in obey
ing orders, but 1t Certainly was not
pleAsan, c,.mmIssion. never went IL. 20
hsttls With as many chances af death
s.,a,list m. as toak when with an and,
al interpreter and TWO Scnu's ! went iato
the lair Of Cochise, Tbs CRlricahaua
chief. ,n the hesrt # ,h, DsagoDn m"un-
taius. N, scouts found rhc trail ana
finally the hiding place Of the band, aid
va. told c"uld go IN. Iut only 18th
four or five men wi,h the. Irrde the
last LIS miles through the u,.St d,liculr
country, scarrcd with the deepest ald
n"sf precipitous canyons yuu ever saw.
the entrance to Cochi,e'. len could have
been defended wi:h ten men against an
army II MAS through uatroR Canyon,
xi;h walls 200 or 200 feet hi.h, aud of
sheer rock on both sides. spent the
night in the camp, and next ,ht Cnchise
saw ME. | made the treaty with HIM on
my second trip, upon which took back
p,osisions, etc. The Indians vent to the
reservation provided for them at Camp
Apache and were after sard moved, why
know not, further month TO San Carlos,
and eongregated with Indians with whom
they we're no. friendly C"chise died
and sfterward his eldest son died ais.
gusss the Indians kept faith AS long as We
did; they generally dn, ! take it.
simply did as l vas ordered | was
ordered To make the rrea'y, if possible
~ might have been ordered to take
battery-and did il The treaty ~as
deemed then very desirable thing-and
It Vas. Gen. Crook and were ON the
best of terms. II wrote me beautiful
letteI in acknowledgment of what | said
him IN my report cf the whole
thing He is AN able, brave, judicious
and faithful officer, and | do not wish
any controversy between us
THE PRESENT CAMPAIGN.
Have you any fears as to Gen. Crooks
safety at present.
"No. / think-as he would think Of
ma IS I u,. ~, hi, Hoo. ,ni n. IN NINA
that he will act judicicusly. | can't
tell rs to the probabilities of his success,
a don't know the number OF Indians
with whom he will have to contend. |
should net suppose hey numbered more
than couple of hundred, but, as ! raid,
am without information on the subj Ct.
The band is desperate. They have lost
all, OF nearly all, their women and chill
dren; and in my Judgment none will
ever be taken alive. The Apaches are
said 70 run away when attacked. so
they do; it is their method Of fighting,
but they ara the most dangerous antago-
nists in the world, 30 Ear as an ambu-h
Is concerned. You may ride rig,t
through their country ard never see h sd
n,r hand, 60 perfectly do th-y core al
md you can ride ri-It into
an ambush where You least expect it.
The 6rst indication yOn are likely :" have
n the ping Of rifle bullet"
How about Crooks scoutsl
The Apache scouts are excellent for
time. So long a. you keep them moving;
20 long a. you give them active work,
to interest and exei,e iheTn,
they are excellent. They cannot stand
however. and are very apt TO
&c: tired, want TO go back and, II perIhis-
sion to do 50 is refused, 10 desert and take
the back trail
What of the alleged Mexican complica-
tions7
"Of them you know As mnch as | do:
your sources of information are the SAME
u mine"
The country is very difieul, If access
and for travel, is it notl
"None could he more 81. IL Ii far
uorse th.n the lava beds of Northern
California and Southern Oregon.