Daily globe., 1883-08-06
CROOKS CAMPAIGN.
orr IT'LL REPGRT OF THE APACHE
SURPRISE IN THE SIERRA
A4DEAS
The Conference With Chiricahua the
Statesman OF the Tribe, Relative TO Re-
turn to the San Carlos Reservation, and
QGen. Crooks RepIy-The Generals Views
of the Situation and Important Facts
Concerning Indian Character.

OAAO We@- 0O t1lSIIR.
After reciting the facts which led to the
pursuit Of the Indians and the support so
willingly offered by the Mexican officials,
he says: I'VE moved southeast down San
Bernarcino, the most northerly branch of
the Zalgen, the largest river in western
Mexico. For three days we did not see q
human being. The whole country had
been laid waste by the Apaches and much
land of value and formerly cultivated, had
grown up into jungle. We followed a
trail, which our guide Peaches assured
me had been made by the hostile Chiraca-
huas. On the 9th of May we passed by
the hamlet of Bavispe San Miguel
of Bovacco, whose inhabitants
welcomed us with exhuberant JOY. The
authorities of Bavispe offered to come to our
assistance with every man if needed, and
also offered the services of guides convers-
ant with the foot hills of the Sierra Madras.
These offers did not accept, for the want
of transportation and supplies, and not
believing that any guides could be equal
to those whom we had been following.
On the 18th of May the scouts discov-
cred camps and Indians, which were after
wards discovered to be those of Chato
and Bonito. In accordance with
my careful instructions, they
would have been surrounded
but for the fact that some scouts incau-
tiously fired upon buck and squaw. The
surprise was complete and in a subsequent
fight which lasted several hours the Indians
were thoroughly beaten, their camps and
their contents captured and five half
grown girls and young boys taken prison
ers. Nine dead Indians were found after
wards who had been killed in the fight.
The extremely rugged nature of the coun-
try and the camps being situated half way
up the face of a precipitous mountain
gashed with ravines and arroy oes
prevented any exact count being
made without extreme danger from the
Indians who might be wounded or hidden
in the rocks, and who could have killed at
their will without exposing themselves.
There was considerable property stolen
from the Americans and Mexicans found
In the camp, and about forty horses and
mules.
Early on the 18th, Chiricahua entered
my camp. He is not chief, but one of
the most prominent men of his tribe, and
noted for intelligence and bravery. He
| said the country to which he had pene-
trated was looked upon as impregnable.
That the Mexican troops had
never succeeded in getting into
it, but had always been met and driven
back with rocks as we'll rs bullets. AS
soon as they had passed the toot hills, they
explained, their sense of security was so
great that a great number of men were
then absent on raids in Sonora and Chi
huahua. He told me where the different
chiefs were raiding. 1t was also stated
that with Choto's band was small white
boy, CORES ponding so closely to Charles
| McComas that / have no doubt it is him.
He said in consequence of the at
| tack, the Chiracahuas had scattered
to the mountains like so many
quail, and that he would go back and
gather them together and return, but. said
he, ''You have Apache soldiers with YOU.
and my people will not respond to my
smoke signals, because they'll be sure your
scouts have made them" He went on to
say that the captive boy was alive and in
good spirits, but had gone off with the
squaws who had broken away from camp
upon discovering our scouts were closing
il upon them.
From that on, the Chiricahuas came in
rapidly from all points of the compass,
men, women and children and all the
chiefs surrendered and gave themselves
up. All the chiefs at last fairly begged
to be taken back to San Car
los. replied that they we're asking
great deal. That had no
power to put them on the reservation, and
that l could not close my eyes to the afro
cities of which they had been guilty.
Many of the Americans wanted their band
rooted out, and if 1 took them to San Car
los no doubt the cry would be raised for
their blood. They had not only to face
the Americans but the Mexicans also,
whose people they had murdered in so cruel
manner. They could not expect me to
fight their battles or palliate their villain
GUS conduct.
The chiefs then said, ''we give ourself
up, do with US as you please" They beg
ged me to remain where was for a few
days longer andI explained what scarcely
needed explanation, that the country was
fearfuily rough and they could not gather
up all their people at once, as they were
assent, the supply Of rations for the com
mand making such delay impossible. We
had by this time 384 Chiricahuas Indians
tAAlA Ola AhOAhCdn pLINSc W 4OCNl d1lO IL
was about as much as We, could do to get
back to our base without danger of star
vation.
Hieronymo then said if we would go
along slowly towards the boundary they
could send runners out to warn all those
who had not yet come in and they would
try and overtake Us at San Bernadino, or
If not successful in that would move along
the mountains until they reached San Car
los.
1 assented to their sending after the re-
mainder of their people still hiding in the
mountains, but refused to give them any
written passes, telling them if they could
not catch up with the troops they must
take their chances of being killed bv any
Mexicans or Americans they might en-
counter.
Let the Apache see he has something 20
gain by proper behavior and something to
lose by not falling in with the new order
of things. Vengeance is just as much to
be deprecated as a silly sentimentallsm.
To attempt to punish one or a dozen tribes
for deeds of which all were equally guilty
would be gross act of tyranny, while to
attempt to punish all, after they had Sur
rendered in good faith, would be not only
perfdious, but would involve Us in war
with small but desperate handful of