Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-06-13
NEWS FROM CROOK.
Every One of Crooks Men Safe-Whal
Shall be Done With the
Prisoners.

IUCKS0N, A. L. June IL.
A courier arrived at Tombstone last night
from Crooks headquarters at Silver Creek,
Arizona, bringing the first official information
of Crooks expedition. 1t left American soil
the Sd of May, marching 200 miles southeast
from San Bernardino, on the boundary line
of Chihuahua and Sonora. following the trail
of the hostiles. Crook was guided by the
Apache Nedaski, who was captured near San
just previous to the departure of the expedi-
ton.
At a point about twenty miles south of the
line, the command crossed the Sierra Madre
range and advanced fifty miles over an indes-
cribably rough trail, eight mules being killed
by falling over precipices, and pressed on
without delay, rendered nearly barefoot by
the sharp rocks. After fourteen days of hard
marching night and day, the Indian camps OF
Chato and Conito were discovered in the
heart of the Sierra Madre in almost an in
pregnable position. The Apaches did not
dream of an attack, for the entrance to their
stronghold was next to impossible, and the
warriors were principally out on raid under
Jub, only thirty seven bucks being IN camp
with the women and children.
The San Carlos scouts were under Capt
Crawford and Lieuts. Atwood and Free. The
chiefs of the scouts surrounded the camp be-
fore the hOstiles were aware of their proXim-
ity advancing from different points. and
were near them before they were discovered
The scouts secreted themselves behind rocks
and commenced firing upon the camp, Great
ing a perfect panic. A number succeeded in
escaping, though nearly all surrendered
Seven were found dead in the camp. FIVE
Mexican women and a little girl were cap
tured. They were taken from Carmen and
Chihuahua and are now with Crook in good
health.
Everything in the camp was burned or car
ried off by the scouts. Among the property
captured were 100 ponies and mules, forty
being loaded with plunder, saddles, girdles,
gold, silver and greenbacks, showing that
they had been very successful in their raid.
After the fight most of those who escaped
came in. Altogether, 3S3 prisoners were
taken. The chiefs captured were Chato,
Bonito, Geronimo, Nachez, Loco, and Mona.
The latter two were long reported dead. The
chiefs say that an American boy six years
old, captured month ago in New Mexico, is
with the squaws in the mountains. He is no
doubt Charles McComas. Runners were sent
out and he is expected hourly. After the
fight, the command with the prisoners
marched leisurely back to American soil, and
the entire command with the prisoners is now
encamped on Silver Creek about sixty miles
command was lost during the campaign.
The Courier states that the reason why
Crook remains at Silver Creek is that he is
aw aiting news from the secretary of war as
to what disposition he shall make of the In
dians, as Mr.. Wilcox, the agent at San Car
los, refused TO receive them, and Crook will
go back to Sierra Madre after the rest of the
hostiles if they do not come.
In conversation with the courier, he stated
that the hostiles had plenty of money. Quite
number of the bucks had silver stars and
other ornaments. beaten out of Mexican dol
lars, on their headgear, while some had
American double eagles made in necklaces.
rough estimate of the wealth among them
is fully $1,000, and probably more. The
troops stated that the place where the capture
occurred is the prettiest spot on earth, and the
road leading to it rougher than mortal man
ever trod.
Large numbers of the hostiles seemed
pleased with the situation, evidently expect
ing an immediate return to the San Carlos
reservation. The only complaint was from
some squaws whose bucks were among those
who made their escape. The officers of the
expedition stated that Crook had surrounded
the Indians before they were aware of his
presence, and if he had not done SO it would
have taken six months and all the men in
Arizona to have captured them.