Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-05-18
GEN. CROOK.
me country He II In, and why
He IL Not Heard From.

me Country He II In, and why
He is Not Heard From.
Inc whole country is anxious with re-
gard to Gen. Crook, who left Ell Paso
some W weeks ago, with 1000 white
troops and 100 Indian scouts, in pursuit
Oh the Ch%iricahuas, who retreated before
him to their haunts in the mountains.
While nearly everybody is exercised about
the great Indian fighter and the men
under his command. presum;ng. because
no news has been had from them for .
long time, that they have been e%ntrapped
and have fallen a prey TO the hostilcs,
there are those who fancy that there is
nothing in the situation to create alarm.
Ihese express an assurance OF the safety
OF Gen. Crook, based on their knowledge
OF the character Of the man. He has had
great experience in fighting the Indians,
and is thoroughly familiar with their
habits and methods Of war. Though fear
less. he is cautious, and as cunning AZ
they are.. 1t is hardly credible that
he could be led by them into q
trap as easily as many persons seem to
think. Besides this, he ia we'll acquainted
with the country through which he 10
pressing the savage fiends and doubtless
had alrof his plans for pursuit matured
before he started out. Those who are
thus confident that Crook is in safety,
suggest also that his being at a distance
from all stations and points from which
he might send back intelligence II his
movements, does not at all signify that he
is in danger or that he has come to harm.
1t ia very well understood that the ideas Of
the War Department and OF Gen. Crook
differ very widely as to how . campaign
against the Indians should be conducted.
He believes no Indian is good but q dead
one, and when he goes after them his
mind is bent on determination, and he
never stops, unless ordered to do SO, until
the last one OF the treacherous creatures
is rendered harmless by being killed.
This disposition of his was shown very
clearly some years ago hen he
was after the Apaches in Arizona.
He slew not only men, but women
and children, with reference to
the future as well as the immediate secur-
ity Of the white settlers. He seemed to
think that any kind of Indian is like any
kind Of snake, and ought to be treated &C.
cordingly. Hence it is not improbable, in
fact it is very likely, that after be started
out OH his raid against the Chiracahuas he
deliberately cut himself off from all CON-
munication with the War Department, so
that he might complete the campaign &C.
eording to his own ideas without being
hampered by orders from Washington to
temper his acts with mercy. Moreover it
is quite likely that there is q tacit under
standing between him and the Mexican
officers, with whom he is acting in concert,
and who hate Indians as bad as he does,
that no news shall reach Washington Of
what is going on in this campaign until it
is ended. OF course this is all speculation.
but it is not at all improbable.
The country in which Gen. Crook is op-
Grating is one Of the most desolate and for
bidding regions ON the American continent,
in comparison with which the sagebrush
hills and valleys of Nevada would seem
like q garden. 1t is made up ~irregularly
of barren hills and sandy flats, on which
nothing grows that is not armed with a
thorn, and which does not seem TO say:
If you touch me, I'll stab You" There is
very little water any where, and to be
found only at long intervals, say from 30
to 100 miles apart, in little, scanty springs.
1t is certainly Q dangerous region for
white men to follow Indians into, but
Crook and his troops are not only used to
camp on the trail OF Indians in whatever
haunts they may take refuge in, but it
must not be forgotten that he has along
with him a hundred picked Indian scouts.
who are hostile to the Chiricahuas, and
can be depended upon in any emergency.