New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-30
THE APACHES.
ATALK WITH CHIEF SAN JUAN.
WHAT THE CHEZ OF THE MEscALERos WANTS
INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP OF LAND.

| SANTA FE, N. NJ, July 30-There are three
Apache reservations. That of the Mescalsros lies
| in the southern half of eastern New Mexico The
San Carlos Reservation. which is most familiar to
Eastern readers is abous 120 miles long by 80 miles
wide and occupies the central portion of eastern
Arizona. The Jcarila Reservation, by far the
smallest of the three, is in northern New Mexico.
San JUAN chief of the Mescalero Apaches. has been
in Santa Fe with several of his followers whose
tepecs have been pitched in the grounds devoted to
the Tertio-Mennial Celebration" The old chief
has wished to send q message regarding bis people
to the Government still vaguely personihed in the
Indian mind as "Washington." He represents q
tribe of Apaches for time at peace and anxious
according to his words support themselves some
thing which has been deemed impossible for an
Apache. On this account the words of San Juan
have peculiar value.
met him at the tent Of Major Fountain, who
headed the brilliant campaign against tine
"rusters" in Dona Ana County last sprag. when
% ont of 90 regularly organized desperadoes were
accounted for" San Juan does not resemble the
typical Apache. His face bears striking likeness
to the usual portraits and busts of Franklin. 1t is
broad and rather full with q wide forehead. and
his countenance expression that can be
safely termed benignant. On his breast hung a
huge silver medal bearing the profile of James A.
Judge Bristol and few Others with their families
were camping within the Mrscalero Reservation.
One day San Juan, an old friend of Major Fountain,
appeared at the camp with a band Of warriors,
NAMED with the party during their stay aud &C
their departure escorted them from the reservation.
Then he explained the reason. Victoria. the
famous renegade Apache chief, was then lurking
within or near the reservation. Indictments were
pending against him IN the courts and two or three
of Major Fountains party, including himself. had
been active in the prosecution. Victorio knowing
OF their presence had laid plot to massacre the
entire party, but San Juan had discovered the
scheme and frustrated it by his constant presence
with his guard of warriors. He was asked why hs
had not made the plot known at first, and replied
that he had not wished TO mar the pleasure of the
party. 1t was for thus saving the life Of Major
Fountain aud the Others that he received the
Garfield medal The major acted as interpreter
during my conversation with the chief. The latter,
seating himself at the door of the tent in corner
of the exposition grounds rolled aud lighted
cigarette. and in answer to my questions spoke
slowly but freely in low cultural accents frequently
illustrating his meaning by gestures. And this IS
what san Juan SAID:
WHAT SAN JUAN WANTS.
I'VE Apaches are badly talked about. People
say we have no God aud are bad. But we know
all about God. God is above and we have God
just like other people. Washington has given
place to live and we like it. We have al agent who
Is good to and treats us properly. But we are
not satisfied. We want own land-each to have
piece set apart so that he cau have a fence about
1t ami know that it is his, and cannot be taken
away. Now We have all our land together.
Washington has given it to and they say ii is
ours, but we don't know" Here San Juan LAID his
h.p nd lovn nd aenaratinO the fnoers showed how
he wished each strip of land separated. with It's
house.
lie continued: I'VE Apaches are not like trees.
You can't take us up and transplant us from
one place to another. We can't grow. Each
wants his own land. Our horses all gone but
we don't care. We want oxen. sheep and cows and
means Of planting the land. Then grow
corn, raise crops and be independent. We don't
want to be under Obligations TO any one for what
we get We could with our own laud raise crops
and make or buy our own clothing We want to
be- indspendcn: so that we can.come to Santa Fe or
90 to Washington on the railroad when will and
at our own expense. My son and other of our chill
dren are at school in Albuquerque. We Apaches
are glad of this and want others to do the same
We uuhappiy know nothing of these things but we
know their vaue. But it won't do 10 teach our
children only to read and write. They will come
back 10 the reservation and know moro than the
others but there will be use in it. They should
be taught also some useful trade. Up in our hills
are many mines OF gold silver and copper. We are
williug to have white men come 10 aud take up
claims, but think should have the same
right.
LANDS IN sEVHRALTY.
In our reservation there is very little farm
ing land but would like that little divided up.
There is much grazing land; We want that insured
10 us-cach also to have his land. Then we
will give up tho mineral lands provided We have
the same right as others to take up add work
CLAIMS When | became chief there was much
drunkenness. Thr Apaches assembled and drank
fsn,n and killed each other. But punished them
severely and stopped this. for | wish To make my
people better. Renegales, sometimes MeScaleros
or Cumanches, commit Expectations and come into |
the reservation. But Though others clam are |
The guilty ones Inlways take nv warriors and hunt
the rene gades down. These crimes are attributed |
to us bnt we do ali can TO stop them. We are |
good nelghbors and the white people living near us |
will say so. When suspect that any deprrdatioDs |
are TO be committed tell them and they tell If |
any one is coming to steal from the reservation.
"What want is This: We would like houses
furnished decontly. farming tools. wagons sheep |
and cattle If each had these things with land # |
his and seed t. plant II, We could gel along for
ourselves. We have now planted Our own land and
2 farm which we have planted on thirds We have
puughed the land ourselves and planted corn and
potatoes. There will be good crop but we are DIS
cOnrag60 Tor we uoll KNOW WIdl VIII DttDnc VI u,
since il is likely that we NAV be removed II we
ara moved 10 strange land our yOung men will be
discontinued. They will become fugitiyes and 90
upon the wsT-paih. IL would be better to pat us
in valley. surround Us with soldiers and Kill u.s. |
We think we get all the supplies the Government
allows us hut they are often Insufficient. and when
we are kept from hunting sometimes near |
starving Game is disappearing. White come
into our country and hunt but they complain
bitterly t. we leave the reservation j want my |
people to wear clean clothes and 10 own their land |
but now we can't do this Tor We don't know about
our land and have means 10 work it,"
1t will lie that San Juan's conversation pre-
sents most forclbly plea tor individual ownership
OF land and and to self-suppOrt. Major Fountain
tells me thai there about one hundred families
on the reservation, and that q thousand dollars
apiece would provide each with the means which
San Innn Indicates How much the Government