The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-24
CROOKS APACHE RAID.
The Story as Told to the Indian Agent by
the Captves and Scouts.

Tucson Letter in Chicago Inter Ocean.
1t is not to be wondered that the people of
Arizona and New Mexico have become thor
oughly disguised with the manner in which
the Indian affairs of the Territory have been
managed.
The frequent outbreaks and raids of the
Apaches and the seeming inability of the
government to keep these Indians under
control, mas had the effect of bringing the
military into contempt with the citizens.
The story of the old Apache chief who
went to an officer in command of one of the
posts in Arizona and asked that cannon be
given him, is often told to strangers travel
ing in Arizona, and illustrates the feeling
toward the military. The officer refused
him the cannon, saying
IL suppose you went that cannon to kill
my soldiers WITH"
The old chief replied: want cannon to
kill cowboys; kill soldiers with club"
Last winter several small bands of Apaches
travelled through portions of Arizona and
New Mexico, destroying life and property
wherever they went. After considerable de-
lay, and the Indians had had ample time to
get into their strongholds in the Sierra Madre
mountains in old Mexico, bodies of United
states troops were stationed at different
points along the Southern Pacific railroad
Large quantities of rations and ANN unition
were provided. The people were electrified
one morning by an Associated Press dispatch
stating that 1000 plugs of tobacco would
arrive at Wilcox the next day, and the bold
soldiers were ready to wipe out any Indians
who showed themselves near camp But the
Apaches, with their characteristic peFversity,
retired into the heart of the Mierra Madre
mountains and awaited further develop
ments. Then it was decided that General
Crook should pursue the hostiles, and, if
possible, bring them back to Arizona A
force was fitted out, and about half of this
force was composed of Apache scouts from
the ban Carlos reservation, who would be
valuable in trailing the hostiles to their
places of concealment. These scouts were
taken in direct opposition to the advice of
Agent Wilcox. of the San Carlos reservation,
whose experience with these Indians led
him to believe that they would not prove
Trustworthy.
For several weeks after General Crook
passed over the line into old Mexico nothin
was heard from him. but finally a rumor
reached Tombstone of a battle with the hos
tiles and of Crooks glorious victory. Then
came the victorious General at the head of
his command, and having with him as cap
lives few old and worn-out bucks and a
large number Of squaws and children. But
where were the warriors? General Crook
said they were coming, and would be in in
few days and bring with them the little
white boy, Charley McComas who had been
in captivity so long. The victorious General
was the hero of the hour. He came to Tue
son; and banquet was rendered him by the
prominent citizens of that city. Champagne
was opened freely, and a portion of the gay
banqueting party were hauled home toward
morning in a very limp condition.
The people are still waiting 10 hear from
the warriors who were to come in, the broth
ers OF little Charley McComas are still wait
ing to hear whether the little fellow be alive
or dead, and the captured women and chill
dren and the toothless old men are on the
San Carlos reservation, being fed at the gov
ernment's expense
A version of the Crock campaign, as told
by Agent P. P. Wilcox, the facts learned by
him from the captives now on the San Carlos
reservation under his charge and from the
scouts who accompanied General Crook, is as
follows:
After difficult march, over an almost i'm
passable mountainous country, General Crook
reached q point in the Sierre Madre noun
tains where there were evidences that the
hostiles were not far away. General Crook
camped here, and while making preparations
for an engagement with the hostiles discov-
cred that his Apache scouts had already been
in communication with them and had pro-
vided them with ammunition from their own
belIS. OclltTdl OTOOk tueD saw IDaL
it would be useless to attempt to cope with
these hostile Apaches, when his Indian
scouts, composing nearly half of his force
were in sympathy with the enemy, and he
showed excellent generalship in saving the
lives of himself and his men. He held a
consultation with the hostiles, and promised
them protection by the government and ex-
emption from punishment for their recent
murders if they would return to the San
Carlos reservation.
If General Crook had not made these terms
and Il battle had taken place, there is no
doubt but what his Indian scouts would
have turned against him, and he and the
remainder of his command would have been
massacred.
General Crook retired from bad position
accom- panied by about 400 women and
children and a few old men, the fighting
bucks having promised to follow him, which
they have failed to do thus far, but will
probably come in as soon as cold weather
comes on, and the game in the mountains
becomes scarce. Agent Wilcox says that the
Apaches who returned with General Crook
state that no battle occurred and that none
of their people were killed. The Mexican
women who were held in captivity by the
hostiles and were brought back,to Tucson by
General Crook also make this statement.
Agent Wilcox states that the Indians on the
San Carlos reservation have been quiet during
the past year and that none were of of their
reservation during the raids last winter, but
that since the arrival of the women and
children who accompanied General Crook
from Mexico, q spirit of discomfort has been
breeding among them, and he fears that I'M
less the A paches brought on the reservation
by General Crook are removed and kept apart
it will be impossible to control the San
Carlos Indians and an outbreak will be the
result.
THE WATCHER AT ELBERON