Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-23
CROOKS TASK.
Fears for the General and His Few
Soldiers.
WHAT EXPERIENCED OFFICERS SAY,
They Distrust the Friendly lndians-PhiI
Thompson Breaks the News of the
Davis Tragedy to His
Daughter.


Thompson Breaks the News of the
Davis Tragedy to His
Daughter.
WASHINGTON, May 22-There is no dis
guising the fact any longer that there is
reason for alarm about General Crook and
his party. Reports received show that he
had but fifty white men, 2UO Indian scouts
and fifty packers, whose business it is to
take care of the pack mules on which the
provisions are carried. That any man
should have deliberately marched into a
hostile and unknown country for the ex-
press purpose of Fighting, taking with him
only $50 fighting men, is astonishing to
even the experienced Indian fighters here.
For there are some men everywhere who
have had experience as
Indian Fighters.
The section of country into which Crook
went wsS entirely unEAown to him, though
he doubtless supplied himself with guides
and scouts who are familiar with it, 1t is
an immense section of country, however,
over which these hostile Indians roam at
will, and whose every mountain and can
yOn is known to them as we'll as one knows
the street on which he lives. How easy to
entrap HANDFUL of 25O men in some of
these and slaughter them.
Another UUtaYOrable feature is in the
personnel of his force. Old Indian fighters
here say frankly that he has too many In
dlanS and too few white men. Fifty white
men and 2C0 Indians is
Queer Combination.
III had been making up the force" said
an army officer, who has had long expert.
enCe in the West, Il should not have taken
us large proportion of Indians. The In
dianS, as q rule, are not good fighters.
They are good plundererS. They like to
burn and pilIage and attack defenseless
settlements, but for square out aud out
fight they are not as good, in my opinion,
as whites. | am a little surprised that
General Crook, with his excellent judg-
ment and experience, should have taken
so many Indians
Don't you think the situation rather
alarming, taking everything into consider
alton
Not especially 50. My principal fear is
that Crook may not be able to accomplish
all that he wanted to do in giving those
Terrific Drubbing.
| confess am q little afraid OF that"
Isn't there danger that it may turn out
another Custer disaster
NO | think not. Crook is an excellent
Indian lighter, man of good judgment,
and We all have confidence IN him as q sa-
gaCious and safe, yet fearless and ener-
getic commander. No, | don't think it
probable that he has followed Custer
But wasn't the same thing to be said
of Custer, regarding his qualities as a
lighter
NO. He was brave man, but lacked
Judgment. He had too much dash 1t
carried away his judgment. Those who
knew him expected that he would finally
meet with Just ABOUT the fate he did, and
when we heard of his awful experience we
were not much surprised, for we had felt
that II was merely question of time
when that would come. Now Crook is
rot that kind of q man. We recognize him
as i
Good Fighter.
and if his Indians do their whole duty and
don't communicate his movements and in
tentIOns 10 the hOstiles he may make a
wonderful success OF the campaign.
am a little afraid for the result, though,
for | don't like the composition OF his
command much
How soon DO you expect TO hear from
him
Il should not be surprised if lie remain
ed in that country for sixty days. 1t is
y
hostiles who know 1t thoroughly are very
hard to get at
Has he provisions tor any such length
Of time
We'll, he must be pretty well supplied.
The reports from down there show that he
took fifty packers Well, packer gen.
erally has charge of about six mules, which
would indicate that he has about 300 pack
mules CARRYING his provisions
1t seems that little is known by the De-
partment here about the real
Condition of Crooks Party,
his object or intentions in making this
trip. Did he simply start upon CAM
paign of this kind without orders, or with
out his plans to headquarters here!
Yes, it is not customary to do more
than he did An officer detailed in charge
of a military division is expected to exer-
else some discretion, and to go on with his
campaign about as he sees TIT.
How many are there OF the hOStl!es IN
the tribe that he is after
Il don't think there are over hundred
lighting men. have made some very
careful inquiries and estimates, and doubt
If there are quite so many as that. You see
a hundred Indians,
MurderOusIy Inclined,
can 10 great deal Of harm, and can create
the impression that they are q thousand.
The country where they raid is sparSely
settled, and a band of eight or ten can
startle whole country with few hours
work.
How is Crooks entry upon Mexico ter
ritory likely to he received by the authori'
ties there"
II don't think there will be any COM
plant about il. The recent convention be-
tween the two countries changed the situa-
ton materially. There used to be great
deal of complaint on that score. We used
TO keep scouting parties along the line TO
prevent hostile Indians from coming over,
and il sometimes happened that rs night
apprOacheS they would find II necessary TO
co across the line and on 10 Mexico soil 10
@et water. Well, whenever that was done
there was always complaint from the
Mexican Authorities.
Now, however, l think it will be diIter-
ent
II will be seen, reading between the lines
OF this hopeful tale, that even old Indian
fighters are alarmed for Crook. They evil
IDENTIFY distrusted the friendly Indian as
a fighter, and fear, too, that he may turn
traitor. and at least inform the enemy OF
the prospective movements OF their COM
mauGer. From this standpoint It looks
very much as though Crook had attempted
to do very smart thing on his own re:
V,
in serious trouble over it before the end
comes.
Phil Thompson.
Hon. Phil. Thompson, who shot ana
killed Walter Davis for debauching his
wife and who was acquitted, has been
here for several days. 1t transpired that
the object of the VISIT was to break the
news of his wife's disgrace TO his daughter
This he did Yesterday afternoon while out
riding with her. When the killing Of
Davis occurred Thompson telegraphed to
the Mother Superior OF the Visitation
Convent here, at which his daughter is, to
keep sli papers from her SO tne nTst ISL sue
heard of the matter was from the lips OF
her own father.
investigation.
W,suIxGroy, May 22.-The Investigation
in the affairs of the office of Supervising
Architect Hill will begin to morrow morn
ing. MIR. MurCh informed Assistant Secrets,