The daily gazette., 1883-06-13
GEN. CROOKS VICTORY.
THE APAcHEs' CAMP CAP
TURED.
FOUR HUNDRED PRISONERS.
Much Piunder Recovered and Five MsxI-
can Women ResOued-Gen. Crooks Mod
est Demeanor.

TUCSON, ARIz., June IA courier ar
rived at Tombstone last night from General
Crooks headquarters at Silver Creek, Ari-
zona, bringing the first official information
OF Crooks expedition: 1t left American
soil on the Sd of May, marching 200 miles
Southeast from San Bernardino, on the
boundary line of Chihuahua and Sonora,
following trail of the hostiles. General
Crook was guided by an Apache named Ma.
laski, who was captured near San Carlos
Just previous to the starting of the expedi-
ton.
Leaving at point about 300 miles South
ofthe line the command crossed the Sierra
Madres range, advanced so miles over an
indeserthably rough trail, eight mules being
killed by falling over precipices, and pressed
on without delay. The men were rem
dered nearly barefooted by the sharp rocks.
THE INDIAN STRONGHOLD.
After fourteen days hard marching, day
and night, the Indian camps of Chato and
Bonito were discovered In the heart of the
Sierra Madres in an almost impregnable
position. The Apaches did not dream of an
attack, for entrance to the stronghold was
next to impossible and the warriors were
principally out on a raid under Juh, only 81
bucks being in camp with the women and
children.
The San Carlos scouts, under Captain
Crawford and Lieutenant Atwood and Mickv
Free, and chiefs of the scouts, surrounded
the camp before the hustiles were aware of
their proximity. They advanced from dit
ierent points.
PANIC IN THE CAMP.
The scouts secreted themselves behind the
rocks and commenced firing upon the camp,
anti A
ceeded in escaping, though nearly all sur
rendered. Seven were found dead In the
camp, and five Mexican women and little
girl were recaptured. They were taken from
Carmen and Chihuahua, and are now with
Crook in good health. Everything In the
camp was burned or carried off by the scouts.
Among the property captured were 100
ponies and mules, 40 being loaded with
plunder, saddles, girdles, clothes, gold and
silver watches and several thousand dollars
of gold and silver and greenbacks, showing
they had been very successful in their raids.
After the fight most of those who escaped
came in. Altogether 3S3 prisoners were
taken. The chiefs captured were Chato, Bo-
nito, Geronimo, Naches, Loco and Mana.
The two latter were long reported dead.
The chiefs say an ArHerican boy,6 years old,
who oaPtured month ago in New
Mexico, is with the squaws in the noun
tains. He is no doubt Charlie McComas.
Runners were sent out and he is expected in
hourly.
MARCHING BACK FROM MEXICO.
After the fight the command with
the prisoners marched leisurely back to
American soil, and the entire command,
with prisoners, are now encamped on Silver
Creek, about go miles south of Tombstone.
Not one of Crooks command was lost dur
ing the campaign.
The courier states that the reason General
Crook remains at Silver Creek is that he is
awaiting news from the Secretary of War
as to what disposition he shall make of the
Indians, as Mr.. Wilcox, the agent at San
Carlos, refused to receive them, and he
General Crook, will go back to the Sierra
Madres after the rest of the hostiles if they
do not come. In a conversation with the
courier, he stated that the hostiles had
plenty OF money. One old snuaw, who was
the possessor Of three bills, made inuuiry of
some one at Colonel Biddle's as to the value
of her possessions. Upon being informed
that the notes were worth S5 each, she
ernnted, decided not to negotiate and
pointed with her skinny finger to a nought
after the figure five on each note. Quite a
number of the bucks had silver stars and
other ornaments beaten out of Mexican dol
lars on their headgear, while several had
American double eagles made into neck
laces. A rough estimate of the wealth
among them is fully $1,000, and probably
more.
THE INDIANS QUITE CoNTENTED.
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 stu
alton, evidently expecting an immediate re-
ttIrf tn he AaVN arln nesn
only complaint was from some squaws whose
bucks were among those who made their
escape.
The officers of the expedition stated that
General Crook had surrounded the Indians
before they were aware OF his presence, and
that If he had not done SO it would have
taken six months and all the -. en- in Arizona
to have captured them. AS an illustration
of General Crooks modesty and the total
absence of fuss and feathers in his makeup,
it may be stated that, although the fight
and capture occurred on the 18th of last
month, he leisurely retraced his steps to
Camp Supply at Silver Creek, not sending
a courier ahead to signal his movements
The first intimation of Crooks return was
the arrival of lieutenant at Colonel Bid
dies headquarters at a. m, Sunday, with
dispatches from Camp Bowie, the nearest
telegraph station.
GENERAL CROOKS NoNCHALANCE.
Upon making inquiry concerning General
Crook, who was supposed to be 100 miles
distant in the Sierra Madres, imagine the
surprise that awaited the camp when in
formed that General Crook was only two
hours behind with the captured Apaches.
About 10 O'Clock the General rode into
camp with an escort and greeted Colonel
Biddle with "Nice morning, Colonel, !" and
straight-way struck out for wash-basin,
which he had spied, and was soon engaged
n performing his ablutions, after which he
threw himself into camp-stool and engaged
in conversation about his campaign In an
of-hand way as If hunting the fiercest and
most cruel foe on the continent, in the
widest and most inaccessible county to be
| found, was a matter of everyday occurrence.
1t is reported that the loss to the Indians
| in the fight was seven bucks. A lieutenant,
whose name is unknown, was the only per-
son wounded in General Crooks command,
and he was but slightly injured.