The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-29
GENERAL CROOKS VICTORY
Meager DETAIL of the Late Fight
with the Apache Indians.
a Desperate Struggle in a Canyon of the
Sierra Madre, Three Hundred Miles
South of the Line.


battle with the Apaches is believed to have
occurred on the 18th or 18th inst. Crook
struck the trail of the hostiles at Tresoastil-
lof, where Colonel Garcia had fight the Goth
ult. The trail led in southeast direction.
through a country almost impossible. When
within two days march of the Rio Papago-
Chi, which heads in Chihuahua and flows
westerly through pass in the Sierra Madres,
emptying into the Sonora river, Crooks ad-
vance skirmish line was jumped by the hos
tiles. Five Apache scouts were killed at the
first fire, and the officer in command wound
ed The name of the officer is not given, but
is believed to be Captain Chaffee The scouts
then teil back upon the main column. After
accommodating a general advance was or
dered. The hostiles occupied both
sides of narrow canyon, and
awaited the coming of Crooks forces. The
fight commenced at 10 A. NJ, and lasted until
dark. The hostiles fought with great BRAY
cry, and one of the chiefs, believed to be
Loco, who left San Carlos a year ago last
March, is reported killed during the progress
OF the light Crook hanked with fifty scouts
the Indians on the east side of the canyon,
the side of tile mountain across the CANYON
and Joined the renegades behind the rocks on
the the other side of the canyon 1t was
during this momentary stampede the great
est number of the enemy were killed The
hoStlles, estimated at $50, with no women
and children, were believed to consist of
Juh's and Loco's bands with Indians from
Chlnuahua: The scene of the battle from
the best Information obtainable is believed
to be 300 miles south of the line about 200
miles from Oposura, the Mexican headuuar-
tiers Major Biddle, commanding at Guada-
loupe canyon Crooks base of supplies has
received no official news of the battle. All the
news received here has come through Next
can sources. The Mexican forces are dis
tI1Duted from the Sonora river to the foot
hills OF the Sierra Madre, as tits expected the
hostiles will break up into small bands and
RAD exposed settlements The line is guard
ed by triple Gordon of United States sold
iers and enlisted scouts for distance of $50
miles, 50 it will be extremely difficult for the
nostlles to escape and regain the security of
San Carlos.
After the battle the hostiies escaped in the
darkness. Crook took the trail in the morn
ing, ana probably before now has corraled
them with their women and children Game
IS scarce in the region of the Sierra Madres
Where the hostiles now are, and as soon as
their supply of horses and mules is exhausted
they will be compelled to either surrender or
break up into small bands and scatter
through the country. 1t is this latter action
that is feared both by the Mexican residents
OF Sonora and Chihuahua and the citizens
this side of the line
dispatch from Wilcox, A. T., SAYS:
From reliable sources we learn the follow
ing in regard to Crooks fight on the 18th:
He came on the hostiles near Guaycanap. in
the Sierra Madre Mountains, about eighty
miles southeast of Oposura The Indian
scouts were ordered forward, and opened
tlre on the hostiles, which was returned, and
1t was then found that the Indians were in
force, some five hundred leaving their in
trenchments and driving the scouts back
toward the main body, killing a number of
them. Crook at once ordered general ad-
vance, and, after fight lasting from early
morning until nearly nightfall, compelled
the hostiles to retreat The hostiles lost
about forty killed, and the scouts lost nearly
the same number. The Indians retreated
southwark from there, Crook being in hot
pursuit.
Some Mexicans who have lust arrived
from near the scene of the battle claim that
the Indian scouts refused to fight, and even
threatened to open fire on Crook and the
white soldiers if he persisted in hostilities
AGAINST the Indians, and that in consequence
crook was compelled to retreat from the bat
te-held. This is not credited here, as the
informant who brought the intelligence of
Crook's success is in every way response
Bile and trustworthy gentleman, and came
from the immediate vicinity of the fight He
reports only two wounded white soldiers,
neither fatally.
The Indian scouts always go singly and in
advance of the troops. The large number
with Crook would certainly cover three to
four miles of the country, and on the first
shot their custom is to fall back and gather
| closer together. This accounts for the re-
port that Crooks advance guard was driven
in. An Indian fight in the mountain is al
waysa surprise to one side or the other.
Casas Grandes is IT'S miles southwest of Dem
ing. No traders have come from there since
May G, and A. H. Thompson, drover with
several herders, who ought to have come in
ten days ago, is, tbs feared, mastered.
There are the best reasons for thinking
that Crook has underestimate the hostile
force, and parties who trade from this point
with the Sierra ranches place the number at
400.