Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-06-09
THE Willy APACHES.
An Indian Fighter Tells What He
Knows About Them.
THEIR CURIOUS MODE or WARFARE.
General Crooks Plan Of Araying One
Band Against Another Considered a
Good Scheme by Those Who
Profess TO Know.

WASHINGTON, June S.-Lieutenant Col!
A. P. Morrow, OF the Sixth cavalry, who
has had considerable experience in fighting
the Apaches in New Mexico and Arizons,
to-day, in conversation with your CORES
pOndent, narrated some interesting facts
illustrating the mode of warfare pursued
by these hostiles that are now attracting
so much attention.
"The Apache" said Colonel Morrow, sis
the best skirmisher and wiliest foe on earth,
and operates in a country opposing the
greatest natural obstacles to organize
troops.
The Mountains
are almost inaccessible, except to an Indian
or goat; the plains are dried up, arid
deserts; water is very scarce and Of the
poorest quality, being confined chiefly to
rain water, collected in holes in the rocks
or small basins on the prairie. The In
dams retreating from an enemy can spoil
the water by simply killing an animal and
throwing the carcass into the tank or pool
In that torrid climate the body decomposes
the hair slups Off and the. water becomes
putrid and so offensive in a few hours that
even famished mules turn from it in dis
gust.
Fighting by Moonlight
My own command continued the Col
Onel, 'once went three days and three
nights on q trail over mountain and desert
without drop of water for man or beast,
because the Indians, who were only few
hours in advance, had polluted it. They
were Oyertaken the third night, perched
upon three high, tearfully rsugh peaks,
separated from each other by deep and rug.
ged canyons in the CsndelariO mountains
An attack had to be made at once in order
10 get water. The moon was full and very
bright, and the Indians, hidden behind
their rock bTeaStwOrkS high above US were
Invisible. They could see every one of us,
and
Put i'm Fatal shots
as We were toiing painfully mp to their
positions. They, Ot course. held their own
on the last peak until their families and
ponies were out and away over obscure
trails into the heart of the mountain to
some other water hole known only to them.
Before daylight they followed in hot haste
each man making his own trail. 1t takes
hours, sometimes the whole day, TO pick up
the trail for while each individual trail
may be going south, their families will
have swung around and moved TO the
north, their trail being skilfully covered by
the bucks. For this reason, in order not TO
be lead Off on a wild goose chase, it is neces-
sary to make an extended circuit to asCer-
tain the true direction. the command
meanwhile, except the trailers, lying perdy.
Indian Tactics
The willy chief takes advantage OF this
check 10 detach FIVE or six men to make a
diversion by attacking a rancho, mining
camp, ambush some prOspeCtor's outfit or
take in mail coach, and this, of course,
in a different direction from his proposed
field of operations. Five or six Indians
will create as much panic as 5OH because
nobody can say how many there may be in
The neighborhood. The object of the ruse
is accomplished. The excitement is so
great, the people raise such hue and cry
that YOUR command which is always
small) must 90 to the scene at once to allay
the popular excitement. II you send
detachment the people hurl anathemas at
you and
Curse the Troops
for not afordiug adequate protection.
The main body OF the hOstiies will thus
have several days rest before again caught
up with. Persistent pursuit, however,
will wear them out or exhaust their am
munitiou, and then they break up in lit
tie knots of two or three and sneak into
different reservations, where they bide
their time and reCuperate for another out
break 4 remnant OF the band, with the
women and children, will send q runner
into their Old reservation with q PROPOSE
ton to surreuder-unCOndltlo OF
course. They are always taken in, and re-
main good Indians until they have re-
plenished their stock of mmInitiOn.
Their arms and ponies except few
drought in as q blind are concealed in the
mountains ready for future use.
Hew 90 Fight the Redskins.
What mode Of warfare ought to be pur-
sued in fighting the Apaches?' Col. Nor
rOw was asked.
&c, neral Crook has adopted the only
course to insure success and reduce 10
minimum the danger OF 2 future OUtb ,eak.
He fights fire with fire by pitting one band
against another, or in some cases tight one
portion of the same band against the 9TH
er, taking only few troops to insure earn
est work. These scouts are enlisted IN the
United States service as soldiers for Pc
riod OF six months. They are faithful to
their allegiance and will fight their own
people when so ordered rs readily as they
would strangers. will give an instance OF
this. l was preparing to surprise camp,
the position of which had been located by
ny scouts when Squaw with a
Little Baby Strapped to Her Back.
Was captured. IltT NIOtANA " % 'AAN VI 1'AJ
scouts, anu he strongly urged me to Kill
her saying that she had been sent out to
reConnoitre. and tina; if she were not killed
She would give some signal to alarm the
camp and thereby prevent surprise.
Other scouts belonging 10 the same tribe
advised Likewise, and lost caste with them
for not complying. | have never heard oil
one deserting, or of their being mutinouS
or insubordinate, except in the one in
stance where their religion was assalIed by
the arrest and confinement of their medi.
cine man or high priest. never heard OF
= theft being committed by them while
acting as scouts. The officers IN charge OF
them Frequently loan them small sums oi
money which they religioUsIy return upon
the next pay day without having to I've re-
minded.
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