Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-22
PACIFIC COAST.
General Crooks Opinion OF the his.
pos1tiou Of Apaehe Prfssnerx.

General Crooks Opinion OF the his
position OF Apache Prisoners.
Tucson, 4. T., June 2l.-Yesterday
representative of the Star called upof
General Crook at his room in Porter
hotel, for the purpose of learning add
tional points concerning his campaign
into Sonora, to those already Published
The General stated that he had not no
noticed newspaper report since his re
turn, inasrnuch as his time had baer
absorbed in official business, bat would
be willing to impars any information
within his knowledge in regard to the
march TO the Sierra Madres. He found
il tedious. rough an I very hard, and on
account of the pack train, had to nec-
essarlly move very slow-some days not
making more than six miles. As soou
| as they reached the Indian country they
| cached all their stores except three days
rati3ns. and then set out for business.
The scouts fell upon the camp una
wares, and made a complete surprise.
After the fight nine dead bucks were
found. The ruggedness of the location
of the fight made it unadvisable to hunt
for dead bodies, as one Indian behind
the rocks could kill a dozen hunting
them. After the fight many of the In
dams came in and sued for peace, and
begged that they and the others who
were out in the mountains should be
allowed to return to the San Carlos
Reservation. The General refused to
make any promises, but told them if
they wanted to fight he had
come down to give them a chance !;
that he had been over to Chihuahua
and made arrangements. and that 2C00
Mexican troops would inarch from that
direction into the mountains to prevent
their escape east. and that he had been
down 10 Hermosillo and arranged to
have the Sonora troops cooperate with
him from that side, and that 500 to 1000
would meet them if they tried to escape
In that direction, and their only hope
was TO surrender to him uncOndition-
ally or fight their way out. For three
days he held them in allegiance. Each
day they weakened more and more,
until ne found their spirit was broken
and they fairly begged to be allowed to
return to San Carlos. He replied that
they were asking great deal. He said
he had not the power to put them on
the reservation, but If they would
pledge their word to keep good faith
with the Government and the people,
and remain OH the reservation, be would
promise to do all in his power to get
them there and protect them from harm.
"You must remember" said Crook,
that have been lighting you for our
people, and If take you back and at
tempt to put you on the reservation the
Americans and Mexicans will make
hard fight against it, for you have been
numbering their people, stealing their
stock and burning their houses. You
have been acting in most cruel man.
ner, and the people will demand that
you be punished. You see." said the
General, you are asking me to fight my
own people in order 10 defend your
wrongs"
They answered. "Do then with Us as
you please. We are tired of fighting
and we want to be at peace with the
Americans. Tell US what we can do to
be allowed to return 20 San Carlos and
live in peace"
This was the point to which General
Crook had made up his mind to press
them. Then he commanded the chief
to go out and bring IN all their people
and take them to the reservation and he
should do all in his power to see the
people and get their permission to re-
turn on their reservation. Geronimo
and Matches with some Indians volun-
teered to go and bring IN the remainder
of the bands, but insisting on Crooks
until they returned, as they
were afraid to como in alone, and this
he refused to do as his rations were fast
Then they asked for
written passes so they could come direct
through the valleys to San Carlos,
which were also refused. as the General
thought that they might expose them
selves too much and they might be
killed as hostiles, and his passes found
on their bodies might complicate mat
.ers. They finally agreed to take their
chances in returning to the reservation,
and the General thinks that ere this
they are all in the vicinity of San Car
los.
Last night the squaws captured by
him would arrive in Arivapia, near the
line of San Carlos. When Geronimo
and Natchez return with the stragglers
they went after, there will not be a
single Apache left in Sonora except Juh
and his family and one buck. The re-
port that there are 150 bucks still in
the field is without the slightest foun-
dation in fact. Some four months ago
Juh and Geronimo had a quarrel, which
ended by Juh leaving the band, and he
has not been beard from since by any
of the chiefs. Some say that he is
dead; others that he has gone far be-
yond the Sierra Madres. One thing
is certain, he has but q single buck
with him. 1t is also true that after
Crooks fight all the chiefs came in
and spoke for all the warriors in the
field, and agreed for them to sur
render and come in. Not q single
Apache, says Crook, is on the warpath
today in Sonora, and he doubts il
there is even single living Apache in
the State of Sonora or Chihuahua.
Those that Geronimo's Apaohes went to
gather in would not exceed 100, of
which no more than half are bucks.
Crook says if these Indians are not
allowed on the reservation it will be
the most fatal mistake ever made. The
Indians will Law all the blame on him.
They believe that he ia all powerful and
that anything he asks to have done will
not be refused, notwiths. anding the
fact that he has promised them he could
only try and would do all in his power
to allow them to 60 to San Carlos. He
says IL the government forbids them
this privilege they will most certainly
return to the war path, allowing their
old bucks, children and squaws to remain
on the reservation, thus relieving them
selves of their only impediment. De-
oeived this time they will never again
surrender but make life's business of
raiding and numbering. He says il his
policy is not pursued in the matter he
will never again undertake to bring
these Apaches to terms, as any attempt
will prove futile, and, he continues,
the spirit of the Chiricahuas has been
crushed. They have been humbled
much more than any of the tribes put
on San Carlos ten years ago, and yet
not one of their tribes have broken out
or given any trouble. He says he will
stake his reputation that il these rene
gades are allowed to return to San Car
los and dealt strictly with not one Of
them could be induced to leave 1t under
any circumstances. In short, he says
he will stand for their good behavior.
Neither does he think that any of them
should be tried. for past offenses, for be
promised them so far as he was con-