St. Landry democrat., 1883-06-23

onimo, Nachez, Loco and Mana. The two
latter were long reported dead. The chiefs
say an American boy, six years old, cap
tured month ago in New Mexico, is with
the squaws in the mountains. He is, no
doubt, Charlie McComas.
Crooks Operations in the Sierras.
SAN FRANCISCO, June L..
The following dispatch from General
Crook was received at military headquar
tiers this afternoon:
"S1LvER CREEK, A. T., twelve miles
north of the boundary, via Tombstone
Left here May l, with 1913 Apache scouts
under Crawford. Got word Mackey was
with Chaffee's company of forty two men
and sixty cavalry with rations for two
months on mules. Followed the hostiles
into the Chiracahuas, a country OF consid-
cradle roughness. A number of mules lost
their footing in stepping from the trail,
falling down precipices, and were killed.
The stronghold of the Chiracahna is in the
very heart of the Sierra Madres, position
finely watered, with dense growth OF tim
Der and plenty of grass. They had been
camped near the head of the Bauispe, Oc-
cupying prominent elevated peaks afford
ing fine lookout for miles, rendering
surprise almost impossible, and making
their retreat secure through rough adjacent
scouts, early on the morning OF
May Is, surprised the village of
ChaIa, the chief who led the recent raid
into Arizona and New Mexico. The fight
lasted all day. The village was wiped
out. The damage done can not be esti-
mated. There were number of dead bodies,
but the indescribable roughness of the
country prevented count being made.
The entire camp, with stock and every.
thing belonging to it, was captured. 1t was
learned from prisoners taken that the Chlra-
cahuas were unanimous for peace, and had
reach San Carlos On the 18th they began to
surrender. They said their people were
much frightened by our sudden appear
ance in their Businesses, and had scattered
like quail. They asked me to remain until
they could gather all the bands together,
when they would go back to the reserva-
ton By the terms of the treaty my opera
tions were limited to the time Of the fight.
told the Chiracahuas to gather up their
women and children without delay. They
answered they could not get them to re-
spond to the signals, the fugitives fearing
they might be beset by our Apache scouts,
who would outrage them. They told us
lage jumped by our scouts. He had run Off
with the squaws who escaped, and who
had not yet been heard from. They assured
me every one of the band should come in
If would remain short time. The terms
of the treaty embarrassed me greatly, and
being in that rough region with rations
800 and 400 Chiracahuas to feed, | was
compelled to return with the Chira-
cahuas, We found six Mexican cap
tives, five women and one child,
taken in Chihuahua early in May.
They are now with the command.
These women say they were captured near
the Mexican Central Railroad at place
called Carmen. They further state that
when the Chiracahuas discovered the
Apache scouts were in the country they be-
came greatly alarmed and abandoned on
the trail the 300 head of cattle they were
driving away from points in Western
chihuahua. The cattle were afterward
picked up and driven Off by body OF Mex
leans. We marched back as rapidly as the
condition of the stock and the strength OF
the women and children would permit. We
found the country depopulated Tor DIS
lance Of 100 miles from the Apache strong-
hold. The Chiracahuas insist that they
have always lived in Sierra Madres; that
even when the main body went on the
reservation some remained behind in the
mountains. OF those who went out
there are number who state that they
have never been on q reservation. l have
strong hopes of being able to clear the
mountains OF the last. o. those now with
us are Laco and Mana, SO often reported
killed, and the families of other promlnent
chiefs. We saw no Mexican troops, and
east of Sonora did not see a Mexican other
than the captives rescued. / have such as
surances from the Indians that the white
boy will be brought back alive that am
looking for him every moment, and Will
Inform you by courier"