Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-07-02
CROOKS WARDS.
What General Sehofield Says In Re
lation to the Dilemma.
Sanfrrancisco Morning Call.

SanfrranciscO Morning Cail
Major General Schofeld to alCall repor-
ter, yesterday, in relation to the disposi-
ton of General Crooks captive Chirica-
haus, that there was UNIVERSAL mis-
understanding of that and other impor-
tant matters of the campaign, both in the
minds of the general public and of the
several officials of the War and Interior
Departments. In the first place they
seem to imagine that the campaign is
concluded, whereas it is not. A number
of families, and some of the warriors,
with their white boy captive, Charley
McComas, are still secreted in the Sierra
Madre, and are to be brought back to
the main body with General Crook, at
his station at Prescott, A. IT,, where he
is expected to arrive to day. About ten
dnys ago he sent out party with NUM-
Der of Chiricahuas to try and find and
bring back the remainder of the tride
from their mountain retreat, and until
this is done the campaign will not be
over. The Indians surrendered them
first had been treated in manner init
mating that they would be held resposi-
bic for their acts, the others, instead of
following their example, would have
fought till the last was killed, The cap
tives have not been disarmed. and ap,ai,
toe party sent for the missing ,.tssrs;Js y
of the band, are some of the most ac-
countable offenders, the policy being to
instil the confidence in the Chiricahaus
that they will not be held responsible for
their deeds, for were such their belief
now, or after being placed on the reser-
walton, they would desert to the cliffs and
gorges, necessitating another night, to
end only in their determination. When
the remainder of the band are brought
in by the searching party, and General
Crook has made out his campaign report
for the War Department, which he can
not do until l--they. are, it will then be de-
cided what disposition there will be made
of the Chiricahuas, but not until then,
as the decision must follow the official re-
port, which may not be rendered for
some weeks yet. All the statements re-
ported concerning their disposition can
until that time be but pemature coniect-
upes. The best plan will be to leave the
Indians in charge of General Crook, as
he reomended, and not under the Interi-
or Department, as was reported, and
which report was redeived with not lit
tie displeasure by General Crook, as he
partly evidenced in his telegram concern
ing the matter. Secretary Teller is re-
ported in dispatch as having stated that
the Indians should not go upon the res
ervation, be cause there was not suff-
cient appropriation for their support, but
the War Department, he thought, which
had $27, 900 at its disposal for the sup
port of Indian prisoners should corral
and tame them, and moreover, that put
ting them upon a reservation would prac-
tically be turning them loose, becaus
they would only remain until next spring,
when they would go on the warpath a.
gain. He also said that he did not think
that there would be any disagreement
between himself and the secretary of war
as to the disposition of the Indians, and
when Crook understood the circumstan.
ces he would not ask to have them placed
ON the reservation. 1t is likely that the
matter will be arranged harmoniously,
but not when the circumstances shall be
under stood by Crook, but when the Sec.
taries shall Understand them as Crook
does. He has lived among the different
tribes until he knows almost every wa.
rior, and understands their every charac.
teristic, and his experiences entities his
never mistaken judgement to proper con.
sideration. His private letters to Major
General Schofeld before the campaign
began regarding his future actions and
those of the Chiricahuas, and the fl
nal result, are all proofs of this, as they
were prophetic in every particular OF
what afterward occurred AS regards
the appropriation for the Indians main
tenance on the reservation, the War De
partment will provide it. And as tC
their going on the warpath in the spring
General Crooks argument in his late dis
patches of having formally subjugated
G,O0O Apaches, who would now lend jeal
GUS assistante in guarding the handful o
Chiricahues, is sufficiently convincing
contradiction. General Schofeld also sta
ted that he doubted the report that tn,
Mexican authorities demanded the sur
render to them by Crook of the Indian
bucks because they were taken captiv,
on Mexican Soil. Indian Agent Wilco'
is reported as having said he believed tn
demand was Just and hoped it would b
complied with. If the demand was mad
it was unjust, for the reaon that b,
agreement with Mexico General Crook haa
authority to chase and fight the Indian
on Mexican soil, and as result TO tax
} and retain the prisoners Of the war, ant
their custody certainly shall remain wit
, the United States.