Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-01-18
CROOKS CROOKEDNESS
The True Inwardness of His Apache
Campaign.

MILL HALbl oHGEE6
Mines = Gods Own Country, i'm
which the Devil il to Pay.
A SENTINEL reporter enjoyed an inter-
view Of an hours length yesterday with
G.. Il. B.. Durand, who arrived here a few
days ago, on the subject of Gen. Crooks
much advertised campaign against the
Apache's last Summer; and, also, with re-
gard to mining in the Sierra Madre
Mountains of Sonora, Mexico. Both of
these matters are full of interest and
involve very important considerations.
With regard to the mines Of Sonora and
the conditions of working them, we believe
but little is known, and we suspect that
very little, also, is known about the "true
i~nwardness" of Crooks fighting with the
Indians of that region. Our acquaintance
with Mr.. Durand dates only from yester-
day, and we, for this reason alone, cannot
vouch for the story he tells US, but his re-
port is plain and earnest and entirely
plausible. We can think Of no motive
that be could have for misstating the facts
in regard to things in which he is without
personal interest. Mr.. Durand is a very
intelligent man, who possesses an extra
ordinary narrative power and a rare gift OF
conversation. He is a shrewd observer
and appreciates the Importance of events
that happen in his neighborhood. One
cannot listen to him without being con-
WINGED of the correctness Of his views and
the sincerity of his statements. He says
that for the last six years he has been
mining-sometimes in Southern Arizona
and sometimes in Sonora. He left that
region lately for a short time to come into
these parts on a prospecting trip, but
intending to return, as he has mining
interests in Sonora, whenever he thinks
he can do so with safety.
THE COUNTRY.
Mr.. Durand says that the southern por-
ton Of Arizona is dull, but not more so
than he finds Nevada to be. The mines
there are mostly in line formation and
easily worked. But little use is made of
powder and the expense of extracting ore
with pick and shovel is. so slight that
ffteen-dollar ore in many places can
be taken out with a profit. The
country has been overdone, and a good
many people who were induced to migrate
thither on account of the stories of fab
u~lously rich mines in the Tombstone and
Tucson districts, have gone out Disguised
because they did not realize their expecta-
tions of immediate fortune. The reaction
that resulted has put mining under a
cloud.
oNoBA
Mr.. Durand describes that portion Of
Sonora which is near the chihuahua line
and on which the Sierra Madre mountains
are, as Gods own country. He says the
climate is delightful all the year round.
/ Nafura haa 1ona aVnrytbInO h0ei1pa m
make the region charming and attractive.
The soil is rich and almost everything
grows lu%xuriantly and without much care.
III the driest season Of the year streams
trimming over with cold. clear, pure
water abound, along the borders of which
peach trees and watermelon patches,
wherever there is "a ranch, delight the eye
and produce luscious fruits. The scenery
is magnificent. He says: sIf 1 should
take you up on one of the SUBMITS of the
Sierra Madre. and give you a good glass to
look at the surrounding country with, it
would excite you. You wouldn't be able
hardly to talk about what you Jaw. That's
the way the scenery affected me-"
"As for mining, it is by all odds the
richest section I know anything about,
especially in copper ores, although I speak
mainly with reference to the silver mines.
l saw a specimen of ore that went 81, 900
in silver, and carried by actual assay 80
per cent of copper. You can travel about
in a thousand gulches and pick up float
rock, free milling. that will go from $50 to
$40 per ton"
THE DRAWBACK.
"If miners could work in Sonora as they
can in the United States you would not see
me here. The fact is, there you never can
feel that either your property or your life
is safe. Few prospectors can stand the
expense involved In securing a title from
the Mexican Government, and even then
you are subjected TO aunoyanoes, and,
strange as It may seem to you, who are
familiar With the s~acredness OF such q title
In this country, you are liable 10 lose 1t.
The way that you come nearest being safe
In your possession Is TO have q native
Mexican in with You as a Then,
ordinarily, you are secure as regards your
patent rights. There are a few instances
in which foreigners get along and make
bullion out of the Sonora mines hand over
fist. Near the place I mined there were
two young Americans who struck q mine
from which they have, with their own
hands, been taking out between $50, 600
and S40,0 0 per month for two years. But
they have baen very lucky In escaping the
Indians, who are likely to shoot them
through the head any day."
H APACHEs.
The true character and hsbits OF these
red devils are not understood. hear all
sorts Of things and read stories about
them in papers remote from that region,
which give no idea Of what they are. They
have a craving desire to kill, kill. kill.
Around the camp fires on the San Carlos
Reservation q young Indian begins to talk
and an old buck will tell him to shut up,
that he has never killed a white man.
Hence, you can see what o love they have
for the white mans scalp. They are rest
less unless they can slip over into the
mountains and surprise and murder white
men or Mexicans. The Apaches are fine
specimens OF physical manhood. They are
splendid horsemen, but, where in the
Sierra Madres they have TO abandon their
steeds. they cover, when pressed, from
seventy to seventy-hve miles a day on foot.
You should be in a safe place and watch
them travel. A party OF six warriors will
mt ona man in front aomn hftv wards and