Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-06-26
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Life en- the Frontier.

General George A. Forsythe, who
il well known as ono Of the bo.dost
Indian fighters, was in the city Sun
day. says the Rochester Herald. In
answer to general question. Colonel
Forsythe said that New Mexico.
which has hitherto been considered n
hard country, is slowly but steadily
improving. Mining is the principal
industry aside from stock raising. and
the population of mining camps is
not composed of the quictcst and
most orderly persons in the world.
The Indians have not been trouble
some in that district since the out
break OF two years ago. At that time
they broke out Colonel Forsythc with
his regiment followed Tie bpllgcrent
rcd men lilo miles to the Rio Grandc.
killing nineteen on the march, which
was u running fight nearly all the
way. Then the Indians crossed into
Mexico end. were received with oren
arms by General Garcia, who slew
eighty.thrc cfthcm and captured the
rcst. There was another snail raid
last year, when sixteen bucks" came
out of the reservation and killed
four settlers. They were promptly
punished and quiet was restored The
Colonel says that thcse outbreaks. so
far rs the " hite River Apuches ire
concerned, are not the result of any
oppression or sharp practice on the
part OF the whites, but are inspired by
natural dcvilt.y. Thcy arc now on
the San Carlos reservation and are in.
c!ircd to be pcaccable, us they have
lost about l59 warriors within the last
two years, and there are only about
GOO left.
Colonel Forsythc will at once re-
turn TO Fort Bayard and will then
march with his regiment. the Fourth
cavalry, to Arizona, where he will re-
licyc the Sixth cavalry. He expects
to he stationed ut the latter territory
for the next five years. He regards
the Indians us gradually becoming
scttlcd, and is Of the opin-
ION that the troops, especially she in
fnniry. will Ge drawn from tho front
icr and concentrated near the large
cities. "lhe largest Indian tribe in
New Mckee," said tho Colonel. SIS
the Navajo. l'his tribe numbers 5000.
and can put $500 mounted braves on
the warpath. The Nuyajocs arc
peaceful, and devote Themselves to
raising stock. They own 30oO,oO0
sheep, 150,000 cattle and 10000
horses, and are Tie richest and most
prosperous Indians in the West. They
lead Il pastoral life, moving from place
TO place with their ilocks and herds,
and resemble the Arabs very much.
In regard to the proposed Invasion
of Indian Territory by Captain Payne
and hia followers, Colonel FolHythn
said: THE army officers don't like to
have anything TO Go with that matter.
as There is pretty certain to be Il CON
dict between the civil and military
authorities. Payne has already com
menced suits against officers who.
acting under orders from the interior
department, through the war depart
m"nt, arrested him and his followers
and expelled them from the territory
Ii the officers obey orders they get
into trouble, and il they don't they
are eensured by their snpcriors. 1t
il II case which calls for the exercise
Of Il great deal Of discretion. Payne
is sort Of II crank, but it is the opin-
ion ont there that he il backed up by
some of the railroad companies who
want to get control Of the land now
occupied by the Indians.