The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-15
TANNING THE APACHES.
What General Crook In Doing 20 Civiiize the
ScourRes or the Border.

What General Crook In Doing 20 Civiiize the
scourges or the Border.
The false and malignant statements con-
corning GeneraI Crook and the Apaches
circulated by the frontier press OF the
United States have been so frequently
given credence by our esteemed contem-
poraries OF the capital that we are glad OF
the opportunity TO give the Mexican pub
lie the truth about subject which Is OF
vital importance TO great portion
OF the country, says the Mexican FL
ndncier. The Apaches, including the
Chiricahuas. who have been the ter
ror Of chihuahua and Sonora for years,
are now peacefully gathered on the San
Carlos reservation IN Arizona, and. il the
same policy which is at present followed Is
allowed to prevail, no more trouble may be
expected from them. They are under the
charge OF General Crook, who has assumed
the responsibility OF their control. Under
standing Indian nature thoroughly. his
management is proving a great success.
He does not content himself with making
them work: he also assures them market
for the crops they raise by having the
quartermasler' department OF his CON-
mand pay cash for every pound OF hay,
every pound OF corn, barley, and charcoal,
and every cord Of wood which the Apaches
can deliver at the two posts, Fort
Apache and San Carlos. This season they
will raise and deliver not less than 2.000,-
900 pounds OF hay at one cent a pound,
1000, 900 pounds OF corn and barley at
three and four cents a pound, and several
cords OF wood at SC a cord. This will rep
resent total receipt OF many thousands
OF dollars and will encourage these Sayages
10 still greater eXertiOns next year. 1t Is
by similar means that the Navaios, tribe
equally rs wild, blOOdthirsty, and terrible
as the Apaches. have within few years
been transformed into pcaceable and self
sustaining pastoral Indians, being sources
OF production instead OF a burden upon
the country.
1t was formerly custom to buy the
supplies. now furnished directly to the
Apaches. from the contractors, who had
work done 10y the Indians, paying them in
FOODS. which game meant the most con-
temptible robbery OF the unwilling say
ages. At the San Carlos agency the trader
anu contractor il the SOn-in-law OF the
agent, whose money forms his capital in
trade. The plan adopted by General
Crook benefits the red man, but takes
something like $780, 0O annual profit out Of
the pockets OF the trader. who was to di-
vide with bis father-n-aw. For this rea-
son a most despicable warfare has been in
augurated against General Crook, but the
result has been absolutely nothing. Every
shaft that malice could forge has been
driven at his character and reputation, but
the more both are examined the brighter
and purer each will appear.
The attitude assumed by some OF the
Mexican people il, through their not COM
pretending the situation, grossly unjust.
They complain OF General Crook because
he will not put the ChiricahuaS to death
but he cannot punish them for acts COM
mitted under thrir code OF war; The Chiri-
cahuaS are manly Mexican Indians, and
they claim the Sierra Madre as their home
They have done great damage on both
sides OF the boundary, and the United
States fel. that it mad Just cause OF COM
plant because Of the depredations COM
mitted among its people. General Crooks
entry into Mexico under the treaty
with the United States resulted in with
drawing from this country IN element
which was threatening the very life OF So
nora and Chihuahua. He had to contend
against foe aS fierce as the tiger, noun
talnS as GuSgtu rs ANY Ill 4ncAlCO anu luc
United States, The Indifference OF his own
Government, the jealousy OF some officials
this side OF the line, the hostility OF the In
dian ring, more baleful in Arizona than
anywhere else, and the envy OF officials in
Washington. But. in spite OF all, he
brought the Chiricahuas upon the San
Carlos reservation; a large number
by force and the others according
to the promises made for them by
their leaders. 1t must be remembered
that. by the terms OF the cOnyen-
ton between the two countries, the United
States troops had to withdraw from Next
can soil at once after an engagement. Had
General Crook been able to remain in the
Sierra Madre one llOnth, he would have
brought back with him the last man, wo-
man. and child. Now he has all those peo-
pie at san Carlos under strict military sur
yellance. They have begun planting, have
sent detail OF their children to school in
the East, and, ii he Is allowed to pursue
his plans. they will, in the course OF year
or two, become permanently peaceable, in
dustrious, and self.sustaining.