The Daily Tombstone. [volume] (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-07
(:em. Crooks Annual Report.

adler General Crook, commanding the
department of Arizona, in his annual
report describes at consideral length
the circumstances which attended the
outbreak OF the Chiricahus under Ger
onimo, Mangus and other chiefs last
spring, and declares substantially that
the want of harmony between the
agents of the interior department and
the military makes such outbreaks
possible. He says that upOn return
ing TO the department of Arizona in
1882, he found the Apaches huddled
about the agency where there was no
land to cultivate. The Indians COM
planned of this, and the agent, Mr.
Wilcox, acknowledged the Justice OF
the complaint, but said he was acting
in strict compliance with the orders
in keeping them there. He said how
ever, that if General Crook would take
the whole responsibility of their man
agement i'c (W ilrox) would make nc
objection to their removal 10 other To-
calities within the reservation. The
Chiricallus were then out and it was
agreed on all hands that il was best t.
a. IL LII Il
"This whole matter" writes Crook
"was fully understood before / started
for the Sierra Madre. Imagine my
surprise when | reached the border
on my return from the Seirre Madr,
with portion of the Chiricaeus as
captives, to learn that the agent had
telegraphed to Washington protesting
against their being brought on the res
ervation.' Soon afterwards General
Crook was ordered to Washington foI
consultation, and in his presence after
full discussions, a memorandum was
signed by the secretaries OF the wal
and interior departments. by which
police control of the reservation was
vested in the war department "The
scope OF this CONTROL he SAYS, "was
thoroughly discussed and was thor.
oughly understood, not only by my.
self but by other persons present, viz
The secretary OF war, the secretary OF
the interior and the commissioner oi
Indian affairs The idea that the au
thority which I had already exercised
on the reservation, simply as a matter
of necessity, was to be in any degree
limited, was never hIted at Or
the contrary, my duties and power.
were, by the agreement, expressly re
cognized and made of record, anc
were exercised and enforced without
any objection for nearly two
years. Upon this express understand
ing made myself responsible for the
peace and quiet of the Indians. Fol
more than two years there was not :
single depreciation committed by the
Apaches, the first time within tn.
memory OF white men that so long al
interval of peace had been enjoyed in
New Mexico and Arizona Az have
said before, mp to this time the interi
or department seemed only too willing
u have me manage the entire Indian
business, rendering me the most hearty
cooperation, and / certainly could
not conceive that with the added dad
ger OF the Chiricahus there would be
any less degree OF cooperation
Months afterwards, it appears, that or
the very day the above agreement was
entered into, the secretary of the inte
rior wrote Agent Wilcox, in term.
which must have convinced him tha
neither he nor the commissioner o
Indian affairs were in accord with my
views in reference to Indian manage
mcnt, and at the same time sayin,
that the agreement was a makeshif
to relieve them from responsibility ano
transfer it to my shoulders, also hint
ing that an expression OF views ad
verse to the settlement would be agree
able to the department. The resul
was inevitable, and on the 18th o
September find that Agent Wilco,
is complaining to the interior depart
ment, with reference to the agreement