The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-06-07
THE APACHES.
Strange Conduct Of Government Officials in Pro-
tecting Indian Murderers-An Interesting Review
of the Indian Question by an ex.Agent.
Tombstone "a. IT, Daily Record Eptapbl
TOMBSTONE. A. T.. NAV %. 1ss5.

Tombstone "a. IT, Daily Record-Epitaph.l
TOMBSTONE, A. T., May 2s, 1855.
We are again In the midst Of a most serious In
dian difficulty, and the circumstances which have
led up to this state OF affairs OF specially ag
gravating nature The few comments may offer al
present are called out by the sentiment quoted in
your issue OF this date In which general massacre
OF the Indians upon the San Carlos Reservation is
suggested. To one as thoroughly acquainted with
the Apache nation as am It Is difficult to under
stand how such proposition could be advocated
by Just men, except under the most Intense excite.
ment.
No one believes in vigorous policy with the
Apaches more thoroughly than do. In this am
sure that my record In the Indian service Will bear
me out, for chains the dungeon, and the bullet
all resorted TO during my administration at San Car
los, but these measures were adopted for the pun.
ishnent of eyll-doers and the protection OF those
disposed 10 do well. The most probable results of
general attack upon the reservation will appear
more clearly as we proceed.
There are at present upwards Of 5000 Indians on
the san Carlos Reservation. nearly all OF whom have
been upon that reservation and at peace for moro
than ten years. while fully half their number have
not been on the warpath for upwards OF twenty
years. Since 1874 the Apaches have been at peace
with the exception OF those renegades who have
been led INTO the mountains from time 10 time by
victOro and Geronimo; and right here IL where
draw the line OF resp0nsbility nay more, OF crni.
nal stupidity and mismanagement.
Victorio II dead The history OF Geronimo / have
given TO the Territory twice In the last three years
Since 1876 he has been renegadeihe leader OF The
renegades-and Notwithstanding he has been twice
the prisoner OF the civil ana twice OF the military
authorities he has through the years since that date
left his trail of blood through Arizona, New Mexico
and sonora, and, though prisoner OF war" for
year past, he IL to-day rading the country at the
head OF a band OF nifty desperate men.
During lSIG-II the military and civil authorities
were eXertlDg themselves for the capture OF Geron
lmo. ON April 20, 1877, he was captnred at ojC
Caliente, New Mexico, by the San Carlos Indian
police, and with six other renegades placed In irons
The orders from Washington were 10 "h0ld him h
confinement for murder and robbery" lie wa,
carried in chains under guard Of Indian police al
the way from the ITO Grande to san Carlos, and
should never have been taken OH the renegade
unless for the purpose OF leading him the scaifo ID
There In nothing IN fact or reason that ustnes hi
release after all The trouble taken 10 capture him In
1911. and yet he was given his freedom on the San
Carlos Reservation some lime In August, 1871, and
at san carlos, who are To blame for the murders
committed by Geronimo since that time.
The Indian police captured Geronimo after a
march Of $3.50 miles into New Mexico; they escorted
him 10 san Carlos, and they guarded nm there until
those IN authority commanded them TO give him his
liberty. These iacts should eXOnerate the san
Carlos police from all censure as 10 Geronimos sub
sequent career.
Now follows a most extraordinary and, TO me- it-
explleable record In the treatment ofths renegade.
Az stated above he was given his liberty about
August, 1871. lie remained upon the reservation
four or I'VE months, ana then left for raid is
old trails After enjoying himself for about year
and half he surrendered 10 Capt Haskell at camp
John 4: thicker; lie was held prisoner OF war for
brief time, and then escorted San Carlos where,
after % brief Imprisonment, he was again turned
loose upon the reservation lie remained there until
OF citizens from Tombstone followed Ills trail al that
time from The south end Of The Dragons 10 the Son
ora line. Geronimo took up his abode n the Sierra
Madra Monntalns.were Gen. Crook called upon him,
l0ncally) About slN months after Crook returned
10 American HDil the renegade appeared at the line
with large band OF stolen STOCK. He was met by
squad OF troops under Lieut.. Davis u thnk) and
safely escorted 10 the reservation, where he has
manned uhtil recently "a prisoner Of war" The
United States customs oiiicias and all others were
prevented from disturbing the reneRades In the pos
session OF ther stolen hlock and the same sub
neguenily hOld al tue agency under the direction OF
the military.
II IL most remarkable that these desperate rene
Rades, aiier Deng held as "prlsOnefs ~ war" for
over year, should suddenly take the warpath again
better equipped lhan ever before, II - most re-
maIkabs, ana idr from credllable 10 the military
cheItalns VINO nave thus allowed their desperate
prisoners 20 SIP away from them almost without
thelr kn0wiedge. IN time OF war whai would be
done WIN Tue generals who would thusarn (or fail
20 hlHarnl ms " prisoners OF war and allow them
10 eseape2
believe the majority Of tue Indians al sau Carlos
are IN no way connected With or responsible for our
present ihqah troubles, and AZ iuny believe that
tue men, rn and military, who have thus repeatedly
gwen Geronimo and his followers lhelr liheriy,
knowing lhelf desperate character aud the murders
they had coinInliied are equally guly, are accom-
pllees before tie fact 10 all tue murders committed
by those savage renegadea WHO should have and
cOuld nave been shot or hung six years ago.
In conclusion, word upon the suggested attack
upon tue reservation: have no idea that such a
iDg would over be undertaken, because there il no