Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-06-06
A Raoy Wall from rhe Nil

BaDy Wall from the Military Version.
 Special to the CITIZEN.
 CAMP THOMAS, June 2-The following
 are the facts concerning the causes
 leading up to the present emeute of the
 ChIricahua-A -Apaches as obtained from
 acknowledged authority on Indian mat
 ters:
 IL msy seem peculiar theory to ad-
 vance, but Geronimo and his hsnd left
 Apache, not because they wanted d caI-
 nival of rapine aud murder, but we're
 forced out by gross mismanagement.
 There Is aId always has been bitter
 feeling between the Interior and War
 Departments. and the immense amount
 of patronage controlled by In
 dian Bureau enables them to have
 their own way in all controversies that
 arse. When Crook brought the Chr
 icahuas back from Mexico, he insisted
 that they should be placed on the sRme
 reservation, but be amenable to the
 msltary and draw rations directly
 through the army officers. Having en-
 tire control over them, he made them
 work to earn their own living, and ab- solutely no dissatisfaction existed for a nnmber of months, nor up to this time
 when the Interior Department knocked out the last prop by which the military had control of the Indians. Some two months ago the Military Department declined tO be responsible any longer for their actions us 1t was only matter of time when they would break out. This sta'e of affairs was brought about by the Indian Bureau doing all the trading with the Indians; furnishing supplies. etc. The military made the Indians farm, furnishing them seed and imple- ments, and agreed to buy their product of grain at two and a half cents per pound. The post trader paid the price stipulated, but charged nine cents per pound for four. Thres yards Of cotton drilling for one dollars worth of grain; three pounds Of sugar for dollar, and other articles in like proportions. The military asked that an opposition store might be opened to give the Indians a chance to live. After gong the rounds of the diff rent departments the request was complied with by Secretary Teller, SO far as creating two stores was con cerned; but be placed both under the of the same trader. A re- 1 quest was also made for permission to | allow a citizen to erect and maintain a | srist mill oD the reservation, under an l agreement to grind grain for the h. lians for stipulated amount of toll. | ! his was denied, because there was no | precedent for such a course. Blankets | which were furnished were never is- sued. and 1t is an actual fact that ma Iority of the Indians at Apache, last win ter, did not have even one blanket or | half dozen yards of the cheapest drill ing to the family; n fact, We're almos; naked during a very cold winter, al | though they had been thrifty snd raised | good crops. Tbe military were com pelled to keep them inside the | lines, SO they could not hunt aud procure buckskin for clothing. The military knew that should they | leave on the warpsth, much damage and | loss of life would follow; much time be and the Indians worn out be- | lore any soldiery can overcome them. An Indian travels loo miles day; gets 'ood roots, nuts, fish and animals ID ieserts where other human beings | would starve 10 death. In forced march es be can steal horses and change bis mount every day, while the troops have ] To follow on Iaded animals. This Indian var is directly attributable to the miser- sble policy of the government in msnag- ng the Indsns- It is absurd to claim hat the military should have punished l he Chiricahuss for past offenses when hey had them in their power. The h. iian Bureau would not allow a single 1, Indian tc oe killed, us each one was worth thousand dollars or more per