St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-07
STARVING THE INDIANS.
Threatened Outbreak of Apaches
Caused by Scarcity OF Food.
Red Skins SwindIed Outrageously by
Government Agents.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-Gen. Schofield
has forwarded to the war department dis
patch from Col. Bradley in which the latter
says the Mescalero ApacheS, in the vicinity
OF Southeastern New Mexico, are becoming
restless, because their supplies are
giving out. At present they have
nothing but beef and shors
rations. In communicating the above
dispatch TO Adjt. Gen. Drum, Gen. SchO-
field said that as there were as many In
dian difficulties as the troops We're able TO
handle. he thought that if the Indian bu-
reau could not furnish supplies TO these peO-
pie, the army had better feed them out of
their stores and charge the amount TO the
Indian bureau. Secretary Lamar consented
to this proposition and Gen. SehOheld was
directed to
ISSUE RATIONS
from the military stores at the post
where the trouble is threatened.
1--WE would have had our hands full, said
an officer holding prominent poSitiOn'here
in commenting to-day upon the contents of
the above dispatch, ''if the ApacheS in
Southwestern New Mexico had gone on the
war path. The Utes in Northwestern and
Northern Mexico, the AyaeheS in Arizona
and the Cbsyennes in the Indian territory
are all giving Us t-s1ble and they are
condition of the Indians he cannot blame
them for their action. They must do some
thing or starve to death. They have no
food and there is no game for them to kill.
The government is not half feeding them.
] understand that appropriations for the
Indians are less now than they were several
years ago and have it from no less author
ity than the general of the army that
THEY ARE CHEATED
out of portions of food purchased by these
appropriations to which they are entitled.
By collusiOn between dealers and agents
they get cattle weighing One-half or one
fourth what their contracts call for. OF
course when this isdOne their food gives
out before the end Of the year and they can
get nothing additional on the reservation
except snakes and Insects, which they do
eat"
Another army officer says that the amount
of food allowed Indians by the government
will not equal more than a fourth the
amount which is given to soldiers. In 1877,
during trouble with the CheyenneS, Gen.
Pope sent the following heretofore un-
published report to .he war department:
''As matters stand the military forces
are placed i'm false and very unsatisfactory
condition in relation TO these Indians. 1t
is inhuman to compel Indians to remain at
the agencies or reservations, slowly starv-
ing to death. If they do what
any animal would do under the cir
cumstances, leave the localities where
they are placed to procure food to prevent
themselves and their families from starving,
it is considered the duty of the army TO
pursue and force then back and compel
them to starve peaceably. In
other words the military forces are
required to cOmpd these Indians to
STARvE TO DEATH
quietly or be killed il they are not willing
TO do it 1t is impossible TO believe the
government of the United States intends
knowingly 10 be even tacitly party TO so
monStrOus a crime against humanity, and
consider il therefore duty both TO the gov
eminent and the military authorities 10 ac-
quaint the authorities with the facts, how
every unSavOry they may be. 1t will be
perceived that very large sum is necessary
used from the appropriation for these In
dian tribes to transport the supplies 10 their
and other remote agencies, and il is not i'm
proper for me again to invite attention TO
the numerous recommendations l have
made in the last twelve years that the In
dians confined to the reservations by treaty
stipulationS be brought i'm to points where
everything is cheap, and that the enormous
expenditure for transporting supplies 10
f,a.n will NOT no necessary