The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-26
FIGHTING INDIANS
How the Apaches Make Their Raids and
Secure Practical Immunity.

How the Apaches Make Their Raids aud
Secure Practical Immunity.
The telegraphic dispatches about the
atrocities of the Apache Indians in
/ New Mexico and Arizona have been
conflicting as to the damage done 10
property and life. and as To the cir
cumStanees of the outbreak and con-
dition OF the military service engaged
in its suppression. Oliver Sumner
TeaI. the vice president of ranch and
cattle company. was seen by q reporter
Tuesday. and asked if the raids were
so dangerous aS had been reported.
The reports, he said, ..are ALWAYS
TO a great degree sensational hearsay.
The troubles arise either from the dis
satisfaction of the Indians with their
treatment on the reservation or, as in
this instance, from fear of punish
ment for some breach of regulations.
The result is an outbreak. the news of
which is usually first communicated by
the report of the massacre of some
poor fellow. Then the whole country
becomes alarmed, and the most sensa-
tional stories are sent to the papers.
In comparison with those endangered,
few lives are actually lost. because of
the Indians method OF warfare He
never takes any risks. At daybreak a
man is killed. He is shot down by am
bushed sayages as he comes from his
cabin door. He could not even see his
treacherous foe. As the day wears on
a white settler is found here and there.
and at night the Indians end up their
work seventy-tive miles away from the
starting point of their raid. This
stealthy, secret, but diabolical work
goes on day after day. till at last,
through arousing of public concern,
enough troops have gathered to sur
round the maraudiug braves, and drive
them back on their reservation or
across the line into Mexico.
I'm no other parts of the United
States, however, could an outbreak oc-
cur and so little real damage be DONE
The country is rolling and mountain
Gus, covered with gramma and buffalo
grasses, and habitable only here and
there in spots that resemble desert
oases. The country is not agricultural
Mining and cattle-raising are the chief
pursuits of the settlers. The govern
ment is responsible and must pay for
tiers are killed during an outbreak, and
frightful outrages are committed. The
suffering is fearful, and yet by our pc
culiar military and civil methods the
Indians escape. Their loss is usually
only three or four, and when they find
themselves surrounded they surrender.
To prevent the continuation of the raid
they are promised immunity from pun
ishment. They return TO their reser-
walton. They are most CONSIDERABLY
treated by the Indian agent, who feeds
them well, gives them new blankets,
new ponies, new guns, plenty of am
munition, and then at the slightest
provocation they break out again.
''Why don't the cavalry catch the
Indians?n
That is just the question all eastern
people ask, answered Mr. Teall,
land we rejoin, Why don't the
government send more troops?' The
question for the people of both sec
tions to ask and the one most import
ant to determine, one which has gone
unsettled since our birth as a nation, is
this: What is the best method of In
dian management? We need more busi-
ness principle and less sentiment. The
Indians have for years been subjected
to a dual authority. While on the
reservation they are under the control
of civil officers: as soon as they break
out the army is called into action.
They recognize the fact that their civil
masters are not masters at all, and that
they can indulge all their vicious pro-
pensities, and by the time there are
troops enough around they can play
penitent, surrender and receive pardon.
This is the history of raid after raid.
Our cavelry can not stop it for weeks,
and often months. The Indians equip
ment is of the simplest kind He wears
only logging and moccasins, and car
ries nothing but gun and his ammu-
milton. Each bras e will have from one
to three or four horses, and if he is
without food be can kill and eat the
poor horse he has ridden nearly to
death. In times of peace a cavalry
company is reduced in fighting force to
only about twenty or twenty-five men.
The horses have to carry besides their
riders heavy saddle, gun, revolver,
ammunition, blankets, and often two
or three days rations. No new mounts
are provided. Their guides are friend
Iy indians on loot, who can easily walk
down the horses. How, under these
circumstances, can you catch the In
dians' over rough mountains and
through a strange desert country?
1.-The reservation is miserably located
for Indian government. 1t is in south
eastern Arizona, about fifteen miles
north of Mexico. 1t contains about
5000, 600 acres, and is the home of
about five thousand Indians. All the
Indians on a raid need do is to scoot
across the country, killing and burn
ing, into Mexico, and they are perfect
ly safe. Our troops can not follow
them there. And all this fearful
scourge will continue so long as the
reservation remains so near the border
and our policy is so weak. .'-Neso York
Tribune.