Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-06-25
FIGHTING INDIANS
uow the Aoaches Make Their Raids and
secure Practical Immunity.
The telenraphic dispatches about thl

The telenraphc dispatches about the
atrocities Of the Apache Indians in
Naw Mexico and Arizona have been
conflicting as to the damage done to
uronerty and life, and rs to the cir
cnmstanccs Of the outbreak and con-
dition of the military service engaged
in its suppression. Oliver Sumner
Toall, the vice president of ranch and
cattle company, was seen by reporter
Tuesday, and asked il tho raids were
90 dangerous MS had been reported.
..The reports he said, "are always
to treat degree sensational hearsay.
The troubles arise either from the dis
satisfaction of the Indians with their
treatment on the reservation N, 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
pogr fellow. Then the whole country
Incomes alarmed, and the most sensa-
t0nal 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
man is killed. lie is shot down by am
pushed sayaoes rs he comes from his
cabin door He could not even see his
treacherous Toe. AS the day wears on
q white settler is found here and there
and at night TIE Indians end up their
work seyenY-iirG miles away from the
starting point of their raid This
slealthy, 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 marauding braves and drive
them back on their reservation or
across the line into Mexico.
I'm no other parts oil 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 habitablc only here and
there in spots that resemble desert
GASES. The country is not agricultural
Mining and embarrassing are the chief
pursuits OF the settlers. The govern
meut is responsible and must pay for
all losses TO property But many set
tiers are killed during an outbreak, and
friratful 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 OF four, and when they find
themselves surrounded they surrender.
To prevent the continuation OF the raid
they are promised immunity from pun
ishmcnt. They return to their reser-
walton. They arc 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
IndiansP'
That is just the question all eastern
people ask, answered Mr.. Teall,
land we reioin, Why don't the
government send more troops?' The
question for the people Of both sec
lions to ask and the one most import
ant to determine, one when has gone
unsettled since our birth as a nation, is
this: What is the best method Of In
dian management? Weneed more busi-
ness principle and less sentiment. The
Indians have for years boon subjected
to q dual authority. While on the
reservation they are under the control
Of civil officers; as soon MS they break
out the army is called into action.
They recognize the fact that their civil
masters are not masters at al, and that
they can indulge all their vicious pro-
7ensities, and By the time there are
troops enough around they can play
ponitent, surrender and receive pardon.
This is the history Of raid aiterraid.
Our cayelry can not stop it for weeks,
and often months The Indians equip
ment is of the simplest kind. lie wears
only Logging and mOccasins, and car
rles nothing but a gun and his ammu-
milton. Each brave viii have from one
10 three or four horses, and if he is
without food he can kin and eat the
poor horse he has ridden nearly to
death. Ia times of peace cavalry
company IS reduced in lighting force to
only about twenty or twenty-five men.
me horses have to carry besides their
Eoers q heavy saddle, q gun, revolver,
ammunition, blankets and often two
or three days ratious. No new mounts
1le provided. Their guides are TREND
y Indians on foot, who can easily walk
down the horses. How, under these
circumstances, can you catch the In
Qians over rough mountains and
throngh q strange desert country?
The reservation is miserably located
Tor Indian government. 1t IS in south
eastern Arizona, about fifteen miles
north Of Mexico. 1t contains about
100000 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
" safe. Our troops can not follow
them there And all this fearful
seourge VIII continue So long as the
reservation remains so near the border
ana our policy is so weak. '-Acl0 York
1p5uHc.