Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-06-04
The Troubles i'm Arizona.

There is now little DOUBT that Gero-
nimo's band in its flight from the res
ervation at Apache to the Sierra Madre,
has committed serious outrages. Some
ranches have been plundered by the
Indians, probably for the purpose of
getting food and fresh horses, and sew
eral settlers have been killed, perhaps
while seeking to defend their property.
Although much uncertainty still exists
as to the exact route taken by GerO-
nino, it's general direction seems to
have been eastward across the border
into New Mexico, whence, no doubt, it
will turn southwark into Sonora.
While little appears to have been
done as yet toward the recapture OF the
fugitives, there are more than troops
enough in Arizona and New Mexico to
protect the frontier, provided they can
be effectually used. Only about fifty
warriors escaped from the reservation,
and thus far no others seem to have
Joined them. AT the forts of Huachuca,
Lowell, A pache, Bowie, Thomas, Grant,
Verde, Mojave, and Mcdowell, and at
Whipple Barracks, in AriZon, are elev-
en- companies of the Fourth Cavalry,
Col. Royal; the twelve companies of
the Tenth Cavalry, Col. Grierson; and
nine companies of the First Infantry,
Col. Shafter. At the forts of Bayard,
Wingate, Stanton, Selden, and Union,
and at Santa Fe, in New Mexico, are
ten companies of the Sixth Cavalry.
Col. Carr; four companies of the Tenth
Infantry. Col. ClitZ; and the ten COM
panies of the Thirteenth, Col. Bradley.
1t is true that not all these are in those
portions of the two Territories which
Geronimo is likely either to traverse
f,r icif in, roilc
after making good his escape. The
greater part, however, are entirely
available if required. In addition, there
are many companies OF cavalry and in
fantry in northwestern Texas.
Thus there are within immediate call
many more troops than will be requir-
ed i'm searching for Geronimo, or in
watching against his return. The great
difficulty i'm successful pursuit is the
nature of the country and the lack of
good roads. 1t is a hard task To dis
cover the Indians line of march, even
when they are at little pains to conceal
it, and Information of their ravages
and of their suspected movements is
often transmitted so slowly as to make
it of little use. These Indians have
been accustomed to moving in small
bodies, and very rapidly. Having once
EeCuGeu d lIuC vi W tuC
aims, they can generally detect the APP
proach of large forces, while of small
er ones they have no fear.
Many years of hostilities with the
Apaches have shown that they far
surpass our troops in alertness. and in
skirmishes they usually infiict great
er loss than they receive. Eighteen
years ago, in his report for 1867, Gen.
Halleck said that "the only plan which
has given any valuable results is
sending secret expeditions into we'll
known Indian haInts." 1t was pre-
cisely this policy that gave Gen. Crook
his victory of two years ago. The
Chiricah aus at that time escaped from
Arizona into northern Mexico, and
after finding that it was impossible to
overtake them through the rough
canons, Gen. Crook stealthily made
bis way to their haunt in the Sierra
Madre and surprised the village of
Chatto, which he utterly destroyed.
The Indians at once applied for terms
of surrender, which were granted. Pos
sibly if Geronimo should not first be
overtaken, these tactics may be repeat
ed. Meanwhile it must be admitted
that his depredations have thus far
been less severe than those committed
two years ago.-N. Y. Sun.