The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-27
THE BLOODY APACHEs.
Their Cruel Deeds Committed with Arms Sup.
piled by Our Great-Hearted Governments.

Their Cruel Deeds Committed with Arms Sup.
piled by Our Great Hearted Government.
Chicago Mail
Major Lewellyn, for number of years in
charge of the Indians of New Mexico, is in the
city. en- route from Washington to his home in
Las Cruces The Major is one of the best known
men in New Mexico and Arizona in connection
with Indian matters. Like Mark Twain, he has
''eat with them, slept with them had them
for breakfast, dinner and supper, and knows all
about them" In conversation with u reported
for the Mail, Major Llewellyn said ''Thers'
is. always has been, and, perhaps, al
ways will be-. lack OF appre-
citation in the East of the true state
of affairs in the far south western Territories.
Ever since the LIST of May last there has existed
genuine reign OF terror in New Mexico The
people are growing desperate, and unless meas
ures for their protection are taken fear there
will be serious trouble. / cannot blame them.
They are entitled to prorection. for it is theif
right yet they are at the mercy of the Apaches-
Since last May fully one hundred persons have
been killed by these Indians. The Indians 60
on the warpath in bands just small enough to
dodge around in the mountains and evade the
troops and just large enough 10 commit anY
depreciation they please"
What is General Crook doing?r
"Everythin in his power The United States
cavalry is an unwieldy body of troops for sue
cessful Indian fighting under present circum-
stances in Now Mexico and Arizona. 1t is noto-
rious that soldiers. mounted on heavy horses
loaded down with all kinds of equipments, and
often followed by wagon train. cannot capture
f1eet-footed Indians who know every trail and
spring of water, and who slip from mountain TO
mountain with speed positively marvellous.
Still, General Crook is doing everything he can
The proposition to have General Miles relieve
him of the command is understood by the peo-
pie of New Mexico. It's military political sig
nifcance is apparent to them, and they
will resent the change so far
as they can: There is no question OF
the ability of Miles as an Indian fighter but now.
when there is such pressure that the govern
ment must recognize the demands of its citizens,
it doesn't seem right to to have General Miles or
any one else step in and finish Crooks work and
get the credit The people of New Mexico may
be rough and rugged; they certainly have rugged
ideas of what is right"
"What measures of relief are contemplated2n
''The Governor of New Mexico is powerless.
He has already issued more military vouchers
than the law allows. Congressman Laird, of
Nebraska. will introduce memorial to Congress
with the purpose of calling out the New Mexico
militia. Next Monday Senator Van WICK will
introduce q bill in the Senate providing for the
disarmament of the Indians. under the
direction of the Secretary of the Interior.
The bill also prohibits the sale of arms and am
munition to the Indians of New Mexico, Arizona.
Utah, Montana, Dakota and the State of Colora-
do, either on or off of reservations. The penalty
is imprisonment for twenty years. To my mind,
of the present problem. Some of them own the
latest improved patterns of magazine rifles. but
many of them carry United States Springfield
muskets 1t would be interesting to know how
many citizens of New Mexico have been killed
with arms given to the Indians by the govern
ment The country is being rapidly settled in
certain localities, yet there is vast area which
for years win be devoted to ranches and whers
the Indians can roam st will. Counties
that in 1880 showed an assessed valu-
alton of about 100000 are now assessed
at So, 600. 900 in cattle alone. Interests of that
magnitude have right to ask for protection.
There have been no depredations east of the Rio
Grande since last spring. but there is great and
imminent danger in the western and southwest
ern portions of the Territory. Over at Silver
City it looks like war times. Everybody goes
heavily armed and travellers 60 in large bodies
in order to have some little degree of safety.
Yet Mr.. and Mrs. Yehter, of Missouri, were
killed within two miles of Silver City and almost
in sound of the bugle calls at Fort Baird. They
left Deming to 90 out to their ranch. They were
waylald and horribly mutilated. Their cut and
blood-stained underclothes were sent to the Sec
rotary of the Interior with the request that they
be given to the President as gift from the peo-
pie of New Mexico.