The Daily Tombstone., 1886-01-06
A Talk With the Poet Scout.

Captain "Jaek" Crawford, ex-Chief of the Government scouts, who served under Generals Clusters, Buell., Mer- ritt and Crook in their campaigns against the Apaches, Sioux and Co manches, and who perhaps knows more of the Indian and his traits than any other white man of his age, is stopping for short time in this city.
 Captain "Jack," as he is familiarly called in New Mexico and Arizona, the scene of the most of his advent urous life, is about thirty-five years of age, and IS a splendid specimen of manhood. He wears the big white sombrero and long flowing hair whit Il is the distinguishing weakness of the Indian fighter and frontiersmen, but in his case it is not for effect. His manner is that of thorough gentle man, is simple and easy and entirely free from affectation. Indeed, half an hours chat with Captain Jack" would convince one that a man can trough it" in the Far West from boy hood without the advantage of an education and yet be able to hold his own with the most polished.
 "My main object in coming to New York" said the scout, lis to superin- tend the publication of a book which I have written entitled Poet Scout This settled start immediately back to New Mexico"
 "As an ex-Chief of the Government scouts, Captain, it is possible that you might feel disposed to talk little about the Indian troubles-particular- ly regarding General Crooks recent campaign against Geronimo and his murderous band of ApacheS, which just now is being severely criticised?
 "The pursuit of Geronimo. was a badly conducted affair."" responded the scout, with heavy rap of his bronzed fist on the table to emphasize his remarks. "The people of Arizona and New Mexico will confirm this," he added. "Their murdered settlers are still unavenged, althougo the peo- pie cry for vengeance against the Apaches who tortured and slaughter ed them. General Crook conducted this campaign, and although he and his command were on the trail for three months not single member of Geronimo's band was killed or cap tured."
 "How do you account for the fail ure?"
 "Well," replied Captain "Jack" with yawn, "how could any sensible per son expect brothers and cousins to fight against or give information that would lead to the capture and death of their brothers and cousins? Gen eral Crook evidently believed that he could make brother fight brother, or he certainly would never have selected nifty or hundred Apache scouts to trail their murdsrous relatives under their favorite Chief Geronimo. The result, as I mentioned, is already known. Not one hostile Apache was killed or captured during his entire three months hunt. This is one req son why the people of New Mexico | and Arizona have lost faith in him, for the frontier settlers are as much at the mercy of marauding bands of Apaches as they were before the late outbreak. Even his Apache scouts as soon as freed from restraint and were ordered back to the reservation after the fruitless chase after Geronimo commenced to murder and pillage. The fendish outrage perpetrated upon the person of poor Mrs. Yeater by these alleged friendly scouts, only six miles from Deming, New Mexico, her horrible death and that of her huS- band at their hands, show what these red devils are capable of doing"
 "How was it discovered that these murders were committed by Crooks Apache scouts?"
 By the numerous cartridge shells that were found near the scene of the massacre. These cartridge shells cor respond to the calibre of the Govern ment rifles carried by these scouts"
 "Did these same scouts return to the reservation?"
 "Of course they did"
 "Then why were they not arrested?"