Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-09-13
LAWTON'S LONG CHASE
After the Maauding Geronimo in the
Southwest.

PAINTED CAVE, TEXAS, September III.
"A special train passed through here last
evening having ON board Geronimo, Match
az and thirty-seyen other Apaches, under
charge OF Captain Lawton and men. The
Captain, in reply to u request for an ac-
count of the pursuit and capture, Slid:
MY command was organized and took
the field May ), 1SS6. We were to operate
exclusively south Ofthe national boundary
in Mexico. Ii was presumed that Gcro-
nimO would 90 to his stronghold,
the Sierra MadreS. On the contrary,
his band broke up into small parties and
commenced 4 series Of very damaging
raids in southwestern Arizona and north
western Sonora, in consequence Of which
the troops were compelled to change the
original plan to follow the raiding party.
1t was my particular duty to keep the trail
and not lose sight OF the Apaches, knowing
at all times where they We're. This work
continued until after June, when the trail
led into the Azue Mountains i'll Sonora,
and from the fact that the raidin% party
SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED
from the frontier line il was believed that
they had left for their stronghold III the
Sierra Madre Mountains. Up to this time
the command had marched altogether q
distance of |, 500 miles, covering that much
trail over the roughess mountains in that
A.. . Al, .N,,nfrN- nnFlnn thDt time
we surprised the Indians once and dis
persed them three times.
About the last of June we reorganlzed
lor Il campaign i'm the Sierra MadreS.
Fresh troops and y fresh company oil thlr-
ty Indian scouts were Sentme. The latter
were from the UnaS and MaiOras, branch
tribes of the passes. A supply camp was
established $50 miles from Sonora. On
the 18th dav of July We left this camp on
foot, following the trail, which led to the
Yaaui river below the mouth of she Arts.
The country i'm that locality was so cN-
cecdingly rough that we could not Use the
animals; the heat was so intense that men
fainted, and the metal part OF the arms
became 10 hot that men could not handle
them. The command was
EEll tED IN = hlhb
by the excessive fatigue and hot weather.
The trail began to grow larger, and evl-
danres were seen OF small bands coming
toncther and forming large companies.
Ourl[ndiau scouts We're thrown out TWO
DAVIS ahead of command. The signs began
To be fresher and our scouts sent us w"iu
that We might expect To hnd the mann
cnmp any dav. On the lith day OF july
nm Indian runner announced that the camp
had been located. Lieutenant Brown, the
officer i'm charge, determined to attack at
once. lie did so, capturing the camp anu
stock. but failed to get the Indians, they
escaping on foot into the mountain
businesses. they having seen our
| seOuts a few moments before the appr"'ch
of the troops. Tracks OF thirty-ohe
| Indians were counted in his camp. FROM
This mint the h0stiles crossed the lapul
river. going in q SOutherly courSS. n
baovy rain which now set in Obliterated
their tracks so that it was extremely
DIFFICULT To FOLLOW
them. | halted the command for u sup,
niles 20 reach us, and sent two OF the most
I rxperienced scouts to keep the tran oil the
Indians. The Indians moved rapidly 10
| the I-res district, toward the north, anu
commenced the recent notorious bloody
raid going into the mountains near IRON,
terms The river in the meantlme mao
swollen TO a torrent, neceSSltatlhS In'
/ construction of RATS for crossing. lh'
trcops moved rapidly toward FrohteSS,
/ making forced marches, sometimes VI ''
miles, through prickly pear and PaloNeruT,
/ anen being compelled to chop n way VIII
axes for the passage up the steep MOUNTAIN
/ sides for our pack mules.
Ashort time before arriving ut troh'eI"S
I learned that the hostile lndlanS nau
made oyertures of peace ana uesireu %
talk. Lieut. GatcwOod. accompanied oS
his two Indian scouts, went iorWaru u,
omen communication with them. HefonnI
az Fronteras that the MeNlcans had Vt
ready
MADE EFFORTS TO HAVE A TALK
with the Indians, and they objected TO our
INTERFERING After consultation with the
prvtscto on July %, we agreed 10 h"iu
onr troops lack for iorty-eight hours 10
await the result of his negotiations ~
tbc meantime Lieutenant GateSooo
can't biS two sons to the hostile camp
tbs peyt day, the 3lst. overlook Lieu,
tenant GateYood on the sd and nund ne
'rnS in communication with the Indians
W. tbe 18Th Geronimo and several OF hS
men came into my camp. ne aSreeu :
bring his people down from the mountain;
and camp near me until eonld senu SUiu
70 General Miles that he was there I'M
next day the Mexicans appeared, Shnsi
alarmed the hostiles, and l moved men
camp towrrd the American line. Genera
Miles not arriving the Indians agreed Z
90 With me TO Fort Bowie. In the mean
time General Miles had started, ana me
ma at skeleton Canyon, where Geronimo