Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-09
CROOKS DIFFICULT TASK.
AN ARMY NO MATCH FOR A
HANDFUL OF INDIANS.


Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan Explains the In.
justice or the Recent Criticisms on the.
IndiAn FiEhter-The Apache Born.
Among the Mountains and Able 70
Cover sixty Miles a Day without a
HOrse.
WAsHIEGroN,J j an. 8.--IAeut.-Gen Sher4
idan in conversation with a representative
of the assembled press to-day remarked,
with reference to his recent Official visit
to Arizona, and the latest news concerns
ing the Apaches: 81 have reason to be-
heve that gen. Crooks operations viii
result in the destruction Of GeFonimO's
band and the restoration of quiet In the
region OF the Apache depredatlons, but
the work cannot be accomplished in
day You must remember,'~
he added "that all our frontier settle-l
ments in the vicinity OF the wild Indians
have been compelled TO pass through
similar ordeals. There has been some lit
tie embarrassment in the operations from
the fact that the infected area comprised
portions Of two military departments, but
remedy has been found by the tepzpor-l
airy transfer Of the district OF New Mexico
10 the depaI tment Of Arizona, and now
CONFIDENCE IN CROOK.
"His tact and fearless energy will, q
doubt not, bring about good results. He
has all the troops he wants, and they are
placed ID most advantageous positions.
Detachments guard all the watering
places, and patrols and scouting parties
cover the entire area Of 10000 squaro
miles Overlwhich the saVages have BEEN
operating. Every route which is practice
able 10 white men is thus guarded.
Though the results have apparently beenf
so meagre, yet mnch has been accom-
pllshed, and the failure to extirpate the
band long ago is due 10 the willy instincts
OF an enemy 80 small in numbers that
the methods Of actual warfare cannot be-
employed with effect and TO the nature On
the country.
NUMBER OF THE HosTrLEs.
''fhe hostile band originally numbered
torty-twO warriors and ninety-four wOmenl
and children. Their roamings have COW
cred an area Of $4,000 square miles, Of
which 10000 lie south OF the border Ina.
That lying m Arizona and New Mexico
is a region of rough broken m0untainl
ranges, whose spurs enclose occasional
plains, sparsely watered and bear
ing little vegetation. The noun
tain tops furnish excellent points
OF lookout from which the keen
eyed savage can see long distances
through the rare atmosphere OF the high
arid regions, counting the number OF his
pursuers and detecting their slightest
movements long before they can become
Skare OF his neighbOfhoOd or approach
pear enough for offensive operations.
BRED IN THE MOUNTAINS.
"The Apache is a mountain Indian, bred
from childhood to peak climbing ana to
afa -
little water, little or no clothing and 70
other food than roots or berries. When
on the war path he carries no ratfOns.
Encountered only with his gun and am-
! muniiOn be proceeds By trails which are
mpassable 70 mounted men or to th0sei
who are only habituated TO the cOaditi0nsl
OF ordinary military experience, and In
such paths be often Haseiss-1 istance OF
go miles a day - -
NoT. DEPENDENT ON HORSES. .
nj - only in recent years that che rep
has become his auxiliary, and even now
when pressed be kills the animal and
seeks bis own safety Ia his familiar fast
nesses. r. Apache outbreaks, continued the
General" are rarely 20 be anticipated orl
fOret0ld. When band becomes hostile IL
manages 10 get away SIX or eight hOurzl
before any knowledge OF its purposes cam
become known TO the troops. It murders
Isolated settlers aud prospecters aad at
tscks and plumbers ranches TO obtain
ponies and food.
sfRKING TOWARD MEXICO.
Its course is almOst always towards
the Mexican border, across which an asF-l
ium has so often been found II such Al
band Is headed of or Oyertaken by troopa
il does not give battle, but les members
scatter to the bills, each Tor himself and
reunite At some DESIGNATED spot "A hum
dred miles away. The troops and the
Indian tralers who accompany them
are rarely able % do more In such cases
than pick up few women and children,
Up to three years ago the scene OF the
present disturbances was sparsely set
tied, and the loss Of life and property
was small compared with the record oil
the last eight months. There were them
but a few horses or cattle IN the region,l
while now large herds are found at nearly
all the springs and water holes, and the
raiders are able 10 secure FRESH mounts
every day. Many OF The settlers,0 con-
tinued the lieutenant General, afaa to
realize the dangers Of their situation.
CAEELEssNEss OF THE SETTLERS.
"They are often unarmed, and they travek
from ranch 10 ranch and from town eOl
town 20 and 30, sometimes 100 miles. carej
less and alone. Almost all the murdersl
by the Chirieahuas since the last outbreak
have been OK persons found ia such situa-l
tions iGOiaied, unarmed, unsuspecting.
When | visited Gen. Crook five or SIX
weeks ago, II warriors had been killed
and - women aud children captured,
Twenty warriors and all the remaining
women and children were ia Mexico, and
only % warriors were north Of the border.
These 10 have committed all the recent,
murders"