The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-27
TRUTHS n1.aUW SCOUTS.
Not as Portrayed III Norc'g, But as
Tlaoy Arc l.. 7eelity.

From tie It7a,lcLotia Press.
II is extremely doabtful il thero is ans
one subject on which tie average reader i.
more ignorant than that OF scouts aut
scouting. The COMMONLY accepted Wow o:
the army scout is very much that enter
toi ed by tho schooI-boy reader of the dim,
n,yel who wants to go out west and xii
Indians. The viows OF the dime novelist
ss TO the western 1ndian-kilers have not
been modified but rather confirmed Oy The
exhibitions of wild west shows. But
nojtrer the dime novelist, striving
after sensation, nor the proprietor
of wild west shows, give anything
except the most exaggerated idea o.
a class of men Tow rapidly disappearing
and of which, with the advancement OF
civilization, only the memory will be left
Gfy years hence
The scout of the novel and the show is g
yerv picturesque, kind fellow, thoroughly
reckless, dead shot, the proprietor OF q
raried selection of scalps, and showing in
lis moral character that combination
Of half angel and half Lucifer," of which
JOAQUIN Miller delights to sing. Like Samp
I,n of old, his strength is In his hair, and
lis long flowing locks are the admiration OF
frontier women and the envy of frontier
nen. He is always clad in buckshin
ringed and stamped with grotesque de-
dgns, while his flowing locks are sucmount-
ii with a sombrero that it would take three
DAYS to walk around the brim. Such is the
eastern conception, now for southwestern
reality.
The United States scout in active service
years his hair cut short, in soldier fashion,
because he has to sleep on the ground for
weeks at time, and if he wore long and
flowing locks they would give him consider
ale trouble by affording choice variety OF
iBects refuge and dwelling-place Then
gain, outside of some town in which they
hnted with a pardonable vanity to SHOW
Sf, never saw one Of them in buckskiu
hit. 1t is too warm in summer and not
warm enough in winter. TIE scout is q
good shot, but that is virtue he shares in
common with every man and boy on the
frontier.
WHAT A SCOUT MUST KNOW.
There is very little romance but plenty OF
hardship about the life of scout He is
not selected for his dashing airs and recll-
less bravery, but for the only quality in
demand with army officers, his thorough
KNOWLEDGE of the country in which the
troops are 10 operate and especially of the
best camping grounds, the distances from
water TO water IA point on which the lives
of thescomnand often depend and his
power to shorten marches by his acquaint-
ance with short cuts through mountains
and over morasseS. If Ie knows the
Spanish language, so much the better, and
if he can speak a little Apache, better still,
but these latter accomplishments are of
minor Importance to thorough knowledge
Of the country.
United States army scouts may be divided
into two classes-white men, who rank as
chief of scouts, and Indian scouts, who are
organized as military companies. The white
scouts are usually men who have been en-
ployes of the San Carlos and Mescalero
Apache reservation or Indian agencies
They are, from constant association with
the Indians, well acquainted with their
character and habits, and frequently speak
little Apache. The ApacheS, with few
exceptions, speak Spanish, and it is usually
the language they use in communicating
with the Indian agent and the employees of
the agency. A white man who makes him
self useful to the Indians by doing them
little favors is, in time, taught ito read
sign"
A scout who can read "sign" can tell you
by examining trail over which horses have
passed if they were ridden or led, and if
both, the number ridden and the number
led. Even when shod he can tell whether
the horses wee American or Mexican. If
the trail be made by men on foot he can
tell if it be an Indian trail, or simply the
tail of MexicaIs wearing moccasins. In a
hostile party he can tell by the trail how
many are bucks and how many are squaws
and children, and SO ON over field of OBJ
servation as extensive as interesting.
HIS PAY.
The scout thus qualified finds no difficulty
In obtaining employment in the southwest
where Apache outbreaks are of almost
yearly occurrence. He is engaged, subject
to the approval of the commander of the
district or department-New Mexico is a
military district, while Arizona is mill
tary departmental a salary of $3.50 a
month and ration for his horse. He pro-
vides his arms and ammunition, and ignores
the government Springfield rife for the
improved Winchester, 40 caliber, repeating
rifle. From his pay lie has to provide for
his ratioEs, and he messes with the officers
when in post, or when outside with COM
mand.
The Indian scout companies are enlisted
from the good" Indians on the reserva
tions. About thirty men form a company,
which is placed under the command of q
heutant of the regular army, with whom is
associated a chief of scouts who acts as the
medium of communication between the Off
Ger and his command. About six soldiers
as measure OF precdutlOn against muGlny,
are attached to each company of scouts.
The period Of service of an Indian scout is
only six months "unless sooner discharged, >
and he is paid $50 per month. His rife
generally provides his rations, as the Apache
detests army bacon, preferring even the
abandoned carcass of an army mule.
The Indian scout companies are not popu-
lar on the frontier. They are considered
to be only training schools for the hostiles,
and as some of the most desperate of the
Apaches have been scouts, such as Bonito
aud Chatto, the antipathy of the frontiers
man is not altogether without reason
The fact that the Indian scouts of the gov
eminent are without uniform adds to
the annoyance of the people of the
frontier, who, except they see the Indians
accompanied by white man, cannot tell
thom from hostiles. The only thing dis
tinctively worn by the Indian scout, outside
vhe government belt that carries his ammu-
milton, to distinguish him, is red handker-
chief bound around his head. The from
tiersmen argue that red handkerchiefs are
so common that no Indian, hostile or 9TH
or wise, need be without one. 1t is well
known that the lack of uniform of the In
dian scout is a source of perpetual danger
on tho border to Americans and Mexicans
alike and has cost the sacrifice of MANY