New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-25
COMMENT AND OPINION.
yAy, sUPAI INDIANS NOT UNKNOWN.


CROOK FOUND THEM IN CATARACT CANON.
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune
Sir. In your paper Of August 10 there Is an article
,oodod. Newly discovered Tribe of Indians. say
ages I'm n Colorado Canon Who Had Seen only ono
white Nil There must De some mistake III such a
tacmcot nom the fact that Colonel Iolal iri deciDes
a canon known as Cataract Canon. in when lNeS a
tribe called Yava Supai.' and Colonel ho'aD" uii
doubtedIy refers 10 the Same.
The Cataract Canon In northern Arizona, whi'h
runs into the Grand Canon OF tho Colorado Is almost
inaccessible and has but two trails leading ihco l.
from rho south one Of these runs INTO Vie canon a
a polnt dbout eighty miles north OF Ash Forh' ana
about seventeen miles from natural water noe caou
Black Tank. Thence YOU can sec the Walls Vi '1c
orposl,c or further side Of both the Grand and Cat
aract canOns.
From, this pont which is northwest OF the san
Francisco Mountains, and west Of round mountain
a good landmark, shaped like ChinamaIis ml VINO"
the IIualpal Indians call "WsciwlS' (solhs rouho'
there IA a trail that enters the canon IhiS U" u
a very dangerous one II runs on the side Oh nearly
ncrpendicuar wall. and was evidently mado III t'o
rrs, ul,ce ly mountain sheep. and after by the III
dams $1,000, .,,
ON this trail General Crook and party entered the
cotaroct Canon in November, Ioei. The party con
s,ed ~ General George Crook. Captain Roberts, cap
tain J. G. Bourkc L. :. \. then on General CrooNS
staff. Assistant surgeon Mems, u y A. D. Arm
stronr Chaner OF New-York y. F. Hammer an af'lS''
~ PHILADELPHIA " Daily the Generals chlei packer
,,,,,, -, markers and two guides Charles spencer,
&, white man. who had been IN the canon beioic' anu
a Uunlpai Indian called Co-wa IL (Growlcr.
In going into the canon the General lost ono OF MS
nacl, mules tho one carrying the cooking utehshs'
bitch tcu from the trail and had q tumble Of niliy
900 feet Half this distance Was clear drop With
ont touching Dr. Mems and | were III the canon
ving and expecting to sec an accident at more than
,o dangerous MACE where no two animals could pass
or crowd without accident. We saw the mule leave
tho trail at such height that he appeared no larger
than n Nv and saw him until he was within Few
,oot n, tho bottom at a point about 100 yards from
where We were standing.
This trail enters the canon about eighteen miles
from the Yava supai village, and the Village u apoue
one mile or less below where the springs that CoioheI
r,ah,,t describes start from the bed OF the canon.
,o,,;r, M onco a large stream. The water is warm,
very clear and impregnated with lime. over tho
sprIncs are large cottonwood trees. AT this place
General Crook campcd the second night III inc cahOh'
and :, co,opcl Holabird had examined the rocky wall
within fifty feet of the spring he would nave fouhd
naintcd ON the rocks the names OF our entire party
H. woud also have found the names on rocks twenty
seven miles the village seven miles or 50 above
where the trail enters me cao near teS St w
spring "hcro tho "O"''"' 'r W. 0 "
the canon. ,,,.a, croo,s visit tbese Indians
nelly of a fine type speaking a language very like
tho iIuopai numbered about ninety warriors, and
werc living as General Crook expressed It, In their
iGe being farmers. They had good supply OF buck.
skin and skins Of the mountain lion besides good
navajo blankets and clothing. They raised corn,
rnmnirns SQUASH, melons and peaches, which they
bad ways Of preserving for any length ot time They
gathered grass seed. the seed from what the tenerai
called lambs quarter manut or spanish oayohe'