Telegram-herald., 1890-09-19

ll<--l-l- NktE1 ~ 1l1 cltsk To- ctsA go
= valo1 lad asipsa Aiia &sL1axlng.Y ia ae-
qelnag Eeaowa and lE1ueecs smeag fAs
Apaehes NcLasn -vflzss1 - SCI Page
tAs n2ne ~ which be wFs kloaa
arn9ag tie izsdians. and pSSv-N. fart2es
iaallry eoIcernicg hiIaSs-f VITA q0rS-
mons aeouE WEI ka4 osen gclns On - iae
weird Il civlAzAlioa- AS saa4enly sa1
mysgsrio1sly as hs hzl appeared, Nc
Lam t1sa gave tie siga2l = hls fo--ea'-
ers. aud tie visitors Fcse and nle2 O2s
cf tbs camp into the darkness
Capt faiss Vas unable 70 Learn
paueh more aboat or old classmate -
West Pcint." continued Gen Wilcox
f. He made inquiries n various directions,
but could oaiy ascertain that there vas
a White chief aiaong tie MoJaves,
great var chief On wAom tAe native
chisfta.rs relied for leadership IA their
struggles with the troops. One q the
soouts attached 20 the exploring ezDedi-
uon reported that he had engaged one y
Mciain's followers IN such conversation
as his small knowledge VI Apache wonld
Permit The night CT The strange visit,
and had learnsl that McLain WAS known
among The II 3jayes as 'Caief White
Run. At least re scoat thought It
svas sWhite Ball FIs knew that Il was
Bull, but rs wss not 50 certain Of the
prefix.
That was in 1853. In 1867 there was
pitched battle between the Mojayes
and "a detachment of troops IN the ella
river country. Tho troops We're defeat
ei. aad defeated because of the mastery
tactics displayed By the Indians The
officers Were surprised and astounded ~
the familiarity with the art OF war dis
PLAYED bT their foe. and were NJ O loss
10 account for il tin they heard rumors
that the Mcjaye war chief. or captain,
was an ez-cadet St West Point military
academy. This engagement WAS de-
scri5s3 in a recent number Of The Cent
ury Magazine, and in that article the
writer, one Of tho officers who was in
the battle. pays high tribute to the mill
tary skill displayed by his unknown an
I tsgonist.
This is all know positively Of the
I career Of Boon McLain." Gen. Wilcox
went on. But have reasons for be-
heying that he left the southwestern
+ country and moved into the northwest
The Mojave Apaches have been pretty
well broken up. and if McLein had con
tinued to reside with them he would
have been uncovered. Had he met with
death n the tribe some traditions of The
taking OF Of such unique and noted
+ character would he likely to exist among
+ his fellows or in the annals of the from
tier. What more natural than that Nc
/ Lain, perceiving the gradual encroach-
nent OF the whites on the Arizona coun-
try, and discovering the miserable char
acter OF the Indians among whom he had
cast his lot. and perhaps firing Of the
family ties which he had formed. should
seek 20 better his condition and enlarge
his influence by seeking alliance with the
no5ler Indians. of the Yellowstone. the
Black Hills and the Big Horn--the war
like Sioux?
THAT is just what McLain did. in my
opinion. | firmly believe that Bison
McLain, expelled from West Point, z
fugitive from Galveston, was chief Of
the Mojave Apaches, migrated to the
I Sioux country and became the famous
Sitting Bull. Wshave no photograph:
Of Sitting Bull, as he has always refused
to sit before n camera. claiming that K
be bad medicine unlucky; but such
I sketches as we have of him show a strik
ing resemblance between his head and
face and the head and face which al
West Point led Us TO nickname theil
owner Bison McLain. 1t is said Sitting
Ball is medicine chief and not wal
chief at al, bat how erroneous this Il
must appear from consideration Of hi
great campaigns in the last fifteen years
Were Custer alive ne would not say Sit
ting Bull was medicine chief. Custei
found to his cost that Sitting Bull knew
the art OF war. Crook learned the sam,
thing. There has always been a mystery
about Sitting Bull, and l believe if j
could be cleared up he woIld be founC
to be none other than my old friend Nc
Lain. Maj. Mclaughlin, OF the army
tells Ire in his opinion Sitting Bull is !
white man, and familiar with boti
French and English Ny friend Col
Taylor, OF this city. has written lttl'
book to show that Sitting Bull was ;
white man. educated by the gcsuits il
Canada. That would account for hi
knowledge Of English and French. but i
would not account for his Familiarity
with tho art Of war as Taught at Wes
Point--a familiarity which has enables
him 70 anticipate precisely what bis foe
the United States troops, would do q
anv particular crisis.
Gen. Wilcox Is one of the most promi
nent citizens Of Washington. He va
strongly urged upon President Hsrrisoi
few days ago for appointment 70 th
vacant commissionership q the Distric
q Columbia lie is nearly related &
ez-Attor1oy General Garland.
4 little romance In Gen Wilcoxs lif
is worth mentioning. DE ald the lat
Gen. George B. Mcclellan were as younl
men fast friends Both loved the sam
yourE lady Magnsnimously Gen. WI
cox stepped aside. end left the way clea
- a union between bis friend and g.
woman ne loved. Mc(Sellan dii mar
the girl. and Mcclellan an3 Wilco
vsrs warm friends as long as he forme
hVel WsTTER WEI1SAS.
uo- stamp. are pistrfhntss.