New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-21
DEALING WITH APACHES.
THE POLICIES OF GENERAL CROOK AND
GENERAL MILES REVIEWED.
SERIOUS TROUBLES TO BE FEARED IF THE FORT
SILL PRISONERS ARE SENT BACK
TO ARIZONA.

Recent articles IN Inc lliouiiV 'O'"'''~ W.
tho proposed transfer of the Chricalua Apache III
dams Of Arizona from their present location III
Alabama to the Fort sill Reservation and the vigorous
oppostion of the people of New-Mexico and Arizona
TO the scheme as a direct to their lives anu
property causing great interest 10 tose WIN "i'
any degree cognizant OF the circumstances attehd-
ing the true reasons for the original removing OK
these Indians from their old haunts in Arizona. Inc
writer had the misfortune Of living in that section OF
the country at the time Of the outbreak Oh 1897
and during extensive travel therein witnessed the
results of band of Indians going on the war path"
From what could be learned at the time the cause
of the outbreak seemed to be the threatened arreso
and confinement in the guard-house at Fort Apache
Of prominent chief for either making or drinking
tlzwin" an ntoxicant produced by the rapid fer
menaton Of corn, carefully prepared for the purpose
by being planted, nurturcd by liberal use OF tepd
water until it sprouts and then fermened-the result
being a connection closely resembling sour milk In
appearance, and when used in quantities., such as
tho Indians only seem to appreciate, capaDie Oh
rendering the drinkcr crazy. In order to derive all
possible effects from its it is customary for the
Indian to abstain from eating for two or three days
previous to the proposed drunk and then to I'LL
himself TO rcpletiOn-tle result In a few hours being
complete Of dellrium trcmens, such as is ex-
perenced by many a hard case in this city after a
prolonged SPREE and total loss Of the capabilty OF
Judging between good and evil, its tendency in this
respect being far in of that following the
Of unusual quantities of whiskey. The chief
fcrrcd to, having heard that he was to be arrested
for participation in "tizwin drunk and feeling
that imprisonment meant degradation and loss OF
caste among his followers hurredy made prepare
lions for flight with such members Of his tribe as
could be readily notified and by daybreak the next
morning many miles away in an effort to reach
the Businesses Of the Sierra Madre Mountains In old
Mexico, which had been their rendezvous for
eIx TIn eOado Cteb
Of thirty four men. eight boys able to
bear and fight. and ninety women and children.
Knowing that Immediately on their line Of march to
Mexico there force Of five troops Of cavalry sta
toned Fort Grant which would endeavor to cut them
off, the Indians made detour to the east through
New Mexico, committing depredations they went.
although fortunately not many lives lost at this
time owing to the general alarm regarding their
approach that had been spread through the country,
and suddenly doubling on their trail passed south and
across its lne into old Mexico without being inter
ccptcd although closely pursued by the troops far
as the international boundary nc which the latter
prohibited from crossing because Of treaty stpua
| tons then existing.
The situation Of affairs be better understood when
one reflects that the rencgadcs on the safe side OF
imaginary line. almost within sight Of the pursu-
Ing troops able 10 the line whenever they pleased
commit all the depredatons possible within easy strk-
ng distance and then hurredly recross the line into
Mexico While the troops werc compelled to remain
apparently Inactive in order to keep from violating
the neutrality law regarding Invasion If a neighborng
/ country in time Of peace
General Crook, tho Department Commander, estab-
lishcd his field headquarters 1T Fort Bowie, Arlz.,
the military post nearest to the Mexican line, and
Immediately op,ncd communication vith the authorities
IN Washington with the view Of obtaining authority
from the Mexican Government authorizing United
states troops to cross the border in pursuit Of the
ho,tic- and meanwhile placed the troops at or near
the various watcr-hOles, and where they could be
readily obtained in case the Indians attempted TO
cross the line and commit outrageS the American
side.
During this period Of enforced inactivity General
Crook organized what is known as his scout system
90 ,arfirc lie caused to be enlisted abont 200 In
dian, for six months service, organized them into
ics Of various strength under command Of young
officers who had been either especially selected for
their hard service had volunteered for duty there
with, and after thoroughly eGuppins them with
every thing necessary for successful campaign held
them IN readiness BE- thrown across the border 80
soon the necessary stpulatlons with Mexico had
been fully completed.
In the meantime public interest had been fully
aroused reg ,rding this mode Of Indian warfare and
he probabilities Of success Some placed all cont
d,uoc General Crooks ideas. based generally on
ms success in the Sioux campaigns, during which
similar methods had been employed, whilst others
were sccptca Of the results did not believe the scouts
could be- depended upon in of emergency,
and more importantly that they would be faithful in
efforts to bring fight with or recapturo the rene
gades, more especially it well known that
large number Of the scouts consisted of fathers, broth
cr, or SONS OF the very rcncsadcs they were 10 kill
capture
II would be well to state that the two battalions
II scout, were under the command OF two 81 the very
hest Indian fighters and thorough soldiers In tho
Army. Captain West Davis. ith Cavalry. who had won
rcnovn on many a field Ynd Captain Emmett Crawford,
81 Cavalry model and brave soldier cndearcd to all
who VA, i-uoby killed hy irregular Mexican troops
while De was leading his scouts 70 undoubcd success
In h, effort, to capture destroy the renegade band
Permission 10 cross the line finally obtained
and the scout, started II seemed at first as If they
were individually imbucd with the Importance of the
charge entrusted to them and cndcavorcd TO encompass
the desired result Int after awhile IL was noticed that
a. they began feel the effects Of good square feed
three time, a day with 1t, consequent increase IN
a,orlupols and cositat.d on the fact that success
meant discharge for want of further service and
return 10 rstling FOR living in days of yorc, their
zeal in the caisc tagged pcrccptihy.
II became evident after this that the movements 81
the scouts well known To the rcnesad"s aud ia
some cases even anticipated, much that the pub
lie came 10 believe that the scouts were not faith
ful to their trust hoped for when they were EN-
plqycd
Rumors also accumulated stating that signals were
transmitted tie scouts to their friends and rcla
tivcs in tho hostile camp. To give warning OF a for
ward movement also that signal fires mountain tops
from places where II was known the hoscs could not
be- were of more frequent occurrence and that some
Of the scouts were absent from their camp at times
when they should have been. These when called 10
account for absences and mysterious disappearance
of greater part OF tho government cartridge thal
had been their belts the prey Ous day, invariably
answered that they had sighted antelope and fired OIL
ali the missing ammunition.
All this gave ground Tor grumbling. The press OF
the two IcIritorc, OL. loud aid Hot, ana a.
eight months had now elapsed since The outbreak
without any evidently changed state of affairs and
dcprcdHtiuns and murders by the hostcs were OF al
most daily occurrence and In totally diverse sections
of tho country the demand for the adjustment OF
" Crooks Indian policy rs IL was called and his
relief FRI duty that locality became 30 pronounced
and vehement, even N the hall, of Congress, II
rccollect Alright that General sheridan was sent out