Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-11
THE APACHE PRISONERS.
The House Committee Elicitinx Infor.
nation as to Their Proposed Removal.

Lieut. Col. Lawton of the inspector generals
department, the first witness before the House
committee on Indian affairs yesterday, stated
to the committee that he had not appeared
| voluntarily to offer suggestions as to the
proposed removal Of the Apache prisoners
to Fort Sill contrary to the recommen.
dstions Of his superior officers, the Score.
tary of War and Gen. Crook; he came because
he was subpenaed The colonel said he was
familiar with the Indians at Fort Sill and the
Apaches. They are intermarried, and
the Apaches became dissatisfied
tain reservation without trouble. The distance
is over 900 miles-plains nearly ali the way.
There is q large force At Fort Sill, both in
fantry and cavalry. Witness said he did not
Indians would leave the reservation, but that il
they did want to there was
NOTHING TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING.
The sanitary conditions at Fort Sill are poor;
IL Is known as one of the worst posts In the
country. The northern Cheyennes moved in
1867 to the Indian territory, about year after
ward broke out and got back to their old haunts
near the British line, successfully evading pur-
suit by all the force in the west ct that time,
and in one or two cases when . conflict &C.
CURED they were victorious The colonel gave
removed from their homes to other points had
afterward broken out Of the reservations and
returned, in some cases Q distance Of many
hundred miles.
PROTEST FROM NEW MEXICO.
W. II. H. Lewellyn of Las Cruces, New Mex
leo, said that the people in that country, while
desiring the government to do the best it can
for these Indians, do protest against their re-
moval to Fort Sill. Witness was for five years
agent at the ,Mescsllero agency, and he knew
that it was the practice for the Apsches to
reservation, and If the Apaches once get to
Fort Sill they will have no trouble in return
ing to their old haunts il they want to 60 back.
He .believed Gems. Crook and Howard are mis-
taken as to the danger resulting from the re-
moval of the Apaches to Fort Sill. 1t will strike
terror to the hearts Of the people in southern
New Mexico aud seriously retard the progress
and development Of that region. The people
know Of the atrocities perpetrated by the
Apaches and they protest most earnestly against
the government bringing them back to coun-
try where they may repeat their outrages and
atrocities. Witness said
THE APACHE Is A PECULIAR PERSON.
Any one of them, apparently subdued, known
as ''coffee coolers" is likely within Q day to
change into very devil This is due to the
influence of a drink called "tiswin," grain
whisky which they drink at their feasts. They
cannot be depended on.
sIcKLY sENTIMKNTALrTY IN THE EAST.
Delegate Smith of Arizona said that this
movement in behalf of sick Indian was due to
a sickly sentimentality in the east The wit
ness said that il the Indian was to be treated
with such consideration it might be well to
give the white man q show. These
Indians, if they once get back to the
west side OF the great river will find their way
to the San Carlos agency and Geronimo would
never rest until he had stirred up trouble.
The Apaches have never been at peace
and never will be so long as
they can get ''tiswin" to make
LIEUT.. HOWARD SAID
to the committee that there is no reservation
east OF the Mississippi river where these Indians
could be put to work. The Secretary of War
had suggested Fort Sill because he believed
land could be had near there ON which the
Apaches could be put to farming.
Mr.. Cameron said there need be no trouble
about getting reservation east of the Mssis-
sippi; the people Of Arizona and New Mexico
would themselves pay for enough land in YER
mont to settle the Indians on.
The committee decided to act upon tho Joint
resolution today and then adjourned.