Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-03-22
THE CAPTIVE INDIANS.
Why General Miles Does Not Want Them
 Sent to Fort Sill.

WASHINGTON, March S.-On a sand | ridge in the midst of pine forest near Mobile, Alabama, is located Mount Vernon Barracks, the prison home of the Apache Indians who were removed from the White mountain reservation, Arizona, after committing the most awful depredations ever known in the southwest. Among the band are Nat chez, Chihuahua, Ku-Nay and other demons hailing from Chihuahua, where their names are written in blood in the history of the Rio Grande country.
 They are no longer the wild and savage men they were of yore. The bucks are depressed and apparently heart-broken. Disease has depleted their ranks and their women and chil- dren are passing away with fearful rapidity. Consumption is the medi- um of death. It is of course super induced by the change of climate from the dry air of the mountains of New Mexico to the damp breezes of the Atlantic coast. The captive Indians were first confined at Fort Pickens, near Pensacola, Florida, and Fort Mar ion, near St. Augustine, Florida. They remained at these points from the spring and summer of 1886 until May, 1888, when all were brought together at Mount Vernon barracks. From time to time 112 youths have been sent to the Indian school at Carlisle Penaa. Of these 30 died and 12 have been retained in the prison home of their parents because of their failing health, leaving 70 for the government to display its abilities as an educator and civilizer upon. Of the Indians remaining in the south, Is died at St. Augustine in 1886, 31 at St. Angus tine, Fort Pickens and Mount Vernon Barracks in 1887, IA at Mount Vernon Barracks in 1888, and up to Novem- Der 30th of last year, 26. Thus it will be seen that in three and one-half years 119 of the Apaches have answer ed the last summons. In all 49S red skins, of whom 99 were men and 399 women and children, were received as prisoners of war from Arizona. Ac- cording to the report of Lieutenant Guy Howard, made to the Secretary of war at the beginning of the year, there are now at Mount Vernon Bar racks 79 men, 167 women and 142 children, total of 388. Two more are undergoing punishment at Govern or's Island, New York. Including the band of youths at Carlisle, there are 460 Apaches now under restraint in the east. Births have been numerous among the band. Of the men this officer believes that there are probably 30 able-bodied bucks who are fit for military service and could do much harm on the war path. bout 25 others are able to do a fair days work, but are not in good condition. The remainder of the grown-up male ele- ment are old men and cripples.
 THE cAPT1vEs' COMPLAINTS.
 According to the reports of the military officials who have lately visit ed the Alabama prison, including Gen eral Crook, the Indians are practically doing nothing. Tine employment of the scattered population whereabouts is in the manufacture of cypress shin gles and pine lumber, for which the savages of the west are not fitted. Those who do labor only work about the camp, keeping it in order and sometimes roofing up trees, repairing houses and sweeping up yards. Their odd hours are spent in the manufac- ture of trinkets. It is claimed by Gen. eral Crook that there is general and earnest desire to work manifested, but nothing being given them their lives are dreary, monotonous and empty. The extraordinary mortality he be- lieyes is attributable in part to this fact. Chihuahua, one of the princi- pal captiyes, is reported as saying to Crook and his interpreter on the Ind of last January:
 'I am getting so my limbs feel as if they were asleep. 1 would like to have some better place than this. l would like to have place where could have farm and go right to work, so that my children can have plenty to eat, and I would like to have the tools to go right to work with"
 Objecting to the location of the post in a pine forest surrounded by swamps Chihuahua sad:
 "There are trees all about, l would like to go where I can sec"
 The captives are, beyond question treated as we'll as possible under the circumstances. They arc well clothed and we'll fed. Although nothing l: paid them for work done about the post, they manage to obtain small amounts of money by the sale o trinkets. Although liquor is sold by white traders who own property or the borders of the reservation, 1t is re ported by Lieutenant Howard that the freedom of the Indians from its use i: phenomenal. This, the officer claims is attributable partly to the smal sums of coin in their possession, but mainly to the earnest desire of tht prisoners to behave well, with hope of getting homes of their own.
 Two missionary lady teachers have established at the camp day schoo
 for the Indian youngsters, and severa bucks have ventured to make an ef
 fort to educate themselves.
 HOW THEY WERE INDUCED TO GO. Without exception the Apache lead CTS believe that they have been badly treated, and maintain that thos, ' friendly to the government when Ger ronimo was on the warpath were trick ed and deceived. In the summer o 1886 Chatto, Kahxe-Te-Na and other were summoned to Washington. Tn, last named Indian complained bitter } ly to the board of officers, comprisini Major-General Crook. Lieutenant L W. G. Lennon, Major William I. Kel f logg and Second Lieutenant Arthu B. Fisher, who visited them a feV
 weeks ago. He said:
 General Miles told me to go an,
 see farm that was talked about. H
 deceived me. He told me it wa ! about a days journey away. W started to see the farm, and got ol
 the train and stayed on four days an went to Washington. We were ther eighteen days. When we talked t | the President Cleveland he take good. He said we had heard of tn