The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-18
INDIANS AND THEIR WAYS.
Ex-Chief Scout Bennett Discoursel
About Our red Brethren.

Ex-Chief Scout Bennett Discourses
About Our ned Brethren.
Speaking of the superstitions of the
Apache Indians" said Frank 2. Bennett,
the ex-chief Of scouts, "tuey have under
gone a radical hAnge in the last twenty
years, the change proving detrimental to
the whites. In the early seventies the
Apaches were afraid to move out of a camp
at night, believi ~ that then only the evil
spirits reigued. Then the troops operating
against them could count almost to a GER
tainty that if they were able TO
get within striking distance by sun
down by freed march at night they
would be able to surrou ID the Indian camp
and surprise them at daylight. Now, from
their association with the whites, the
Apaches have outgrown that aud learned
the advantage derived by a night march.
Now they will often travel until shutdown,
go into camp, cook and remain until after
dark, then break camp aud travel some dis,
lance before they stop again. When they
do stop they make no fires. Thus they
avoid the possibility Of having their camp
located by scouts before dark and the
troops brought down on them. Who
says Indians don't live in our progressive
agei | have had Indians when out with
hunting party to c 'rrect me when around
the camp fire for saying l intended TO
kill certain game the next day. On my
asking why I should not speak so L have
been told that the game would hear me and
keep out of my way and IEw uld not see
any on the morrow. l have had an Indian
fire gun of in the night in camp contrary
to orders When questioned him for dis
obsying orders he told me he shot at the
devil, and did not doubt but what he be-
lieyed he had been visited by his tanic
majesty and did not ridicule him In is be =
lief. only told hi he had disobsyed
orders and the next time be shot at the
devil wanted to find the devil when l
came to his tent or l would punish
him for his bad workmanship, my belief
being that he had eaten too heartily
Of agency beef on recurring. These Indians
formerly would not eat pork, fish, ducks
geese or chickens, but were and are yet
fond of beef, mutton, deer, antelope, horse.
mule, jackasS, and the Tonic Apaches, like
the plain Indians. are fond Of dog. it being
considered delicy by Them. we'll remem-
Der eating very heartily once OF stew of
that kind, thinking at the time l was eating
rabbit. The Indians were much amused
when they found / thought l had been eat
ing rabbit. l must say enjoyed my meal
and was thankful. / knew no better until
after had appeased my hunger, sharpened
by tifty-mile horseback ride
"Thsy are full of superstition, and always
look With suspicion on anything they don't
understand, and will examine into the
smallest details to find out what it's advans
tages might be to them. They will handle
things very gingerly until they find out
their advantages and disadvantages. They
don't care to take the chaHces that a white
man will take, and they look on every man
coming on an agency with suspicion, be-
lieving that he would take advantage Of
them if be could. In measure they are
right, for every man who has been among
them has seen them imposed on in different
ways, and this has tended to make it very
hard to deal with them. If once
the Indians know q white man to
tell them lie he will find it a hard job
to regain their confidence. think most of
the trouble of our formers wars have come
out of the selection of men for agents who
knew nothing of the nature Of the people
they were going 10 control. Nine-tenths of
them MAKE the mistake of supposing that
because these people are Indians they don't
know what is going on about an agency.
Now. / will say there is nothing occurs
there but what they see and compare it
with what they have seen in former times
For instance, If there has been an
honest agents with them, giving them
their full allowance of rations, and
another man is appointed who cuts off one
third or half it causes a dissatisfaction
among them. Often the agent d mt take
simply because they are Indians, supposed
to know nothing Now, | say if these
agents would take the trouble to treat In
dams with some of the consideration they
have to show to whites lots of trouble would
be averted and many lives saved. They are
fully capable of understanding the WINS
and wherefores of a short issue OF ratlons If
the people in charge would only explain to
them why it was so.
GS'Tha SnSnpion in an Indian of a Whita
man is greatly due to the former action of
the whites tward him. He knows we
have no love for him, and our treatment of
his people tends to make him dislike us. To
illustrate this: was sitting down talking
to an Indian once when an army doctor
came up rubbing his head. as he had the
headache. The Indian looked at him and
asked me what was the ma ter with the
doctor told him that he was sick. He
Kept silent a moment, then said the doctor
was no good if he were sick and could not
cure himself. Rather rough on the doctor,
but nevertheless he was very neaS the truth.
So they judge us as they see u.s. ahu l have
often known them t. put up with treat
meat from whites that q white man7 FE9uld
rebel against. The white man rw6Hld be
said to be of Independent spirit. If the In
dian rebslled he would be said to be blood
thirsty and WANT & to cauSe trouble. T at
is the difference in the judgment passed on
the white and the red man for the same
offense. Is that rightG The sooner they
are put under the control Of the war de-
partment and United States army officers
put on the agencies as agents Ahdiquarter-
masters, and reg llar system of Idisctpline
established with them, gtSiRg them what
the government provides and Furnishing
white and Indian alike for wrong-doings,
the sooner you will put stop TO Indian
outbreaks"