The morning call., 1891-02-25
THE RETURN OF. THE ArACHEs.

The people Of the Southern Territories
will not be well pleased 20 hear that num-
, Der of renegade Apache Indians, who were
caught red-haudei four years ago in Ari-
IONA and eXiled to Florida, have been re-
turned to the West and are now encamped
under the eyeof Fort Wingate, in Western
New Mexico, few miles from the border
of. Arizona. These Indians formed a part
nf the band which deserted the San Carlos
Reservation with Geronimo and devastated
the southeastern portion of that Territory.
They committed the usual Qutrages. One
OF their most atrocous acts was the capture
of little Charlie McCOmas, a child 10 years
old. whom they carried IF with them TO the
mountains, where they "lost" him, as they
said; in fact. the poor little fellow died of
. hunger cold ana exposure. After consider
able waste of time in futile Indian hunts.
The job Of capturing these savages was put
into the hands of General Miles, WHO accom-
piished ii. Geronimo and his follow ers
were caught. None of them were executed
though many of them deserved that fate.
But they were removed to the military posts
in the North and East, and Arizona for four
years was rid.ef them. Now they are sent
back.
heguilt of these Apaches. or Chricahuas.
was peculiarly fragrant They had been
especially objects of Government favor.
One of the finest tracts of country in Arizona
had been set apart for their home. The
San Carlos Reservation, which was exclu-
siyely theirs, is half the size of Massachu
sets and is well watered and well timbereI
On this SPOT $500 A pacheS were gathered, so
that each of them had more land than he
could possibly cultivate. There was mar
ket at their dnur for their products. and the
climate suited them exactly. Besides the
product of their Industry they received from
the Government regular supplies in the
shape OF blankets and other comforts. The
troops were careful to protect them against
Interference by white settlers.
Notwithstanding these favors, the tenants
of the reservation constantly broke loose
aud raided the counties of Cuchise, Pima
and Graham burning farm-houses, stealing
s+oeE and not unfyeqUently marking their
raids with outrage and murder 1t has
been sad .aat lh-v were encouraged to go
ON the aareagh bl Yiliainous white men.
who leekoned Ju max ing money out of In
aian wars. However this may be, the fol-
lowers of Natchez and Geronimo do not
seem to have needed much persuasion TO
take the road. They were to the manner
born. The history of the Territory until
the.remova Of the Chiricahua5 was one end
less record of escapes from the reservation,
cavalry hunts for the fugitIves and their
final return to their tepeeS, laden with
spells and dripping with blood.
These savages are now being brought
back to their native heath. 1t is said that
the climate of Florida did not suit them;
that the mortality among them from con-
tfgFN 1at- I s-
should die, but, after all, it is rather better
for humanity that Chiricahua should die
of consumption in the everglades of Florida
than that white women and children should
die from an Indian knife in Arizona. 1t is
also said that four years of captivity have
soitened the Indian heart and assuaged his
appetite for scalps. But those who know
the Apaches best are not believers in their
capacity Tor reformation. What they were
when Geronimo broke loose they always
have been, and there is reason to fear thew
always will be. It is impossible to teach
them that murder and outrage and robbery
are wrong. Observers whose intelligence
and humanity are not to be Questioned have
pronounced them irreclaimabie
1t will check the progress of Arizona if
the scanty settlers who are making them
selves homes in the desert are now COM
PEELED to divide their time between tilling
the soil and fighting Indians They will
not be grateful to the Government for re-
Viving the dangers of the past. For three
or four years they have been planning
schemes Of irrigation. which promised ex-
cellent results. These will have to be rele-
gated to the background if the flow of water
becomes a secondary matter to the flow Of
blood.