The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-11-09

Of the trailers are Apache Indians, and
that while they are not regularly en-
listed in the army, they are employed
by the quartermaster under special
order for that special purpose. The
officer, who had seen several years
service in the southwest, was, of course,
noncommittal as to whether the scouts
and trailers would likely be of further
use, but said: Indians are the best
trailers in the world. They are more
wonderful than the Arabs of the des-
ert, but the government cannot depend
upon their faithfulness unless they are
prompted to act with US as a means of
revenge upon some other tribe"
The white scouts are employed be-
cause, being pioneers, they are familiar
with every path and Indian trail in the
country, also, with the traits, habits,
ETC., of the Indians. and by the use of
their knowledge and experience the
government officers are enabled to
judge of the veracity or treachery OF
the Indians. For many years the
themselves, and that is why the gov
eminent can depend upon them, more
so than upon any other Indians. Ow-
ing to their numerous wars, first with
the conguistddores of Spain, then the
Mexicans, and finally the Americans,
the once large and powerful Apache
tribe that overspread and thickly pop
ulated the southwest has been terri
bly, decimated and split into bands,
each having chief and acting indie
pendently of the other. They will
fight each other, if paid to do SO by
any other tribe, or by our government.
They are also used by our government
as police detectives or spies upon one
another. These Indian detectives re-
main in their villages and contrive to
report their observations to the white
scouts, their allies, who in turn report
to the military authorities. The white
scouts, being familiar with Indian
characteristics and the situation. can
the better judge how much truth there
Is in these reports and suggest what
action may be necessary.
Great care is taken, of course, by
government officials that these Indian
detectives, or spies, are not known to
their band; otherwise, instant death
would be his fate. Their method of ex-
ecution is to take the culprit beyond
the village limits and beat him to death,
using club with heavy stone at the
end, the two being wrapped in raw
hide. The doomed mans head is placed
on rock and the high executioner
smashes the skull with few well-di-
rected blows. The body is then given
to the relatives, who cremate it, after
the Apache custom. Indians are good
detectives, never abandon a clew un-
til they run it down, and are, generally
speaking, far superior to the pale face
detectives. Sometimes they are en-
gagged as couriers or runners for their
tribe, and are engaged in watching the
movements of the white people pre-
paratory to raid. But when the proper
moment arrives these scouts give the
FIRST news to the government forces,
and then return to their villages and
Join, ostensibly, in the raid or uprising
against the government The Chirica-
hua Apaches are the most warlike OF
the several Apache tribes One OF the
bloodiest compaigns of the southwest
was against this tribe, then led by
Victorio. All of the renegodos that
could be had were enlisted by the gov
eminent. A renegade is an Indian SOL
iier of fortune, whose bow and arrow
and war club are on the side that pays
The best. Only one or two companies