The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-08
ONE USE FOR APACHES

The Apache reservation, in the eastern
part of Arizona, contains the first success
ful showing OF disciplined Indians en-
poyed as body of fighting men BY the
United States government, the White
Mountain Apache scouts.
The Unitsd States has called into re-
QUESTION the services of some three hun
dred trained Indians. who have within
the last five years proved invaluable in
subduing uprisings in different Indian
reservations. At various times the GOV
eminent has employed special Indian
police, and individual Indians have
served in the army on important scout
ing duty, but the utilization of good
part OF whole tribe, trained to modern
arms and tactics, is a comparatively new
departure. Aside from the Apaches the
only other instance on record is that or
two companies of Sioux Indians attached
to the United States army post at Salt
Lake City, Utah.
The Apaches are one of the most bar
barous and warlike Indian tribes IN
North America, and until recently have
not peen amenable to the influence of
civilization. They are related to the
great Shoshone, or Pacific coast Indians,
branch whose treachery and cruelty are
additionally famous among all western
Indians. The Apaches are at present
divided into the White Mountain A2aches
and the Mescaleros. Tho latter tribe,
now headed by the treacherous old San
Juan, was formerly a band OF despera'
does, led by the well known Geronimo
are q naturally vicious people, and, while
they are capable OF receiving u moderate
degree of education, are totally unit
afterward for any other pursuit than
wandering over the plains in armed
bands. Even under thorough military
education they are unable to fight other
than in their own methods of warfare.
They learn the manual of arms and field
manouvrss without any difficulty, and
are drilled to fire by pIatoons, but when
1t comes to actual fighting they can oper-
ate to better advantage If left to their
own devices and inherent trickery.
Their usual dress is q native woven cot
ton cloth shirt and turban to match, close
fitting pants and buckskin boots. In
lighting trim they discard everything but
the turba1, boots and loin cloth. Thus
costumed and equipped with repeating
lille and cartridge belt, they make 8 des-
perate and dangerous antagonist. The
territory OF Arizona contains stretches
of the most unproductive soil in the
limb and hardy by nature. thrive under
Its sem i-tropical sun. An Apacne's pow
ers OF endurance are phenom renal. He has
been known to go two whole days. rum
ming, fighting and retreating, without
tasting a mouthful OF food or drop of
water. A band of 1000 A PEACHES could
wear the life out of an ordinary army in
a month. They fight IN squads OF twenty
or thirty, scattering out over the plains
and concealing themselves behind
small stone or clump OF sagebrush that
would scarcely hide a child. They can
shoot right or left-handed. either in
crouching attitude. rolled up in ball,
or stretched fat in shallow arroyo"
ditch washed out Of the soil during the
rainy season.
From this ambuscade they make for
the foothills, where they enscUnce tnem-
selves in gulches and file at their pur
suers with deadly effect. They are as
feet of foot as a bronco, being able to
outwipd horse over the parcbed plains.
stations frequently cover a distance of
twenty-five miles IN less than three
hours. and know how to elude the ter
iic sandstorms that sweep the desert
tracks in the vicinity of the Glla noun
tains. In mountain elm bling they are
like cna,nois, jumping from ledge to
ledge with the greatest ease and agility,
and scaling precipitous walls on the most
delicate footing. When riding horseback
they almost become part OF the animal,
crawling around its body and firing
while they hang on one side in true In
dian fashion. The Apache scouts are es-
pecially dreaded by the Naval oes, Yumas
and MariGopas, whose outbreaks they are
occasionally called on to subdue, and who
know them of old, from the pilfering eX-
petitions for which the Apaches are ia
nous.
The Apache reservation Is about $50
miles from the Mexican boundary line.
AS they are continually at war with their
neighbors or among themselves, 1t is
difficult to estimate their mum Der, but it
is between 5000 ana 1000. They speak the
Spanish language almost universally. and
display all the undesirable qualitie of
the North American Shoshone in close
ad mixture with the blood OF the Mexican
Indian,-San Francisco Chronicle.