The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-19

lew years ago. left an important auto
biography which has just come to
light. 1t contains a story never before
told of the real cause of the hatred of
the Apache Indians for the Americans,
and will inevitably take a considerable
place in the history of the West.
In brief, this story is that the Apaches
were friendly to the Americans until,
IN the latter part of the sos, their
friendship was destroyed by the
treacherous assassination of one of
their principal leaders by an American.
There is, perhaps. no name more
revered in Southern California than
that of B. D. Wilson. He was one of
the earliest settlers of that portion of
the State, planted the first large vine
yard, and, with his sOn-in-law, the late
j. de Barth ShOrb, was one of the first
TO ship oranges East. He was a firm
believer in the possibilities of CalifOr-
mia, and claimed that the States only
need was population. To this latter
end, and much against the inclina-
tions of the large landholders, he
favored immigration and started the
colony system, which has since be
come so universal. He sold the town
site of Pasadena, which had been his
sheep corral, to a colony from Indiana,
AND also induced the settlement of the
nolv thriving town of Alhambra. His
pa essiOns were enormous including
Pasadena, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Ra-
mona and the winery now known as
Shorb. He had the full confidence of
the native Californians, and when Los
Angeles was Spanish city he was one
:. of the largest property-holders there,
and was the first Alcalde.
The historical value of the autobio-
:graphy which Mr.. Wilson left and
which until the present time has been
: in the hands of the family, can be
%scarcely over estimated, for it gives an
insight into Apache life not afforded
by. any other narrative. The Apache
has been looked upon as an unredeem-
able savage, bloodthirsty beyond all
credibility, crafty in despicable war
fare, utterly without compassion, muir
dering for the mere lust of taking hui
man life, delighting in the most hideOus
of fortunes. Mr.. Wilson, however, in
his paper declares that the Apache, as
far back as 1888, was a ChriStianiZed
Indian, that under the influence of the
mission fathers he had acquired a GER
tain civilization, but that this advance
ment was gradually undOne by the ILL
treatment accorded him by the MeXi-
can Government, and that the climax
was reached when, through the treach-
cry of an American, the Apaches' prin-
cipal leader was assassinated.
3. D. Wilson was a man of striking
personality, and was one of that small
band of Americans who went into the
West in these early days and helped
to found an empire. He was born in
1911, at Nashville, Tenn. and the pre-
mature death of his father forced him
when a lad of Is into business. His
first venture was in the establishment
Of a trading post near Vicksburg.
Here he did business with the ChOctaw
a;Gd ChickasaW Indians. He remained
:. 4 Ficksburg until about 1880, when,
4 s health failing him, he Joined the
trading company which went out that
gar TO Santa Fe, n. Mex. The latter
point he reached early In 1888
Life in Santa Fe proving somewhat
tame, Wilson, having heard that great
wealth was to be obtained by the
=. trapping of beaver in the country in
habited by the ella and Apache In
dams, which lay still farther west and
near the ella and Colorado rivers, or
ganized a party of adventurous
Americans and started for that coun-
y. y
cessfuI and returned to Santa Fe at
the close of the succeeding year,
where it disposed of it's furs and dis
banded. Wilson, however, left again
for the Apache country, this time with
a company of trappers under the com
mand Of Enoch Barnes Of Missouri
who was murdered a few years ago in
Los Angeles County, Cal.
Wilson's memoir shows that the first
hunting trip passed off without Incl
dent, which indicates that up to that
date the Apaches were friendly. But
during the second expedition the com
pIexiOn of affairs changed materially.
Mr.. Wilson says: up to this time
the Anaches were on good terms with
the Americans. but they had an I'M
diving hatred for the MeXicans owing
70 the bad treatment of their chief,
Juan Jose"
This Juan Jose figures throughout
the balance of the memoir. 1t was he
who was murdered by the treacherOus
American and it was his death that
p to the Apache hatred of Ameri-
cans. According to Wilson, he was
very superior man, who had been edu-
Gated for the church, could read as
we'll as write and was something of an
dered his father, and for this reason
Imam Jose had severed all connection
with them, had joined his own people
and had proclaimed war against all
1rexicans. But his relations" says
Mr.. Wilson, with the Americans, both
traders and hunters, were Of the most
friendly character, and he never lost
Ban oDDortunity to show his friendship.
Whenever by any mistake any ami
mails belonging to American parties
were stolen by Apaches Juan Jose
would have them returned to the
owner"
This state of affairs, however, was
70 be destroyed by an American by
the name Of James Johnson, living at
Onosura, in the State Of Sonora, Mex
ico who had long retained cordial re
1ations with Jose. He was married to
native Of Oposura and had traded
for many years between Oposura and
New Mexico, thus securing for himself
quite a competency. He was on good
ferros with the Apaches, and if by