The record-union., 1899-06-17
The APACHES OF ARIZONA.
THEIR sELF-IhPORTANCE AS
WITNESSES.
Some Observations by q sacra-
Observation-Disclosures Of the
Desert Country.
(correspondence Record-Union.)

Correspondence Record-U -Union)
The barren rocks gleam through the
glimmering atmosphere, hot from tne
sand-refiected rays of the summer SUM-
The haze shrouded mountains and the
desert -skirted valley of the Gila River,
at the hamlet of Florence, Arizona, IS
much the same to-day as a quarter OF
century ago. The cultivated fields,
verdant with growing grain, have ex-
panded, to be sure, but the desert dot
ted with clumps of feathery mesquite
trees and stretches of fierce bristllng
chollas and the great army of giant
cactus, crowding upon the mesa and
around the base-rugged peaks, are still
besieging the citadels of mountain fast
nesses as in years past.
But has no spirit Of change come upon
this land?
Wait Lounging on the veranda OF
the principal hotel of Florence with
the guests, is a figure as picturesque
as 1t 10 prominent The long, gray hair.
the powerful form, unbent by the hard
ships and trying incidents of three score
years Of pioneer life, the suave and in
dependent air Of this man at once
curves the mind of the new arrival into
an Interrogation, and he does not rest
until told that he is a pioneer of pio-
neers, and served as an Indian scout
under Generals Crook, Miles and Law
ton This man, with graceful sweep
of his right strong arm, will brush
back his long locks and tell you Of the
evolutionsof twenty years in Arizona.
''Ah, no, this is not the Arizona of
~ o1ctn
and there is a big six-shooter in each,
but It Is all style now, the nlerest force
Of haEit. Half Of the cow men who
just rode past thus equipped are from
San Carlos. know all of them well.
True, there are cartridges in their belts,
for case of emergency, but half of
their guns may not be loaded. Twenty
years ago there was always charge
Of powder and lead in every cham
Der. One OF these charges was held
sacred andsconsecrated to self-destruc-
ton
You ask, why? It was an unwritten
law then that every Colts and Winches-
ter held five DEATH dealing missiles for
Apaches and one for the man who car
r1ed the gun, thus to insure himself
against the horrors Of Indian torture"
further. and you inquire as to the facts,
of Indian atrocities, even this man,
hardened and Injured to western life and
sened and Injured to western life and
unaccustomed to the refinements of
what you know as society, will take
hurried glance around him before reply
ing. and then, if he vouchsafe more
than a shake of the head and a panied
expression, which cannot be described
in words, he will lean forward and in
subdued tones tell of the horror Of hor-
rors and possibly name some incident
which will make your heart stop mo-
mentarily and give you a mind picture
which in it's dreadful awfulness will not
be obliterated from your mind for many
day.
But of the evolution.
Years ago Captain Jack Bah kis-lah
(brave mani and Gon-shay-ee (man
with hole shot through him), led by
Apache Kid, red handed from the mas
sacre of two families at the foot of SUI
perstition Mountain, were skullSing in
the hills with their marauding band.
while I, with trailers, was searching
the rocks for moccasin tracks. Twelve
years ago Captain Jack had the honor
OF standing trial in the court here for
alleged murder.
To-day I saw these self-aame In
dians, with many Others rolling in the
grass in the courtyard waiting to be
called as witnesses in the United States
Court. Captain Jack and Gon-shay-ee
Were playing a game of conguian, with
frequent grunts of evident enjoyment.
while Bah-kis-lah, belly down on the
turf, was wig-wagging two moccasined
feet over his back like an urchin coon
in watermelon season.
THE tables are turned now Twenty
years ago these fellows were hilarious
over the wholesale theft of the cattle
and horses Of the white settlers. To-
day our boys are getting even, and Cap
tain Jack and his friends are here to
prosecute a number of cowboys for the
alleged theft Of their cattle"
There is a determined effort being
made by stock men to put an end to
cattle stealing, and the Apache, who
has now adopted the peaceful pursui,
OF ranching, has no trouble, with rea-
.Eonable evidence, to secure the indict-
ment and arrest of suspected thieves.
His trouble, however, commences when
he gets into court. Out of venire of
sixty men this term it was impossible
to secure jury in case in which
Apaches We're to appear as witnesses.
Have you such a prejudice against
Apache Indians as to render you un-
BILE to sit as a. juror and accept their
testimony as you would a white per-
son, giving it similar weight and credit
under like circumstances? is a stereo-
typed question propounded to every
juryman by the United States Attor-
ney. An answer in the negative Is an
exception. and in every instance comes
from man who is a comparatively
recent settler in the Territory.
Il could not believe an Indian under
any circumstances" is not an infre-
quent answer.
When such man is excused, if you
are critical you may note some deep
scar on his swarthy visage Gas he
leaves the box and passes down the
dsle) made by an Apache knife or
bullet If no visible scar you may rest
assured that in his memory there is
cruel wound which flushed red under
these interrogatories.
You cannot censure these men for