Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-04-11
MESCALBRO INDIANS
Rapid Progress Has Been Made By
Them In the Arts of
Civilization,
RESERVATION TO Be OPENED
The Work Of Major Llswellyn and Captain
stottlsr In 0ivilizing the Indians
The Tribe Is Greatly Reduced
In Numbers.

The Tribe Is Greatly Reduced
In Numbers.
The New Mexican several days ago
printed the pleasing intelligence from
Washington that the committee on In
dian affairs of the house of represent
atives had favorably reported back the
/ joint resolution, which provides for the
allotment in severalty Of 100 acres Of
land to each of the 444 Mescalero
Apache Indians on the reservation in
Otero county, and for throwing open the
rest of the reservation to settlement un-
der the federal land laws. The reserva-
ton contains 474,24 acres, nearly all of
which Is very valuable for agricultural,
grazing and mining purposes, and after
giving the Indians the 71.040 acres they
will be entitled to under this resolution
there will remain over 400, 900 acres open
to settlement.
The measure is unquestionably wise.
1t will not only better the condition of
the Indians. but will result in the i'm
mediate development of thousands of
acres that are at present unproductive
and practically worthless. Since the fer
tile region has been tapped by the Ell
Paso railroad all its varied resources
are conveniently accessible to settlers.
and no argument Is needed to establish
the proposition that within very few
years after the opening of the reserva-
ton as above contemplated the lands al
lotted to the Indians will be worth
great deal more than the entire reser-
walton is at present worth. The Indians
will not only be surrounded by instruct
i've object lessons in farming and stock
growing, but will enjoy the benefits ac-
cruing from the opening of new mar
kets at home for all they can produce
by the development Of the mines and
the manufacture of the timber into
lumber.
The story of the Mescalero Apache In
dians is deeply interesting. Within the
memory Of many Of the pioneer settlers
of New Mexico this tribe numbered
5000, and for many years they terror
ized the venturesome settlers and PROS
pectors of a vast scope of country en-
vironing their reservation. They were
cruel, crafty and vengeful, and more
than ordinarily gifted in the arts Of
barbarous border warfare. The sys-
tematic wars they waged for years
against the whites. particularly under
the intrepid leadership of such able
chiefs as Victoria and Naanana, cost
the lives of hundreds of settlers. and
southwest. Their citadels and places Of
refuge, when pursued by superior num-
bers, were in the almost impenetrable
Businesses Of the Sacramento, San An
from these they were long accustomed
to make raids into the valleys Of New
Mexico, often going into the Rio Grande
valley, and sometimes extending their
into Texas. Finally most of them were
subdued by the trained Indian fighters
under such generals as Hatch and
Miles. and the remnant Of the fighting
men of the tribe, under Chief Naanana,
joined forces with Geronimo in the San
Carlos reservation Of Arizona, where
they made their last stand against the
whites.
The capture of Geronimo and Mama
ma and the warriors under them by the
forces under General Miles forms one
of the most thrilling chapters in the an
nails of border warfare. and virtually
ended all serious trouble with Indians
in New Mexico. The credit for this cap
ture Is chiefly due to the personal skill.
prowess and untiring energy of the brill
liant and lamented Gen. Henry w.
Lawton, then a captain in the regular
army, who boldly went into the camp
Of Geronimo and his wearied warriors
and demanded their surrender. Such
marvellous courage, energy and celerity
in mastering Indian tactics and over
coming them against desperate odds, as
Lawton displayed, cowed the greatest
and bravest of all the Apache chiefs,
and he surrendered.
During the past eighteen years the
Mescalero Apaches left on the reserva-
ton in southeastern New Mexico have
been peaceable, and, under the guild
ance of such agents as Maj. w. H. H.
Llewellyn and Capt. v. E. stottler. they
have made remarkable progress in cul-
tivating the useful arts Of civilization.
During the years Captain Stottler, one
Of the most gallant and efficient officers
of the 10th United States infantry. was
detailed as agent Of these Indians, his
most difficult task was carrying out his
infexible resolution to force the
Apaches to abandon their blankets and
adopt the costume Of civilized men, but,
through the exercise of a great deal Of
patience and some duress, he succeeded.
A writer recently said:
"To visit the agency now. the trans
formation from savagery to real indus
try and civilization since 1861 seems
little less than marvellous. Miles and
miles of well-culttvated and fenced
farms, comfortable log cabins shingled
and provided with all the comforts Of
life; fields opulent with grain, and or
chards laden with fruit, drainage and
irrigation canals, and well filled grana-
ries mark the former haunts Of the lazy,
cruel savages. This year win see the
disposition of the last evidence Of saw
rorv Tho vv0vn.am havn haora forcnA "a