Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1900-04-14
MESCALERO INDIANS.
Rapid Progress Made by them In
the Arts Of Civilization,
RESERVATION TO sI OPENED,

The committee on Indian affairs Of
the house OF representatives has Ia
voNbly reported goint resolution.
which provides for the allotment In
seversity of 100 acres OF land 10 each of
the tit Mcscaloro Apache Indians ON
the reservation In otero county. and
for thriving open the rest OF the rcser-
walton to settlement under the federal
land laws The reservation contains
i7t.gt0 acres, nearly all % which 10 very
valuable Tor Agricultural. graElng and
mining purposes. and after giving tho
Indians the u go acres they win be en-
titled to under this resolution there will
remain over 100000 acres open 10 set
Element
The story Of the Mescaiero Apache
Indians II deeply interesting. Within
the memory OF many OF the pioneer
settlers OF New MsKlco this tribe num-
bered 5000 and for many years they
terroriaed the venturczome settlers and
prospectorA Of a vast scope Of country
onyironlng their reservation. They
were cruel. crafty and vengeful. and
more than ordinarily gifted Ia The arts
Of barbarOua border warfare. The
Systematic wars they waEed 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
cong retarded the development OF the
southwest. Their citadeis and places
0f refuge, when pursued by superior
numbers, were ia the almost impcne-
trable fastncss OF the Sacramento. San
Andres and other mountain ranges,
and from these they were long accus-
toned to make raids into the valleys
Of New Mexico. often going into the
Itio Grande valley. and sometimes ex-
tending their murderoue and deyas-
tating operations into Texas Finally
most Of them were subdued BY the
trained Indian fighters under such gen
erals az Hatch and Miles. and the
remnant OF the lighting men OF the
tribe. under chief Naanana, Joined
forces with Geronimo In the san Car
los reservation In Arizona. where they
made their hast 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 annals OF border warfare. and vir-
tually ended all serious trouble with
Indians In New Mexico. The credit Of
this campaign IL chiefly due to The per-
sonal skin. proweNs and untlring en-
chgy Of the brilliant and lamenied
General Henry W. I.awton. thes. a cap
tain In the regular army. who boldly
went into the camp OF Geronlsno and
his wearled warriors and demanded
their surrender Such marvellous cOur-
age. energy and celebrity In mastering
Indian tactics and overcoming them
agains, desperate odds az Lawton dis
played, oowed the greatest and bravest
of All the Apache chiefs, and he sur
rendered.
During The past eighteen years the
Mescuiero Apaches lest on the reserva-
tion In southeastern New Mexico save
been peaccable. and. Under the guild
ance og such agents az Maj w. II. u.
ilewellyn and capt. V. r.. stottler they
have made remarkable progress In cul-
tivating the useful arts of civilization.
During the years Captain Stottler. one
% the most gallant and efficient officers
OF the Tenth United States infantry,
was detailed an agent OF these Indians.
his most difficult task was carrying out
his iniexible resolution to force the
Apaches 20 abandon their blankets and
adopt the costume OF civilized men.
but. through the exercise of great
deal OF patience and some duresa. he
succeeded, A writer recently said.
To visit the agency now. she trans
formation from Savagery 10 real indus
Try and civilization since 1851 seems
little less than marvellous Miles and
miles ~ well cultivated and fenced
farms, comfortable log cabins shingled
and provided with all the comforts OF
life. iselds opulent with grain. and Or
ehards laden with srult drainage and
irrigation canals. and well filled gnana-
rlen mark the former haunts oy the
lazy cruel savages This year will see
the disposition VI the last evidence of
savagery, The women have-hseu y 'ed
10 adopt the mode Of dress approved
by the white women. the tepecs have
giveo away entirely Ca log cabins and
In the schools are represented every
growing scion of the Mcscalera
Apaches."