New-York tribune., 1902-08-03
IN CAMP WITH APACHES
INTERESTING ACCOUNT BY MEMBER
OF THE sEQUOYA LEAGUE.

I'VE have but recently returned" said member
OF the New-York Council of the Sequoya League,
from unique camping trip in Arizona, which had
for Of its objects the study of Apache life at
first hand. Fortunately for our peace of mind, We
did not realize until it over and We were back
in civilization that came rather near being in
the midst of a real Indian 'scare-Apache at that.
1T happened be week or two after the an
nouncement the part of the government that
rations were to be off from the San Carlos
Apaches July l. and thereafter the Indians would
be forced work.
while this programme was based on the right
principles of Indian management, theoretically,
for the policy of the government is TO break up
tribal relation and force all Indians to become
self-supporting possible. the mental at
titude of the Apaches is decidedly antagonistc to
its practical application in their special case Indlan
nature cannot be changed in one generation. Inc
majority of the older bucks will not accept hard
labor. When they learned that the government
nroposed to ston issuing rations they became suen
and INDUCED in many threats. They began manu-
featuring bows and arrows, were secretly laying IN
guns and ammunition and openly threatening to
take to the hills-whch would have meant depreda-
tions upon live stock and the murder OF sohtary
prospectors and ranchmen
The immediate consequence would have been a
general uprising of the people OF Arizona Inat
would have left no further occasion for figuring
on the Apache problem. but hundreds of peaceful
Indians as well as white people. would have suf-
fered for the deeds of a few marauders
fortunately for all concerned. letters Of warning
from the officials at the various Apache agencies
were forwarded to the Governor of Arizona who in
turn advised the Secretary of the Interior of the
situation. while the Secretary of War also received
confirmation OF the from army officers, and
It was at once decided to rescind the orders given
for cutting off of the ratons OF all this under
lying fernent, however. we were bssfuly ignorant
at the time or we might not have stepped in so
bthely where others, familiar with Apache nature.
might have feared to tread.
DESERT DRIVE.
"A twenty-six mile drive across the desert, with
occasional detours to examine some of the old Toll
tee irrigation dtches-triumphs of engineering skill
formed the interesting prelude to our trip The
fnterIude included several deserted ranches.
whose roohess adobe walls and muely staring doors
and windows told the story of some ones fruitless
toll and blasted hopes; sharp climb up the spurs
of the Mazatzal range, the former scene of many
a bloody encounter between the fierce Apache of
the hills and the peaceful but brave Pima of the
valley, and then stop at old Fort Mcdowell, aban-
doned By the government some years ago. Built in
1865 TO afford protection to the settlers in the Salt
River Valley from the troublesome Tonto and Ptnal
ADaches its adobe buildings have mostly crumbled
back to Mother Earth from which they sprung,
though the commandments house, fallen from its
former high estate, still offers protection to a mon
grel crowd of Mexcanos chickens. cats and sharp
nosed coyote pups.
The grand finale of our trip however. our
camp a half mile beyond the fort on the brow of
a little hill sharply descending on the one side to
the Verde River and the other looking directly
down into the Apache village. 1t was an ideal
place for a camp, combining those two rare requi-
sites in a desert country-plenty Of wood and water
There was big mesquite tree, whose low, thick
branches sweeping the ground. served admirably
TO hold our toilet accessories as well as the bags
and boxes of provisions OF the way of swarming
ants and thievish coyotes
MYSTERY NO MAN KNOWS.
There was also the foundation Of small adobe
building evidently started by the soldiers for
guard or pest house, but never completed. The
walls on three sides had risen 10 the height or
three or four feet, and within this partial in
closure two folding army cots were set up for
the women of the party and covered with the
thick Navajo blankets that camper is ever vol
UNFAIRLY without. The horses were embarrassed
and unsaddled and staked close enough to be un-
der constant observation-ths more from fear of
our 'Greaser' neighbors than the Indians.