Arizona republican., 1902-02-12
AN EDUCATED APACHE
Mike Burns, Cousin of Dr. Carlos Mon
 tezuma, in Town.

Mike Burns, the ''educated Apache. " is in town. He came down from his home in Yavnpai county. near Mayer. yesterday. and will stay here several days. Next to his cousin, Carlos Mon tezuma, who is q practicing physician in Chicago. Mike Burns is probably the best educated Apache of mature years now living. He is about g years old, and although rather under the aver age height, is q magnificent specimen, physically. Not only is he well edu- cated. but he is q man of great natu- ral intelligence. While shy and modest. Burns expresses himself in excellent English. and on occasion shows q good vein of humor. The story of his life covers an interesting chap ter of Arizona and Indian history. and Burns himself is q shining object les son as to the results of educating Apaches-probably the strongest of all Indians mentally-and then giving them the benefits of close acquaintance with white people.
 Burns introduction to civilization began in one of the most noted trag- edies of Indian warfare in the terri tory. He was captured by troopers of the Fifth cavalry a few hours previous to the great slaughter of Apaches by that regiment near the canyon of the Salt river, which event occurred in De- cember. 1872 The Apaches were on the warpath at the time, and the band to which Burns parents belonged was being pursused by the regulars. The band numbered about 150 bucks. squaws and children. and had taken refuge in a "cave" or natural depres- sion in the widest portion of the Sup erstition mountains. a place which they considered inaccessible for the whites. and in which they did not. dream of discovery. Mike was then a child of seven or eight years. Upon some CT rand, the nature of which he does not now remember. the boy on command of his father had started for the Four Peaks with his uncle the day before the fight, and some miles distant from the Indian camp they were discovered by the soldiers. The uncle escaped. but Mike was captured and forced to lead the soldiers to the Indian hiding place. There were five troops of the cavalry. and with them were about seventy-five Papgoes. In the night the soldiers crept up on the Indian stronghold and surrounded it without being discov- cred. Indeed. the Indians felt so safe. Burns explains. that they had posted no sentinels. and it developed that the warriors had put in most of the night talking, and they only Tell asleep a short time before dawn. At the break of day the soldiers poured volley after volley into the Indian camp, and 115 were killed outright. few children. mostly girls escaped. But few captives were taken. The PapagoeS having rushed in and brained the wounded be- fore the soldiers could interfere. The Indian band was practically annihi- lated. Burns father and mother were both killed in the fight. The casualties on the side of the soldiers were insig- nificant, but the Papago chief was slain.
 The innocent guide to the slaughter of his relatives was taken in charge by Captain John Burns of the Fifth cavalry, and given the name of Mike. ' and he has been Mike Burns from that day to this. Captain Burns until his death cared for the Indian boy kindly. and then General Wesley Merritt took possession of him. General Merritt educated him, sending him to the com mon schools of Pennsylvania and New York. and then to the Carlisle Indian school Burns speaks of the general in terms of strong affection, and looks upon him as a father.