The National tribune., 1903-09-10

Grant on the morning of April 30, 1871,
massacre"
GEN. HowARD's TOUR OF INVESTIGATION.
Some efforts were made to bring the
participants in the aboye-described cpl
SOde to trial, but it was soon discovered
that the prosecution would find itself with
out witnesses, and the matter was
dropped. ."t..-H GO
What kind of a report Lieut.. Whitman
sent to Washington about the affair was
never made public. At all events, it ere
ated some sensation in the Capital, for
during the Summer Gen. o. o. Howard
was sent to Arizona to investigate the
situation and to negotiate, if possible, a
permanent peace. ,.-,
He visited my school with Gov. Stafford,
and witnessed some exercises by the pu-
pills.. He paid me the handsome compli-
ment that l was "the right man in the
right place." and left some prizes with
me to be distributed among the most meri-
torious pupils. These were delivered to me
by his Aid-de-Camp, Capt. Wilkinson.
l was present at several conversations
between Gen. Howard and Gov. Stafford.
The General mixed freely with the peo-
pie, and listened attentiyely to their tales
of woe, hardship and losses caused by
Apaches. and requested Gov. Stafford to
give him his full cooperation. Gen. How
ard desired to do what was right, but it
seemed to me that he did not fully appre-
ciate the terrible slaughter Of our people,
nor the willy cunning and treachery of the
Apaches.* Gov. Stafford invited him to
spend two weeks with him, during which
they would go and see the desolate homes;
the bereaved widows, the fatheress chill
dren, the fresh graves, etc. The General
said he could not spare the time, but
finally consented to send his Aid, Capt.
Wilkinson. With him the Governor travel
ed two weeks, showing him the desOla ton,
caused by the destruction of the Apaches
and the sorrow Of the survivors Of the
murdered victims.
PEACE COUNCIL.
Gen. Howard invited representatives of
the friendly tribes Of Indians and citi-
zens to meet the Apaches at old Camp
Grant and endeavor to make peace. My
school being then closed for the Summer
vacation, l accompanied the party as
Spanish interpreter for the Mexicans,
while one Emanuel acted as interpreter
for the Apaches. This latter was civil
lied Apache used as a guide and interpre-
ter. At first he was very unwilling to go.
He said he had nine marks on the breech
Of his gun, each one Of which was a rec
ord of a dead Apache. and he feared they
would kill him. Finally, being assured by
personal protection, he consented to go,
and rendered very efficient services.
Gen. Crook, who had by this time re-
lieved Gen. Stoneman, was also present
at the conference. s..--.-
Tn, peace council was held on the banks
Of the San Pedro River near the fort. 1t
was evident to me, as soon as the council
opened, that the Apaches were not pre-
pared for peace. One of the first condi.
| tons they made was that certain children
taken from them by the Papagoes (prin-
cipally at the Camp Grant massacre, but
some previous to that EVENT. should be
returned. These children had been sold
to Mexicans and had been incorporated
| into their families, and, to all appearances,
were as much thought of and as well
| treated as their own. These Nexicans
had been induced to take the children to
Camp Grant as a peace offering. I shall
never forget the scene which ensued when
| these Apache children were torn from the
arms of their adopted mothers, amid the
| shrieks Of the women and children, and
were turned over to the nearly -naked
savages. The children knew no other pa.
rents than those who had adopted them,
and were as much terrified in being torn
from their adopted mothers as our chill.
sCochise managed to wheedie out of
the General q separate reservation for
his tribe, which was located In the Chi
ricahua Mountains, In the very mountain
fastness where Cochise retired from his
bloody work.