The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-24
CHAFEE AND APACHEE
How General Brought Indians
Under Rule.
HIS LIFE IN ARIZONA
Battles Fought and Recreation
Taken.

Fort Mcdowell, Arizona, Jan. 3D.
There quite bit Of Interesting MS
tory Connected with this immediate local
ity. A military post was established here
in 1867, and Major General Adna K. Chat
fec. a native of the Western Reserve,
born at Orwell. O., 1872, was in COM
mand for about two years, from 1876. AT
that time General Chaffee was a captain
in the Sixth Cavalry. Company |, with
rank of major. He had served with dis
1inction through the civil war. On the
9Th inst. he was put at the head of the
army of the United States with rank OF
Acknowledgement. Major General Leon
ard Wood was post surgeon at this post
There are many persons in this vicinity
who we'll remember both of the above
gentlemen. The Indians We're quite
troublesome and caused the settlers
and soldiers much annoyance and ne
cessitated their being constantly on
guard and on the watch Men were put
10 work clearing up the government farm.
and a force of armed soldiers stood
watch over them while they We're thus
engaged to protect them from the red
skins
Soldier camp life necessarily becomes
monotonous. but there were here hours
of recreation and diversion. chiefly in
hunting and fishing. The country was
new and wild, and game, such as deer.
wild turkeys. quail. etc. was abundant
Indians would lie in wait for the SOL
diers and settlers while fishing on the
banks of the river and pick them on.
Major Chaffee was fond of field sports
and gave free bent to these inclinations
by hunting and fishing. The soil here
is OF marvellous fertility. and produces
crops during nearly all the year. The
soldiers at the fort had a large ''soy-
ernment garden in which were grown
large quantities of vegetables. SO that
with the game killed and beef furnished
BY the government. their tables We're we'll
supplied with appctizing food and eata-
bles in abundance
The Indians in this part Of Arizona
were what were known as Majave
Apaches. or Tonic Apaches. the word
tonic signifying weak minded. not
bright They were. indeed. in many re-
spects. little better than animals. british.
and brutal in instinct and nature. stoiid.
and bloodthirsty. OF this tribe was the
notorious Apache Kid who went on
the warpath alone. and TO whom more
than twenty murders are charged
old settlers here have much 10 say OF
the commandment at Camp Mcdowell At
the period referred to. and they refer Ia
him as .'Chafee.' which. a. remarked,
was his rank at the time of service in
Arizona. He was genuine soldier. Il
strict disciplinarian, but fairly worship
ped by his men. Incidents in his mill
tsry career are still told with great in
-tereSt and enthusiasm. The account o.
fight with Indians known as the Big
Dry Wash battle is related by Major
McClintock. a Rough Rider" with
Roosevelt. and at the present time pest
master at Phoenix. the capital Of the ter
fitory. He says; THE action practical
" demonstrated the effectiveness OF the
American horse soldier and his ability 10
beat even the Apache on the trail and IN
the fray.
When grass time came one summer
during those troublesome times. about
one hundred and fifty Apaches, three
fourths of them mature bucks, left the
White Mountain reservation on the CHA
River. in arizona They started OF i'm
: mediateiy after ration day, well sup