St. Tammany farmer., 1906-10-27

United States troops attacked ou
new camp at sunrise. The fight lastet
all day, but our arrows and spears
were all gone before ten o'clock ant
for the remainder of the day we hat
only rocks and clubs with which tt
fight. We could do little damage will
these weapons, and at night we moved
our camp about four miles back into
the mountains, where it would be hare
for the cavalry to follow us. The mex
day our scouts, who had been left be
hind to observe the movements of the
soldiers, returned, saying that the
troops had gone back toward San
Carlos reservation.
1--WE went on toward Old Mexico
but on the second day after this Unit
ed States soldiers overlook us about
three o'clock in the afternoon and we
| fought until dark. The ground where
we were attacked was very rough,
which was to our advantage, for the
troops were compelled to dismount in
order to fight us. I do not know how
many soldiers we killed, but we lost
only one warrior and three children.
| We had plenty of guns and ammuni-
ton at this time. Many of the guns
and much ammunition we had ac-
cumulated while living in the reserva-
| ton, and the remainder we had OBJ
tanned from the White Mountain
Apaches when we left the reservation.
''The troops did not follow us any
longer, SO we went south almost to
Casa Grande and camped in the Sierra
de Saharipa mountains. We ranged
! in the mountains of Old Mexico for
about year, then returned to San
Carlos, taking with us a herd of cat
tie and horses.
Horses and Cattle Seized.
"Soon after we arrived at San Car
los the officer in charge, Gen. Crook,
took the horses and cattle away from
us. told him that these were not
white mems cattle, but belonged to us,
for we had taken them from the Mex
leans during our wars. I also told
him that we did not intend to kill
these animals, but that we wished to
keep them and raise stock on our
range. He would not listen to me,
but took the stock. I went up near
Fort Apache and Gen. Crook ordered
officers, soldiers and scouts to see that
was arrested. If offered resistance
they were instructed to kill me.
'That night we held a council of
war; our scouts had reported bands of
United States and Mexican troops at
many points in the mountains We
estimated that about two thousand
soldiers were ranging these mountains
seeking to capture us.
Interview with Gen. Crook.
Gen. Crook had come down into
Mexico with the United States troops.
They we're camped in the Sierra de
Antunez, mountains. Scouts told me
that Gen. Crook wished to see me and
went to his camp. When I arrived
Gen. Crook said to me, Why did you
leave the reservation I said: 'You
told me that I might live in the reser.
vation the same as white people lived.
One year l raised a crop of corn. and
gathered and stored it, and the next
year put in crop of oats, and when
the crop was almost ready to harvest
you told your soldiers to put me in
prison, and II resisted to kill me. If |
I had been let alone would now have
been in good circumstances, but In |
stead of that you and the Mexicans
are hunting me with soldiers He
said: I never gave any such orders; |
the troops at Fort Apache. who spread
this report, knew that it was untrue
Then agreed to go back with him to
San Carlos. @'
"It was hard for me to believe him
at that time. Now 1 know that what |
he said was untrue, and l firmly BE- |
lieve that he did issue the orders for !
me to be put in prison or to be killed !
in case offered resistance
1--WE started with all our tribe to go |
with Gen. Crook back to the United |
States, but feared treachery and con- !
cluded to remain in Mexico. We were |!
not under any guard at this time. !
The United States troops marched in |
front and the Indians followed, and |
when we became suspicious we turned |
back. 7 do not know how far the |
United States army went after myself |
and some warriors turned back before !
we were missed, and do not care.
cao% I ,a,$an II, +hA E;>id
"Soon Gen. Miles was made com
mander of all the western posts, and
troops trailed US continually. They
were led by Capt. Lawton, who had |
good scouts. The Mexican soldiers !
also became more active and more
numerous. We had skirmishes almost
every day, and SO we finally decided
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