The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-08
; One Eyed Miguel.
SAS An Account of His Visits g
9 to Washington and Q
the Great Amer"
2 lean Chief" Y
a O
By Major General o. O. Howard.

how old Santos put the white stone
down and said that as long IS it
lasted there would be no war. After
this the Indians were very friendly 10
the white men, and so it seemed a
good time for some of the Indian
chiefs to go East and visit the Great
White Chief in Washington.
Just about one month after the
great peace meeting the young Pima
chief, Antonito, his friend Louis. who
spoke some English, and Mr.. Cook.
the good Indian teacher, Joined old
Santos. Of the Aravipa Apaches, who
came with his interpreter, Concep-
cion. to meet them e the crossing
of the Aravipa River. Then they all
rode on horseback to a field just
south Of Camp Grant. and here I met
them. Captain Wilkinson, my aide.
was with me, and we had a mounted
escort of a sergeant and six soldiers.
We we're to go 100 miles over a very
Apache, near the eastern border of
Arizona, but we could take no wag-
ons, SO all u luggage was on four
strong pack-mules, while I rode a
large gray horse.
We found a regular frontier army
post, large enough for six companies
of soldiers and their officers. This
was Camp Apache. You may be sure
that we were warmly welcomed, and
every one tried to make us comfort
able. When we were rested Major
Dallas, the commanding officer, told
me about the Indian tribes here.
There were three bands, all Apaches.
The nearest band, about 1000 strong,
was only a few miles to the east. Pc
dro was their chief. Eskeltesela was
the chief of another band. He was
old and easy-going, but a good soul.
His people q%uarreled some with their
neighbors, Major Dallas said, but on
the whole gave little trouble. About
twelve miles away to the south was
still another band, 500 strong. This
was under a chief whom the white
men called Conceived Miguel" be-
cause he had only one eye. These
chiefs, the major said, were formal
and caremonious, and had plenty of
complaints to make, so I might eX-
tas they knew I was at Camp Apache.
And it IA not long before they came.
, Pedro looked like a spare-boned, hard
Yankee farmer, and tried to
dress like a white man, for he had
one white man in his band. Eskelte-
sela was handsome, with fine features
and large, clear eyes. He dressed
like a Mexican. After he had paid
the usual compliments he told me
that his children had tried always to
do good. but they were often hungry
and wanted bread and some meat.
Last came One-Eyed Miguel. He
was the biggest chief of all, and in
deed was worth seeing. He was very
tall. his hair hanging loose, long and
unbranded. He seemed to be watch
ing all the time with his one eye, and
he was always smiling. Evidently,
come what might, he intended to be
agreeable. Conception interpreted
and told me that Miguel was glad to
see washington Big Chief" did l
know that the Sierra Apaches came
to the good major now for food, but
they had been hungry so long that if
you touched them their sharp bones
hurt you? They had good corn on
their fs<ms, too, only it was not ripe
yet. I listened to what Miguel had
to say and then I asked him if he
would go East with me. He thought
about it for some time and then said
that he would go.
At Santa Fee we left our escort
horses and wagons to the Indian
agent and garrison, and now. dressed
in good civilian clothes. took the
four-horse stage for Pueblo and then
by train to New York. On the way !
happened to speak of the earth as
round, and when the Indians heard
me they begged that I would not say
10, for people would. think I was trou-
bled with bad spirits; no one with
sense could think the earth was
( round. They hardly knew what to
say when | told them knew a white
+ man once who sailed in a ship all the
way around it. How surprised they
were I'VE all the new things they
Il COW, u.afPhnl N-hor thnr Frc- CO u-
a railway, a train of cars, a telegraph
A line, a tunnel or a bridge: sometimes
they were b~reathless and full Of fear,
at other times they showed great JOY.
Once EskelteSela said to me You
think Indians all bad; look in my
eyes and see if you see any bad
And indeed I did not, as | looked into
j his frank, open face and bright. clean
eyes.
Miguel carefully counted all the
mountain peaks as vi travelled. thai
he might surely be able to find his
way back, but as the train rushed OF
he became more and more discour.
aged, and at last he told me he had
given it up. He had trusted me to
come, and would trust NE altogether
now. In New York l bought Miguel
a glass eye. 1t was SO much like the
other eye that it was hard to tell
which was which. The doctor told
him to take it out and wash it nov
and then, but Miguel said: No, no
WHO yer heard of q mar taking out
4his eye?"
81 He was very proud Of this new eye
land had Louis write and tell his peo,