The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-03-27
; 0ne-Eyed Miguel.
sNa An Account of His Visits 80
. to Washington and 0
the Great Amer =
y lean Chief" [.
BY nalor-G General 0. o. Howard.

You remember the great peace
meeting near Camp Santos, where the
Indian children were given back. and
how old Santos put the white stone
down and said that as long as il
lasted there would be no war. After
this the Indians were very friendly TO
the white men, and so 1t 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 near the crossing
of the Aravipa River. Then they all
rode on horseback to field just
south OF Camp Grant. and here 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 90 miles over a very
rough. steep mountain trail to Camp
Apache, near the eastern border of
Arizona, but we could take no wag-
ons, so all our luggage was on four
strong pack-mules, while | 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 10 make MS 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 few miles to the east Pc
dro was their chief. Eskeltesela was
the chief of another band. He was
old and easy-going. but good soul
His people quarreled 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 "One-Eyed Miguel" be-
cause he had only one eye. These
chiefs, the major said, were formal
and cercmonious, and had plenty of
complaints to make, so | might ex-
pect to have visit from them as soon
as they knew ! was at Camp Apache.
And il was not long before they came.
Pedro looked like a spare-boned. hard
dress like white man. for he had
one white man I'm 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 aud
unbraided. He seemed to be watch
ing all the time with his one eve. and
he was always smiling. Evidently.
come what might. he intended to be
agreeable Conception INTERPRETED
and told mo that Miguel was glad to
see Washington Gig Chief" did |
know that the Sierra Anaches came
10 the good major now for food. but
they had been hungry So long that If
YOU touched them their sharp homes
hurt you2 They had good corn on
their farms, too. only 70 was not ripc
yet. | listened 90 what Miguel had
10 say, and then ! asked him If he
would 80 East with mo. lie THOUGHT
about u for some time and then said
that he would go.
At Santa Fc we lert our escort
horses and wagons to the Indian
agent and garrison, anil now. dressed
in good civilian clothes. took the
tour-horse stage for Pueblo and then
by train TO New York ON the way
happened to speak of the earth rs
round, and when the Indians heard
me they begged Cha, ! would not sa,
SO. Tor people would think was trou.
bled with bad sriri.s. no one wifi
sense could thut the earth wa,
round. They hardly knew what &,
say when told chem I knew a whit,
man once who sailed in shin all TN,
way around &c. How surprised the,
were over am the new things the,
saw. ! watched when they first saw
railway. a train OF cars. telegram
line, a tunnel or bridge: sometime
they were breathless and fun of fear
at other times they showed great ioy
once Eskeltesela said TO mo. "Yo,
think Indians all bad: look I'm m
eyes and see IL YOU see any bad
And indeed I did not. as looked int
his frank, open face and bright, clea
eyes.
Miguel carefully counted all th
mountain peaks as we travelled. tina
he might surely be able TO find hi