The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-05

OF THE
CHIEFS
BY
Editha
L.
Watson
MANCAS COLORADAS
AND COCHISE

scalps. Since Apaches were numer-
GUS in southwestern New Mexico,
the white settlers In this region de-
cided that here was an easy way to
make money. Accordingly, in 1887,
a number of Indians were invited
to feast. and when they had gath
cred In the building where it was to
be held. the doors were shut, and
yolleys fired through the windows.
This became known as the Bean
Supper" massacre.
Naturally, the Mimbrenos (the
Apache band Of this region) were in
censed. They gathered and attacked
the white miners at Santa Rita, New
Mexico, killing most of them, and
took the Santa Rita district as their
stronghold.
This and similar acts by the whites
of the district brought on a series OF
hostilities. Mangas ColOradas ("Red
Sleeves'D, who had been bound and
whipped by Pinos Altos miners, be-
came the leader of the Apache band.
The hills between Pinos Altos and
Santa Rita, distance of some TWEEN
ty miles, began to swarm with In
dams. Groups of them patrolled the
countryside, and it was necessary to
provide a soldier escort for stage
coaches, lest the Apaches attack
them and kill the passengers.
Isolated ranch-houses in the region
IT, IL
though it is said that at one ranch, the
red men contended themselves with
driving away the whites, then dressed
themselves in the women's best cloth
ing and held a dance before leaving.
In Arizona, the Chiricahua Apaches
were also growing bitterly hostile.
Cochise, their leader, who had con-
tented himself with warfare against
the Mexicans, in 1861, was caught and
very roughly treated by United States
soldiers. He escaped from them with
three bullets in his body, and five of
his companions were killed. His heart
was as bitter as that of Mangas.
Now began a season of retaliation;
settlers were driven out, and their
homes laid waste. Even federal
troops retreated before the Apache
ferocity. Furious at their humiliation,
the two leaders waged bitter war
against all white people, and their
tribe became a synonym for terror
and death to the scattered white set
tiers.
The Civil war broke out about this
time, and the soldiers were withdrawn
to engage in the more important con-
flict. This left the Apaches master Of
the situation, but not for long; the
California volunteers were sent into
the region to reoccupy the country.
Mangas and Cochise now united
against the new enemy. AS conse-
quence of this alliance, the Apaches
from the Rio Grande to the Chiricahua
mountains were on the raid. The
Mimbreno band numbered from 400 to
$50, according to various estimates.
They obtained supplies from the mill
tary post at Janos. Chihuahua, on ac-
count of being at peace with the Mex
leans, and thus were enabled TO con-
tinue their depredations in the face
of the white mems opposition.
The volunteers, under General Garlic
ton, found their task no easy one.
Finally. at Apache Pass, Ariz., the two
"armies" met, and the howitZers OF
the Californians dispersed the Apache
bands Mangas was severely wound
ed, and unable to continue with his
people. He was taken to Janos,
where the Mimbrenos had obtained
rations, the only safe place in which
he could be left. He was given into
the care of surgeon, his men threat
ening to destroy the town IL their
leader were not cured of his wounds.
Whether this threat had an effect or
not, we do not know, but Mangas re-
covered, and was ready to resume this
warfare against the whites.
Soon after his recovery, however,
the Apache chief was killed. There
are two stories about his death, equal
ly discreditable. One is to the effect
that the Californians captured him.
goaded him with a red-hot bayOnet.
and killed him when he tried to es-
cape. The other Is that he went to
Fort McLane, New Mexico, to make
treaty, was imprisoned, and was shot
by sentry under the pretext that he
was afraid Mangas would escape.
Cohise was more fortunate. After
the Civil war was ended, a campaign
of determination against the Apaches
was put into force. The Chiricahua
chief held out as long as he could I'M
der the new conditions, but surren-
dered in 1871. The next year, dissat-
isfed, he escaped with 200 of his peo-
pie, and later 600 more followed him.
That summer, however, he returned.
and lived on the newly-established
Chiricahua reservation, where he died
June s, 1874.