Year: 1866

For part of last month San Francisco was much excited over q report that some thous- ands of Indians had massacred the garrison at Fort Goodwin, in this Territory. Colonel Cany and others, lately from here, wrote to tie papers exposing the improbability of the affair, but it was not until General Mason was heard from that the public mind was sat isied that it had been most egregiously hoaxed

 The .Alid says that the report has been traced to a mail carrier, who probably wanted some excuse Co pronounce the carry ing of the mails here very dangerous, if not an impracticable, business, but We can hardly believe it so originated. Whoever its author may have been he richly deserves the halter, and if detected he should be hung to the nearest tree, for besides worrying the numer- ous relatives and friends of the garrison, he has done the Territory immense harm, and kindled anew the opinion abroad that we are 60 overrn with hostile Indians that life and property here are wholly insecure

 If the California people knew the Apache us we know him they would never for an in- stant credit the report of any bold movement on his part. He is the greatest of towards and never fights excepting he has every aa- vantage. There is not harmony sufficient ir his own ranks to admit of anything like a formidable movement against any fort in tho Territory, Instead of two thousand warriors (as reported) uniting under any circumstanc- e, nave seldom # evef Is ard Ss - ..:.icn c two hundred. Our oldest pioneers and ex. plorers say that a combination of one hundred or of fifty warriors is very difficult and that parties of more than one hundred are rarely known.

 At Fort Goodwin, which is far up on the Gila, and in proximity to the worst Apaches avery doubtful policy has been pursued for some months past. If we are correctly in formed the barbarians have been freely ad Initted to the fort or to its immediate vicini- ty, and regularly fed without any attempt tc detain them If the design has been to ge, them upon reservation it has been strange ly carried out. To feed an Apache and Ie, him return to his people is to strengthen him for fresh treachery. Every Apache fed should have been made to know that he was to remain upon the reservation.

 military reservation at Fort Goodwin. upon which to place any members of the ma. ton that may prefer peace to war, would be good thing if established upon the true the fhaf f,r sI f T.. dian to his nation while al war with us would be disastrous, but upon the plan which seems to be in favor at that post, or to have been heretofore, reservation would simply be an agency for the benefit of our common enemy We trust that Colonel Wallen will see to 1t that new leaf Is turned Oger at this im- portant post. No Apache should be allowed near it unless with the uR4ers tanding that he is to go upon a reservation from which he cannot escape while single member of his race is at war with the whites.

 A correspondent of the CaU. writing from Fort Goodwin, under late date, says:

 Seven hundred rations per day of wheat or corn and beef are issued to Apaches at this post These Indians are Sierra Baneas and Coyoteros

 He adds:

 Until lately, the Indians did not steal from this post nOS, if 8 mule, beef or horse strays from the herd one night, before the morning dawns ii is exercising the digestive organs Oi the " I.O r family. Apaches arc like many Of our own hue, t5ey don't bear acquaintance In diplomacy or what Is yuIgarly called shenanigan,n they are unriyailed

 And he further adds:

 Just now, some four hundred Finals and Ton tos, under their big war chiefs, are collected on the other side or the Pinal Mountain, they say that they will first alight on Fort Grant, and then sweep around on this place.

 Comment on these statements is anneces- sary. They more than sustain the ground we have assumed, and strikingly illustrate the folly of tampering with the murderous barbArians.