USA > Arizona > Arizona, prehistoric, aboriginal, pioneer, modern; the nation's youngest commonwealth within a land of ancient culture, Vol. I > Part 34
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CHATTO AND THE MCCOMAS MURDERS
In March, 1883, the infamous Chatto left the Sierra Madres and entered Arizona, killing a party of wood choppers in the Huachucas, torturing and kill- ing two miners, R. B. M. Dibble and Isaac A. Bateman, at the mining camp of Winchester and thence drifting toward the northeast.
On this raid, in Thompson Canon on the upper Gila, occurred the murder of the MeComas family, one of the most dreadful of southwestern tragedies. MeComas was an attorney of distinction in southwestern New Mexico and the murder therefore attracted wide attention. The circumstances were especially bloody and horrible, even for an Apache ambush, the bodies of McComas and his wife being mutilated in unspeakable fashion. Their little boy, Charlie, was picked up by the band, which was on its way southward into the Sierra Madre
CHATTO, 1883
CHARLEY W. MCCOMAS Captured by Chatto's band March 28, 1883
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Mountains. For several years reports were returned that the boy still was living in Mexico. The relatives maintained hope for several years and advertised throughout the Southwest, offering a reward for the boy's return, hoping that the notice, which was illustrated by a portrait of the child, would get into Indian hands.
Years thereafter an Indian scout, who had been a member of the band, told that the boy continued to weep for his murdered parents, making such a noise that the irritated Chatto roughly ordered his death. So the Indian with whom the child was riding lifted him by the hair, plunged a knife into his breast and threw the body into a convenient arroyo. According to Chas. R. Montgomery, the famous Southwestern hunter, Chatto later told that Charlie McComas had been killed within a mile from the spot where his father and mother had been murdered. Montgomery stated that he afterward verified the tale by going to the spot indicated and there finding a few bones, apparently those of a child. He gave the details to General Crook, but Chatto then was a confidential scout and Crook did not care to punish him. Geronimo later claimed that the MeComas boy had been killed far down in Mexico, but probably lied.
CROOK'S FIRST MEXICAN CAMPAIGN
Few features of Apache atrocity ever have excited such horror as did the MeComas murder, and from New Mexico and Arizona arose a cry for vengeance. It was apparent that whatever was done with the Indians in Arizona, there must also be extermination of the band of cutthroats south of the line. So General Crook went to Hermosillo, where he conferred with Governor Luis Torres. There arrangements were made for co-operation between the American and Mexican forces. Shortly thereafter Crook organized his first expedition into Mexico. He took a small troop of the Sixth Cavalry, with Captain Chaffee in command, Lieut. Frank West and a force of 193 Apache scouts, under charge of Captain Crawford. As aides-de-camp Crook took Capt. John G. Bourke, Third Cavalry, and Lieut. G. T. Febiger, Engineer Corps. Other officers were Lieuts. C. B. Gatewood and W. W. Forsythe, Sixth Cavalry, Lieut. Jas. O. Mackay, Third Cavalry, and Sur- geon Andrews. The leading scouts were Al Sieber and Archie MacIntosh, while Mickey Free, Severiano and Sam Bone were taken as interpreters. It is prob- able that the expedition was due to the return to San Carlos of a White Mountain Apache, Panayotishn, known to the soldiers as "Peaches," who had married a Chiricahua and who had left San Carlos with the insurrecto band in October, 1881. "Peaches" told a story of trouble with Chatto and offered to lead the soldiers into the Mexican mountains against the hostiles. Possibly by Crook him- self this story was taken with many grains of salt, but it was appreciated that it offered an opportunity to at least meet and treat with the Apaches and possibly stop their forays.
The Indian scouts generally were White Mountains or Coyoteros and in- cluded Alchisay. According to Bourke, the expedition was remarkably successful, He told that, 200 miles south of the international line, within the unknown re- cesses of the Sierra Madres, was "surprised and captured, after a brief but decis- ive fight, the stronghold of the Chiricahuas, who were almost all absent, raiding upon the hapless Mexican hamlets exposed to their fury. As fast as the warriors and squaws came home they were apprehended and put under charge of the
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scouts. This was one of the boldest and most successful strokes ever achieved by the United States army ; every man, woman and child of the Chiricahuas was re- turned to the San Carlos agency and put to work."
Captain Bourke was a gallant officer, a charming gentleman and a most pleas- ing narrator of the experiences of his time. Yet in this one respect the accuracy of his narration, significantly brief in itself, has been challenged repeatedly, for it is believed that, instead of meeting with entire success, the expedition practically was a failure and that the Indians who thereafter returned came of their own volition. In the language of the frontier it would appear that the Indians "called Crook's bluff."
The attack referred to by Bourke was far from a general one. Lieutenant Forsyth in his diary records under date of May 15, 1883, "The command had marched about six miles when again they were stopped by a scout from Craw- ford : 1:10 p. m. Indian scouts ran upon one buck and ten squaws and killed them before I intended to attack the camp, but I must now." It is said that this was the only fight there was, caused by the agitation of a few young scouts.
THE MYSTERIOUS TREATY WITH GERONIMO
The central Indian rancheria was known as the Peach orchard. As Bourke has stated, few of the bucks were at home when the Americans dropped in, but they were in the hills roundabout, fully aware of the coming of the forces from the north and well prepared to receive them, with superior numbers and with the advantage of location. There was even doubt of the loyalty of the Apache scouts, as was natural, for Alchisay and his band were of proven treacherous character. To be depended upon only was the little band of soldiers and the American scouts, in all numbering less than sixty. Assuredly Crook had run himself into a perilous situation. Also without doubt the hostiles at the time of dispatching "Peaches" on his mission had finally concluded to return to the United States if they could by competent authority be assured that vengeance would not be exacted for their murders of years past and that they would be protected against the logical de- mands of the civil population. The principal feature seems to be that Crook gave the Indians the advantage in going into their own camp to treat with them, instead of sending for their chiefs to come to a place of his own choosing.
The principal Indians, called by peace signals, met with Crook and a number of his officers in a memorable conference. The leading chief of the several inde- pendent bands was Nachis, though the most active of the leaders was Chatto. Geronimo, it should be explained, really was a man of little influence with his people and had no particular rank as a chief, but he had the "gift of gab" and for years had served as the mouthpiece of Juh, who had an impediment in his speech and who could hardly talk at all when he became excited. In a way, Geronimo had much the same position as Sitting Bull among the Sioux. It should be remembered that Geronimo, like Juh, was of the Janos, and Nachis, son of Cochise was hereditary chieftain of the Chiricahuas, to which tribe also belonged Chatto and Bonito.
At the conference May 29, in that lonesome valley of the Sierra Madres, Geronimo did the talking for the Indians and hence was accepted by Crook then and later as the controlling leader of the hostiles, an erroneous estimate that has been accepted unto this day.
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An excellent appreciation of Geronimo's character has been given by Connell, who has written : "He was the politician of the southern or Janos Apaches. He could set forth the wishes of the leaders of the Chiricahuas or any other branch of the Apache nation in glowing terms, and in eloquent words portray their wrongs-their sufferings, and at the same time obtain concessions and terms that were advantageous. He was forever wound up with words and wrongs. He was vain in the matter of speech. He would rather talk than eat, although he had a voracious appetite. In other words, he was spoiled by the recognition of General Crook and his sense of importance led him for many years afterwards to pose as the real leader of the Apaches. In later years at Fort Sill he was deposed from his throne of usurped authority by Asa Duke, a son of Juh, the real leader and chief of the tribe to which Geronimo belonged."
Tom Horn was pushed forward as interpreter by Sieber, whose estimate of the situation was shown in his words of warning: "Take a knife, Tom; stand while you interpret; forget that you may not live another minute and think only of the talk." Crook told Geronimo of a treaty permitting the American soldiers to cross the line and gave him his choice of war or peace. During all the early stages of the conference, Sieber was sure that the Americans all would be slain and he kept his hand within his shirt where he had a revolver with which he meant to blow out Geronimo's brains at the first move that looked like violence. There were hours of weary talk, for Geronimo had the oratorical chance of a lifetime. He discoursed with eloquence on the alleged wrongs of his people and diplomati- cally doubted the word of the white man.
ESCAPE OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEFS
There was a second talk the following day, after the Apaches had argued the matter out among themselves. Then the Indians announced their willingness to return to San Carlos, with the condition that they were to be fully protected, that they were to be allowed to carry their arms and to march as they pleased and that they should be maintained in the possession of whatever horses, mules and cattle they had on hand, though it assuredly was well known to the American com- mander that practically every head of stock had been stolen. The leisurely march started for the north, with 383 individuals in the Indian column. Only 250 of these reached San Carlos. In little bands nearly all the fighting men dropped out long before the Gila had been reached, returning to Mexico for further depre- dations, unencumbered by their families or their booty, which they had placed under the care of long-suffering Uncle Sam. Rations had been issued to all and when the absence of Nachis, Chatto, Geronimo and the principal fighting men was marked, the easy explanation was made that they had gone out into the hills after the balance of the Indians. The General, accepting these assertions as truth, left Captain Chaffee at Silver Creek, near San Bernardino ranch, to wait for the stragglers. The others reached San Carlos June 20.
It is probable that Crook had some doubt about the Indians he had trusted, for Herbert Brown of Tucson in after years wrote that the General had told him that the escaped Indians "can't be brought in in twenty years." The General, however, accepted an invitation to visit Tucson, a city which had shown a rare spirit of hospitality and of appreciation. He was extended a banquet and ball
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at Levin's park. It is told that the General was gracious, but Tucson later became the center of a strong attack upon him and his policies.
When the wearied party from the south crossed the international line, a number of United States customs officers were in waiting, prepared to do their duty with respect to the importation of the Mexican stock, but were practically driven away by the military. It is told that there were scores of claimants for the cattle and horses, which were driven through to San Carlos in pursuance to the agreement. Bourke rather bitterly writes on this subject: "As in the Southwest the custom was to put on the brand of the purchaser as well as the vent brand of the seller, each animal down there was covered from brisket to rump with more or less plainly discernible brands of ownership. General Crook knew that there must be considerable percentage of perjury in all the mass of affidavit presented and wisely decided that the cattle should be driven up to the San Carlos agency and there herded under guard in the best obtainable pasturage till fat enough to be sold to the best advantage. Brands and all data concerning the disposition of each head of stock were preserved and the money realized was sent through Washington to the government of Mexico for distribution.". It was told that some of the stock thus treated was brought in later by the bucks who had abandoned the main party and there was bitter complaint when it was taken from them.
The prodigal Ishmaelites were placed upon the White Mountain reservation north of San Carlos and there rather "close herded" by troops, given rations and encouraged to cultivate small patches of ground in the valleys.
APACHES SAVED FROM CIVIL AUTHORITY
About this time Crook was receiving much unfavorable mention in the press of southern Arizona, and the depth of his resentment is indicated by a report to the War Department, in which he is said to have defended his action in keeping the wild Chiricahuas upon the reservation as having been made necessary as a measure of protection of their homes and property against "white scoundrels." The Indians on the reservation were placed under charge of Captain Crawford, who was given the assistance of Lieutenant Gatewood. Crook surely had an un- happy period about that time. The civil authorities appealed through every pos- sible channel for the surrender to them of such known murderers as Chatto, the bloody assassin of the McComas family, and through diplomatic channels came demands from Mexico for the return of the stolen stock.
Crook defended the Chiricahuas as prisoners of war, "who had surrendered with the understanding that their past misdeeds would not be punished, provided they behaved themselves in the future. To attempt to punish those at the San Carlos reservation as prisoners would be an act of perfidy and bad faith and would unquestionably not only prevent the return to the agency of the Chirica- huas left in the Sierra Madres, but would precipitate an Indian war which would be more serious in its results upon the two countries than any which has pre- ceded it. . It would be almost as impossible to exterminate the Chir- cahuas in their mountain homes as the wolf and coyote with whom they share their possession of the Sierra Madres."
Though Captain Bourke, in his commendable loyalty to his chief, states that the last man, woman and child of the entire band of Chiricahua Apaches (512 in number) had been taken to Camp Apache, in July of that same year Indians from
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COTOC, A MARICOPA CHIEF, AND HIS WIFE
TYPICAL PIMA INDIAN "KEE" NEAR PHOENIX
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the same Sierra Madres band were raiding the Nacozari and Moctezuma country. Bonito was sent southward by Captain Crawford to bring in the hostiles, who seemed to be terrorizing the whole country between Nacozari and Chihuahua. But Bonito took all the time he wanted and possibly participated in some of the subsequent raids.
Some of the irritation was caused by such stories, possibly true, that the McComas relatives were compelled to pay $50 to Chatto for the recovery of the Judge's gold watch, this having been considered much in the same category as cattle. At Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, in September, 1883, a band of Indiaus sold a gold ring and two bracelets marked with the name of Mrs. McComas.
GERONIMO RETURNS TO HIS RATIONS
Conditions in Sonora about this time may be imagined from an offer made by the Mexican government of $250 for the scalp of any male Apache. Four hun- dred volunteers, including a number of Americans, marched into the Sierra Madres in an effort to exterminate the San Carlos Apaches, still in the mountains. As a result, still more "repentant" hostiles surrendered to military camps along the border, together with no small number of horses and cattle. Chatto came back February 27, 1884, and, escorted by Lieut. Britton Davis, Geronimo returned to his rations at San Carlos March 14. Soon thereafter the Chiricahuas were trans- ferred to Turkey Creek near Fort Apache, mainly because of the dissensions of Captain Crawford and Agent Wilcox. Even then they were not all home, for at least a score had remained in the hunting grounds of the Sierra Madres. Geronimo was indignant when Captain Crawford took stolen Mexican horses from him, an action that may have been cited by him as reason for his future breach of contract.
Captain Crawford, weary with his controversy with Agent Wilcox, in April, 1884, was granted a court of inquiry, which, in July, gave him both acquittal of wrongdoing and praise for his work, his administration at San Carlos being de- clared "wise, just, and for the best interests of the Indians," who are declared to be very near to self support. The execution of an Indian named "Charlie," in the opinion of the court was without barbarity, in accordance with Indian tribal forms and customs and of good effect. General Crook approved the findings of the court.
There followed a few months of relative peace. Firmness was shown in sending Cayetano of the Chiricahua band to Alcatraz prison for trying to start an out- break. Some surcease from sorrow appears to have been afforded by the resigna- tion of the unpopular Agent Wilcox, in October, 1884. But the row between the Interior and War Departments over the management of the San Carlos Indians continued after the accession of the new agent, C. D. Ford. When Crook was overruled in February, 1885, in his claims upon the civil administration, he stated that his understanding was that "I should put them to work and set them to raising corn, instead of scalps."
CHIRICAHUAS AGAIN ON THE WAR PATH
As was natural, while the white men were quarreling over questions of admin- istration, the Chiricahuas began to quarrel among themselves. Due warning was sent the General by Lieutenant Davis, who finally asked aid from the command- Vol. I .- 17
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ing officer at Fort Apache, but, favored by the customary official delay, in May, 1885, 124 Chiricahuas, including forty-five bucks, left the reservation headed southward on the same old bloody trail. They were led by Nachis, Chihua- hua and Geronimo, happy with their hands again wet with gore. They had killed twenty-one persons by the time they crossed the Southern Pacific near Deming. Soldiers sent on the trail were fought back by a rear guard of Indians and the Apaches made good their escape into the Sierra Madres. It is told that by this time General Crook, heartsick and weary, was willing to acknowl- edge the failure of his policy of gentle treatment and it is also told that for the first time direct orders were received from the War Department to kill every Apache on sight.
Not content with the hunting in Mexico, several raids were made northward. One of these passed not far from Bisbee, through the Mule Pass Mountains and into the Sulphur Springs Valley. On June 10 Captain Lawton, with a small force of soldiers, had an encounter with this same band, which surprised him while he was in camp in Guadalupe Cañon. There was terror all along the border and in every hamlet men were organized for defense. Companies of some size were col- lected at Tombstone, Clifton, Tucson and Bisbee. The Clifton command, under Captain Fisher and Lieut. W. J. Parks, had a fight in Doubtful Cañon with twenty-five Indians, about its own number, and killed two Apaches.
Bourke especially refers to what he called "The Tombstone Toughs," who "marched upon San Carlos with the loudly-heralded determination to 'clean out' all in sight." He was rather bitter over this civilian invasion of the military field, by what he called "rum-poisoned bummers of the San Pedro Valley." Bourke is authority for the statement that all this volunteer force did was to fire upon a decrepit Indian of the Eskiminzin band and then run away. Probably Bourke was prejudiced.
A campaign of terror was inaugurated by the redskins, covering much of the territory between San Carlos and Moctezuma. Indians were reported every- where stalking Americans and Mexicans in the same manner that they would antelope. Against these light and fast-moving parties the heavily equipped American troops for a while seemed to have little success. Crawford, with a large force of White Mountain Apaches, was sent into Mexico, while seventeen companies of soldiers were strung along the border. There were occasional en- counters, in some of which a few hostiles dropped, five of them in one fight with some scouts commanded by Maj. Wirt Davis.
In September Geronimo and a small band slipped through to San Carlos, probably hoping to get recruits, but left with the addition of only two squaws. They circled back through New Mexico, murdering as they went.
This campaign brought the Indian war closer than ever home to the Arizonans and terror and resentment were expressed on every hand. One Board of Super- visors offered a reward of $500 for Geronimo, dead or alive.
The hostiles must have been reinforced, for they seemed to swarm in the Chiricahuas and as far northward as the White Mountains beyond Clifton. The wide scope of the insurrection was shown by the fact that the Turkey Creek camp near Fort Apache was attacked by the broncos, who killed twelve of the resident Indians and captured two squaws. Chief Sanchez reported November 22, 1885, that he had killed and beheaded one of the raiders, a son of Juh, and
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that the raid particularly was for the purpose of killing Chatto, who had re- fused to go on the warpath. The death list was a long one and to detail the circumstances attending each atrocity would unduly extend this necessarily limited chronicle.
The situation was so grave that commanding General Philip Sheridan came from Washington and met General Crook at Fort Bowie in December, 1885.
The hostiles became so bold that they even fired upon troops of cavalry, probably merely to exhibit their dexterity in getting away. Three of the Dun- can Rangers were wounded in a fight with Indians on the Gila River, Decem- ber 24.
ZULICK FEARS ATTACK ON SAN CARLOS
One of the most unpopular actions of Gov. C. Myer Zuliek, was his famous proclamation of December 23, 1885. The whole of Arizona was in an indignant turmoil over the Apache situation, the ever-lengthening list of murders and the apparent futility of the military pursuit. Possibly following the lead of General Crook, the Governor proclaimed :
It is with regret that I feel called upon to notice officially the inflammatory appeals that have been made to the passion and prejudice of the people of the territory upon our Indian difficulties. I earnestly entreat our citizens to discountenance lawlessness, to prove that Arizonans are yielding obedience to the law, as this furnishes the highest test of citizenship. No wrong was ever corrected by sacrificing right. The peaceful Indians occupy the San Carlos reservation by authority of law. The Federal Government will give protee- tion to them and any unlawful attack upon them would aggravate our present troubles and subject us to the just condemnation of the civilized world. The hostile Chiricahua Apache renegades, murderers and thieves, I am officially informed, will be pursued until their cap- ture or utter destruction is effected. No effort will be spared by the Government to bring them to deserved punishment and give protection to life and property in Arizona. I therefore beseech our citizens to guard the good name of the territory by discouraging incitement to unlawful deeds. Our peace and prosperity depend upon the maintenance of the law and preservation of order. I warn all evil-disposed persons that the powers of the Federal and territorial governments will be evoked to preserve the rights and redress the wrongs of all persons within our borders.
INDIGNATION OVER THE INDIAN SITUATION
Intense feeling against the Apaches by Arizona at large was shown by a large number of meetings, held in various localities on June 13, 1886, in pursuance to a call that had been issued June 3 by the Society of Arizona Pioneers, which later chose Granville H. Oury to present to the President of the United States the true situation of Indian affairs in the Territory of Arizona and to convey an appeal for relief from the curse of Apache Indian depredations that had been allowed to rest upon them so long by previous administrations. This resolu- tion was signed by H. S. Stevens, President of the society, and Win. J. Osborn, its Secretary. The resolutions from a dozen towns are fairly uniform in de- nouncing governmental failure in the handling of the Indian situation and in demanding a more vigorous pursuit of the Indian murderers and their sur- render thereafter to the civil authorities. There were references to "corrupt officials and Indian rings in Washington, hand in hand," and to "Indian reser- vations whereon hostile Indians are maintained in idleness, are fed, clothed, armed and given the opportunity to commit inhuman outrages as a tribal amuse- ment, whilst on an annual or biennial picnic, going to and from their favorite
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