General Crook and the Fighting Apaches: Treating Also of the Part Borne by Jimmie Dunn in the days, 1871-1886, When With Soldiers and Pack-trains and Indian Scouts, but Employing the Stronger Weapons of Kindness, Firmness and Honesty, the Gray Fox Worked Hard to the End That the White Men and the Red Men in the Southwest as in the Northwest Might Better Understand One Another — John Shaqi
General Crook and the Fighting Apaches: Treating Also of the Part Borne by Jimmie Dunn in the days, 1871-1886, When With Soldiers and Pack-trains and Indian Scouts, but Employing the Stronger Weapons of Kindness, Firmness and Honesty, the Gray Fox Worked Hard to the End That the White Men and the Red Men in the Southwest as in the Northwest Might Better Understand One AnotherSabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
General
General Crook and the Fighting Apaches: Treating Also of the Part Borne by Jimmie Dunn in the days, 1871-1886, When With Soldiers and Pack-trains and Indian Scouts, but Employing the Stronger Weapons of Kindness, Firmness and Honesty, the Gray Fox Worked Hard to the End That the White Men and the Red Men in the Southwest as in the Northwest Might Better Understand One Another
“I got it from Maria Jilda, the Mexican who was captured when you were
captured. He came up to Camp Apache from the Apache Pass where Camp
Bowie is. He escaped from the Chiricahua, and now he is an interpreter
at Camp Bowie. Yes, Cheemie; Cochise and Geronimo and all that band
have gone to live with their brothers the Warm Springs and the
Mimbreños at the Cañada Alamosa on the Rio Grande River in New Mexico.
But,” added Micky, wisely, “they will not stay.”
“Don’t they want peace?” queried Jimmie. “Did they listen to the words
of the white peace man?”
“That white peace man in the black clothes?” demanded Micky scornfully.
“No. The Apaches laugh at that white peace man. It is easy to lie to
him. The wild Apache think he promises so much because the Americans
are afraid of them. The Cochise people are hungry and winter is near
and the soldiers have been fighting them hard. They hear that Victorio
is being fed and has plenty of clothes and guns. They can rest there
until they are ready to take the trail again. What are you doing,
Cheemie? Do you like the new American general? I saw him shoot that
Tonto. He is a good shot. Afterwards I found the Tonto. He was dead.
Then I went to the White Mountains, at Camp Apache.”
“I am living with Joe Felmer, on his ranch. He is a scout, and he works
at the post, too,” informed Jimmie. “The general sent me home, but
he told me to learn all the soldier ways I could, and not to forget
Apache talk. If I’m not old enough to be a scout, I can help with the
pack-trains.”
“I shall be a scout,” nodded Micky. “That is why I have come out with
the runners: to learn the country. He is a great general, that man
Crook. Chief Pedro and old Miguel liked his talk. It is true that if
some of the Apaches stay bad, the good Apaches will suffer by it. They
will be watched closely and cannot do things they would do if all the
Apaches were trusted. So Chief Pedro and the White Mountains will
help the new general who talks straight. It is this way, Cheemie――I
have heard Pedro and old Miguel and Pi-to-ne and all, say so: As long
as there are any wild Chiricahua and Tonto, there will be trouble
between the red men and the white men, in Arizona. We must kill the
bad Apaches. Then the good Apaches can live at peace and get rich. In
the spring the new general must begin to fight, because by then the
Chiricahua will be rested up.”
The two Apache runners or dispatch-bearers came back from the
adjutant’s office. Their names, as told by Micky, were Alchisé
(Alchisay) and Nah-kay-do-klunni. They both were Sierra Blanca――White
Mountain Apaches. They and Micky were taken by Antonio Besias the
interpreter to be given coffee and bread; and as there was nothing more
to be said, Jimmie went about his own business. He knew that he would
see Micky Free again, somewhere. Micky was that kind.
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