No. 462.
Mr. Fish
to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, January 28,
1874.
No. 68.]
Sir: With reference to your dispatch of the 27th of
August last, relative to alleged depredations of Apache Indians of Arizona
Territory upon citizens of Sonora, in Mexico, I transmit a copy of a
communication of the 10th instant, addressed to this Department by the
Secretary of the Interior. You will make such use of the communication as
may be-most advisable, toward explaining to the Mexican government that
careful inquiry has been made into the complaints which had been addressed
to them on the subject, and that there is every disposition on our part to
prevent a recurrence of occasion for similar complaints.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure.]
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C., January 10, 1874.
Sir: This Department received, on the 23d of
September last, a letter from the honorable the Secretary of State,
inclosing a copy of a dispatch, under date of the 27th August last,
addressed to the Department of State by Mr. Foster, the minister of the
United States at the city of Mexico, and its accompaniments, in relation
to depredations alleged to have been committed by Apache Indians of
Arizona Territory upon citizens of the State of Sonora, Mexico. On the
26th September, 1873, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs was instructed
to forward copies of the papers referred to to Indian Inspector
Vandever, with a request that he investigate the subject and report to
the Department. On the 16th ultimo the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
submitted to this Department two reports from Inspector Vandever, dated
October 19 and 20, 1873, respectively, concerning the depredations
alluded to, with depositions of Juan Acuña and Joseph Pierson, and
statements of Governor Safford, of Arizona, of R. A. Wilbur, agent for
the Papago Indians, and of J. W. Hopkins, United States deputy collector
of customs at Tucson, Arizona; also, a number of recent copies of “La
Estella de occidente,” the official newspaper published at Ures, the
capital of Sonora, containing marked articles, giving an account of
Apache depredations in said State, copies of all which, including
translations of the marked passages in said newspapers, are herewith
transmitted for the information of the honorable the Secretary of
State.
I will remark, in this connection, that a recent recommendation having
been made by the officer commanding the Division of the Pacific that the
control over the Indians on the Cochise or Chiricahua reservation be
assigned to the military, the subject was referred to the Indian Bureau
for report. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in a letter dated the 2d
instant, says: “While there is evidence from official reports and other
reliable sources that Cochise has endeavored, with commendable success,
to carry out, in good faith, his promises to Special Commissioner
General O. O. Howard, whose authority was plenary to make terms with
this chief, it must be acknowledged that, owing to limited means at
command, distance of the region, and difficulty of transportation, the
Government has been apparently tardy in complying with its promises to
Cochise and his band. These promises, however, at this date are being
more fully
[Page 727]
complied with; and
it is respectfully suggested and requested that Cochise have further
opportunity to show his disposition and power to prevent raids, and his
readiness to comply with his agreement to keep the peace.”
Under existing circumstances, as reported by the Commissioner, it was not
deemed expedient at that time to acquiesce in the recommendation above
referred to.
This Department will, however, in the event of a failure, which is not
anticipated, on the part of the officers and agents of the Indian
service, to put a stop to the depredations Complained of, take further
measures with the co-operation of the War Department, for the protection
of the citizens of Sonora, and of the United States, against the Indians
of Arizona.
A copy of a communication, dated the 29th ultimo, from the Indian Bureau,
containing instructions to the agent for the Indians of the Chiricahua
agency, is also herewith transmitted for your information.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. Hamilton Fish,
Secretary of State.
[Inclosure 1 in inclosure No.
68.]
Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C., September 26, 1873.
Sir: I transmit herewith a communication, dated
the 23d instant, from the honorable Secretary of State, and the dispatch
therein referred to, of the United States minister to Mexico, in
reference to complaints in the Mexican press, in relation to the
depredations by the Apache Indians of Arizona Territory upon the
citizens of Sonora, Mexico.
I would thank you to forward copies of these papers to Inspector
Vandever, with a request that he will investigate the subject and report
to the Department.
Very repectfully, your obedient servant,
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
[Inclosure 2 in inclosure in No.
68.]
Mr. Smith to Mr.
Jeffards.
Department of the Interior,
Office of Indian
Affairs,
Washington, D.
C., December 29,
1873.
Sir: I am in receipt of your report of your
agency for the month of November, 1873, in which you state your action
in returning the horses stolen from the Rio Mimbres and also that you
have been informed that a drove of horses stolen in Sonora have been
trailed to your reservation, but have not found whether they were on the
reservation or not.
You also state that Indians continue to come from northern reservations
asking to be allowed to draw rations under pretense that they have been
driven off their own reservations by the harsh measures of the military,
and that you order them to return to their reservation.
You express the opinion that it is Indians of this class who commit the
most of the numerous depredations complained of in Sonora; that these
Indians cross your reservation to enter Sonora, and return the same way,
leaving a trail leading to your reservation which brings Cochise’s band
under the imputation of committing the marauding.
In connection with the facts, as stated by you, you are informed that the
request has been made by the military division of the Pacific that your
reservation be turned over to the control of General Crook, in order to
prevent depredations in Sonora by Indians, and unless these depredations
can be stopped by your action, with the co-operation of Cochise, and his
band, this Department will feel obliged to comply with the request of
the Military Department.
The matter is submitted for your serious consideration and that of the
Indians. You will inform Cochise and his band of the prompt and decisive
measures necessary on their part in preventing any other Indians from
crossing their reservation into Sonora
[Page 728]
or in case they should cross and depredate in
Sonora, to give them chase, and capture them and their booty.
Give Cochise distinctly to understand that unless the line between his
reservation and Mexico can be thus guarded, this reservation will be
held by the military, and he will be obliged to bring his men to a daily
roll-call, that the truth as to whether any of his men depredate in
Sonora may be established.
You will report at once as to the result of this conference with Cochise,
and make any suggestions you may deem proper in the case.
Very respectfully, &c.,
EDWD. P. SMITH,
Commissioner.
