Office of the U.S. md. Agent
Camp Date Creek, A.T.
October 1st, 1872
Superintendent of Indian Affairs,
Arizona Territory
Prescott, A.T.
Sir:
I have the honor to submit the following Report of the condition
of affairs at this Agency during the month of September 1872.
In my report of the month preceding, I made known to you, that
the Indians had during several weeks, suffered greatly from
disease, and that they appeared much disheartened thereby, and
that discontent and restlessness were manifested among them to a
considerable extent.
On the 1st day of the month, just closed, O-hat-che-com-a, Chief
of the Apache Mojave tribe, applied to me for permission to leave
the reservation, with a part of his band, for the period of
thirty days: assigning as a reason for his request, that disease
was making frightful havoc with his people, and that it was
necessary that they should go to the mountains for recuperation.
The conduct of this Chief, during his sojourn upon this
reservation, had been, as I was informed highly exemplary; and
upon consideration of the peculiar nature of the case, and
believing that a change of scene and diet would operate bene—
ficially upon the suffering sick of his people, I deemed it
judicious to grant, with certain restrictions, his request.
These restrictions were as follows:
1st.- That he was not to go further than one days journey from
the reserve. 2nd.- That he was to go to a certain designated
camping ground. 3rd.- That he was to report in person at the
Agency, once in each seven days. 4th.- That he was to return with
his band, if sent for, at any time, even before the lapse of the
period named. And lastly. that he was to leave his brother as an
hostage for the fulfillment of these conditions.
After the Chief had left the reservation, it was discovered that
the whole of his band (with the exception of his brother, and an
Indian, who is known by the soubriquet of “Indian Jim”) had
departed, and it was rumored that they did not intend to return.
On the 5th day of the month, Jose Bacote and Charlie (the two
Indians who had gone from this reservation to Washington with
Gen. Howard) returned, and stated that the Superintendent of
Indian Affairs would speedily arrive here, and that he wished to
have a long talk with all the Indians. This, was made known to
the Indians and on the following morning (the 6th ultimo), I
informed Te—ye-ma-jor (brother of the absent Chief) and Indian
Camp Date Creek, A.T.
October 1st, 1872
Continued-
Jim, that I desired them to go out, as guides, with one of my
employees, to the camp of O-hat-che-com-a, to verify that that
Chief had complied with my conditions; to find out the number of
people in his camp, and generally, to learn how they were faring.
This, Te-ye-ma-jor and Indian Jim promised to do, but when my
messenger, had prepared himself for the ride, the Indians were
nowhere to be found, and he was obliged to make the journey
alone. He reports, that he found the camp, but that it had been
entirely deserted by the Indians, a few days before. He followed
their trail (which led in the direction of the Black Mesa) for
about five miles, and then not having seen anything of them, he
returned to the Agency.
On that evening Capt. Byrne, accompanied by Iretaba, Chief of the
Mojave tribe and two other Indians, arrived here, and on the
following morning, the Indians on this reservation seemed much
exorcised concerning the presence of Iretaba.
It appears that there has heretofore, been much animosity
existing between the bands of this reservation, and the band of
Iretaba. In fact, the feud between them had grown to such
proportions that at one time (some months ago), as I was inf
ormed, the last mentioned band had sent a message to the Indians
here of the following import; that if any of them came over to
the Colorado Reservation, they would be killed, and I am also
informed that our Indians returned a like hostile message to the
band of Iretaba.
It was then by no means singular that these Indians indulged in
grave speculations as to why Iretaba had been called here, and
that much excitement was manifested among them. This excitement
was, in some measure, allayed, when, after I had brought together
the Mojave Chief and some of our head men and required them to
shake hands, Iretaba explained that he had come here merely
because Gen. Crook was coming, and desired to meet, and have a
talk with all good Indians.
On the same morning, Te-ye—ma-jor and Indian Jim came in, and
seemed particularly anxious to get possession of 0-hat—che-
corn-a’s revolver, which had been left with the Blacksmith of the
Post, for repairs. This, together with a wariness and restl
essness in their manner, convinced me that they premeditated
escape from the reserve, and for this reason, as well as for the
deception they had practiced the day before, I caused their
arrest, and confinement in the Guard House.
A few hours afterward Gen. Crook visited us, and informed me that
he wished to see all of the Indians as soon as Dr. Bendell
arrived.
Camp Date Creek, A.T.
October 1st, 1872
Continued-
Upon the arrival of Dr. Bendell on the afternoon of the 8th
instant, Gen. Crook informed the Superintendent and myself, that
there was evidence that several of the Indians upon this reserve,
had been concerned in the murder of the passengers on the
Wickenburg stage, last year, and in the perpetration of other
atrocities, and that it was his intention to arrest such Indians.
About the same time O—hat—che—com—a, unaccompanied by any number
of his band, made his appearance.
I do not deem it necessary to report herein, in detail, the
events that followed while the Superintendent was present.
Suffice it to say, that the condition of affairs, after the
attempt to arrest, and at the time of the departure of Dr.
Bendell was, as follows: Four Indians, count, 0-hat—che-com-
a, Te—ye—ma-jor, Ar—ra—poot—yer, and Indian Jim, were incarc
erated in the Guard House, and no other Indian (with the
exception of an aged and infirm man) were to be seen upon the
reservation.
In the morning of that day, the number who had received rations
were 398. These were all Apache Yumas. The band of 0-hat-che-
corn-a, being all sbsent.
During the night of the 8th ult., three of the Indians confined
in the Guard House, attempted to escape through the canvass roof,
and the soldiers firing upon them, Te-ye-ma-jor was killed.
O—hat—che—com—a and Indian Jim, although both were severely
wounded, succeeded in escaping in the darkness.
On the following morning (the 9th ult.) I visited the rancherias
of the Indians, and found them wholly deserted. I found four
ponies, a considerable number of cooking utensils, a quantity of
flour, and other articles, scattered here and there, abandoned by
the Indians in their hasty flight. I took charge of the ponies,
and have disposed of them as herein after indicated. An infant
child (male) which in my absence, had been brought in to the
Agency from one of the abandoned rancherias, was also taken
charge of by me, and is still properly cared for. An aged Indian,
badly wounded in the hip, was also found near the Camp, by the
soldiers, and brought in for surgical treatment.
On the 10th ultimo, some Indians came in, to Mr. Gilson, a
citizen who resides upon the reservation about three miles from
this Camp and who had displayed a white flag upon his ranche, and
had a talk with him, seeking an explanation, why the Indians had
been arrested on Sunday, and why they had been fired upon, and
expressing a desire to return to the reservation.
Mr. Gilson, after consultation with the Commanding Officer of the
Camp Date Creek, A.T.
October 1st, 1872
Continued-
Post, and myself, started for Department Headquarters, with a
report of the facts, and a request for instructions in the
emergency.
On the 11th ultimo, a few Indians came in, to the Agency, and
stated that they were hungry, and that their children were crying
for food. I save them rations, and told them that if they
returned to and remained upon the reservation, they would be fed
as heretofore.
On the 12th ultimo, Jemaspie, with about twenty of his warriors,
and two squaws, arrived, asking for rations, and also for the
ponies above referred to, and for arms that they had lost. They
also wished to take the wounded Indian, before mentioned, with
them.
Jemaspie was anxious to talk, especially about Iretaba and the
affair of the 8th ultimo, but I told him that Gen. Crook was
expected to arrive in a few days, and that a satisfactory
explanation would then be made; and in the meantime, I would feed
them as usual. I gave them rations, and the ponies, and permitted
them to carry away the wounded Indian.
On the 13th ultimo, about ten Indians came in, and I gave them
rations. And on the same day Gen. Crook arrived, and a message
was sent to the Indians that the General would receive them at
the Post on the following morning.
On the 14th ultimo, about 100 Indians came in and met the
General. Rations were issued to them, and after they had prepared
and eaten their food, but little time remained for the real
objects of the gathering, since the Indians had come in at a late
hour, and were desirous of returning to their Camp before dark,
and the Council was adjourned to the 15th ultimo.
On that day the Indians sent in word that the Chief’s wife was
dead, and that they could not come in that day.
On the 16th ultimo, Jemaspie, with twenty of his warriors came in
and the following arrangement or treaty was agreed upon by Gen.
Crook and the Chief, Jemaspie, with his people, to come back and
remain upon the reservation; he is to permit his men to assist in
punishing bad Indians; he is to be friendly with all the whites
and their friends (from this last clause Jemaspie insisted on
excepting Iretaba, Chief of the Mojaves): he is not to harbor or
feed bad Indians, who are guilty of crimes against the whites or
their friends, and for the present, the Indians are not to be
absent from the reservation, except while assisting the troops in
campaigns against hostile Indians.
Camp Date Creek, A.T
October 1st, 1872
Continued-
On the 17th ultimo, 79 Indians (of whom, there were 60 warriors,
10 squaws, 8 boys and 1 girl) came in. They stated that quite a
number of their Indians were sick, and that as soon as their
people got well, they would move in upon the reserve. I told them
that they had promised Gen. Crook, that they would come in at
once, and they must do so, for if the soldiers found them in the
mountains, they would kill them. I issued rations to them in
bulk, but told them that they would not receive full rations
until they came in with their families.
An Indian was found near the Post this day, wounded in the right
knee. He had had nothing to eat, except what he could pick up in
the bush, since the 8th ultimo. The Indians carried him back with
them on their return to their Camp.
On September 18th, four Indians came in, to the Agency, and
stated that one of Jemaspie’s children was sick, but that all the
Indians would be in, on the next day.
On the. 19th ultimo, Jemaspie, and twenty Indians came in for
rations. The Chief was quite ill, and stated that ten of his
Indians had died, and that the greater part of the remainder were
sick. He also stated that he could not come in upon the reserve,
for the present.
On the 21st ultimo, two Indians came in and stated that the
Indians would be in tomorrow (Saturday).
On the 22nd ultimo, rio Indians having appeared, I sent out two
Mexicans to seek their Camp. They returned with the report that
nearly all of the Indians had left that morning, for the
mountains, and evidently did not intend to return unless forced
to do so.
Up to the present date, nothing further has been developed.
There are no Indians on the reservation, except the one confined
in the Guard House, and the infant child above referred to, and
at the present date, there appears little prospect of their
speedy return.
I am Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. Williams,
U.S. Special Indian Agent.
