POLITICIANS AND INDIANS

Gen. George Crook

Geronimo

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 27, 1887.

WILES OF THE APACHE.

How General Crook Whipped and Protected Them in Turns.

   General George Crook, the Indian fighter, recently told a reporter some of his experiences among the red men, and although it has often been his province to subdue the hostiles, he has not devoted his whole attention to that part of his duty, but has studied the Indian question, as it is called, in all its phases, and if practical experience counts anything no man is more familiar with the wild Indians than he.

   Thirty-five years ago be was graduated at West Point, and, excepting the five years of the late war, he has been constantly among the very wildest tribes. His last campaign was against Geronimo and his band, and the surrender of that chief is still fresh in the public mind.

   General Crook said that he had experience with all the Indian tribes on the Pacific slope from the British to the Mexican boundary lines, including the Apaches, Sioux and Cheyennes. The Apaches, he said, now hold land practically in severalty. It was land that he had himself assigned them, but whether or not it would be granted to them was a matter for the Government to settle. It was by all means his opinion that the Apaches should remain where they are.

   He had always whipped the Indians when they were bad and protected them when they were good, and they understood his position perfectly. He had negotiated many treaties with the Indians, and many of them bad been broken. In the old time before the War of the Rebellion the Indians went on the war path out of "pure cussedness," or because they regarded the white men as usurpers, but that was all done away with now. The Indians saw that their only hope was to adopt the white men's mode of life. They understood the situation as well as we did, and took more interest in it because their very existence was involved.

   Indian wars nowadays were the result of an accumulation of wrongs. When the last straw came to break the camel's back the Indians went to war and the people of the country, not knowing of any of the previous wrongs, got the erroneous impression that war was declared on account of some trivial matter.

   In regard to having the Indians in charge of two separate departments of the Government, General Crook said it was like two captains on board ship, and was sure to cause trouble.

   He regarded the Indians as superior to the negroes in intellect, and up to a certain point the Indian boys learn faster than their white brothers, but when it comes to teaching them anything about civilization or abstract truth they are all at sea. And that, of course, was easily explained, for they did not have the generations of educated people behind them. It was all new to them.

   General Crook considered the Apaches the worst and the smartest of all Indians, and said that it was true of all Indians that they were frenzied when at war and could not reason. When friendly they would not steal. There was no truth in the story which so many people believe that the Government issues arms to the Indians. They get the arms from traders and in a secret manner, and never peach on a man who sold arms to them.

   Without aid from friendly Apache scouts, said the General, the hostiles could never be captured. The Apaches lived in a country half the size of Europe, and as rough as any in the world. Over their rough country the Indians could travel on foot at the rate of sixty miles a day, and pick up as they went along enough food to subsist upon. An army to follow them must take along provisions. The Indians always watched their back trail, and their rear pickets were at least six miles behind the main body. These pickets saw the pursuers and watched their every move, but were themselves unseen. If the pursuing force got up to within a mile of their camp, which was always selected in the worst part of the country, among the rocks, when morning came the Indians might be fifty miles away in any direction, and traveling over the rocks they would leave no more trail than a bird. How could they be followed or captured? It would take a million men to surround the country and anticipate the movements of the Indians.

   When General Crook left the San Carlos reservation, a few months ago, there were 2,000 Apaches there who were self-supporting, and he supposed the number was largely increased now. The Indians at that time furnished a large part of the supplies for General Crook's force. The white traders disliked him because he bought from the Indians. He had known the Indians to carry hay a distance of fifteen miles to the army. They got two cents a pound for it, and one Indian said it was like "finding money in the sand." But take away the army and there was no market for the hay and grain, and one of the great troubles on all the reservations was the lack of a market. He tried to get them to raise cattle and sheep, and told them there would always be a market for their wool and beef, and many of them had adopted his suggestions and were doing well. One source of trouble was that the Indians made a drink out of their corn and barley called "tizwin." This was not so intoxicating as whisky and the Indians had to fast a couple of days in order to get drunk on it.

Item.

   The Onondaga tribe of Indians has reorganized politically, discarding the form of government by chiefs and instituting a republic, with Daniel La Fort, president. The new government has legislative, executive and judicial departments.  All the members of the Onondaga nation now have a voice in the government. Fourteen of the officers are Christian.

Story of Martin Van Buren.

   Among the many stories told by Thurlow Weed about Martin Van Buren was one narrating an incident which occurred on the deck of a Hudson river steamboat, on the way from Albany to New York. The merits of Mr. Van Buren were being discussed when the boat touched at Kinderhook, and "The Little Magician," as he was called, came on hoard. One of the party had been dwelling on his non-committalism, and complaining that "a plain answer to a plain question was never yet elicited from him."

   "I'll wager the champagne for the company," added he, "that one of us shall go down to the cabin and ask Mr. Van Buren the simplest question that can be thought of, and he will evade a direct answer. Yes, and I'll give him leave, too, to tell Mr. Van Buren why he asks the question, and that there is a bet depending on his reply."

   This seemed fair enough. One of the party was deputed to go down and try the experiment. He found Mr. Van Buren, whom he knew well, in the saloon, and said to him:

   "Mr. Van Buren, some gentlemen on the upper deck have been accusing you of non-committalism, and have just laid a wager that you would not give a plain answer to the simplest question, and they deputed me to test the fact. Now, sir, allow me to ask you: Where does the sun rise?"

   Mr. Van Buren's brow contracted; he hesitated a moment, and then said:

   "The terms east and west are conventional; but I--"

   "That'll do," interrupted the interrogator, "we've lost the bet!"—Ben: Perley Poore in Boston Budget.

Not to be Outdone.

   "I have a friend," said a Syracusan, "who paints grapes so naturally that the birds leave the real article to peck at the pictures."

   "Oh, that's nothing," replied a Utican, "I have a cousin who reproduces dogs so well that he has to nuzzle them to prevent their barking.''—Rochester Union.

Recommended:

George Crook: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Crook

Geronimo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geronimo

Martin Van Buren: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Van_Buren

 

 

BARNUM COMING TO CORTLAND

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 20, 1887.

Barnum’s Day.

Over Three Thousand Tons of Fun and Wonder.

   In his distinguished and uninterrupted reign of over half a century as monarch of the amusement world, Phineas Taylor Barnum has, among very many notable things, established the most popular and widely enjoyed annual holiday; for wherever the Barnum and London Ten United Monster Shows exhibit there are assembled the biggest and most delighted crowds of all the year—enormous assemblages, which are of themselves a remarkable and animating sight.

   This year Barnum's day in Cortland will fall upon Monday August 15th, and more than enough will be provided to interest, instruct and amuse all comers. It would be simply impossible to summarize the host of rare attractions to be found in the two immense menageries, the three superb circuses with three rings, the museum of living marvels, the stupendous Roman Hippodrome, upon the monster elevated Olympian stage, and displayed free to all on the public streets, but we can say, in all truth, that never was so much given for so small a price.

   There are a large number of special features, a sight of any one of which is really worth the cost of admission to the entire show; as, for example, King Theebaw's $100,000 weird "Harry Luck-Bringers;" the heroic and famous Capt. Paul Boynton's surprising and novel and nautical performances in the waters of a specially constructed artificial lake; that double triumph of the distinguished naturalist, Prof. Henry A. Ward, of Rochester, N. Y.—Jumbo restored and presented in all the vast naturalness of life, and his prodigiously massive skeleton set up and perfect in every part. Beside her stupendous consort's form will also be seen “Alice," Jumbo's wife and huge widow, an elephant almost as famous and popular as the lamented Colossus of his Kind.

   The great show is in truth a vast combination of signal features and feats, far surpassing anything of the kind in the world, and one that could not be attempted under any other name than that of P. T. Barnum.

   "Too much for the money" is the odd and only adverse criticism ever made upon this incomparable and refined entertainment; but if Barnum and his partners can stand that sort of thing, we imagine that the public will not be the ones to object. The average American citizen likes to get the most for his money, and goes where he can get it.

A Change of Firm.

   Many of our readers will regret to learn that the well known firm of Mager & Walrad, dealers in dry goods, has been dissolved by the retirement of Mr. C. P. Walrad, who had made hosts of friends, during the many years he has been engaged in business. Mr. Walrad's position as manager of the Cortland Savings bank, has required all of his time for the past two or three years, and he has finally concluded to retire from the dry goods business.

   Mr. Chas. W. Stoker, well known to the people of this county as a live, popular and thorough-going business man, has purchased Mr. Walrad's interest, and will hereafter be associated with Mr. Mager at the old stand. The dry goods trade is by no means new to Mr. Stoker, he having been a salesman in the store of James S. Squires for six years before he went into the grocery business for himself. For eleven years, he had an immense grocery trade, due mainly to his enterprise, hard work and fair dealing.

   Mr. Stoker has a very large acquaintance throughout the county and is deservedly popular with all who have had dealings with him. His associate, Mr. Mager, is a first-class business man and has made many friends since he became a resident of Cortland. We shall be greatly surprised if the dry goods trade doesn't have an extra boom in Cortland from this time forward. The new firm deserve to be successful and we believe they will be.

Just for Exercise.

   Last Thursday evening the Fire Department were called out for practice by Chief Dowd, without giving previous notice. The bell was rung at 7:15 P. M., and the boys turned out. The distance run was 300 yards.

   Orris Hose made the distance in 2:10, connected with the hydrant, laid 200 feet of hose and had water in 2:35 although they were delayed in making their connections. Water Witch Engine Company made the run in 2:15 and had two streams started in 7:15. Excelsior H. & L. Company made the run in 2:20 and had a twenty foot ladder up in 3:00. The Emeralds made the run in 2:25, laid 200 feet of hose and had a stream in 2:30. In leaving the house they ran against a lamp-post breaking their cart and they had to return for another which delayed them considerably.

   Cortland firemen have no need to take a back seat for any one.

HERE AND THERE.

   Barnum, August 15th.

   Mahan’s Music Festival, June 13-17.

   The Cortland trustees are adding several more street lights besides those already in use.

   Prof. S. J. Sornberger, of this place, has taken out letters patent on a fire extinguisher.

   Jas. Dougherty, Esq., has moved his law offices to rooms on second floor of the Beaudry block.

   Miss Margaret Mather appears as "Rosalind" and "As You Like It," at the Cortland Opera House, May 27th.

   The outdoor amusement association of Cortland died soon after it was christened, and was decently buried last week.

   Be sure to keep your dish-cloth clean, as some physicians claim that diphtheria will start from using greasy dish-cloths.

   The stockholders of the Fisher Manufacturing Company, limited, of Homer, elected a board of directors on Monday last.

   Life insurance is described as an arrangement to keep a man poor while he lives, in order to enrich his poor relatives when he dies.

   The veteran, Thomas Reagan, has returned to Truxton after an absence of some years, and is again at his old post carrying the mail from the post-office to the depot.

   The game of ball played on the fair grounds, last Saturday, between the Cortlands and the McGrawvilles, resulted in a victory for the former by a score of 16 to 9.

   A band of Italian musicians have been furnishing music for the citizens of this place during the past week. They played for a dance at the Cortland House on Tuesday evening.

   Barnum's first advertising car was in town on Wednesday. Five teams, each with a corps of bill posters, started early in the morning, to bill every town within twenty miles of Cortland.

   Saturday afternoon the Syracuse University nine will play the Cortlands on the fair grounds. This will undoubtedly prove to be an exciting game, as the visiting team is said to be a very strong one.

   The Homer Gun Club has been reorganized and will hereafter be called the Homer and Cortland Gun Club. A. M. Schermerhorn, B. E. Miller and D. Francis, of this place, have joined the club.

   Mr. Edward Joy, of Syracuse, is putting into the Hitchcock Manufacturing Company’s factory in this place, 1,125 automatic sprinklers of the Mackay patent. These sprinklers are said to work like a charm in case of fire.

   The reunion of the 180th regiment will be held at Floral Trout Ponds, in this place, June 3d. J. E. Eggleston, of this village, will deliver the address of welcome, which will be responded to by J. S. Gross, of Owego, who is president of the association.

   A. B. Nelson, of Cortland, tried his hand at fishing near here this week. He put in five hours of hard tramping and succeeded in landing three innocent little trout, the longest one of which wouldn't pass the six-inch limit. "Art" can sell wagon-makers' supplies, but has concluded to buy his fish.—DeRuyter Gleaner.

   F. P. Higbee and F. M. Quick, two well known business men of Homer, have organized base ball clubs for the season’s campaign.

   John M. Williams, who resides on Crandall street, in this village, left home last Friday, and has not yet returned. His friends are anxious about him.

   A fresh invoice of wind has just been received at the Standard office, and is being distributed by its editor throughout a select few of the towns of the county.

   Fred Hilligus, the champion three-mile runner of this county, and Tom Sullivan, the champion ten-hour runner, will indulge in a foot race, after the ball game on the fair grounds on Saturday afternoon, for a purse of $15. Fifty yards, best two in three.

   The military company organized in this place recently, received notice from the Adjutant General's office, the other day, that according to law, an independent military company cannot carry arms. This will force the company to disband, or procure a change in the law.

   G. W. Turner, of Lansing, was arrested by Deputy Sheriff J. Gallagher, on Tuesday evening of last week, in Cortland, on a warrant for bastardy, sworn out by Overseer of the Poor, J. C. Beebee. He was brought to Ludlowville before Justice N. E. Lyon and examined, and was committed, not being able to give the required amount of bail, $1,000.— Genoa Herald.

A Sea Serpent Captured.

The Marine Curiosity Taken in Lake Champlain.

   One of the Pittsburgh soldiers went out fishing on Lake Champlain Thursday and captured what some of the people round about there consider an offspring of the famous sea serpent claimed to reside in the lake. It had a broad flat head, a trifle narrow shaped, and four legs. The body is like that of an eel in shape and color. Three feathery tufts-like prolongations from the mucous membrane project from the upper part of the throat, passing out through openings in the side of the neck. It is a very queer looking reptile and a very rare one. A physician, who examined it, concluded that it was a meno-branchos or great water lizard of the northern lakes.

Item.

   Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, President of the Hudson River and N. Y. Central railroads, gave an address at the reunion of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, held in New York, a few days since, in which he took occasion to deny that the railroads were getting rich. He says "the Central will earn $34,000,000 this year, and out of that $30,000,000 will go for wages, taxes, etc. The capitalists will have to 'bloat' for the remainder and they won't burst."

   Mr. Depew believes in stopping promiscuous immigration. He is undoubtedly correct when he says the railroads are not making money and yet there are those who believe that they should increase the wages of their employees. Promiscuous emigration is doing much to keep the price of labor down in many of the avocations of life. Hundreds of single men come across the water and compete with our resident citizens, who have families to support, only to return when they have earned a few hundred dollars, to their own countries.

   The number of immigrants landing in New York every week is enormous, and they are not all calculated to become good citizens. The Socialists and Nihilists are fast leaving the old world, for the new, where they labor only to create uneasiness and disturbance among the laboring classes. Such rascals should not be permitted to land.