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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN At'FAIRS. XXXIX changed, and there is little doubt that Hot Spring Apaches gave willing sssistance to the Chiricahuas in their raids into Mexim. At the time of the abolishment of the Chiriwhua Reserve, in June, 1876, less than half of the Indians belonging there were taken to San Carlos; 162 removed themselves to t,he Hot Springs Reserve, and the rest, about 300, under renegade leaders, escaped to the mountains, and from those re$mat,s raided on the settlers in southeast en^ Arizona. In March, 1877, it was definitely ascertained that not only were the renegades re-enforced by the Indians from the Hot Springs Reserve, but, also, that that reserva-tion was being used as a harbor of refugefor the outlaws. Accordingly, with the Sau Carlos,Indian police force and the co.operati.on of the mil- ' itary, the Southern Apachei, to the number of 453, were removed in May, 1877, to Sau Carlos; several prdmiuent raiders were arrested and put in ir0118 ; the remaining Indim of the agency were declared renegades, and the reserve was restored to the public domain. On the 2d of September, 1877, a majority of the Hot Springs Indians . and a.portiou of the Chiricahuas, about 300 in all, suddenly left the San Carlos Reserve. They were pursued and overtaken next day by volun-teers from the agency Indians, but only 30 were brought back. The fugitives then struck a settlement in New Mexico, killing 8 persons and stealing some horses, and forthwith all the available troops in that Terri-tory were put into the field against them. In October, finding them-selves unable to hold their own in a country thoroughly occupied by United States soldiers and Indian smuts, 190 surrendered at Fort Win-gate; others surrendered later, and all, to the number of 260, were tagen back to the Hot Springs Reserve in New Mexico, and there held under the charge of the War Department. In August, 1877, the Interior Department recommended that they be returned to San Carlos, and in October arrangements were made by the War Department for the necessary detail of troops to serve as escort during the removal. While bringing the Indians from their mmp, pre-paratory to starting for San Carlos, 80 made their escape to the mount-ains. The others protested against going to that resex\-ation, declaring . their willingness to go anywhere else; but they were removed thither without difficulty. In December, 63 of the tribe, who had b&n wandering in the mount-ains, came into the Mescalero Agency in,a most destitute condition.and begged to be allowed to remain there. In February, 22 under Victoria, ~ h hoad been spending their time more pleasantly in old Mexico, came near the military post at Ojo Caliente and had a talk with the wmmanding officer. Victoria expressed his'intention to surrender at thst post provided Nauna's band, then at Mescalero, might be allowed to join him. Accordingly, two of hispartx with a pass good for fifteen days proceeded to Mescalero, reported tv the agent, and mnfeFred with their relatives. there; Victoria and t,he rest of the band remaining quietly at the post in the mean time. - The messengers returned at the time specified, but do not seem to have |