Page 294

,294    REPOtvT    OF   THE   COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN            AFFAIRS,
change of feeling has, I understand, been brought about by outside influences.
There is an 
opposition element at work, and I am led to conclude that it is represented
by persons who 
-are interested, perhaps indirectly, in keeping the Indians here. -The Indians
say that many 
things adverse to the "new country " have been told them, and evidently
with a view to 
discourage them from removing. Your agent believes, however, that quite a
number will 
go next year if the Government will provide means. A report of the council
held last May 
for the consideration of the question of the removal has already been furnished
your office. 
The citizens living in the vicinity of this reserve, as far as I have talked
with them, have 
expressed themselves as willing and even anxious that the Indians should
be taken away 
from here, as such a course would at once and forever remove their fears
of trouble between 
them. Should the Department continue its offer of removal, I believe that
some of the In- 
dians will go next year, and that that number will be augmented from time
to time, until the 
entire tribes have been removed. 
The Reformed Church, which body your agent represents, still continues its
interest in 
the welfare of these Indians. It is fully alive to the necessity of their
early advancement 
in education and religion, and will doubtless indorse the measures herein
advocated in 
their behalf. 
The Ladies' Union Missionary Association of New York also has our cause at
heart, and 
has contributed many things to render our work effective among the school-children.
I inclose herewith the statistical form just received from your Office, having
filled out the 
same with the most reliable figures at my command. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant. 
J. H. STOUT 
Hon. E. P. SITH,                                      United States Idian
Agtnt. 
Cornmissioner of Indian -Affairs, Washington, D. C. 
SAN CARLOS INDIA N AGENCY, ARIZONA TERRIIORY, 
August 9, 1874. 
SIR: In compliance with instructions, I have the honor to submit the following
statement 
of the condition of affairs at this agency. 
On taking charge here, on the 6th of December, 1873, as subagent, I found
located on 
this reserve nine bands of Indians, consisting of the Aravaipa Apaches and
Tonto Apaches, 
seven bands of the former and two bands of the latter. The total number present
on the 
reserve classified as follows : Apaches, 767; Tontoes, 190; total number,
957. Men, 275; 
women, 319; children, 363. 
My administration has been greatly embarrassed, owing to the refractory behavior
of 
the Indians, which has been referred to by me in a special report submitted,
and I now will 
only briefly call your attention to the particulars, together with such other
information as I 
have bearing on the condition of the reservation, as follows: 
On the night of January 4, 1874, or the morning of the 5th, Es-kim-in-zin,
chief of one 
of the bands of this reservation, made his escape from the place of his confinement,
his whole 
band joining him in his flight, followed by six other bands. As soon as their
flight had 
become known, signal-fires for their return were lighted, and other means
resorted to, which 
succeeded in the space of a few days in bringing them back again upon the
reserve. On 
their return they were allowed, in consequence of the severity of the weather,
to erect 
lodges or huts temporarily upon the high ground opposite the agency, on the
south side of 
the Gila River, which explanation is now referred to in this place to account
for their being 
out of reach on the night of their outbreak. During their stay on the south
side of the 
Gila a freshet, almost unparalleled, occurred, which swelled the river to
such proportions that 
all communication with them was for some days cut off, and during this time,
as has been 
since ascertained, the notorious outlaws Coch-i-nay and Chimtz, as also Es-kim-in-zin,
had 
crept into their camps and freely mingled with them. Both Coch-i-nay and
Chimtz were 
daring men, and had acquired, during their long expulsion from reservation
life, the fear and 
respect of the San Carlos Indians, and were powerful enough in their influence
to induce 
the young men to follow them in any of their lawless undertakings. 
While the Gila remained impassable, a flour-train unfortunately arrived,
and was obliged 
to remain overnight on the side of the river occupied by the Indians. A plot
was devised 
by the Indians to attack and murder the men employed on said train, and capture
stock, 
and steal whatever there was of any value. This was carried into effect on
the night of 
the 31st of January, 1874. In the early part of the evening, while the men
were sitting about 
the camp, the attack was made by some twelve or fifteen Indians, who sprang
upon them, 
firing a few shots, killing one man and wounding another who subsequently
died from his 
wounds. The wagon-master of the train miraculously escaped, and from him
I have been 
furnished with the brief tacts as stated. Those participating in this attack
immediately fled 
to the mountains, followed by all of the Indians on the reserve, flying in
all directions, with- 
out having a single grievance of which to complain. Three days later, viz,
on the 3d of