Santana: War Chief of the Mescalero Apapche by Almer N Blazer

Author:Almer N Blazer [Blazer, Almer N]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mescalero Indians, History, Biography
Publisher: Dog Soldier Press
Published: 2015-09-12T13:00:00+00:00

When the gathering broke up Santana accompanied the commander to his office, and seating himself with great dignity, directed the interpreter to say:

“Now I am the head chief of all the Mescalero, and the President wants me to get Cha, and he killed people on the Tularoso and I must kill him, because I said I would.”

Then to that officer’s amazement he turned to the commander and continued, “Have all the soldiers come back so Cha will think they will let him alone. Then give my men guns, and have one company of soldiers go to The Mill with four wagons loaded with cartridges and provisions, and take twenty pack mules.”

His acquaintance with Santana had never included a gun, and as their eyes met there was no suggestion of levity in the old chief’s face. He could not prevent the beginning of a smile, but he made no remark and Santana went on.

“Then I will take one hundred of my best men and go after Cha. And any of his people that we catch without fighting I will send to The Mill for the soldiers to keep. And all his people that fight I will kill. Then we will have our reservation in the mountains and that will be good.”

There could be no doubt of the gravity of Santana’s proposition, but to the commander his attitude was incomprehensible. But recalling the snappish temper of the day before, he said, “I will have to talk to the other officers first, and that will take some time. Why don’t you take your men and help the soldiers get Cha?” he temporized.

“Because,” said Santana, “the soldiers fight one way and the Mescalero another way, and Cha’s men would be afraid to let the soldiers catch them and would all fight and have to be killed.”

The Indian problem at this time was very serious, and little success had been had. The Indians’ rights people were gaining strength and influence, and with the avowed purpose of preventing the extermination of the “red man,” while exploiters had been able to ignore many of the treaties made with a number of the stronger tribes. And in a number of instances where a large majority of a smaller tribe was peacefully under military control, they had been utterly destroyed by the troops, or enraged settlers, in revenge for atrocities committed by bands of outlaws, similar to Cha’s renegades from the Mescalero, while the real culprits, being on their guard, escaped unscathed.

Santana’s Mescalero had, in years past, acquired the reputation of being the most blood-thirsty and dreaded of any tribe of its size in the Southwest and now, all but a small minority had been content to remain peaceably on the reservation for the past four years. Santana appeared to have decided to punish his rebellious brother for violating his orders, and was equally firm in his refusal to cooperate with the troops in such punishment for reasons that, to him, were good.3

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