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THE RESERVATION YEARS
1872 - 1876
The new reservation succeeded at first. Cochise kept his promise of peace with the Americans and Jeffords proved himself to be a dedicated and resourceful Indian Agent. Their mutual respect was a vital ingredient in the reservation's success.
The two men had met years earlier, while Jeffords managed a stage line. After losing fourteen employees to Apache attacks in 1867, Jeffords decided to meet Cochise - alone - and resolve the problem. Jeffords' behavior impressed Cochise, and the two men formed a lasting friendship.
Dissatisfaction with the reservation did exist, however. The Chiricahua felt confined within its boundaries.
Confinedmay seem a strong term to apply to a reservation encompassing 2,736,000 acres that was occupied by 400 to 600 people. In fact, it did not include all the territory which the people needed to obtain food through hunting and gathering. The Government issued rations every fifteen days to prevent starvation.
Arizona's settlers were dissatisfied as well. Suspicions resulting from the years of war lingered. The large size of the reservation was seen as a waste of land, and many people believed it would be more efficient to concentrate all Apaches on one reservation.
The discontent was reflected in newspaper commentary:
Cochise....so far has deported himself (well)...but there is something in the genial sunshine of the spring months which usually overcomes his good resolves. (Arizona Citizen November 30, 1872)
Jeffords worked to allay the suspicion, but Cochise's death in 1874 led to an increase in complaints about the Chiricahua Reservation. All these factors fueled agitation for its abolition.
In 1876, a pretext presented itself. Two illegal whiskey sellers were killed by two Chiricahuas when they refused to sell more. Rather than arrest the suspects, the agent for the San Carlos Reservation arrived with armed men and escorted the Chiricahua to San Carlos. The Chiricahua Reservation was closed.