The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-18
mexican. BOUNDARY Commi..,on.

Of Guadalupe Hidalgo Since that time we
learn that official dispatches have been re-
ceiyed from him, dated, Headquarters Mexi-
can Boundary Commission, Santa Rita del
Cobre, New Mexico, August 2, 1851" Ad-
dltlonal information has come TO his knowledge
which shows to what an extent the trade is
carried on, under the imagined protection of a
license, by certain people Of New Mexico, with
the Indians on the ella, for mules, horses, and
human captives. One party of these people
passed within three or four miles OF the
Copper Mines with one hundred and fifty
animals brought from the Pinal Indians,
a tribe of the Apaches, and the same from
which the female captive-an account of whose
release we have published-was taken. Ano-
ther from the ella was coming through the
neighborhood of the headquarters of the Com
mission, with animals, and boy, some sixteen
or eighteen years of age, who had been stolen
within a few months from frontier town in
the State of Sonora. Some person informed
these men that the Commissioner had seized
some horses and mules, and detained a captive,
short time before, and that he would take
their animals and the captive boy, if they pass
ed through or near the camp of the Commits
sion. With this hint they took another trail
and avoided the Copper Mines.
| As long as the Indians can find purchasers
/ far their plumber, as well as for their captives,
they will continue their depredations ON the
frontiers of New Mexico. 1t is Notifying and
dsgraceful that individuals claiming to be our
own citizens are the instigators and abettors OF
these robberies.
| The Commission was, at the latest date
the second of August-on the eve of leaving for
the ella, with view of tracing that stream to
the Colorado The progress down that river
would necessarily be slow, in order 10 make ex-
aminations and take astronomical observations
Mr. BARTLETT proposed visiting such tribes as
are contiguous, to ascertain whether they pos
sess any Mexican captlves. He intended also
to collect such statistical information as may be
seryiceable to the Government all of which
would enable him the better to suggest plan
for carrying out the stipulatons of the treaty
| We are pleased TO learn that our relations
with the Apaches continue friendly, notwlth-
standing the occurrence of events which, 1t was
feared. would lead TO hostllities. 1t may not
be unnteresting to relate the following circum-
stances connected with our intercourse with
these Indians:
| On the 9th of July the Indians were, in
| large numbers, accompanied by their chiefs,
MANGUs CoLoRADo, DEL GADITo, and Ponce.
| They were scattered about, as usual, in the
various houses and tents occupied by the Com
mission. In one of these tents an Indian
had some controversy with a Mexican arriero,
mule driver, named Jesus Lopez, about
the ownership of a whip, which the lat
ter held under his arm. The Indian at
tempted to pull it away, when the Mex
lean seized his rifle, levelled it at him. when
scarcely beyond the reach of the muzzle,
and shot him, the ball passing through his
body Just above his heart. Alarm was instantly
given, when the Indians seized their horses,
and fled screaming, in all directions, under the
impression that treachery was intended toward
them, and that this act was but the COM
mencement of hostities. They assembled
on the top of a hill and prepared for ac-
ton Several of the Commission now APP
preached the head chief, MANGUs COLORADO,
who exhibited no signs Of alarm, and had not
fled with the remainder of his tribe, assuring
him that the shooting of one of his band was
not an affair in which the Americans were i'm
plicated, but private quarrel between Mexi-
can and the Indian; that the man had been ar
rested, and should forthwith be examined, and
if guilty, punished. MANeUs was satisfied that
it was not preconcerted scheme, and, fol-
lowed by the other chiefs and many of the
tribe, returned 10 the barracks occupied by
Colonel CRAIG and the escort, when the prls-
oner was brought out in chains. The tes-
tmony, on the examination, was conclusive
that no provocaiion was offered by the In
dian to warrant the prisoner in shooting him.
After much talk, in which the Commissioner
assured the Indians that the wounded man
should be taken care of, and, in case of his
death, that the prisoner should be punished, they
expressed themselves perfectly satisfied; and
the conference ended in good feeling. The
wounded Indian fingered for nearly month,
when he died. He was attended by the sur
GeOTS Oh lH6 COlulHlSSlOU ana Ol the escort, anu
the best possible care taken of him. His wife
and his mother were in constant attendance,
| and his friends had access to him at all times.
The chiefs were in daily, and expressed their
satisfaction with the course of the Commits.
sioner.
After the mans death they arrived in large
numbers, accompanied by their chiefs, TO come
1
to some agreement regarding the disposition Of
the Mexican who had caused it. Mr.. BART
LETT, through an interpreter, expressed his
sorrow for the occurrence, and sympathized
with "the Apache brothers for the death of one
of their braves" while, at the same time, h,
told them to remember that it was not by the
hand of an American that his death was
caused; it was by Mexican, though a man il
the employ of the Commission. For this rea
son it was his duty 10 see justice done. How
ever, the murderer must be tried at Santa Fe