The weekly Arizonian., 1859-05-05
The Mohave Indians.

op, one ot Lieut. Beale employees, hau been cut off, with his party, by the Mohave, Pah Utah and Yuma Indians The subjoined let ter shows that at last accounts he was in dis agreeable position:
 . - PAH UTAH CREEK, Cal, March 24, '59. To Col Hoffman, or Capt Barton, or the Com
 manding 0 Ulcer present at the Cuchana Val
 ley: Ia
 GENTLEMEN On my way to meet Lieut. E. Beale, with supplies, agreeable to his official directions, and to assist him in working the road, met, at or near the Colorado River, about six or seven hundred Indians, claim ing to be Mohaves, Pah Utahs, and Yumas, armed with bows, arrows, and club in their hands who forbid our further advance. gave my rifle and pistol to one Otmy men, and male signs to one of the chiefs to lay aside his arms and meet me, as wished to have talk with hlm, which he did In as few words aS poSSl- ble 1 explained to him the object of my expedl- ton and that wished to pass peaceably through his country. He then gave his consent that mi tht do SD, but wanted me to give hls people some tobacco 1 ordered about one hundred pounds of tobacco which l had intend cd to give them to be brought out and divided amongst them also gave shirt to each of the chiefs. We then drove to the lake and encampeI for the night Being acquainted with the treachery If these Indians, was not fully satisfied that all was right.
 Early in the morning of the 2 Jth we htched up our teams, and finding an Indian that offered to conduct US to Beae's Crossing, we started to cross the rIver without further delay. After m4rch.ng to the rlver, we launched our boat, and stretched rope from one shore to the other, and as we were in the act of crossing was told that it was the order of the chief that should not cross the river unless l gave a shirt to every man in the tribe, as well as to each Indian there assembled. This was impos- Soe, even II we had gwen UT those of every man in the company, had our disposition been to comply with the demand. l told them that aSI:I ot tltl n a,r3 thtn ylt, wAS r.5lt, and would submit to nothing wrong
 As there was assembled at leasttour hundred Indians on the opposite bank of the river to prevent our crossing, unless the demand for the shirts was complied with, gave instructions to have the rope cast loose from the other bank of the river Messrs. Akerd and Pool were sent to the other side for that purpose, and while in the act of untying the rope, the Indians began shooting at them with arrows They escaped unharmed; but the India rubber boat was shot in many places, and nearly filled with water before they reached this side ofthe river
 
 oppos te side of the river, by means of sigma made by the Indians to communicate the intel , igence to those on thr side, the arrows com menced pouring forth from the willows in the rear of the train. Knowing full well that VIC must fight, 1 repaired to an open place where we could better contend with such superior force On reaching the lake where we haC encamped two days previous, and while in the act of corralling the wagons, we were greeted with showers of arrows then gave orders tt the men to kill and scalp every one that could : be seen. It was warm time for about three : hours, my men killing at least two Indians to . every three shots fired, and taking some of thel hair, This has deterred them from further mo testing us to the present time, although the f are collected in large numbers on the opposit side of the river and dare us to cross.
 have forty men, and as l believe we hay whipped them on this side of the river, think t could do the same on the other were it possibl - to cross the river with all my men. But as v should be under the necessity of dividing m company, as well as having the river, which i one-fourth of mile in width, to obstruct m n movements l think it would be dangerous t attempt it without assistance. lit therefore, yo 1 can with propriety, and in accordance with you duties, OF without transcending your oihca N power, you will send to my assistance de tachment of men,
 Respectfully &c, S. A. BISHOP
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