The New York herald., 1875-12-12
MEXICO.


NORTHUMBERLAND BUTcHERIEs BY THE
INDIANS.
The insecurity TO life and property in the State OF
Yucatan is frghtful TO witness Large and well armed
bands of enemies to the government OF Lerdo de
Gejada maraudng the country and killing and
destroying whomsoever and whatsoever in their
way. Tho burnngs, assassinations and robberes com
mitted by these enemies OF the public peace are at
tributed ethe barbarous Indians" but 1t is WELL
known that the poor Indians If left themselves
have neither the power inclination commit such
gigantic crimes those that about
to be recorded 1t is the political dema-
gogues and partisan leaders in Yucatan who have first
excited the worst passions in the bosoms or the IN
happy, unciyiliZed Indians and then placed arms in
their hands wherewth they might devastate the
try and inundate 1t with blood The series OF petty
revolts which have in Yucatan necessated from time
time the presence OF large bodies OF national troops
Merida and other towns throughout that rich penn-
sula have always been the work Of local military chiefs
and scheming politicians rather than expression Of
the popular will But, while the Inhabitants OF the
country limited themselves to
CUTTING THEIR owY rHRoArs,
however much, as Americans, might regret It, no
right Of intervening could be claimed by govern
ment When, however, tho lives and proper
ty OF American citizens ruthessy sacri-
feed to the fury OF the rabble, then, in
deed II that the administration ought to take
such active measures would prevent the recurrence
OF such deplorable deeds as those here spoken or
La RdE0n del Pubic, the official newspaper Of the
State or ucaan, published in Merida, on the Goth OF
last October gives the following account OF butchcry
by 'the savage Indians" whereby over thirty per-
sons. including an American citizen named Robert
stephens lost their lives The bloody deed took place
near q ranch called Xuxub on tho 18th of October.
Don Baltazar NJ. hontilla, military commandant Of
Puntachen makes report OF this frghtiu occurrence
kaahf fha AuVfFa Nier
on the 18th OF October Commandant honua
ceved word that force Of rebel Indians had taken pos
session OF the Xuxub ranch He lost time in
getting together fifteen and In notifying the agent
In charge of the Soferno plantation to send
possible, an armed force to meet the enemy AT four
O'Clock the morning of the 18th Aontlla received
note advising him that twenty-five men, under tho
command Of Lieutenant Jose Maria Barrera, had
rived from Soferino. Barrera could not bring
men, because there were
NO ARMS TO BE HAD.
The commandant Of Kantuni had also been requested
to send reinforcement OF twenty-five men With these
forces and those that together at Punachen under
the orders OF Lieutenant Ancete Fernandez Montilla
marched against the enemy and defeated and dispersed
them after close action, which lasted over hour
and a half The battle took place In the public
square at Xuxub. The Indians charged the govern
ment troops with the machete but were defeated with
the loss OF thirteen dead and two prisoners The
enemy aed in confusion and some Of them jumped into
the water in order to avoid the hre Of ambuscade
into which they fell on the road The government
troops lost Judge Forentino Morales, and two soldiers
wounded. The bodies Of Mr.. Robert Stephens
Don Romulo Baeza and Of another person, whom
nobody recognized, we're found dead, tied and thrown
into the river by the savages. Tho herdsman OF the
ranch, named n. Aamls, was also found IN the
water tied up and suffering from two severe wounds
The enemy were not pursued on account OF the poor
condition OF the government forces The number OF
the escaped enemy must have been about l50
hontia was informed that the section which be had
encountered was
But HALp OF THE REBELS,
and that the other portion had len the ranch some
time before hc arrived there, taking with them all the
farm hands, families and booty that they could gather
The prisoners deposed that four months before this
occurrence General Barnabe Cen had arrived at San
\ Antonio from place called Chan Santa Cruz; he had
/ fed from the latter place because Of being perse-
! cuted by other general The fugitive general
amer Sonic trouble obtained nom the local authorities
force or TO make ncursons in the neghborhood OF
\ Xuxub, at which fatal spot Cen and his secretary,
forces Of Cen General Cruz, Who II Is sad ordered
4 the execution Of Mr.. Robert Stephens
THE DEATH STEPHENS
/ The letter which Is gwen below is from English.
\ man named Joseph Byrne, who fellow prisoner
\ with Mr.. Stephens Mrs stephens to whom u is ad-
dressed s now, informed on her way 10 join
her husband Yucatan and the sad news was received
/ in this city BY an orphan daughter Of Stephens
NV DRAR MRS srEpHESs.-ls IL my painful duty send
on ~ i2th INST At eight O'Clock IN the morning. the
esa,e vadsd by 6and OF seventy savage Indians
The Colonel and reading letters yast seelyed AZ the
without shS slightest wnag s e bou room sp ~ .gb.e,
chance making any They carried OF every
thing q any yaus and led Us oyer g t5e ranshss from
/
courageous aud firm and had hopes almost the
last moment that they would spare his life They took
nearly all the people pnsoner aud next morning on being
pursued and after hearing Of the death Of their general
Barnabe Kemh) they massacred thtytwo prisoners,
while up their armplts In In the
The sayages lost twenty killed aud three o them
we're made prisoners and taken 70 Merida They came "
She Montla road. Nineteen from the ranch are saved
The Indians had not
r1MR 10 BuRN on DESTROY
anything Mr. Ramon Axnar sends telegram to ron by
she steamer tomorrow 80 bs sent 20 Havana have writ.
ven fu Statements, a. all that occurred and was
With the Colonel and tied % he same with him 10 be
shot Tho Consul. Mr. Lespinasse, who takes deep in
tareet IN the has sent Mexico and
" Nainson, and have written to the HERALD all the
particulars
MI A1nar the Consul and many influential people here
are confident that the Mexican government
LIABLE ~
70 yOu Tor this outrage civilization Mr especially
bringing great pressure the authorities
and there doubt but that the Mexican will
bo made y pay dearly ior its carelesness Repectay