Arizona weekly citizen., 1881-01-15
THE YAoUI INDIANS
I'm sonora Revolt Against the Govern meut- Letter from Dr J. W. Waters.

A CITIZEN reporter was to-day
 handed a letter from Dr. J. W. Wa
 ters. not long since a physician of
 this city, to J. T. Pantlind, proprietor
 of the Elite, from which the follow
 ing extracts were permitted. The
 letter was dated Guaymas, January 1,
 and illustrates the difficulties of tray
 cling Tn Southern Sonora:
 ." We found it a harder job to get
 down to Alamos than we expected,
 and that all the information we had
 got in regard to it was wrong. Itwas
 our intention to go down in a schoon-
 CT to Aquiabampo, about 120 miles
 down the gulf. and from there go by
 carriage to Alamos, a distance of IS
 miles. We were told that schOOners
 ran about every eight days, and that
 we would have no difficulty about
 getting carriage Co come from Ala
 mos and meet us at Aquiabampo. The
 information was satisfactory, and we
 esled easy in the assurance that we
 could go that way whenever we de-
 sired; but when the. time came to
 make definite arrangements, we found
 no schooners going down, and could
 get no passage sooner:than ths 18th or
 20th, which would be at least
 two weeks too late for us. Then an answer to our letter was received, saying there were no carriages in Alamos available at present, and we
 would have 10 make the trip from Aquiabsmpo on horseback-which, of course, was out Oi the question. The only alternative left us was to hitch up our team and go by land, but here other difficulties presented themselves. The direct road to AlamOs lies through the Yaqui country, and the Yaquis are sullen and hostile, They have committed no murders lately, but are preparing for war, and may break out any day. We inquired of a great many people, and no two told us the same story or entertained the same ideas. The majority advised us strongly against risking ourselves among the Yaquis, while few said there was no dangsT-that they would do no more than take away our arms if we had any. We made some inquiry about the Buena Vista route, and were told that 1t was much woIse route than the other, and also about three days longer. Indeed, several people told us that the road that way was almost im- passable for carriage since the late rains. We finally decided to take our chances among the faquis, and fixed upon next Tuesday as the day for starting. Bu; upon talking with the Governor this morning, he vetoed the plan and pos itively refused to allow us to go that way; so we are in a quandry again. The Governor tells us we can go by the Buena Vista route without any trouble, though the road is not as good as the other, buqour m0so and num- Der of others tell us We cant get the carriage through that wav at all. IL is seven to ten days journey via Buena Vista, and four days by the Yaqui River, but l suppose we have DO choice Tn the matter, as the Governor positively refuses tO allow us to 20 that way. NJ. Robert Symons [Presi- dent of the Sonora Railwayl and Nlr. l Le Brun came through by way of the l faqui River, and they reported that 1 the Indians manifested no desire 10 hurt them, buI took all their arms 1 away and made them pay an exor- bilant price for ferrying them across | The river. The usual price is dollar | Tor carriage, but they refused to take l the party across, and finally asked | eight dollars, which Mr. Symons l agreed to pay. When they got him in the middle of the river they de- | nanded double.the sum, and threat. | ened to sink him and his carriage if | he did not pay it. He gave them the | money, and they brought him over | 'ately, minus his firearms. We shall | 'tart on Tuesday or Wednesday, but will not know positively whether the | road Is passable or not till We try it.
 r. S.-JanuarY 3.-Sincs writing he above our plans have changed | ,gain, for the fifth time, and we now nave positively decided to go via the l aqul River. General Otero came hrough via the Bueno Vista route a hort time ago, and says no carriage ,ould get through. He went 10 see he Governor, and the latter has with irawn his objection. to our going he Yaqui River route, though 'ery unwillingly, and We shall start Wednesday. We do not anticipate my danger, and shall take no arms IS the Yaquis would take them away rom us. We could get an escort of 'o men, but that would only add to he danger, as the Yaquls number 'ver SoOO warriors, and would likely esent the intrusion of troops. So we will go alone with our paozo and un- rmed.
 Later-The YaQuis have declared Var, and dlsDatcheS were raco;.1