Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-04-01

About one o'clock on the 22nd inst.
a Mexican came into our generally quiet
camp and reported that Indians were
raiding the wood camps in the Whet-
stone Mountains, about ten miles distant.
The general impression was that he was
trying to create an excitement without
cause but about 5 o'clock, P. ~. another
came in with a worse report, that
Berthaud's camp had been attacked and
several men killed A party was organ
lied, who returned about midnight and
reported having found dead body, and
that, from its appearance, had been shot
while trying to escape. The nextmorn-
ing strong parCy went out taking a
wagon with them, and returned about |
p. NJ. with four dead bodies, one OF
which was Stephen Berthaud, and three
Mexicans; two Of whom were in his en-
ploy, the other was wood.cutter, at
work near Berthaud's camp. From the
position they were found in the Indians
had shot them from ambush. Berthaud
had five bullets through him and haed
also been horribly mutilated in a man
ner too fearful to describe. One OF the
Mexicans had his skull split aud had
nearly cut OFF by his own axe, which
was found lying in the wound. Ber-
thaud had fine team Of twelve mules;
from these they had cut the harness,
taking with the animals only the brides.
The Mexican who came in last the day
before, had escaped them by hiding in
the rocks He was not an eye witness
of the killing, but saw them while raid
ing Berthaud's camp and said, in his evi-
dence before the Coroner, that he
counted twelve, and all but one was
dressed in soldiers clothes. They had
three or four horses with them, one OF
which they abandoned, and which he
subsequently secured and brought into
camp. The day following the murdered
men were buried in the camp burial
ground. The attendance at the funeral
was quite large, including several ladies
to pay their last respects to the poor
murdered victims.
Previous to this an inquest was held
and verdict OF death by Apache ln-
dams was rendered. Only the day be-
fore it is presumed the same band OF
Indians killed six men within nine miles
of Camp Huachuca, and the day after
the killing of Berthuad's par Y we heard
of others being killed beyond the San
Pedro. and fear other murders are yet
to be heard from. And so it goes ON.
Year after year, these annual raids.
Ranchmen, farmers and miners, are
murdered by these demons who are fed,
clothed, armed and trained by the gov.
ernment. | shonld mention that one
Indian, killed near the Huachuca, wa:
recognized as an old government scout,
and the evidence before the Coroner's
jury was that all bnt one OF the band OF
the Whetstones where dressed in gov
ernment clothing.
When will the government do some
thing to stop these fearful massacres
No better advice was ever giyer
the Indian Commissioners thar
that OF Secretary Teller, in his
report for 1882, in regard to disarminl
these Indians. Why was itnot adopted
Do the Commissioners, the army ant
the Indian Agents find it more proiita
BILE to allow them to remain armed? The
public will be told that these are rene
gade Indians, outlaws from the Reserva
tion, escaping to and from Mexico. L
is well known fact that the Apach,
Indian is like no other North American
Indian. As a rule his hand is agains
every man. All other tribes of Indiani
living in the country adjacent to then
will tell you the same, From time i'm
memorial they have been the Bedouinl
of this part of America. To furnish sucl
people with arms and ammunition, OF
allow them to retain arms in their pos
session, is to license murder and rapine
1t is true, when the report OF thes'
murders reached camps Lowell and Hua
ehuea, trrops Were sent ont, and som,
thirty OF forty soldiers are now looking
for Indians in the Milestone. As wei
look for them in San Francisco. Thes,
Indians are, no doubt, at the reserva
tion recounting their bravery to thei
comrades and displaying their trophies
That they have been well armed there il
no doubt, as the wounds on the victim
all show evidence of the Wincheste
rifle Great things We're promised whel
General Crook was sent to look after tn,
Apaches. What is the use OF tag
ging and daily count, unless these In
dians are disarmed and forbid to leav,
the reservation under penalty OF death
when any man, white negro or friendl,
Indian, should be permitted to xii
them. And it should also be made
capital crime for any one found furnish
ing them with arms or ammunition
Either this, or remove them to SOM
reservation east of the Rocky Noun
tains.
Unless this or some other mean
equally effective is speedily acted upon
the people OF this and the adjacent ter
ritory subject to these murderous in
roads will be compelled to organize, an,
not only organize but act; attack tn,
wretehes on the reservation and wip,
them out for ever. There is no difficulty
in raising the men and the means. Th,
writer OF this article knowns one mal
who would agree to find fifty men ant
equip and pay them for three months
service, and from knowledge of tn,
feeling throughout Pima and Cochis,
counties there are others with mean
who, it is believed, would do as much o
more The damage done by each rait
cannot be computed by the property
stolen and destroyed, to say nothing o
the lives sacrificed; the value of al
property is deprecated, and the growtl
| of the country ratnrlad Tho ,,o,1,,. a., 8