Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-04-17
BRAVE YAoUI INDIANS.
A SeIEReIiant Tribe I'm Mexico
Their Remark able Chief.

u.
the territory of the Yaqui Indians in the |
State of Sonora, Mexico, a correspondent |
of the New York Star, says: The dis
turbance bringainto notice an aboriginal
tribe well worthy of descent from the
people whom the Montezumas ruled, cul-
tivating the arts OF peace when. not as
sailed or wronged, but rivaling the
Beers in fighting qualities when aroused
and led by chief who combines the
dignity of Toussaint L'0verture with the
martial aggressiveness of Sitting Bull.
Mr.. A. NJ. Womble, of this city, hav-
ing long been identified with railroad
and mining enterprises in Mexico, and
having dwelt and travelled in Sonora, is
acquainted with the tribe and the story
of its collision with the Mexican authori-
ties. The Yaqui tribe occupies fertile
territory of more than 10000 square
miles on both banks of the Rio Yaqui.
The domain has always been jealousy
guarded, and every attempt to colonize or
seize it has been vigorously repulsed.
The Yaquis number about IA, 900, of
whom fully 1000 are available for service
in the field when occasion demand. They
are the most civilized of the surviving
aboriginal races, having been converted
and instructed in agriculture as well as
various simple arts and manufactures by
the early missionaries. They are said to
be very strict in their religious observ-
ances, and their civil government is
of the patriarchal type.
The present ruler of the Yaquis is a
man of unusual ability, and though
a full-blooded Indian, possesses liberal
education, which he acquired in the City
of Guaymas. the chiefs name is
Kehamy. His military skill is said to be
remarkable, and his frmness and integ
rity of purpose so great that his word is
regarded as safe as bond. Apart from
their right of original possession, the
Indians claim to hold title, given by
one of the old Spanish kings, which an
tedates any deed or parchment the Mex
lean ranchers can produce. Finding it
impossible to bar out boomers and set
tiers by verbal remonstrance and threats
Kehamy drove them out forcibly and
thereby incurred the wrath of the pre-
feet of Guaymas.
When the Indians first took to the war
path In defense of their homes and field
General Pesquerias led force against
them and was amused to see the ''sav-
ages' use blankets as shield against
his soldiers bullets. Holding up a
blanket at both ends, so that the edge
just touched the ground, the Indian rife
men marched boldly toward him behind
the apparently fimsy protection. The
Mexican general was soon alarmed, how
ever, to find that his bullets did not stop
the strange advance, and the moving
fort of blankets soon came so close to
him and poured in such deadly fire
that he was fain to fly the field in confus-
ion and with great loss. The Yaquis
had become acquainted with the simple
fact that while bullet will pass through
twenty blankets strained over frame or
laid against firm surface, it will not
penetrate single one if moistened and
hung up so as to swing clear of the
ground. The bullets which General
Pesqaerias imagined were thinning the
ranks of the savages were falling harm
lessly on the outside of the wooden blan-
kets.
So, when the next unpleasantness
arose, the Indian project organized con-
| pPlldSJ Oh bLC pau VI lCuCSduC lHdIuAS
to either kidnap or kill Kehamy. 1t was
a dismal failure, for the Yaqui chief scat
tered the renegades like chaff, capturing
many of them and Selling their boats.
He then sent word to Guaymas that I'M
less a specified ransom were promptly
forthcoming he would burn the boats
and execute the prisoners. The ransom
not coming, Kehamy fulfilled his word.
Prior to that he had been formally, cited
to appear at Guaymas, and his reply
was
'Its no further from Guaymas to
Yaqui than from Yaqui to Guaymas.
The project is welcome to come in quest
of an explanation"
Some time ago the Mormon elders,
casting around for new Ell Dorado, fixed
covetous eyes on the fruitful land along
the Rio Yaqui and sent trusted dele
gates to spy out the country. Brigham
Young, Jr., proceeded to Guaymas and
interviewed the governor with view to
getting official sanction to prospect the
Yaqui country. Young soon found that
if he was to explore the Rio Yaqui he
should do so without Mexican assistance,
moral or physical. Young then, it is
said, tried his Establishments on the ed
ucated chief of the Yaquis, and requested
the favor of an interview with that de-
termined and diplomatic parsonage.
Kehamy was thoroughly conversant with
the Mormon question and the tenets Of
Young's church, and having no admira.
ton for them declined to meet the Nor
mon apostle. He appointed delegate
however, to meet the Mormon outside
Yaqui territory, and the result of the
negotiations was that Young concluded
that the Rio Yaqui was not just then the
the mostinviting Ell Dorado to which the
advocates of polygamy could fly from the
rigors of United States law.