Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-02-06
PAPAGo TROUBLES.

PAPAGo TROUBLES.
 The hand of the very cratic Indian agent who has control of the Pima agency and the general supervision of the Papsgo reservation, IS again seen as 0 disturbing element, and If trouble grows out of his unsccountable con- duct, the department that persists in re- taining such an incompetent agent will beregarded as a particeps cTiminis in the strife. He has often been shown to be a meddler and vindictive, coarse, vul- gar and ignorant Bombastes Furoso, and it is also hinted that a long cata- logue of serious charges against him are mostly true"
 The trouble at issue IS as follows: In 1882 tract of land was located at the mouth of a canon on the west side o- the Baboquiysri mountiRns, where II was then supposed flow of water could be obtained. The Indians had never even csmped upon the lands much less claimed them. About eleven months ago the claim was sold to Davis & Jones, two men from Tomb stone, who have improved the property by clearing of and putting five acres under cultivation, dug 6 well seventy feet deep, constructed irrigsting l.tehes, built house and corrals and have sev- enty-five head of cattle. They were making home at that place and MT. Davis had taken bis wife and child to the ranch to reside.
 About a week sgo a party of Papago Indians went to the house and showed Mir. Davis piece of paper signed by R. G. Wheeler, Indian agent. that read that the bearer, 6 Papago, was entitled to one hundred and sixty acres of land and a spring, wherever be might choose to locate 1t, under the provisions of some act of Congress that escaped Mir. Davis memory The Indians sa:d they had selected the ranch Of Davis & Jone=. and they wanted immediate possession CT they would drive the whites off Mrs. Davis WAS at that time very III in bed, and died the next day, hastene1 no doubt by prostration caused blythe fright. MT. Davis was at their me.cy, and asked ten days time to remove, which WAS given In a very contemptlble manner by the Indians. After giving his dead wife such burial as was possible under the circumstances, hIs partner being then absent, he rounded up his cattle and placed them ia charge oi distant neighbor, and came 10 town with his child, reaching here Monday. He sought legal advice, and was prompt ly told that the Indians had DO shadow of right or authority to dispOssess him. His filings are good and his occupation of the land was made before the In dians coveted 1t. Yet from his isolated location, he Is at their mercy and any attempt to retain his property by force will finally end in his death. Trouble of some nature ls sure to ensue anu n AuNO4fC CDLoNA AN1NAo bA HEA serious nature.
 The government, as matter Of jus tice both to the white people-who seem to consider they have a right t0 live even though the departments at Wash ington eau see no necessity for it-and the deprsved specimens of lazy Indians, should compel the Papagos either to re- main upon the reservations set gpart. for .aIt,-ior ..iglItt, or to take up lands in seyeralty and cultivate them. At the present time they roam at their own sweet will and do pretty much as they choose, regard less of the agent or the settlers. With their hereditary ideas of property rights. supported by the only authority they are taught to recognize-the Indian agent-they are disposed to assume an arrogance of demearor towards the legitimate settlers that must sooner or later lead to open rnp- ture. They have always been regarded as friendly Indians and have frequently rendered excellent services to the whites, and it was not until the present agent assumed control of them that they exhibited any disposition of law lessness. His pernicious advice has taught them to look with contempt up on the civil laws and the rights of the settlers, and his ability to accomplish evil and to inspire bad blood between the two classes seems to be about the only genius with which be Is amply en- dowed.