The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1888-07-05
Turbulent NavajOeS.

claims to be well acquainted with
all the leading Navajo chiefs, with
most of whom he says he is friend
ly, came into Gallup on Thursday
last, from an extended trip through
the Navajo reservation. Mr.. Foster
had set out to try to visit what is
known as the Mitchell mine said to
be wonderfully rich. This mine
is near the corner of Utah, Arizona,
New Mexico and Colorado. Going
entirely unarmed, Mr.. Foster re
lied for safety on his knowledge of
the language, and familiarity with
the Indians.
Soon after entering the reserva-
ton he found a turbulent spirit
prevailing. and learned that white
man had been killed some three or
four weeks ago on the San Juan
river, his body thrown into the riv-
er, and bis pack, burros and effects
taken by the Indians. Agent Pat
terson had also heard Of the muir
der, and sent out party OF Indian
scouts to investigate.
The scouts found the band to
which the murderers belonged,
and were able to secure the effects
of the murdered man, but the chief
to whose band they belonged refus-
ed to give up the murderers, driy-
ing the scouts back by an armed
force said to consist of 500 men.
Mr.. Foster was notified by friend
| " Indians that his life would be in
jeopardy if he went any futher, and
turned back. On his way back he
met q party ofbucks, each of whom
was provided with a five gallon keg
ofwhisky, which they informed him
had been purchased at a ace they
called La Posta, located, according
to their story, about twelve miles
east of the Harris ranch, now the
Chaco Trading company's store.
On arriving at the Navajo agency
Mr.. Foster was informed that q
council of chiefs had been called to
meet at the agency tn-day-Tues-
day, June 26th, and that the MUIR
derers would be demanded, and if
not surrendered, Agent Patterson
said he would call on the troops to
take them by force. Agent Patter-
son, Foster says, is claiming that
everybody accused him of inert
ness, and that if this action precip-
itated trouble he could not help it.
Mr.. Foster says some of the
bucks say that while they are peace
able the government gives them
nothing, but that if they go on the
war path, they will receive valua
BILE presents when peace is declared.
He says the only peaceable chief
with whom he talked was old Ma
riano who says if trouble comes he
and his band of five hundred war
riors will fight on the side Of the
whites.
Mr.. Foster thinks the trouble, il
trouble comes, will be on the San
Juan river when the troops are not
in striking distance. Much de-
ponds, he says, on how to-day S
council is managed. While on the
reservation Mr.. Foster was offered
several fine American horses, brand
ed box-bar, for sums ranging from
SIS to Is. This brand belongs on the
La Plata in Colorado and the ami
mails have undoubtedly been stolen.
Mr.. Fosters story is exactly in
harmony with other information
received here and with Agent Pat
terson's statements to parties here
Non his last visit. Our citizens
would do we'll to organize for the
protection of the town, although it
is not likely that any demonstra-
ton will be made on this side of the
reservation on account of it's prOx-
unity to Fort Wingate, only thir-
teen miles distant and connected
by telegraph. Fosters story may
he OOsSibly highly cOlOred but If is