Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-06
TROOPS AMBUSHED.
YAQUl INDIANS KILL TWENTY
MEN WITH STONES.
A Losing Battle, Where the MeIicans are
Unable to Sec Their Enemies or Tell
Where the shots Come From.
Special 70 the Gazette.

CHIHUAHUA. NEXICo. Aug. 5.-lgnacio
Harra. prominent merchant of Her!nlta'
a small town lying at the foot of the noun
taius, about fifty miles northwest OF TINS
city, is here He says that the people OF
his section are having much trouble with
the Iaqui Indians. This tribe is one OF the
tiercest in the whole republic ana has never
been subjugatei. The home of the Indians
Is in the almost inaccessible mountain
Businesses aud they bid defiance to all the
troops that can be sent against
them. These Indians number about
5000 and have been at war with
the whites ever since the Spaniards first
came 10 this country. They are large
bodied people, and are intensely warilke,
living entirely of of their neigh oors. From
their mountain home they descend INTO the
valleys and leave q trail of blood behind
them. II is estimated that within the past
five years they have killed over four hun
dred people and have stolen hundreds o.
thousands of dollars fworths Os plumber.
They viii not stand 10 night the troops. but
flee 10 the mountains, which they have REL
Gcred almost impregnable, and there are
lost to their pursuerS, who are IN constant
fear OF an ambush.
Iarra says that about 4 month ago .
young lieutenant determined to follow the
savages and gave chase after they had
made particularly bloody raid. The In-
dams killed seven men and carried on four
women when they Went back. The alarm
was given and the lieutenant took twenty
men and started in pursuit, being only
three hours behind and travelling light,
while the Indians were incumbered with
the captured stock which they were driv-
ing. On arriving at the foot hills the troops
proceeded carefully, sending out an advance
guard and watching the cliffs closely.
As they went deeper into the mountains
the trail led directly between two frOwning
walls into canyon which was so narrow
that the lig.t OF day scarcely penetrated II.
After consultation it was decided 10 send
two men TO see if there was any appearance
of ambush. These men followed the trail
through the canyon to an open park which
spread Out in the heart of the mountains.
Far out in this opening they saw the fleeing
Indians hurrying toward 4 village which
nestled in the foothills ON the
other side. The scouts hast
ened back and made their report
and the lieutenant determined to push on
and attack the village. The whole party
went into the canyon, but had gone only
short distance when one of the soldiers in
the rear gl3nClng up at the froWnlnS walls,
saw an Indian peerlng over a crag. He at
cnce gave shout of warning and ran back
to the entrance as fast as he could. The
warning was too late 10 benefit his compan-
ions, for as soon as the cry was given
4 mass Of rock came tumblinT down into
the narrow canyon, and the Indians kept up
such a pelting with stones and boulders
that not one of those who were in advance
were able to get out. The solitary remnant
OF the squad ran his horse nearly to death.
and escaped with two slight wounds. He
told his story at the fort, and the colonel in
command at once sent = detachment of sol
diers, one hundred strong, with two Cat
Ting guns, TO the scene of the massacre.
Orders were given TO recover the bodies
of the ambuShed soldiers at all hazards, ard
i possible, infiict punishment on the In
dians. When they arrived at the scene Of
slaughter, they found that the Indians had
horribly mutilated the dead soldiers, scalp
ing all of them, and cutting and slashing
their faces and bodies in a terrible manner
The troops began throwing balls from the
gatlingS into the rocks, and then made
an advance into the pass. When
they had proceeded about quarter OF 4
mile they found the way blocked with
large stones which had been rolled into the
trail. They began tearing down the barri-
cade, but were subjected to a CALLING fire
from hidden Indians, and lost three more
men without being able TO see their enemies
or tell where the shots came from. The
captain in charge saw that he was fighting
4 losing battle aud returned TO the fort with
the twenty-three dead men.