Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-05
COL. CORBIN'S COMMAND.
RETURNED TO HOLBROOK, ARIz.
FROM ORAIBE.
/. The Movement Against the Moquis Com
pletely Successf ul-A Wholesome Les
son Taught the Navajos and Others,

HoLBRooK, Ariz., July 4.-Colonel
Corbin's command has returned here,
the movement against Oraibe having
been completely successful. When the
expedition started out fears were enter
tanned of serious trouble, not especially
on account OF the Oraibe affairs, but
| from danger of an incidental conflict
with the powerful Navajo tribe adjoin-
ing, who number eighteen thousand.
The Moquis are descended from the old
cliff-dwellers, and for ages have lived in
seven small towns built upon high cliffs
near the southwest corner of the Navajo
reservation. Six of these towns have
always been peaceful, but Oraibe, con-
tanning over eight hundred inhabitants,
has always been unfriendly, owing to
the work of fanatic medicine men.
I Last winter they stubbornly refused
to be counted by the census enumera-
tor. until persuaded by the presence of
troop of cavalry. Since then their
chief has become friendly, and advised
his people to follow American ways.
This made trouble with the fanatic
section, and they resorted to open hos
tility, threatening surveying party
with violence, and also threatening the
destruction of the government school
and all the Americans connected with
it. This school is in Kearn's cafion, not
far from the village. The Navajos, who
had long been in the habit of raiding the
Moquls, were compelled some time ago
to withdraw from the vicinity of the
;o IN
threatened not only the Moquis but the
quest of the Indian agent, Captain Nc
Clernarnd, with troop of the Second
cavalry, arrested buck who had resisted
the agent. This had a salutary effect;
but still throngs of idle young bucks,
all we'll armed, continued sulky and it
was feared that some mishap might
send them off on wild foray any day.
Last week Lieutenant Brett. with
detachment of Second calvary, went up
to Oraibe village to learn the cause of
the trouble there. On entering a mar
row ,sttreet they found the Indians con-
gregaved on the fiat housetops, armed
with rifles and bows and arrows. The
war chief defiantly rejected the offer of
parley and threatened to open fire on
the cavalry if they did not leave.
Lieutenant Brett, finding he could do
nothing, withdrew his troops and re-
ported to headquarters.
In response, General McCook ordered
force Of the Second and Tenth cavalry
to Holbrook, where Lieutenant Colonel
Corbin assumed command. Vigorous
action had been determined on, and the
command carried with it two 3-inch
Hotchkiss guns with which to reduce
the houses occupied by the Indians, in
case of a fight. These houses are
strongly built of stone, mostly three
stories in height, with terraced fronts,
and can only be entered by ladders lead
ing to the roofs. Thus each house con-
stitutes fortress.
The troops made the march from Hol-
brook and reached the village shortly
after daybreak. Preparations had evil
IDENTIFY been made for trouble, but on
seeing the large force of troops, che hos
tiles surrendered at once. Eight OF the
principals were arrested and will be
taken to Fort Wingate. All refused to
talk except one, who said they were pre-
pared to fight, but had no conception
that the Americans could bring more
than thirty or forty soldiers against
them. The presence of nearly 200
troops struck them with CONSERVATION.
Colonel Corbin assembled the villagers,
and after explaining the gravity of their
misdeeds and severely admonishing
them, he told them to resume their or
dinary occupations.
Some Navajos were permitted to ac-
company the troops and observe the
subjection of Oraibe, it being deemed
advisable to give them lesson.