The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-04-29
An INDIAN OUTBREAK.
Eight Settlers Meet Death at the
Hands Of the Navajos.
A LONG THREATENED CONFLICT.

Two Battles Have Been Already Fought.
Governor Waite, of Colorado. Called
Upon for Troops-Tho Indians Well
Armed and Mounted.
DENVER, 29.-The long threatened war
OF the Navajo Indians against the settlers
of the country in the vicinity of their
lands has come at last, and with 1t the
death Of eight settlers
Such was the startling news received
yesterday by Adjutant General Kennedy.
AT 9;45 O'Clock the adjutant general re-
ceived telegram from Lieutant Plum.
mer, Indian agent of the Navaios in which
he stated that eight white men had been
murdered by the Indians who are now at
war with settlers. He declared that the
situation is very critical one, and asked
that the troops be called out to prevent
further bloodshed.
The telegram was addressed to Governor
Waite. but he is out of the city and the
matter was referred by Secretary Lorentz
to the adjutant general. Lieutenant
Plummer stated that the people below
Durango arc in alwild state OF excitement,
and grave fears are entertained lest the
Indians should continue their warfare
along the valley.
In his message the lieutenant states that
two battles have been fought already. The
first was early on Thursday, when five
men were killed, all settlers, while at an
other encounter three more whites lost
their lives and further bloodshed is an
ticipated.
The adjutant general forwarded the in
formation to the war department at Wash
ington, and II is not unlikely that orders
will be issued from that source for the re-
moyal Of the troops now quartered at Fort
Logan. They can act outside the state,
and would be of more avail in a conflict
with the Indians than state troops.
Adjutaut General Kennedy declined to
give copies OF the kilograms received and
sent by him. In speaking of the affair he
snid that there are $50 bucks who are rails
ing the disturbance.
They arc all mounted and equipped"
said he, with the best repeating rifles and
have ample supplies for u long war. The
present conflict was precipitated by the re-
sistance of the whites to the depredations
of band of warriors who raided the
stock of the cattlemen. They drove off
large herd of cattle, which they took to the
mountains.
This so incensed the stockmen that
they organized large posse of cowboys
and recaptured the cattle. They had pro-
ceoded but very short distance on their
way hone when they were attacked.from
the flank by the entire band of 80. A des-
perate encounter followed, in which five
cowboys were killed, and, it is believed,
number of Indians.
Tho reservation of the Navajos isa large
one, covering some i2,0G0 square miles in
the northwestern part of New Mexico and
northeastern Arizona, and extends up to
the southern line of Colorado. On this
there are thousands of Indians who are
liable to go on the warpath.
a despatch from Durango says Three
hundred Navaios have captured Tom
WHITES trading post mission at Hog
Back, on the Ban Juan river, near Welsh's
ranch. The homes of other settlers are
surrounded by Indians, who are threaten
ing to kill and burn.
James Handy arrived from the scene of
action, Which is about seventy miles south
OF Durango yesterday, and after securing
supply Of ammunition for the settlers,
exchanged teams and returned at once.