The herald., 1893-10-02
Ex-King Miguel Of the Yumas'
in the County Jail.
The History Of bis Rise, Fall and
Imprisonment.
The Recent Incipient Rebellion at
Yuma and the Ex-Chiers At
tacks ON the school
Teachers.


are dusky Of complsxion-are Miguel,
Joe Mamadulce, Mushoi, Owhias, Cap
tain White, Walter Anspim, Marascue.
6ach Cunni and AhoutE.
They are charged with attempting to
kidnap and disturbing the peace, also
with inciting others Of their tribe to
insurrection.
The arrests are the result Of the dis
turbsnces at Yuma, where Miguel and
four other Indians attempted to carry
off Mary O'Neill, the school auperin-
tepdent.
The whole affair is purely political
row. and had the participants been
white men the conquered party would
probably have eontented itself with
Safeguarding the victors, but in this
case the chief politician, Miguel, al
lowed his wrath to get the better of hia
diplomacy and coming to the conclusion
that Sister O'Neill was the cause of his
downfall, he went to the school and in
company with a band of other dis
gruntled Indians attempted to kidnap
the lady and three other officials but
were prevented by the timely arrival OF
the police.
In 1887 the then chief of the Yuma
Indians, one Pasqual, died and Miguel,
by government appointment, reigned in
; his stead. There was some i'll feeling
created among the Indians by the ap-
pointment, as a few of the redskins de-
sired Pasqual's son, Joe, Palmas, for
their chief.
Miguel, however, was elected and ex-
ercised his somewhat limited sovereign
ity until some four months ago, when
the government incontinently bounced
Miguel, and Joe Palmas took up the
ecepter In his stead.
There were several reasons for this
! step. Miguel's five years OF authority
! had made him somewhat arbitrary, and
the government was ia continual re-
ceipt OF complaints against him.
As scon as Miguel was deposed the
trouble began. Miguel aecribed hia de-
! thronement to the influence OF the
superintendent, and Immediately started
out TO make things uncomfortable for
Sister O'Neill and endeavored to regain
his lost prestige.
One OF his little pleasantries was to
order a number of the Indian girls at
tending echool to discontinue their At
tendance. These girls. ranging in age
from IL to 16, he sold to diesolute white
men and Indians for $40 and $40 apiece.
His chiet factotum was Walter Anspin,
an Indian OF good education and more
than average intelligence. These two
echemere commenced O series OF plots
and intrigues, of which the svowed pur-
pose was the reinstatement OF Miguel ae
chief.
Those who know. however. declare
that the willy Anspin was only making
use OF Miguel as a means to his own ulti-
mate appointment to the seat OF power.
But week or two ago AnspiD, who had
cverstepped the bounds OF prudence ia
his denunciations OF the present ruler,
was arrested.
This was the last straw which spurred
Miguel to action.
Deprived OF the counsel OF the cnutieus
and diplomatic Anspim, Miguel's ideas
and desires few at once in the direction
of violence and revenge. With a band
of equally violent Indians he surrounded
the schoolhouse where Sister O'Neill
and three other officials, James Seaser,
George Escalanti and Bill MohaD. were,
and breaking in an entrance attempted
to carry them off by force OF arrus.
There was some lively lighting, and
Miguel had his hands on the lady
uperintendent. when the police ap.
peared upon the scene and the revolu-
tionists we're arrested.
A HERALD reporter interviewed Miguel
and Anspim at the county jail esterdsy.
Miguel protested not to speak English.
but that ho un1erstocd the conversation
was apparent by the frequent emile hat
PLAYED npon his dusky features, and
the many Interruptions he made while
Anspitn interpreted his ex-shist's state-
ment.
According to Migrel, that same
Miguel is the best IndiRn that ever
pahsed all idle, but meritorious existence
upon a government reeervsticn.
He declared that such q thing ae en-
attack upon the echoolhouse was entire
ly foreign to his disposition aad inten-
tions.
He heard OF his friend Anspim's
arrest, he sad. and went with some
friends to the school house to demand
how long he was TO be imprisoned and
for what ofienee. The officials there OBJ
jected to his prerence and attempted to
put him out; $50 there WAS q fight"
Miguel naiyely concluded.
As to the selling OF the Indian girls
Miguel was equally vigorous in his de-
nial. The girls, he eaid, we're badly
treated. The superintendent, accord
ing to Miguel's declaration, used to strip
them from the waiet and beat them with
rods. In order to save them from this
kind Of punishment he ordered them to
cease Attending school.
He declared he never sold one Of the
maidens in the manner charged. But
Miguel was evidently not telling the ex-
act truth. He was too childish and too
4 innocent, and the smile that accompan-
led his statements WAS too sarcastic to
be Convincing. Only ence did he
emerge from the armour OF cunning in
which he had evidently determined to
encase himself.
The reporter asked il the Indians
were satisfied with Palmas as their
chief.
Then Migueps bland smile left his
face; his features were transformed
with rage. and, forgetting his self-im-
piled restraint he rose from his seat
and with fashing eye, began: when
was chiei"--but he got no farther, the
more contained Anspim said few Quick
words in his Indian tongue, and Miguel
suddenly stopped. and his features
dropped back in their old dead alive un-
interested appearance.
All be would Say was. my friend inn.
pris0ned, 80 trouble come to Me.n
Anspin. the Talleyrnnd OF the tribe
was equally innocent Of wrong doing.
he acknowledged, however, having