Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-29
NAVAJO DEVILTRY.
Rec skins Don War Paint With
Fatal Results.
EIGHT COWBOYS BITE TIL DUST.

Ambushed in a Canon the Indians Have
the Fight All Their own Way, But
Some Are Believed to Have been Killed
Many Settlers BesieGed by the Saw
ages-Coiorado's Militia Called On
Also United States Soldiers.
DENVER, April 29.-The long threat
ened war of the Navajo Indians against
the settlers of the country in the vicinity
of their lands has come at last, and with it
the death of eight settlers. Such is the
startling news received here by Adjutant
General Kennedy in a telegram from Lieu
tenant Plummer, Indian agent of the Ma
vaJos, in which he stated that the white
men had been murdered by the Indians,
who are now at war with the settlers. He
declared that the situation was 2 very criti
cal 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.
Two Battles with the Reds,
Lieutenant Plummer states that the peo-
pie below Durango are in wild state of
excitement, and fears are entertained that
tle Indians will continue their warfare
along up the valley. In his message the
lieutenant states that two battles have
been fought already. The first was early
Tuesday, when five men Were killed, all
settlers, while at another encounter three
more whites lost their lives, and further
bloodshed is anticipated. The adjutant
general has forwarded the information to
the war department at Washington, and
it is not unlikely that orders will be issued
from that source for the removal 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.
Bad Lot of Bucks.
Adjutant General Kennedy was inclined
to regard the situation with good deal of
concern, although expressing the belief
that the trouble would not extend very
far north. He did not know whether or
not Governor Waite would order the ma
tional guard to the front, but thought
that he would do so. He declined to give
copies of the kilograms received by him
and sent, or to allow any one to see them,
stating that it was contrary to orders. In
speaking of the affair he said that there
are go bucks who are raising the disturb
ance. They are all mounted and
equipped" said he, with the best repeat
ing rifles and have ample supplies for a
long war. They are a bad lot and revel in
plumber and murder. There has been ILL
has at last come to head.
DO They Ever Get Along Anywhere?
"The settlers down in that country and
the Indians never could get along in peace.
The Indians are continually plundering
and stealing from the whites, who have
submitted to the thefts until the past few
days. The present conflict was precipi-
tated by the resistance of the whites TO the
depre6ations of band of warriors who
raided the stock of the cattlemen. They
drove off a large herd of cattle, which they
took to the mountains. This so incensed the
stockmen that they organized Il large
posse Of cowboys and went to recover the
cattle The Indians fled on the approach
of the cowboys at first, and the cattlemen
We're rejoicing in what they looked upon
as n very easy victory, and after
they had secured their cattle started to re-
urn to their ranges.
Ambushed in a shallow Canon
"They had proceeded but very short
distance, however, when they were at
tackled from the TANKS as they Were pass
ing through 4 sort of shallow canon by the
entire band of 250 4 desperate encounter
followed in which five cowboys Were killed
and, ii is believed, a number of Indians.
The red men, OF course had the advantage,
and from their vantage points up above
their adversaries fired with tellingI effect
upon the cattlemen, who were finally re-
pulsed. They took with them a portion of
the herd of cattle which they had recov-
ore ~ nd rot -a1