The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-29
San Juan Valley Rsided BY 25O Thieving and
Bloodthirsty Bucks from the Reserva-
ti0n in Northeastern Arizona.
General McCook Instructed to Send
Troops to the Scene Immediately.
Two Encounters with the Misunderstanding
Post Captured by the Savages, Who Are
Well Mounted and Armed with Repeaters.
UPRISING OF INDIANS.
Eight White Men Killed by Thieving Bant


UPRISING OF INDIANS.
Eight White Men Killed by Thieving Band
of Arizona Navsjos.
Special 70 the Indianapolis Journal
DENVER. Col. April 2S.-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 aud with 1t
the death of eight settlers. Such was the
startling news received this morning by
Adjutant-general Kennedy. At 9:i5 A. NJ.
the Adiutant- general received telegram
from Lieutenant Plummer. Indian agent of
the Navajos in which he stated that the
white men had been murdered by the
Indians, who are now at war with the set
tiers. He declared that the situation is q
very critical one and asked that 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 Lorenz
to the Adjutant- general. Lieutenant
Plummer stated that the people
below Durango are In wild
state of excitement and grave fears are en-
tertsined lest the Indians continue their
warfare up the valley. In his kilograms
the Lieutenant says that two battles have
been fought already. The first was early
yesterday. shen five men were killed. all
settlers, while at another encounter three
more whites lost their lives and further
bloodshed is anticipated. The Adjutant-
general forwarded the information to the
War Department ct Washington. He was
inclined to regard the situation with a good
deal of concern, although expressing the
belief that the trouble would lot extend
very far north. He did not know whether
or not Governor Waite would order the
National Guard to the front, but thought
that he would do so.
THE REDS WELL ARMED.
In speaking Of the affair the Adjutant-
general said that there are $50 bucks VINO
are raising the disturbance. They are all
mounted and equipped" said he. with the
best repeating rifles. and have ample sup
plies for long war. They are bad lot,
and revel in pIunder and murder. There
has been Ill feeling among them for long
time, and 1t has at last come to o head.
The settlers down in that county 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:
''rhe present conflict was precipitated by
the resistance of the whites TO the depreda-
tions of a band of warriors who raided the
stock of the cattlemen. They drove off q
large herd of cattle, which they took to the
mountains. This so incensed the stock
men that they organized large posse of
cowboys and went to. recover the cattle.
The Indians fled on the approach of the
cowboys at first. and the cattlemen were
rejoicing in what they looked upon as
very easy victory, and after they had
cured their cattle started to return TO their
range They had proceeded but very
short distance. however. when they were
were passing through sort OF
shallow canyon by the entire band
OF go. desperate encounter took place.
In which five cowboys were killed and. IL
is believed. q number of Indians. The red
men. of course, had tho advantage. and
from their vantage points up above their
adversaries fought with telling effect upon
the cattlemen. who were finally repulsed.
Thew took with them portion Of the herd
of cattle which they had recovered ana re-
treated. The Indians by this time were
thoroughly aroused and started on
marauding expedition across the country.
THE reservation of the Navaios Is a large
one. covering some twelve Thousand square
miles in the northwestern part of New
Mexico and northeastern Arizona. and ex-
tends up to the southern line OF Colorado.
On this there are thousands of Indians
who are on the .warpath. The band of $50
zona. crossed the line into New Mexico. go
ing due east to town called Jennett,,
thence to the San Juan river and are now
in that vicinity"
STATE TROOPS ORDERED OUT.
On advices received tonight from Du-
rango that the Navajos were moving rapid.
.ly north from New Mexico toward the Col
orado line. Governor Waite ordered q
special train over the Rio Grande to carry
two hundred stands of arms aud fifty
thousand rounds of ammunition to, the
local militia company at Durango which is
ordered ont. The entire ten companies of
the Colorado National Guard have been
ordered to report for duty. ready to move
at once to the scene of trouble. The special
left at 10. and will reach Durango early to-
morrow.
A dispatch from Durango says: Three
hundred Navajos have captured Whyte's
trading post mission at Hog back. on the
San Juan river. near the Welsh ranch. The
homes of other settlers are surrounded by
Indians. who are threatening to kill and
burn. James Handy arrived from the
scene of action. which IS about seventy
miles south of Durango. thiSmorning at 4
o'clock. and. after securing q supply of am
munition for tho settlers. changed teams
and returned at once. Agent Bartholomew
wired the Indian Department regarding the
situation this morning. but the NavaJos are
beyond his jurisdiction, and he can do
nothing"
The Nsvsjos number fully fifteen thou
sand and are the most formidable of their
race. Probably no tribe has so signaIly re-
dressed Its wrongs or inspired scattered set
tiers with SO great q degree of terror the
Navalos. They are among the rudest and
least intelligent of all the tribes. large
extent of country directly west from Santa
Fe extending from near the Rio Grande
river on the east to the Colorado on the
west, and as far as the territory of the
Apaches on the south. Is occupied by them
The first outbreak of the Navajos occurred
In 1858. but five years later they were sub.
dued by that famous scout, Kit Carson.
A dispatch from Durango. this evening.
says that Lieutenant Plummer has sue
ceeded in inducing the Indians TO snrren-
der the uurdeTers of trader Welsh,
which lessons the danger of an Indian
war, but that Castiano and his
band are preparing to fight. Excite
meDt at Durango Is high. and armed
parties have started to the scene of the
trouble seventy miles away. The Indians
are so far from railroads that particulars
cannot be learned. and facts become dis
torted. but the situation is critical.
courier just In from Pennington. N.
NJ. says that Lieutenant Plummer. fearing
trouble. has released the murderers of
Welsh. 1t is thought that he was over
Rwed. as he had no troops with him.
TROOPS ORDERED OUT.
General McCook Instructed to Attend 60 the