The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-07-20
uoUCK.s TANK TROUBLE.
Cade Selvy Gives Details of the Affair
 Why the Indian Was Killed.

ohNt pi ou'hShe'y III ehO .iOoofO "ith the Navajoes at Houck's Tank, Arizona, has returned to the city and gives the following detailed account of the affair:
 "On the third day of June, 1892, there was switch thrown on the At lantic x Pacific at Querino Canon, Arizona, causing wreck in which Neil Evans, the engineer of the train, was killed and my brother and head brakeman Robert Heinman :. were seriously injured. I have been work ing on the case ever since trying to find out who it was who did the das- tardly act. Some time .ago l became convinced beyond doubt that cer- tain Indian was the guilty one and got out warrant for his arrest. On the morning of the 14th inst, went to Houck's Tank, Arizona, accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Smith. We found that our man had moved about three miles from the railroad track up among inc rocks aud pinou trees, as he had gotten on to the fact that we were after him. He had told Mir Ben, nett, the storekeeper at the tank, that he intended to ditch another train aud kill another white man.
 "On the morning of the 14th we located the Indian and went up to his hut to get him. I went in the side of the hut and Mir. Smith entered at the front. The Indian was lying down. called to Mir. Bennett, who was about ten yards away, to come and see If this was the man we were after, as was not absolutely sure. Bennett came forward and said that is your man. handed my Winchester to Mir. Smith and told him to hand it to MT. Ben nett, who was at his back and who had no gun, though he was supplied with a six-shooter. l pulled the handcuffs from my pocket and when the Indian saw them he made jump for Bennett, snatching the six-shooter out of the latter's hand and shooting him in the left eye, the shot causing but a slight wound. The Indian then dropped the six-shooter and grabbed my rifle from Mir. Bennett. then seized the Indian. The latter still held on to the rifle and in such Il position that it was impossi- ble for Bennett or Smith to approach to my assistance with safety to them- i selves.
 After minutes tussle found that my Navajo antagonist was very pow erful man. l finally succeeded in bend ing him back over my hip and told Smith to kill him, which he imme- | Ga,sly I:i. w. .l,.. ,naue Il run for Bcnnett's store, forcing a few Indians we encountered on the road to accom- pany us, in order to prevent them spreading the news of the killing be- fore we could get out of the rocks. Within thirty minutes after our arrival at the store the house was surrounded by Indians. They did not seem tc want anyone but myself and Smith. There was one shot fired at us while standing in front of the store. We then went inside and the Indians swarmed angrily about the building. Two bumpers at the tanks were per- mitted by the Indians to go and come as they saw fit, as was MT. Bennett. They told him to give us up and they would be satisfied. Mir Smith and myself sent word to the Indians that we were there and if they wanted us to come and get us. then wrote a couple of telegraphic messages, one to Gallup and one to the general offices asking for help. 1 also gave a friendly Indian $l0 to go to Fort Defiance, 95 miles away, and sent a dispatch to In- dian Agent Lieutenant Hummer, ask ing for aid.
 "Mr. Bennett went down to the rail- road, which is about 300 yards from his store, and boarded q passing freight train for Gallup for the purpose of getting his eye dressed. Smith, my self and m old gentleman who runs the pump at Houck's Tank, remained in the store and had no fear other than that the Indians might set fire to the building. At ? o'clock P. m. an en- zine and baggage car sent by Mir. Gabel, arpired from .Holbrook with eight men who had come to our assist ancc. As soon as the Indians saw the cars coming they began a flight to the hills, Between 12 and o'clock |. m. Capt. Drum aeriyed with Al soldiers from Fort Wingate. He placed pickets around the store and when daylight ! came there wasn't an Indian to be seen. I asked the captain next moru- ing for ten men to accompany me to get my Indian, as was not certain | whether he was killed or badly wound | ed. My request was granted, and we came upon the Indians as they were