Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-02
Mexican Soldiers Butohered BY
Yaqui Indians.
REPETITION OF BRADDOCKS DEFEAT
A Largo Force Of Soldiers Cut
Down by a Few.
AN 9TH Err EXPEDITION

SAN DlEGO, CAL, May Z.-NeWS Is re-
ceived here that the Yaqui Indians have
once more ambushed the forces sent
against them. day or two ago a state
ment was published that two companies Of
Mexican troops stationed at Ensenada had
been ordered to Guaymas. Sonora, on the
Gulf Of California. for immediate duty.
At the time 1t was thought to be an or
dinary and unimportant transfer of soldiers,
but the report which now comes in directly
from the Mexican officers at Ensenada
gives that movement a most sensational
aspect. Ex-Gov. Luis q. Torres. who IL
now general Of the northern and western
departments Of Mexico. 1t says, has been
making another campaign against the
Yaquis in the Sonora and northern Simolia.
He had an army Of over 500 men, and the
plan was to dispose of the YaQuis then at
once and forever.
President Diaz selected Gen. Torres for
this work because Of his experience and
supposed ability to accomplish the desired
purpose.
Led Into Ambush.
But, like the other commanders who have
tried 1t. according to reports. Torres met
the YaQuis and was defeated.
The report says that a force, composed
Of soldiers taken from different regiments.
accompanied by a party of national militia.
in command of a lieutenant colonel lately
arrived from Mexico. were In pursuit Of
the Yaquis in the Sierra De Bacatel On
the afternoon of the fifth day Of the march
the trail led the pursuers into a long, deep.
narrow defle In the Sierra De Bacatel.
The walls of the canon were almost pre-
cipitous. rising to the height in some places
Of over 1000 feet. and covered with brush.
pushed forward to uncover any possible
ambush.
The skirmish line climbed the walls and
beat the brush as far up as possible with
out results. and. as the trail was clearly de-
fined In the sand in the bottom Of the
canon, the colonel in command ordered
them forward. Half the dangerous locality
had been traversed with no sign Of life
and the men were beginning to breathe
easier, when suddenly huge masses Of
rock and boulder from the cliff, nearly
1.5OO feet above, came bounding from wall
to wall down upon the hemmed-in column,
crushing horses and riders into shapeless
heaps, and higher and higher rose the war
cries Of the well-armed Yaquis. who now
began firing volley after volley directly
into the struggling mass below. where all
was confusion.
A Terrible Scene.
Horses dashed through the broken col
umn. trampling on the dead and wounded
soldiers: men writhed and screamed under
the weight Of rocks that had crushed them
down into the earth; others sank under the
pitiiess hail Of bullets. and others. less
severely wounded. and those still unhurt
sought the bushes on either side and watch
ed for some sign of their bloodthirsty foes.
In such confusion 1t was impossible for the
commands Of the officers to be heard, but
finally the colonel found a wounded bugler
with yet life enough to sound q call.
In few minutes although still In range
Of those deadly rocks and rifles, those Of
the wounded able to move with assistance
were started back down the canon. while
those who were able to offer resistance
fired volley after volley at random into the
bushes on the cliffs. and had the satisfac-
ton Of occasionally seeing q half f-naked
Yaqui leap convulsively from his hiding
place and come whirling down through a
thousand feet Of space.
As rapidly as possible the remnant Of the
column fought its way back to open ground,
where their foe had not dared to follow and
after a brief rest, dragged themselves back
along the route over which they had march,
ed so cheerfully the day before.
The number killed cannot be accurately
stated. but out Of the column Of 500 men It
is said that at least 200 are either killed or
Another Attempt to He Made.
An additional force Of 200 militia has been
organized in Hermosillo. and the campaign
against this party Of reds will be pushed
vigorously.
Torres himself and q small party Of SOL
diers retreated to Guaymas. where. accord
ing to one version that has reached En-
senada, he has been placed under arrest
because Of his failure. This Is not believed
to be true.
At any rate. all the Mexican troops of
Lower California, Sorona and Sinaloa are to
be modified at Guaymas and another cam
paign organized against the YaQuis but
whether Gen. Torres Is to lead or not re-
mains to be seen.
1t is said that Don Jacob Corda, q young
doctor, after the encounter In the canon,
left a place called Lanes, with q small es-
cort, to attend the wounded, and on passing
a place called Arenas fell into an ambush
prepared by the same party of YaQuis. Ac-
cording to reports he was slain in a most
cruel manner, the savages first haying his
feet and making him walk. They finally
lanced him.
The Sierra De Bacetel is two days
journey from Guaymas, and is q very rug
ged, wild country, one of the strongholds of
the Yaquis. 1t Is said that only 100 or 200
YaQuis were in the rebellion.
Further details from Guaymas are ex-
pected. The Yaquis are to Mexico what the
Apaches are to Arizona, only, If anything,
they are more cruel. They are magnificent
specimens Of manhood. few being under six
feet, and have almost unlimited powers of
endurance
They have never been entirely subdued
but inaugurate periodical raids from their
impregnable strongholds in the Businesses
of the Sierra Nevadas.
SHOT By A JEALOUS WIFE.