Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-09
AMBUSHED In A CANYON.
Two Hundred Mexican Troops Killed
Yaquis Indians.

Yaquis Indians.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, May News has
reached here of terrible disaster
which has overtaken the column of 500
Mexican troops sent against the Yaquis
Indians in Sonora and Northern
Simolia. The troops were led into a
narrow canyon, up the precipitous
sides of which the Indians were am
pushed. From an elevation of !, 500 to
1900 feet huge powders were rolled
down the mountain, crushing the
troops beneath.
President Diaz selected General Tor
res for the campaign because of his ex-
perience and supposed ability to ac-
complish the desired purpose. But,
like the other commanders who have
tried it, according to reports Torres
met the Yaquis and was defeated. The
report says force composed of soldiers
taken from different regiments, accom-
panied by a party of national militia
in command of 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 pur-
suers into long, deep, narrow defile
in the Sierra de Bacatel. The walls of
the canyon were almost precipitous,
rising to the height in some places of
over 1900 feet and covered with brush.
The command was halted and Skin
mishers pushed forward to uncover
any possible ambush. The skirmish
line climbed the walls and beat the
brush as far up a possible without re-
suits, and as the trail was clearly de-
fined in the sand in the bottom of the
canyon the colonel in command order
ed them forward.
Half the dangerous locality had been
traversed, with no sign of life nor mo
ton from the cliffs towering above,
and the men were beginning to breathe
easier, when suddenly huge masses OF
rocks and powders from the cliff,
nearly 1,500 feet above, came bound
ing from wall to wall down upon the
hemmed-in column, crushing horses
and riders into shapeless heaps. High.
er and higher rose the war cries of the
well-armed Yaquis, who now began fir
ing volley after volley directly into the
struggling mass below, where all was
confusion. Horses dashed through the
broken column, trampling on the dead
and screamed under the weight oil
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to the earth, others sank under the
pitiless hail of bullets. and others, less
severely wounded and those still I'M
hurt, sought the bushes on either side
and watched for some sign of theil
bloodthirsty foes. In such confusion
it was impossible for the commands oil
the officers to be heard, but finally the
colonel found a wounded bugler with
yet life enough to sound a call.
AS rapidly as possible the remnant OF
the column fought it's way back to
open ground where the foe had not
dared to follow, and after a brief rest
dragged themselves back along the
route over which they had marched SC
cheerfully the day before.
The number killed cannot be accu-
rateIy stated, but out of the column OF
500 men it is said that at least 200 are
either killed or wounded. An addi-
tional force of 200 militia has been or
ganized in Hermosillo, and the cam
paign against this party of redskins
will be pushed vigorously.
1t is said that Don Jakob Corda, a
young doctor, after the encounter in
the canyon left place called LANES
with a small escort to attend the
wounded, and on passing place call
ed Arenas fell into an ambush prepar-
ed by the same party of Yaquis. Ac
cording to reports he was slain in a
most cruel manner, the savages first
flaying his feet and making him walk.
They finally lanced him. The Sierra
de Bacatel is some two days journey
from Guaymas, al is very rugged
wild country, one of the strongholds of
the Yaquis 1t is said that only 100 OF
200 Yaquis were in the rebellion.
The Yaquis are to Mexico what the
Apaches are to Arizona, only, if any
thing, 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 theil
impregnable strongholds in the fast
nesses of the Sierra Nevadas.