The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-03

San Diego, Calf, May News has
been received here that the Yaquis
have ambushed 500 Mexican troops.
under General Torres, in the canyon
Sierra de Bacatte. Huge masses OF
rock and boulders were Ioosened from
the cliff 1,5OO feet above, and rolled
down upon the defenseless horsemen.
Of whom at least 200 were killed and
wounded before they could beat a re-
treat
Ex-Governor Louis E. Torres, who
is now general of the northern and
western departments of Mexico, it
says, has been making another cam
paign against the Yaqui Indians in
south Solora and northern SinaIoa-
He had an army of over 500 men, and
the plan was to dispose of the Yauuf
question at once and forever. Presi-
dent Diaz selected Torres for this
work because of his experience and
supposed ability to accomplish the de-
sired purpose. But, like the other
commanders who have tried it, accord
ing to report, Torres met the Yaoui;
and was defeated.
The report says a force composed of
ments, accompanied by a party of ma
tlonal militia from Mexico, were in
pursuit of the Yaquis in the Sierra de
Bacdtete. On the afternoon of the
9TH day Of March the trail led the
pursuers into long, deep, narrow de
ME IN the Sierra de Bacatete. The
walls OF the canyon were almost pre-
cipltous, rising to a height in some
places over 1000 feet and covered with
ambush.
BOulders Come bounding Down.
The command was halted and skir-
mishers pushed forward to uncover
any possible ambush. The skirrnish
line climbed the walls and beat the
brush as far up as possible without
results, and as the trail was clearly
DENIED in the sand in the bottom of
the canyon, the colonel in command
ordered the column forward.
Hall the dangerous locality had
been traversed with no sign of life nor
motion from the cliffs towering above
and the men were beginning to
breathe easier, when suddenly huge
masses of rock and boulders, Ioosened
from cliffs nearly 1,500 feet above.
came bounding from wall to wall down
upon the hemmed in column, crushing
horses and riders into shapeIess heaps.
Higher and higher rose the war cries
OF the Well-armed Yaquis, who now
began firing voIley after volley direct
ly into the struggling mass below,
where all was confusion.
Horses dashed through the broken
column, tramping on the dead and
wounded soldiers; men writhed and
screamed under the weight of rocks
that had crushed them down upon the
earth. Others sank under that pftiIess
hail Of rifle balls, while others less
severely wounded and with those still
unhurt sought the bushes on either
side and watched with cooked rifles
for some sign Of their bloodthirsty
foes.
Two Hundred Killed and wounded.
In such confusion it was impossible
for the commands Of the officers to he
heard, but finally the colonel found a.
wounded bugler with yet life enough
to sound a call. In a. few moments,
although still in range of those deadly
rocks and rifles. those Of the wounded
able to move with assistance, were
started back down the canyon, while
those who were able to offer resist
ance fired volley after volley at ran
dom into the bushes on the cliffs and
had the satisfaction of occasionally
seeing a half-naked Yaqui leap con-
Vulsively from his hiding place and
come whirling down through a thou
sand feet of space.
AS rapidly as possible the remnant
of the column fought it's way back to
open ground, where their foes did not
dare to follow, and after brief rest
dragged themselves back along the
route over which they marched so
cheerfully the day before.
The number of killed cannot be ac-
curately stated. but out of the column
of 500 men it is said that at least 200
are either killed or wounded.
Additional Force Organized.
An additional force of 100 militia has
been organized at Hermosello and
Guaymas and the campaign against
the rebels Will be vigorously pushed
Torres himself and a small party Of
soldiers retreated to Guaymas, where,
according to one version that has
reached Ensenada, 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, Sonora and Sinaloa
are to be modified at Guaymas and
another campaign organized against
the Yaquiss- but whether General Tor
res is to lead or not remains to be
seen.
1t is said that Don Jacobo Cerda, a
young doctor, after the encounter in
the canyon, left a place called La
Mesa, with a small escort to attend
the wounded and on passing a place
called Arenas. fell into an ambush
prepared by the same party of Yaquis.
According to the report. ne was slain
in a most cruel manner, the sayages
first f1aying his feet and making him
walk on them. They finally Ianced
The Yaquis' Stronghold.
The Sierra Bacatete is some two
DAYS Journey from Guaymas, and is
very rugged, 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 expected.
| 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 al
/ most unlimited powers of endurance.
REDWOOD VILLAGE BURNED.
New York, May 2.-Kenwood. a sub