Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1895-12-14
INDIAN MURDERS.
Return of the Pursuing Posse-A
Buck and Squaw Probably Killed
Merrill and Daughter.

| Mr. William ". Eills0n-the "Cyclon
BilP of the days agone-csme in from
Eagle Creek on the borders OF the Sal
Carlos reservation yesterday. He dis
credits the reported killing of German
family in the San Simon valley, as re,
ported IN the telegraphic dispatches
Yesterday he was at Bowie station anc
there met q number of San Simon COW
boys and as they said nothing Of any
additional killings it is fair to suppose
that there were none.
He reports that Sheriff Wright, oi
Graham county, and posse, has returned
from chasing the murderers o; old man
Merrill and daughter, on the road be-
tween Duncan and SolomonvIlle. The
Indians who did the killing were over
taken in the Whitlock mountains, near
the Whitiock Cienega and a running
fight ensued. So far as could be learn
ed the murdsrers consisted of buck
and rqusw. at all events those were
the only parties met with. They had
just killed a horse and were preparing
a midday meal when surprised by the
sheriff's posse.
The Whitlock mountains are exceed
lngly rough and the possee found it
impossible to follow up the advantage
gained in the surprise. The squaw
escaped on her horse and the buck on
foot, and although one of the Parks boys
rode up the mountain and fred repeat
edly at him, the fellow got away as did
olcO the nho l,ft
ed come fifteen or twenty miles and she
almost made circle OF the mountains,
probably with the intention OF joining
the buck. In the chase after the In
dians the horse ridden by the buck had
been overlooked, and this the wiley
savage was not long in finding out from
his place of vantage in the rocks. so
waiting his opportunity he secured same
and got away. This was learned by the |
posse when they returned to the camp |
at which the Indians had been first |
jumped.
Although the squsw succeeded in
eluding capture she was so closely press
ed that she was obliged to throw away
a pair OF mocasins and several articles of |
clothing, the latter had been clothing
faken from the body of Miss Merrill at
the time she was killed. The recovery
)f this clothing alone settles forever the
question as to the identity of the mur-
ierers.
Although two Indisns only were seen,
{ is probable that more were in the par
y at the time the killing was done for
he reason that the sheriff's men found
where two head of cattle and one horse
lad been killed for food and consider
Ible portions of the flesh of the two cat
lie taken awey, which implied party cf
It least or 6.
Unfortunately the horses ridden by
he pursuers were jaded at the time the
indians were struck. They had been
idden hard, the first 80 miles having
,een covered in about hours. Had Mr.
" sters, who discovered the dead bodies
Il Merrill and daughter, gone on to So
omonville instead of returning to Dun
an and thus losing about 45 miles. it is
nore than probable that the Indians
would have been killed or captured as
heir trail from the scene OF the murder
ed Though an open country and the Ip-
ians had gone along leisurely apparent
Y not expecting to be followed. AT the I,
ime OF finding the bodies Mr.. Waters
vas en- route from his home, at Duncan,
o Solomonville and was within Is miles
4 the latter place when he made his
hastily find, and instead of going ahead
e returned to his home % miles dis
ant. This required another journey
YER the entire 40 miles to Solomonville
efore the authorities could be notified. ;