Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-08-20
FAMOUS NAVAJO BILL.
DR.. W. N. Wallace, All Adopted Son of
the Great Navajo Tribe of Indians,
Visits Santa Fe-A Unique
Character-Here On An
Errand Of Mercy.

Brief mention was made in these
columns yesterday of the presence in
Santa Fe of Mr.. W. N. Wallace, better
known as "Navajo Bill" and often called
doctor" on account of his formerly hav.
ing been druggist and being skilled in
the use of medicines.
Mr.. Wallace is a unique character. He
was born in La Fayette, Ind, forty ode
years ago, and received fine education
He settled at Animas City, Colo, neal
where Durango is now located, about
fifteen years ago and engaged in the drug
business. Soon after he began trading
with the Navajo Indians at Pennington,
N. M, acquired their rude language
and during the past ten years has lived
most OF his time as an adopted member
of the tribe. During these years he has
so completely gained the confidence of
the Navajoes that when old Manuelito,
their venerated war chief died, some two
years ago, he was urged to accept an cleo
ton as chief of the entire tribe of 10000
people. This honor he declined for the
reason, as he says, that he could not
afford to put up the money necessary
for white man to maintain the dignity
of the position, but the Indians have re-
fused to fill the place and his influence
among them is virtually that Of chief.
Mr.. Wallace has neither wife nor chill
dren. He also says that the story about
his being related to Gov. Lew Wallace is
fiction, although he remembers often
seeing the distinguished author of Ben
Aur in Indiana years ago. One Of his
brothers, W. D. Wallace, has been elected
judge of the superior court in La Fayette,
Ind, and another, DR.. j. p. Wallace, is
extensively engaged in mining at Creole.
He enjoys excellent health, looks as stout
and enduring as a bundle of steel wires,
and says he is stranger to discomfort.
He certainly appears like one we'll salts
fed with his lot In life. In conversation
he is bright, vivacious and fascinating,
yet it is difficult to betray him into say
ing much about himself.
Mr. Wallace says he came to Santa Fe
on an errand of mercy. The uged mother
of Nez Kayhey, the young Navajo who is
serving twenty years. sentence in the
territorial penitentiary for killing Trader
Welch at Jewett, N. NJ, about two years
ago, has long been begging him to take
her to see her son. Finally Wallace con-
sented and came through to Santa Fe by
trail from Pennington, distance fully 200
miles, with the squaw mentioned and four
other Navajo arriving here on Sunday
after trip of six days, during most of
which time 1t rained.
Yesterday morning he took his wards
over to the penitentiary to see Nez Kay
hey and he describes the meeting as most
pathetic. The mother walled pitifully
and begged necessarily for the liberty OF
her son, while Nez Kayhey shook as if
mastered by paroxysms of emotion, but
disdained to shed a tear or utter com.
plant. The other Indians also manifest
ed much feeling.
Mr.. Wallace speaks in the highest COM
mendation of Col. Bergmann's manage
ment of the penitentiary. He says the
Indian convict is in excellent health, due
he thinks to his working daily IN the
open air and to his wholesome food, and
that Col. Bergman pronounces him one
of the best behaved men in the prison.
Nez Kayhey gave Mr.. Wallace beauti-
fnl hair bride and quirt, his own handi-
work, az token of his gratitude.
Speaking generally of the Navajoes,
Mr.. Wallace says that the tribe suffered
much on account of the failure of their
crops last year, but adds that, owing to
the abundant rains, they will have plenty
this year. He says that the government
ia doing good work il. expanding $780,
BOO taking out bitches for the Navajoes,
and is confident that better times are in
store for them.
Mr.. Wallace left with his wards for Farm
ngton this morning. They assured him
that they had had a good time, but wanted
10 20 home.