The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-05-08
THE MOQUi INDIANS.
Civilized Methods of the Whites Object
to by Blanket Indians.

Civilized Methods of the Whites Objected
to by Blanket Indians.
Capt. Constant Williams, Of the
Seventh infantry, forwarded to the
headq uarters of the department OF Col
orado the particulars Of the trouble with
the Moqui Indians. The Moqui Indians
are few in number, and dwell in the
mountains of Arizona, about one hun
dred and fifty miles from Fort Win
gate, the nearest military post. They
are a peaceful and Industrious tribe,
but ignorant of all matters outside OF
their own little villages. 1t is even said
they believe they are the only people
in the world with the exception of four
companies of United States cavalry
that appeared on the occasion OF their
last outbreak. Gov. Solomai obtained
some progressive ideas from visit to
Washington with two other Moquis
about ten years ago. On his return he
described the immense numbers Of peo-
pie, the railroads and gigantic build
ings he had seen. The Indians, think
ing he was crazy, placed him in con
finement for some time. Solomai has
never abandoned his desire for reform,
and has quietly gathered about him
followers that comprise about one
third of the NJ oquis- Capt. Williams,
to ascertain the cause of the disturb
ance, visited the villages, and found
that it arose from second attempt OF
Solomai to adopt the customs OF the
palefaces. A meeting OF the two fac
tions was held in the square Of the viii
lage, and the chiefs of the contending
factions stated their case. Gov. Solo.
mai said he wanted his children to go
school and be brought up as white
children are. When he and the others
had done this the hostiles had raised
objections, had seized some Of their
coruields, and threatened to seize
others. They had even gone so far as
to threaten to expel them from the
town. So Solomai had asked for the
cavalry to be sent. The hostiles num-
bered about two-thirds of the tribe,
and they were led by one Lomahun-
gyoma. They were op posed to progress
of any kind, and wanted to follow in
the steps of their forefathers.
After Solomai had finished his speech
their chief rose to reply. He substan-
TALLY admitted the truth Of Solomai's
statement, saying that he and his fol-
lowers did not want to be civilized or
have their children go to school, or to
wear white mems clothing or to eat
white mems food. They had seized the
fields at Moencopee because they had
belonged to them in former years and
had been unlaw fully taken away. In
the spring he intended to take away
more of the fields of the followers Of
Solomai. He also added that the diff
Guilty could be settled in no other way
than ~ the coming of United States
troops. Therefore, Capt. Williams said
that he had deemed it necessary to ask
for two troops of the United States cav
airy to be sent there. 1t is believed
that the trouble will be over in few
days, but it will take some time for the
news to arrive, as the Indians are
considerable distance from any town.
Army officers say that they are the
most religious people in the world
and honorable and upright in all their
dealings. They speak language of
their own, but each separate village
has dialect which they alone under
stand.