Mohave County miner., 1897-01-23
The Yaquis and their Heroic Story.

ern hemisphere at this time IS the Yaquis, whose home ie in the north western portion of the republic ot Mex ico, State of Sonora. Hunted and op- pressed by the Spanish conquerors and their successors the Yaquis, who four centuries ago dominated the whole north ern section of the territory of Mexico, have decreased in numbers until now hardly 10000 of all the tribes are left out of the 3,000,00G they are estimated to have numbered when the coDqueror, Cor tez, Ian ded.
 Cortez and his Iieutenants found their most determined and skillful opponents in the Yaquis. But the genius of the white man eventually overcame the feeble opposition of the Indians. who were finally suhj1gated and compelled to acknowledge their conquerors as their sovereign masters. When the mineral resources of the new land began to be realized by the Spaniards they forced the whole conquered population to work as slaves in the mines which had been discovered and opened through their en terprise. By tortures too awful to con- template the Yaqnis were forced to di vulge to the Spaniards the source of theIr wealth in silver, gold and precious stones. Fne rapaclty of the conqle was not satisfied With the lmpoverIsh- ment of the aborigines.
 They claimed their bodies as well and for years and years after their conquest, in fact until the beginning of the present century the miserable Yaquis were the victims of a tyranny that is only possible where the Spanish race is dominant. Not until it was discovered that so many of the Indians had been killed that not enough were left to work the mines did the King of Spain issue decree that in some respects ameiorated the condition of the slaves and prevented their ultimate extermination. The history of these peo- pie during these three centuries of op, pression has not been written. It is too bloody and cruel to be recorded, but this is known that the Yaquis, preserved that spirit of liberty which still flames out so conspicuously to day. Their hatred of the Spanish races Is as great as eyer.
 Preserving their tribal organizations, the Yaquis, responding to the commands of their chiefs, deserted their homes in other parts of Mexico and repa red early in the century to the State of Sonora, a country of mountain fastnesses, fertile plains, and capable of successful defense. Here in the remote and inaccessible heights of the Sierra Madre they estab lished their headquarters, meanwhile cu tivating with native art the fertile val leys and plains, building houses of stone, constructing irrigating works and increas ing in numbers and wealth, and defying the armies that the republic periodically sent out for their extermination.
 The wars between the Yaquis and Mexico have been costly and sanguinary in the extreme. Invariably victory has remained with the Indians. Their ability to adapt conditions to their defense, their skill as marksmen, their strategy and, above all, their devotion to their country have contributed to their suc- cess.
 In agricultural pursuits, weaving, pot tery, iron working and in many other of utilltarian arts the Yaquis excel. When fairly used they make excellent servants. They are employed al rough work on the railroads and are ever cheer ful and accomplishing.
 As warriors they are fierce, brave, un- relenting and yindictive They never take live prisoner. It has been sus pected that the republic of Mexico utI izes the Yaquis in the punishment of reg iments who are insubordinant or sus pected of revolutionary sentiments A campaign against the tribes effet tually disposes of Unaffected soldiers and lands them beyond the power to cause further trouble. But brighter day is dawning for this heroic race An American com. pany has secured a concession to hun- dreds of thousands of acres on both sides of the Yaqui river and will open the fer tile plains and valleys of Sonora to culti vation and settlement
 These lands produce, even under the most primitive cultivation, three to four