The San Francisco call., 1897-05-17
LIVE IN FEAR OF
PIUTE VENGEANCE
Terror Still Possesses
Mexican Residents
of Bagdad.
Believe the Death Of Ahvote
Has Not Placed Whites
Out of Danger.
Others of Murdered Chief Moss
Tribe May Go Upon the
Warpath.

SAN BERNARDINO, Call, May I6.-
It is feared by the Mexican residents OF
Bagdad that the death of Ahvote, the
Piute butcher, has not ended the blood
shed in that vicinity. Sheriff Holcomb
remains in the town to guard against In
dian treachery and to lend courage to the
Mexicans who have not already fed
across the border to escape the Piutes.
Their alarm is not shared by Americans
at Bagdad the latter believing that the
crimes of Ahvote were not inspired by his
tribe in a spirit of revenge, but were
rather the deeds of crazy Indian bent on
numbering every one he met.
Later Information from the several
tribes of Piutes is to the effect that they
are or the verge of an internal war caused
by feuds between their chiefs. From
Caliente came word several days ago that
actual hostilities had broken out and that
several Indians had been killed.
Mexican treachery and cupidity were
responsible for the Ahvote rampage,
which cost the lives of at least ten whites.
John Moss, a Piute Indian chief, went to
Bagdad on February 25 from ranch on
which he was working. He had the pro-
ceeds of three months labor In his pock-
cts, and on arriving sought to buy liquor
in the Stewart Hotel barroom. He was
refused. Leaving the hotel he met two
Mexicans, John Nunez and Gvegorio
Rede. He asked their advice as to the
best means OF procuring liquor. Under
the pretense that they would buy it for
him he was induced to visit the cabin of
Antonio Francesca, Mex can coalheaver,
who lived near the coal chutes, among
which are scattered a number OF Indian
shacks. Once there he displayed about
$40 in cash, and Rede determined to OBJ
tain it. Moss was filed with cheap red
wine and became hilarious. Rede, who Is
known as bad man among the Mex!cans,
picked a quarrel with Moss and then re-
tired TO the outside of the cabin. The row
was continued inside, and finally Fran
cesca led Moss to the door.
Rede, who had preceded the Indian, Sc
cured an ak that lay near by and as Moss
emerged deliberately struck him on the
head and killed him. He took what
money Moss had, and then Francesca and
NuneZ, under threats from Rede; helped
to drag the body some 2U0 yards in ci r.
cuitous route and hide it among chapar raj
bushes near the railroad track.
Moss wife had missed him from the
ranCD anu going pOSL haste 10 DdSuaQ
found that her husband had been there
and was last seen alive going to Frances
cas- cabin In company with Rede and
Nunez. At the cabin she could get no re-
plies 10 her questions, and knowing that
her husband had money she raised COM
motion that resulted in search for NJ oss
by posse of citizens and the finding of
his body secreted in the dense under
brush.
On, orrin bot 10 ne hnd hopn
murdered the squaw proceeded to where
her pony was nitched. "Never mind" she
exclaimed, "Piutehave good law-life for
life, "and with these threatening words she
started back to the ranch.
Her attitude and language alarmed the
Mexicans of Bagdad and they sought Sc
curly IN the coal bunkers of the Atlantic
and Pacific Company, wherein they forii-
fed themselves strongly. The county Off
GERS at this city were notified, and Sheriff
Holcombe and his deputies went OUT and
arrested all the persons implicated in the
crime. They were brought to San Bernar-
dino and indicted, and Francesca, turning
States evidence, told his story, with the
result that Rede was convicted of murder
in the second degree and is now serving a
life sentence in San Quentin. Nunez
pleaded guilty TO having been an accessory
after the fact and received a fve-years'
sentence.
This did not satisfy the Piutes. They
demanded q life for that OF their Chi eff,
and when the trial was over they sought
their homes silent and sulien. Those
who know them and their nature best pre-.
dicted trouble with them, and that they
were right events of the past few days
have proved.
On Thursday night word was brought
into The Needles that the Fiute Ahvote
was on the warpath. and in his raids had
killed four prospeetors along the Colorado
River one of whom was brother of M.
Monaghan of The Needles. A posse was
organic I'd, and striking across the river
| into Arizona took up the trail of the rene
gade. On the marc they met China
man, VINO said that he had almost been a
victim of Ahvote. his color alone saving
him, as the Indian seemed bent on sIay-
| ing white men only. 1t was also learned
| that he had added two more to his list
making six in all.
Seeking a place where it was known
! that about fifty Indians were camped the
avengers notified them that if Ahvote was
not killed they would destroy every In.
dian in the section. From among the
redskins they selected ten trailerS and the
man hunt became more exciting.
1t was found that Ahvote crossed and
recrossed the river, Staying all who hap
pened in his path. He added four more
victims to his list, three OF whom were
unknown. His victims as far as known
are: Lari Franzen and Ben Jones, team
sters; Christian Nelson and Charles
Monaghan, miners; Judge j. NJ. Morton,
an assayer an a millman, known all over
the coast; John Powers and Conley. mine
owners, and three men, names unkn own.
With the Indian tcailers the whites
pressed on and overtaking the murderer
in Ell Dorado Canyon the Indians am
pushed him and shot him to DEATH
Leaving his BODY where it fell they re-
turned to The Needles and found the