The times., 1898-09-26
WIPED OUT.
How the Brave But Mig uided Timo-
ches Were Differentiated.
From the New York Herald.)


Up to ten years ago there existed in
the mountains OF Northwestern Chihua-
hua Mexico. a small remnant of what
had been large and brave tribe of In
dians known as the Timoches. They were
formerly allies of the Yaquis, but con-
fined their fighting to encounters with
the various predatory bands of Apaches
which roamed through the western por
tion of the Sierra Madres, devastating
and destroying the homes. property and
lives of Mexicans and Indians alike.
In the many incursions or the Apaches
the Timoches had lost majority of their
fighting men, and when by the effort OF
the Mexican and American forces the
Apaches were finally subdued and Ger
onimo and the other savages who for
years had been leading them were prop
erly imprisoned, the Timoches settled
down In their mountain homes to reunite
the so-called families of their band and
organize tribal relations
Their habitations were mostly TO the
north of the town of Conception. now
Guerrero, and not far from the line of
the chihuahua and Pacific Railroad, now
building.
Timosachic was little town, which
was looked upon as sort of center of
their stamping ground. and here they
a priest from the Cathedral at Chihua-
hua.
The Timoches were different from any
other Indians of Western Mexico. gem
orally larger and finer formed; their COM
plexions were light and hair fine and diff
ferent in color and texture from that of
the ordinary Indian. The women, too,
were of good figure and face, and in in
telligence in advance of the MeXicanS.
They were most faithful in their reli-
gious observances, and were marked for
their steady conduct and good citizen
ship. During the year 1894 the Timoches
were visited by fanatical woman pre-
tender, who, styling herself Santa Te-
resa, announced herself as having a mis-
sion from heaven, and that the mission
looked to the regeneration of Mexico
through her agency. And the Timoches,
the simple-hearted Indians. were attract
ed by the adventures, who also claimed
extraordinary healing powers through
divine aid.
The Indians focked to her standard
and the demonstration became of such
form that the Mexican government sent
an officer and detachment of soldiers to
arrest or summarily squelch Santa Te-
resa. The Timoches, acting under her
orders. killed the soldiers, and the Off
Ger hurried back TO Chihuahua TO carry
the news. Then a larger force was sent
under the command of a colonel and he
was killed, as well as the greater part
of his command.
Then it was found that an agent of the
Timothes had arrived in Chihuahua and
informed the leaders of the Church party
of the success of their revolt and.
thinking this an opportune time to over
throw the Liberal party and the reform
laws of JuareZ, the Church partly greatly
aided and encouraged the Timoches, un-
til the elements of diseord became so evil
dent that martial law was declared in
that city, and a heavy force of regular
troops was dispatched to dispose of the
recalcitrant Indians. Meantime, Teresa
was urging the Timoches to defy the
government, claiming that God was di-
recting her, and by His help she would
cause them to conquer.
The infatuation of the poor creatures.
together with the information that the
Church party in the city of chihuahua
was about to. revolt against the govern
ment, was such that they determined to
fight to the end. and threw up entrench-
ments around their town and provisioned
in great quantity the church which stood
in the center of the town.
This was also fortified with great walls
of stone, at each entrance port holes were
cut, to command the road upon which the
soldiers were to come, the women and
children of the tribe were brought hith-
er, and upon the attack being made in
overwhelming force, a most deadly bat
tie was fought Having fallen back upon
the church. where had been stored extra
arms and ammunition, the women were
used in loading the guns, and for three
days most gallant defense was made
and hundreds of Mexican soldiers were
killed.
Finally artillery arrived, and bonn
bardment of the church began. The SOL
diers We're stationed on every side OF
the church, and the destruction of life
after each cannon fire was followed by
the yelIs of dying women and children,
but the Indians fought to the last, and
one woman, it is related stood close to
one of the port holes and said words of
cheer to her aged husband. and in turn
to her five stalwart sons and when they
all fell she called her two grandsons,
boys of twelve and fourteen years of age.
to aim the Winchesters at the foe, tell
ing them that God had honored their
fathers with a glorious end.
The Mexican soldiers, embittered by the
loss of their comrades, showed no quar-
ter, nor did the brave Timoches ask it.
OF the tribes of seventy-two Timoehes
but one man exists today. Two hundred