The border vidette., 1899-08-12
INVlNClBLE YAQUlS.
Mexico Has Been Fighting For
Over Three Centuries.

latlv0 to precipitation OF nOSIlIltleS
between the Indians and Mexicans OF
that region, argues most disastrously
for the future peace of the Sonora from
tier, says the Ell Paso Herald.
Memories of tho late sanguinary war
against this same fierce tribe, which
terminated only two years ago, are
wildly recalled by this more recent
shedding of blood, and give rise to omi-
nous misgivings as to when and how it
may end.
The Yaquis are people, Indians
though they be, who have never been
conquered. True, peace has often been
patched up between them and the Mex
leans, but only after overw helming
losses on the part of the latter. The
region inhabited by the Yaquis lies in
Sonora. It is a country eminently
fitted for the natural pursuits and war
like impulses of the tribe which people
it, including, as it does, league upon
league of rich farming and grazing
land along the Rio Yaqui, and leagues
moro of ragged territory in the fast
ness of the great Sierra Madres, alike
unknown and inaccessible to any save
their own followers.
While even more fierce in their ma
lures than the Indians of other tribes,
the Yaquis are intellectually far above
ordinary, to which fact is doubtless
due their characteristic success in bat
tie. Three centuries ago the Yaquis
were the strongest and most formida-
BILE of all the tribes of Mexico. In
mated at $50, 600 and their haunts ex-
tended from Durango, in the south,
throughout the entire northwestern
part of Mexico and all that portion of
the United States, as far north as Colo
rado.
The first war with the Yaquis dates
back to the period when Coronado in
vaded this vast territory. The en-
trance of the Spaniards into their do
main was viewed by the Indians as tres
pass, and was met with violent opposi
ton on their part. The superior arms
of the invaders, however, prevailed,
and in one year the Yaquis lost over
10000 of their tribe. Since that early
date they have cherished the most bit
ter hatred for the Spaniards, and GER
tain customs and encrouchments ori-
ginating with them and subsequently,
handed down to the Mexicans have
been the cause of the almost perpetual
warfare throughout the ensuing years.
It is this continual strife that has
proved so disastrous to the ranks OF the
Yaquis. In the early part of the pre-
sent century their numbers had de-
creased to less than $1,000 while today
there remain only about Is, 900 of the
once powerful tribe. OF this latter
there are about 5000 able
bodied warriors.
Such force would at first seem in
but the Yaquis are an ex-
traordinary race of warriors. To be-
gin with, the men are physically far
superior TO the troops with whom they
are contending. Secondly they are
better armed, being equipped with
Winchester rifles, whereas the stand
ard Mexican arm is the Remington,
and lastly, their stronghold in the
Sierra Madre Mountains is practically
invincible. Hence, to conquer those
5000 Yaqui braves, provided the entire
tribe has taken to war-path. is serious
undertaking. The Mexican govern
ment doubtless realizes this only too
well. From February, 184S, the date
of the Guadalupe Hidalgo treaty, un-
til the treaty at Ortiz in July, 1897,
troops were rot engaged in fighting
tho Yaquis. And finally, after the
Mexican government had sacrificed
over 30, 900 soldiers and many millions
of dollars in its vain endeavor to van
puish this restless foe, it was obliged to
make overtures with terms satisfactory
to the Indians before the latter would
come down out of the mountains and
return to their former peaceful pur
suits in the valley of the Yaqui River
The manner in which this treaty was
brought about involves the following
story, related by one of the late Gen
Torres staff:
''In one of the many forays of 1885,
and 1897, a young Yaqui warrior wa:
wounded and captured. Instead of or
dering him shot, Col. Peinado, the Off
Ger in ommand, directed that he should
have the kindest treatment. Wher
the Indian recovered. Col. PeinadC
message to Chief Tetabiate, the Yaqu
leader. In this message the colone
! proposed a conference to terminate tn,