Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-12
THE INvINCIBLE YAQUIS.
Facts About the Tribe Which Mexico
Has Been Fighting Three Centuries.

icid.iNe W Il precipitation OF hOStlIl'
ties between the Indians and Mexicans
OF that region, argues most disastrous.
~ for the future peace of the Sonora
| frontier.
Memories of the 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
ominous misgivings as to whom and
how it may end.
The Yaquis are people, Indians
though they be. who have never been
conquered. True. peace has from time
to time been patched up between them
and the MeXicans. but only after over
whelming losses on the part of the lat
ter. The region inhabited by the va
quis lies in the southern portion of the
state of Sonora. 1t is a country emf
nently fitted for the natural pursuit.
ard warlike impulses of the tribe
which people il. invoking, as it does.
league upon league of rich farming and
leagues more Of ragged territory in
the fastness of the great Sierra Mad
res. alike unknown and inaccessible to
any save their own followers.
While even more fierce in their nat
ures 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
We're the strongest and most formid-
able of all the tribes of Mexico. In
Cortez's time their number was esti-
al OF nd thnir, hon re nv
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
Colorado.
The first war with the Yaquis dates
back to the period when Coronado in
vaded this vast territory. The entrance
of the Spaniards into their domain
was viewed by the Indians as tres
pass. and was met with violent oppo-
sition on their part. The superior
arms of the invaders. however. pre-
vailed. and in one year the faquls
lost over 10000 of their tribe. Since
that early date they have cherished
the most bitter hatred for the Span
iards. and certain customs and en-
and subsequently handed down to the
MeXicans have been the cause of the
almost perpetual warfare throughout
the ensuing year 1t is this contin-
ual strife that has proved so disas-
trous to the ranks of the TaquiS. In
the early part of the present century
their numbers had decreased to less
than 81. 600 while today there remains
,h I nj the nnWprft11
tribe OF this latter number there are
about 5000 able bodied warriors. Such
a force would at first seem insignifi
cant but the Yaquis are an extraor-
binary race of warriors. To begin
with the men are physically far SUI
perior to the troops with whom they
are contendng. 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
iuvincible. Hence, to conquer those
5000 Yaqui braves. provided the entire
tribe has taken to the war path, is Il
serious undertaking. The Mexican
government doubtless realizes this
only too we'll From February. 1873.
the date of the Guadalupe Hidalgo
treaty. until the treaty at Ortiz in
July 1897. there was scarcely a year
that the troops We're not engaged in
lighting the YaGuis. And finally,
after the Mexican government had
sacrificed over 5000 soldiers and many
millions Of dollars in its vain endeavor
20 vanquish 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 pursuits in the valley of the
Yaqui river.
The manner in which this treaty
was brought about involves the fol-
lowing story. related by one of the
late General Torres staff:
In one of the many forayS of 1896
and 1897. young Yaqui warrior was
wounded and captured. Instead of or
Gering him shot, Colonel Pinado. the
officer in command. directed that he
should have the kindest treatment.
When the Indian recovered. Colonel
pnadO set him free and asked him to
bear ii message to Chief Tetabiate, the
Yaqui leader. In this message the
colonel proposed q conference to ter
inmate the long war. Tetabiate. how
ever. returned word that the fate of
a former chief. Cajemi. who had been
lured down from the mountains on a
similar pretext and shot. was too fresh
in his memory and that he did not care
to leave his defenses to meet any
Mexican officers in conference. He
moreover stated bluntly that If Col
onel Pinado wanted to see him, he
would have to come into the noun
tains, attended only by the Indian
messenger. He concluded with his as
surance of personal safety to the col
onel. and promised that no attempt
would be made to avenge Caiemi'
death by breaking faith. as the Next
can general had done.
Under the peculiar conditions of af-
| fairs. it took a man of great courage
to accept Tetabiate's invitation. Col
onel Pinado. however. was thoroughly
| familiar with the YaQui character
He knew also that there was extraor-
binary provocation to break it in this
instance. His brother officers were all
opposed to the step. but when the mat
ter was reported to General Torres, he
ordered Pinado to proceed to the noun
| tains and open negotiations with the