Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-09-28

their language is a dialect of the
Cahita. Catholic missions were begun
among them as early as 1890.
From 1875 TO 1S41 the Yaquis were
constantly in revolt against the Span
ish and Mexican governments, and
fare. During the preceding century the
tribe was ruled by its own laws. These
Indians made their towns asylums, and
had peculiar custom of never surren-
dering a fugitive.
In 1926 and 1882 they were led by
Banderas, an able and eloquent COM
mander, who was finally defeated by
Gen. Urea.
No other tribe Of North American
Indians so eminently combines the
peace-loving traits of the farmer and
the courage and daring of the soldier
as the Yaquis. To visit them in the
vicinity of their river towns Cocorin,
Bacum or TORN, in a land indicating
peace and plenty so far as outward
signs denote, one would not suspect the
slumbering in those savage breasts.
Prior to the war in 1S47 between
Mexico and the United States the va
quis had enjoyed quarter-century of
peace, and had grown prosperous With
the call to arms at that time 5000 of
their braves joined the Mexican forces,
and Gen. Taylor's men found in them
fierce foes. But when the end of the
war came the tribe did not quiet down
to former habits of peace. Their
leaders claimed that the Mexican gov
eminent had failed to reward them for
their participation in military serv-
ice by refusing to grant them certain
lands that had been promised. Then
began that series Of hostilities which
has lasted through period of more
than fifty years, and is still in progress.
During that bloody half-century the
Mexican government has spent many
millions, and $4,000 soldiers of the re-
public have sacrificed their lives in at
tempts to permanently subdue the
warlike tribe and restore peace. At
the present time no amicable adjust
ment of the difficulties seems possible.
The battles of the tribe have caused
losses amounting to 20 600 of their men.
The nation which numbered $50, in
1919 has dwindled to $4,000 people.
Their original territory extended from
the northern boundary of Colorado as
far north as Durango, and they. were
absolutely independent Their griev-
anCes of today, however, do not date
back to the far-off days when they were
the most powerful tribe in all Mexico,
but to the eurtailment of their terri
tory by the Mexican government at the
close Of the war with Uncle SAM"
They seem determined to fight out
their claim for more land to the bitter
end, even if it takes all their regular
warriors, as well as boys down to IA
years of age and the women. In the
troublous times of 1892 many of the
women Yaquis were found dead in
mems clothing on the fields of battle.
The Yaquis speak in a loud, rough
tone, and their tribal name is said to
mean He who shouts"
Cajemi, the most noted Yaqui chief
of this century, issued proclamation
in 1866 declaring the Yaquis free ma
ton. To quell the rebellion the gov
ernor Of Sonora, Gen. Pesqueira, sent
large force Of soldiers who were met
by $500 Yaquis with Cajami in COM
mand. The ensuing battle was one of
the bloodiest in the stirring history Of
Mexico. Although Cajemi and his
braves were driven to the Businesses Of
the Sierra Madre range. he did not con-