The San Francisco call., 1899-10-04
Eventful Journey Of Chief
Constructor Of Telegraph
Lines for Mexico.
THREE MEN KILLED
Reports That Much Property Has
Been Destroyed and Many
Murders Committed.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. S-A dispatch
from Ortiz, state of Sonora, says that
Jose Lopez Gonzales, chief constructor
OF Federal telegraph lines in that state.
has arrived at Ortiz from an eveutful
trip throughout the Yaqui Indian coun-
try, where he was sent a few weeks
go TO repair the Federal telegraph
lines which had been cut by the war
ring Indians. Senior Gonzales had a
force of fifteen telegraph linemen and
an escort of Mexican cavalry. Start
ing from point near the south of the
Yaqui River, the party travelled UP the
valley for a distance OF over goo miles.
They found that the telegraph wires
had been cut at a number of places,
and just north of Cocori over twenty
five miles of poles had been destroyed
and the wire carried off. 1t took some
time for the party TO repair this bad
break. and While they were at work
three attacks were made upon them by
bands OF Yaquis. In one of these at
tackS three Mexican soldiers We're
killed. Senior Gonzales states that it
was found impossible to keep the wires
intact, as the Indians cut them as soon
rs the repairs had been made, and the
work was abandoned. He stated there
are large number of prosperous
YaQui Indians in the Yaqui Valley and
many of them own large farms, which
they are tilling. These civilized and
pastoral members Of the tribe have re-
fused TO go on the warpath and are
friendly 10 the Mexican soldiers and
Americans, who frequently stop at their
ranches and faTmhOuSes. Up TO this
time these peaceable Indians have not
been moLested by the warning members
OF the tribe although the Mexican
ranchmen are suffering severely from
raids by the braves.
\ large amount Of valuable property
has been destroyed and a number of
foul murders committed by the Indians.
Senor Gonzales and his party came
across five American mining men near
Soyopa and escorted them out of the
hostile country. There are very few
miners remaining in the YaQui Valley.
Seror Gonzales says that the Mexican
troops are prepared for q hard winter
campaign against the Indians, and he
expresses the belief that the uprising
viii be put down before the rainy sea-
son sets IN next April. He was in
formed by friendly YaQuis that Teta-
biate, the old chief Of the tribe, was
given his liberty by the warriors on
the promise that he viii not render any
aid to the Mexican Government against
them. The ged eX-chief Is expected
TO arrive at TORN in a few days. The
Indians are not making any aggressive
movement against the Mexican troops.
being content to remain in their own
territory and to resist any encToach-
ment upon the large domain over which
they held undisputed sway for so long.
AS soon as sufficient reinforcements
arrive the Mexican troops win make
concerted advance on the Indians from
both the upper and lower sections Of
the Yaqui country. The report has
reached Ortiz that General Francisco
Ramirez, commander of all the Rurales
forces of Mexico, will arrive at Quay
mas the latter part OF the month and
take the field against the YaQuis at the
head Of two regiments Of Rurales,
which will be sent from Mazatlan and
taken UP the YaQui River on trans
ports Many of these Rurales were for
merly bandits, and are looked upon as
the best mountain fighters in the world