The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-27
Are Being Avenged by the Yaqui
Indians.
A FIGHT TO THE DEATH
The Mexican Government Has Deter
mined Upon q Policy of Exterm.-
nation-There Have Been
Six Uprisings.

people OF Arizona ana New Mexico liV-
ing near the Mexican frontier are ex-
periencing the excitement and dangers
of an Indian war. Hostilities thus far
have been confined to Mexican terri
tory, but the scene of conflict is so
near the border line that it is likely to
be at any moment transferred to Amer
lean soil. While the Yaquis are osten-
sbly fighting only the Mexicans, they
have no particular love for Americans.
Old frontiersmen who understand the
situation say that foray into Arizona
or New Mexico is strongly probable,
and if it occurs will be made the excuse
for pillage and bloodshed.
The Yaqui reservation is in the state
of Sonora, in the extreme northwestern
part of old Mexico, just south of Ar-
iona and New Mexico. For many years
these Indians have been a source Of
trouble to the Mexican government
They have been fighting against Span
ish and Mexican control ever since 1885,
and are just as aggressive and even
more powerful than they were $50 years
ago. According to the New York Trib-
une, the Yaquis as race claim descent
from one of the original seven emigra-
lions from the North, having closely
followed the Toltecs of the sixth CEN
fury or before, who founded their king
dom on the site of Tula, about so miles
north of the City of Mexico. They
claim by tradition an earlier origin
than the AZtecs, who built cities and
possessed civilization which was at its
height in the time of the first expedi-
ton of CorteZ. The Mexican govern
ment has announced a policy of exter-
mination against these Indians.
The present uprising is the sixth in
history rpv0lta6
Spain in 1875. The hidalgos We're worst
ed in battle, but they made up for their
failure in arms by their artful duplic-
ity. The Yaquis revolted again in 1925,
and again in 1882, against Mexico, when,
armed with bows. battle axes and
spears, and led by their celebrated
chieftain, Banderas, they made it live
ly for the government troops, but were
finally overcome. They made another
attempt in 1871, and defended their
mountain Businesses with Spartan val
or and for years held the government
at bay. Order was restored by a COM
promise. In this treaty the Yaquis al
legged they were deceived and the con-
flict this time will be to the death. In
their 10 years war the Yaquis We're
still using almost wholly their primi-
tive weapons. To-day they are well
armed
The Yaquis derive their name from
S.
their verbal designation, Yaqui mean
ing, He who shouts The Yaqui, or
Huaqui, is one of the chief rivers of
Mexico, being about 490 miles in length,
and is formed of several streams which,
rise close to the American boundary
in the Sierra Madre mountains. The
Yaqui has its outlet in the Gulf of
California, about % miles southeast of
Guaymas, the principal Mexican sea-
port of the gulf. The state of Sonora
has an area of about 1000 square
miles, or nearly $4,000 miles more than
New York, and a population of about
1856 600 The assessed value of it's prop
erty is about $500, 600. 1t consists in
mines, cotton weaving, china potteries,
cattle ranches and other branches of
pastoral industry. The valley of the
Yaqui, which is the scene of the pres
ent disturbances, according to Amer
lean scientists and explorers, embraces
about 1900 square miles. 1t is one of
the most mountainous parts of Mexico.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, who knows the
Yaqus well, says of them: They have
a deep seated love for their ancient
habits and customs, and a firmly rooted
attachment for their native soil. That
is saying a great deal for half-civil-
lied people defending their haunts and
the hills and valleys of their ancestors.
They are splendid fighters. They are
quick witted, as a single instance will
show. A few years ago, when COM
pany began to build the railroad south
from Benson, Ariz., on the Southern
Pacific, to Nogales, about so miles on
the Mexican boundary, and thence due
south again about so miles farther to
Guaymas, on the Gulf of Mexico, Civ
ing the Southern Pacific and Arizona
an outlet at Pacific tidewater the va
quis, who are an industrious people,
fiocked to the region along the line of
the road and offered their labor which,
of course was willingly accepted and
we'll paid for. With the money they
obtained which was of little or no use
in their own country, they purchased
rifles of the latest patterns and large
supply of ammunition. Many of them
continued to work along the road, and
thus kept up the supply Of funds for
the purchase of munitions of war.
Il find by the latest advices that the
Mexicans have had some engagements
with these Indians and have lost many
of their men. while the Indian losses
have been very small. | see that 1000
Mexican troops are to be sent into the
country. The region is mountainous
and the natives are familiar with every
defile and fastness suitable for defense.
The Indians are determined to regain |
every foot of territory taken from them
by treaty three years ago. The Next |
can government seems to be DESTROYS to
put an end to hoStllitleS in the future |
by taking the whole of their territory
and completely breaking their ability
to make further mischief. One account
says that over 100 miners and many |
soldiers have been killed by the Yaquis. |
That means some bloody work on both |
sides. From what | know of the hero |
ism, endurance and bravery of these |
people, you can understand that this |
war will not be over for months, and |
may drift into years. although with |
railroads and telegraphs even savage |
wars cannot hold out as long as they |
did a few years ago.
Il judge the Mexican government |
will prosecute hostilities vigorously, as |
it is proposed to advance into the noun |
tains and give the tribes no chance to |
rally At one time the Yaquis We're |
friendly to the Americans, but mixing |
in Mexican troubles, with their own |
Indians on the frontier, the powerful |
arm of the United States has made all |
these aboriginal races more or less |
hostile. There was time when Amer |