El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-29
: LAST STAND
: OF THE YAQUIS.
= Interesting History of the In
: dams Who Are Now at War
With Mexico.


a Following so loosely, as it does, tn
;, peace treaty ending the ten years
war, the present war becomes one o
o peculiar interest. The Yaquis, or Hia
, quis, when first known to history, oc
! cupied nearly or quite all that terrific
rynow marked on the map as New
Mexico, Arizona, the western half o
3 Texas and as far south as Durango il
: Mexico. They numbered nearly OF
quite 400, 900.
Today their habitat il the country
along the Rio Yaqui, in the state Of
Sonora, and they number only $1,000
5000 of whom are capable OF bearing
arms.
They are mild. tractsble, industrious
and make the best rsnchmen in all the
herds OF horses and sheep They
the north, they own vast
weave wool blankets of exquisite pat
tern, and manufacture clay pottery OF
deft workmanship. Allied to the
Pimas, they speak the Cahita dialect,
which they do in a loud rough tone,
name, "Yaqui' meaning literally she
who shouts" Although speaking an
ancient dialect a. q national language,
Spanish is also spoken to the extent
that they are able to transact business
dealings in that language, their trade
| with Guaymas alone amounting to more
than So 900 month.
Although primarily peaceable they
are essentially warlike, because Of
their national independence. War has
| never been of their own seeking, but
always to resist encroachment upon
| their national sovereignty. One in
stance may, however, be excepted and
| that was when the war chief,
Tetabiate, rendered our government
regiment of picked warriors to go to
Cuoa to do battle against their heredi-
tary enemies, the Spaniards.
In 1868 the Jesuit father, Francisco
Kino. founded q mission among the
Yaquis. The children were gathered
into schools and taught the Christian
religion, mixture of catechism,
prayers and mild correction of the
lash. It was like all others of the mis-
sious of the early fathers, both in ac-
tion and result.
A generation served to raise up one
of Spanish-speaking youngsters, who
could jsbber their "aves" and 'credos."
and who, when the watchful eye of
their preceptor was turned from them,
went back to the war god Huitzilo-
pochNi, but tempered with the mild
teachings of Quetzalcoatl, just as in
ouTtime many q copper-colored grsdu-
sse of Carlisle, goes back to the gee
String and blanket.
Nearly sixty years went by, and the
Yaquis bowed to the God of their
teachers. They suffered as we'll, be-
cause the country of their, teachers lad
also god OF gold. They were power
less for long time to catch the light
of understanding, but in TAO
Manl' caliv with beadso e rahs1Ion
against the government of the officers
of Spain. Their war was brief and
peace was proclaimed. The terms of
peace were disregarded by Spain, and |
in 1850 the Ysquis again rebelled I'M
der the leadership of Chief Luis, whose |
authority lasted until 1853, when he |
was captured, and as Spanish |
history reCites, she soon died of me-
east Spanish blood. since 174O, the
Yaquis are an unconquered peo-
Pile.
Even their so-called defeat by Gen.
Urea in 1882, when they were led by
;he eloquent Bandera, cannot be con-
'trued as actual when it Ia remem bered
hat they have since warred against
Mexico and been treated with as ia
ion and that they hold the lands of
heirpresent residenceunder grantfrom
spain, and that they are governed by !
heir own laws, having never yielded
to Mexico. b
Their Villages are literally cities of
'efuge under their laws and the fugi-
i've is in sanctuary when he passes the
'ates of Coorit. Bacum, TORN, or
my of the pueblss in the Businesses of
he Vacatete mountains
The Yaquis of today are fighters.
That, however, was demonstrated in
he ten years war, in which they wit
lessed the assassination of their war
hief, Cajeme, when In inference with 4
Iexlcan officers during cessation of
lostilities and under flag of truce.
bat, with other incidents of like char
owe Mexico or the methods of it's gov
in war. This. notwithetand-
ng the national council ratified the 4
reaty of Ortiz in 1897.
Gen. Torres, who WAS in command of
be expeditions against the Yaquis in
S96-97, is in command of the troops in =
he field against them in the present I
var.
Press dispatches so far show Mexf-
an success in every encounter. 1t is
ut just to the Yaqui to remem Der
hat the telegraph ia in the hands of
Is enemy. The losses, so far, seem to
e light with the Mexican and heavy =
pom the Yaqui.
Since 1913 Mexico has lost 81, 900 SOL
iers and spent millions of money in it's
airs against this people. In 1882 they
efeated the Mexicans under Gen.
arcia, killing that officer and 400 SOL
iers. They are better armed now
Ian then.
The Mexican must follow to the in
ccessible natural Notifications of the
acatete mountains. A family of four
zen held pass in these mountains in
1914 against 400 Mexican soldiers for n
lree days. On the fourth the attack
e party were able to get skirmishers
pom a narrow ledge above, where they
red upon the defenders who retreat =
|. That evening the Mexicans were g