Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-05-11

being made In the Businesses Of So
nora. II is a fight without mercy or
quarter on either side. the Indians
seemingly determined to win or be
extermina,ed as = race: the Mexieans
to wrest from them their last foothoid
In the '-Transyaai Of America" as the
desoiate. inpeaetrable region can bs
called.
Four hundred year, have been in-
sufficient for the invader TO beat down
utterly the power Of the once mighty
nation whose impis scattered the
mailed squadrons of Coronado In
flight Even when beaten by superior
!,y Of arms they. like the Beers OF
Cape Town. tr-aked into the wilder
ness. and ever sinec-~ith hiatus OF
fragile peace here and thefe-haSs
held their ancient enemies at bay.
a year ago the Yaquih broke tho
truce with the Mexican government
that had existed for q considerable
gain their Independence or become an
extinct race. Since that time at least
1000 Mexican soldiers have been
killed or captured and several hundred
Yaquis have been ex;erminaicd.
Once before In their mountains the
Yaqui forces rcpclied the Mexican
troops for ten years. The Mcxicans
finally eapltulated. and m an induce.
ncnt for peace signed treaty with
the Yaqui nation eedink TO tho people
thereof wide stretch OF territory and
~,.NA ntnR
as the offelai head Of their govern
ment. Gen. Torres was subsequently,
appointed commander Of the Mexican
military forces In the citics and for
trcsscs OF Sonora and governor Of the
state. but the Indians were still per-
inittcd TO choose their own chief. All
went well for years until the country
began to ali up with prospectors IN
search OF gold and Mexican poems. who
lived by pinndcrinE the people. Tor
res and his hanScrs-on grew rich. and
every hill resoundcd with the noise Of
the miners pick and shovel. The In
dIans realized that they were being
gradually crowded out and rsbcllcd.
American prospcetors say that one
Yaqui Indian IL worth i've Mexicans.
The Indians were tho laborcrs OF
Sonora. They were employed by the
railways and mines. and were found
to be both Industrious and honest and
capable Of great endurance. Physi-
caliy they arc perfect specimens OF
manhood. and their Intelligence II ad-
mItted to be superior to the average
Mexican peon.
~ v~1 Ia
ers on the railways and In the mines
began to desert their posts without ap-
parent cause. and = little later the re.
port was spread that they had taken
the war path.
TetebIate. their old war chief. who
led them during the ten years war.
was sent to treat with them. The re-
port came back that he had been mur-
dered by the cnraged braves. Several
months later he was recognized while
leading them In an onslaught against
the Mexican forces.
After the outbreak Of hostilities
troops and Calling guns were hurried
from Mexico proper to Sonora via FL
Paso. Texas. The Indians assembled
in force in the swamps OF the faqui
river near Potam. and It was there
that the first battle was fought. Tho
Mexican troops attempted to capture
the Yaqui stronghold. but were driven
back with heavy losses. The soldiers
returned to Potam with their gar
ments torn to shreds by contact with
the Jungle thickcts. and hundreds were
prostrated by the terrible heat. Tor
res and his army thereafter remained
inactive for several months. The
commanding general said he was
awaiting cool weather. and that he
would resume the campaign in the
autumn. Meanwhile the indians
crossed the river and made their way
to the mountains. where It is practical
" impossible to dislodge them from
their positions. They took their wom-
en- and children with them, and de-
pleted many ranches Of their cattle.
which they drove to their camp In the
Bacatete range.
In the early winter Torres began MS
advance, but has been unable to ac-
complish anything up to the present
time. He seems to be satisfied II he
can prevent the Yaquis from captur-
ing any of the important towns In the
western part OF the state. and the only
battles that have occurred have been
precipitated by the Indians themselves,
who swooped down in force from the
mountains and attacked the Mexicans.
and after inilicting as much damage us
possible retreated.
The war is likely to be prolonged In
definitely, as the Mexican troops are
unable to cope with the Indians. Re-
Gently Yapui juntas have been estap-
lished in several border towns In the
United States, and considerable money
has been raised to be expended In Sc
curing the independence OF Sonora.
Many adventurers from the unitea
states are also said to be lighting with