Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03
YaQui indians in Terrific Combat
With Mexcans.
TORRES REPORTED KILLED.
Naquis Repulsed. and Town Of Quay
mas saved-Losses Of Nexicans
Particularly Heavy.

Chicago, Feb. 3.-A special to the
Tribune from Bisbee, ArIz,c says
A dispatch was received here last
night from Guaymas conveying news
that Gen. Lorenzo Torres, commander
Of the Mexican forces in the Yaqui war
had been killed in The Bacatete noun
tains. The reportiiis lacking in de-
tail. and has not been confirmed.
Advlces are also received that bat
tie was fought between the Yaquis and
Mexicans on January 27th the Mexi-
cans then being under the command Of
Gen. Torres. The fighting occurred on
the Guaymas desert. fifty miles east Of
Guaymas.
The Yaquis withdrew and were not
pursued. The number engaged was 1000
on the Mexican side and 5000 on the
YaQui side, Nine Yaquls, thirty zone
Indian women and twenty-slx Indian
children were taken captiyes by the
Mexicans.
Gen. Torres lost eighty.nlne killed,
2lO wounded and hfiy-nine missing,
while the Yaqui loss is put at ninety
killed and wounded
The Yaguis still held the mouth OF
the Yaqui. and the line Of steamers be-
tween the river and Guaymas is not
in operation, Santa Tersa, who is with
the Haquis at that point, has there 5000
fully equipped men,
The Guaymas desert, in which GEN
cral Torres repulsed the Yaquis, Is %
miles wide, It's western limit being
within 20 miles Of Guaymas. The des,
ert consists mostly Of boulders There
Is no sand, vegetation or water, and
this Is the only time In the year when
the desert can be crossed with safety
owing to the fierce heat. IL Is impos-
sible TO make progress on horseback
on II owing 70 the slipper rocks.
The laquis, who expected TO cross
the desert before the Mexicans got a
start and then fall on Guaymas. were
handicapped by their horses and did
not go far before the moon rose. The
Mexicans were on the desert before
the faQuis had gone eight miles across
II.
The Mexicans made good progress,
as they had no horses to lead. coming
up with the Yaquls In the middle OF the
desert, where the battle was fought al
o'clock on the morning Of January y.
The iaquls, under Tonebanto stood
their ground by presenting regular
front extending from bowlder 10 bowl
der and placing parties on the projec-
tons The horses were kept in
bunch away from the fire.
The Mexicans suffered heavily while
advancing upon the Yaqus. and then
came a hand-tO-hand fight, for which
the Mexicans were better equipped
than their enemies. The conflict lasted
three hours.
The horses OF the Yaquis stampedea.
but the Indians fought on. The va
quis worked around the Mexicans. then
withdrew and started back toward the
Bacatete mountains.
At Guaymas the Meyicans are expec.-
ed 10 return 10 the Bacatetes after a
rest.
II the Yaquis had succeeded In cross
ing the desert. Guaymas would have
been al their mercy. Four hours de-
lay saved the town.
The Yaoui iunta here is said TO be
for the issue Of honda
Members Of the provincial government
believe that an issue OF 81 600. 600 would
be successful in the United States and
Sonora.
The Yauui trouble has gone so IA,
that "Ynqui' buttons have appeared,
These buttons contain American col
ors. with the words "Yanui must live
In Spanish printed on them.
American colors are used because the
rebels have no flag