The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-03
Yaqui Advance on Guaymas
Checked By Mexicans
After q Hard Fought Battle
lasting Three Hours.
TOWN BARELY SAVED.
General Torres Reported Killed
in the Fighting.
Santa Teresa Has River Com
municatiOn Cut Off.

Chicago, Feb. "a special to the Tri-
bune from Bisbee, A. T., says: A dis
patch was received here last night
from Guaymas conveying news that
General Lorenzo Torres, commander OF
the Mexicans in the Yaqui Indian war,
had been killed in the Bacatete noun
tains. The report is lacking in detail.
and has not been confirmed.
The advices are also received that a
battle was fought between Yaquis and
the Mexicans on January 27. the Mex
leans then being under the command OF
General 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 and 5000 on the
Yaqui side. Nine Yaquis, thirty-one In
dian women and twenty-six Indian
children were taken captive by the
Mexicans. General Torres lost So killed.
210 wounded and SO missing, while the
Yaquis loss is put at 80 killed and
wounded.
The Yaquis still hold the mouth of
the Yaqui and the line of steamers be-
tween the river and Guaymas is not in
operation. Santa Teresa, who is with
the Yaquis at that point, has with her
5000 fully equipped men.
ne NJuASIl4aS desert, III WHICH NTGI-
eral Torres repulsed the Yaquis is
twenty-five miles wide, it's western
limit being twenty-five miles of Quay
mas. The desert consists mostly of
powders. There is no sand, vegeta-
ton, or water, and this is the only time
in the year when the desert can be
crossed with safety, owing to the fierce
heat. It is impossible to make progress
by horseback on it owing to the slippery
rocks.
The Yaquis, who expected to cross the
desert before the AGexicans got a start,
and then fall on GuayInas, were handi-
capped by their horses, and did not get
far before the moon rose. The Mexi-
cans we're on the desert before the
| Yaquis had gone eight miles across it.
The MeXicanS made good progress, as
| they had no horses to lead coming up
| with the Yaquis in the middle of the
| desert, where the battle was fought at.
o'clock in the morning of January 27-
The Yaquis, under TenebantO, stood
] their ground by presenting a regular
| front, extending from bowlder to bowl
| der and placing parties on the projec-
| tions. The horses were kept in a bunch
away from the fire.
The MexicanS suffered heavily while
advancing upon the XaquiS, 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 stampeded,
but the Indians fought on. The Yaquis
worked around the MexicanS, then with
drew and started back toward the Baca-
| tete mountains.
At Guaymas the MeXicanS are expect
! ed to return to the Bacatetes after q
rest.
If the Yaquis had succeeded in cross
ing the desert Guaymas would have
been at their mercy. Four hours delay
saved the town.
The Yaqui junta here is said to be
manoeuVering for the issue of bonds.
Members of the provincial government
believe that an issue of 100000 would
be successful in the United States and
Sonora
The Yaqui trouble has gone so far
that "Yaqui buttons" have appeared.
These buttons contain American colors,
with the words "Yaqui Must Live" in
Spanish on them.
| American colors are used because the
| rebels have no flags.