The suburban citizen., 1900-06-09
THE YAQUI TROUBLE.
DESPERATE WAR BEING WAGED
BY THE INDIANS.
These Unsubdued Redskins of Mexico
Are Determined to Win Their Free
dom or BE EKterminated as n Race ~
The TranSVaAl of America.

Mnat is DelleNeu 10 De the last ueS-
perate stand Of the Yaqui Indians is
being made in the Businesses Of So
nora. 1t is a fight without mercy or
quarter on either side, the indlans
seemingly determined to win or be
exterminated as a race; the Mexicans
to wrest from them their last foothold
in the "Transvaal of America as the
desolate. inpenetrabe region can be
called.
Four hundred years have been in
sufficient for the invader to beat down
utterly the power of the once mighty
nation whose impis scattered the
mailed suuadrons of Coronado in
fight. Even when beaten by superior
ity Of arms they, like the Beers OF
Cape Town, trekked into the wilder
ness. and ever since-with hiatus of
fragile peace here and there-have
held their ancient enemies at bay,
A year ago the YaQuis broke the
truce with the Mexican government
that had existed for a considerable
period, and declared that they would
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 exterminated.
Once before in their mountains the
Yaqui forces repelled the Mexican
troops for ten years. The Mexicans
finally capituated, and as an induce
ment for peace signed a treaty with
the Yaqui nation ceding to the people
thereof a wide stretch of territory and
granting them home rule, with Diaz
as the official head of their govern
| ment. Gen. Torres was subsequently
appointed commander of the Mexican
! military forces in the cities and for
tresses Of Sonora and governor OF the
| state, but the Indians were still per-
| Initted to choose their own chief. All
went well for years until the country
began to fill up with prospectors in
search Of gold and Mexican poems who
| lived by plundering the people. Tor
res and his hangers-on grew rich, and
every hill resounded with the noise of
the miners pick and shovel The In
dams realized that they were being
gradually crowded out and rebelled.
American prospectors say that one
Yaqui Indian is worth five Mexicans.
The Indians were the laborers 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-
cally they are perfect specimens OF
manhood, and their intelligence is ad-
mitted to be superior to the average
Mexican peOn.
Early last summer the Indian labor
ers on the railways and in the mines
began to desert their posts without ap-
parent cause, and a 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 muir
dered by the enraged braves. Several
months later he was recognized while
leading them in an onslaught against
the Mexican forces.
After the outbreak OF hostilites
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 Yaqu
river near Potam and It was there
that the first battle was fought. The
Mexican troops attempted to capture
the Yaqui stronghold, but were driver
back with heavy losses. The soldiers
returned 10 Potam with their gar
ments torn to shreds by contact witt
the jungle thickets, and hundreds were
prostrated by the terrible heat. Tor
res and his army thereafter remainct
inactive for several months Thc
p commanding general said he wal
awaiting cocl weather, and that r.,
would resume the campaign in tht
autumn. Meanwhile the Indian
crossed the river ana made their wa!
to the mountains, where it Is practical
= ly impossible to dislodge them from
l their positions. They took their WON
T. en- and children with them, and de
n pleted many ranches of their cattle
n which they drove to their camp in tn
Bacatete range.
In the early winter Torres began hi
- advance, but has been unable to &C
d complish anything up to the presen
r time. He seems to be satisfied If h
can prevent the Yaquis from captur
ing any of the important towns in tn
western part of the state. and the onl
u battles that have occurred have bee
= precipitated by the Indians themselves
o who swooped down in force from tn
mountains and attacked the Mexican
and after inficting as much damage a
,, possible retreated
" The war is likely to be prolonged in
.s definitely, as the Mexican troops al
l. unable to cope with the Indians. Re
o Gently Yapui juntas have been estal
- lished in several border towns in tn
United States and considerable none
has been raised to be expended in 81
curing the independence OF Sonori
Many adventures from the Unite
l. | Cfafoc aro olap eufd t, he 40 ,t,ff