The Bowbells tribune., 1900-05-11
THE YAQUI TROUBLE.
DESPERATE WAR BEING WACED
BY THE INDIANS.
These Unsubdued Redskins Of Mexico
Arc Determined to Win Their FREQ
dom or Be Exterminated as Race
The Transvaal Of America. v

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 Indians
seemingly determined to win or be
exterminated as race; the Mexicans
to wrest from them their last foothold
in the ''Transvaal of America" as the
desolate, inpenetrable 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 squadrons 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 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 capitulated, and as an induce
ment for peace signed a treaty with
the Yaqui nation ceding to the people
thereof 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-
mitted to choose their own chief. All
went we'll 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
dians 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 little later the re-
port was spread that they had taken
the war path.
Tetebiate, their old war chief, who
fed 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 enraged braves. Several
months later he was recognized while
the Mexican forces.
After the outbreak of hostilities
troops and Gatling guns were hurried
from Mexico proper to Sonora via FL
Paso, Texas. The Indians assembled
in force in the swamps of the Yaqui
river near Potam, and it was there
that the first battle was fought. The
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 thickets, 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
ly 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 his
advance, but has been unable to ac-
complish anything up to the present
time. He seems to be satisfied if 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
by the Indians themselves,
who swooped down in force from the
and attacked the Mexicans,
and after infiicting as much damage as
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 estab-
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.