Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-20
Pluck and @ @
@ O Rdventure.
TORTURE FOR BRAVE SCOUT.

| u II u
Mex, has received from Major
Joaquin Fontes, of Potam, Rio Yaqui,
n letter giving an account Of the tragic
death of California Dan" Ryan, chief
Of scouts under General Luis Torres,
at TORN. According to Mayor Fontes,
Ell Renegade, leader of the Yaquis,
shifted his position from Ontejuota to
Bacum without the knowledge of the
Mezicans. In this way he was enabled
to set the trap into which Ryan fell.
Ryan became chief OF scouts under
General Torres through the influence
of the American General Egan. Egan
introduced and recommended Ryan to
General Torres, and subsequently the
Mexican General made the Arizona
cowboy chief of his scouts in the vicin-
ity of TORN, at salary Of S120 a
month.
Through Ryan's efforts the Yaquis
were kept away from TORN and con-
fined to the bush between Bacum and
Ontejuota. Owing to the success OF
the chief Of scouts the Yaquis desired
his death more than that Of any other
man excepting General Lorenzo Torres.
Since November / there have been
numerous skirmlshes between the
troops of General Lorenzo Torres and
the Yaquis under GutmGzoleo in the
vicinity of Onteiuota, which Is the
stronghold of Gutmazoleo. 1t was be-
| lieved that Ell Renegade was closely
confined at Ontejuota, that there was
no danger from the Yaquis In the vicln-
ity Of Bacum, where the forces of Lor-
EMO Torres We're Quartered. But by
making long or very intricate detour
Eel Renegade succeeded in changing his
position from Ontejuota to a point be-
tween Bacum and Torin and within
four miles of Bacum. In order to ac-
complish this strategy he could not
have had more than dozen Yaquis
/ with him.
! On November % General Luis Torres
received from his brother Lorenzo a
telegram asking for scouts. The des-
patch was regarded as urgent, and
"California Dan" and George w. VIII
son were sent to join Lorenzo at Ba-
cum.
Tie two scouts left TORN with an
escort under command OF Captain
Yslas, and rode ahead. They were
! seen no more, and were supposed TO
have entered Bacum. When the troops
reached the town the scouts had not
been heard Of, and nothing was known
OF their fate until several days later,
when Wilson arrived with a tale of
horror.
1t appears that when the scouts had
made turn in the road that hid them
from the escort they were set upon
suddenly by band of Yaquis that had
been concealed by the roadside. So IN
expected and fierce was the attack
that the scouts were thrown from
their horses and fell into the thick
growth OF cacti and pethava on the
roadside.
Before they could utter n single cry
they We're beaten over their haads by
macanas in the hands of the Yaquis
until they were unconscious. After
being gagged and bound to their horses
they were brought by their captors to
the Yaqui camp at Onteiuota, where
they We're tried by the Yaqui Council
of War, consisting of Ell Renegade,
Gutmazoleo, Maldonado, Cupo and
Fierro Tenebanto. El Renegade acted
as president of the council.
california Dan" was condemned to
death. Ghtmazoleo and Fierro voted
to spare him, while Maldonado and
Cupo voted death to him. El Rene
gado, who held the deciding vote, voted
with MalGonado and Cupo. Wilson
was acquitted, in order that he might
tell the MeXicans what had happelF-u
to california Dan" Wilson was
| warned to leave Mexico.
california Dan" whose hunger was
great was given n splendid meal be-
fore being led to execution. This was
not the result of generosity on the part
of the Yaquis, but was because of their
desire to make his death all the more
eXcruciating.
At the execution grounds, in the
presence of Wilson, the Yaquis, with
dull saws, cut off the feet OF "Califort
mia Dan" just above the ankles. After
this they unbound him and told him to
go and report to Lorenzo Torres for
duty. By goadinS him they compelled
him to walk beyond the intrenchments
OF Ontejuota. In the bush, about one
hundred yards beyond the intrench-
ments, he fell and expired in great
agony.
Next morning the Yaquis took the
body Of California Dan" and bore it
to the roadside. There they suspended
1t by the neck from a tree. At this
spot they released Wilson, and told
him TO send Mexicans to cut down
The body of their friend and give it
decent burial.
Wilson, after reaching Bacum, de-
Shared that he did not intend to leave
Mexico, but would lead force of
troops to recover the body of "Cali-
fofnia Dan," for the reason that It is
in position controlled by the Yaquis
Of Ontejuota. The body is In open
sight of the Mexican troops o. Cocorit