The National tribune., 1903-08-06
PIMA INDIAN TRADITIONS.


We had frequent occasion to hire Pima
Indians as laborers during the building
process. Many of them spoke Spanish to
some extent. and by questioning them at
odd times | learned some very strange
things, among which was their story of
deluge, their traditions referring to
MOntezuma, and the ruins of Casa Grande,
standing on the sandy desert about four
miles southwest of Florence. | had visited
these ruins several times and dug out from
the debris covering the first story floors n
stone hatchet The whole region round
about the ruins / found covered with
broken pottery bearing designs of different
patterns.
The main road from Florence to Tucson
made long detour leading first through
Adamsvile in 4 westerly direction to the
California road, where it made Il sharp
turn to the south. In order to avoid this
elbow or angle, Mr.. COllingwood and sew
eral other citizens of Florence who had
frequent occasion to visit Tucson (then the
COunty-seao began digging a we'll in the
desert, which lay on direct line between
Florence and the Picacho, on the old stage
road to Tucson. If water had been found
this would have shortened the distance to
the latter place by at least nine miles.
When the well-diggers had arrived at
depth of about 80 or 100 feet the windlass
began to fetch up small shells. pieces of
bone rings, arrow heads and small pieces
of slate with inscriptions on their surface
as if made with a stylus, not unlike the
Egyptian hieroglyphics.
This, together with the occasional state
ments made by the Pima Indians. raised
my curiosity and desire for scientific re-
search in high degree, and | began to de-
wise ways and means toward obtaining
fuller and more connected information as
to the early history of the Pima tribe.
Little did / dream that l had the best
and fullest source of reliable information
ready at hand, till ] became acquainted
with Capt. f. T.. Grossman, u. S. A.,
who was Indian Agent at the Pima In
dian reservation at Sacaton. 1 met him
first Mt the SacatOn mail station, then
kept by Mr.. Peter Forbach and one Nc
Farland, as good a man and blacksmith
as ever lived. His tragic death, few
months later, will be recorded in a sub
sequent chapter.
BY this time we had got the brewery in
working order, and l took a 5-gallon keg
of our product to said station. which was
situated about 200 yards outside of the
limits of the reservation. into which no
kind of liquors. distilled or fermented
were allowed to enter. Capt. Grossman
happened to be at the station on business
with the blacksmith. and from him
learned that he had made diigent re-
search into the history and traditions of
the Pima Indians by means of interpre,
ters, and that he had prepared n written
account of said research as well as of the
habits of life of the Indians in his charge
in war and peace. He invited me to visit
him at the Agency, where he would place
his notes at my disposal l need not say
that | gladly availed myself of this invi-
tation and at my earliest opportunity, and
will submit in my next paper the result
in Capt. Grossman's complete chronological
sketch of n tribe of Indians, who have
been at all times at peace with the whites
and frequently their faithful allies against
their common enemy, the Apaches.
Go be continued.)