The copper era., 1906-04-26
THE LATEST YAQUI VICTIMS.
Details of the Killing of Samuel Williams
Great Fight Put up Against the
Red INSURGENTS.

The true story of the killing of
Samuel Williams by Yaqui Indians
in Sonora, was brought to Nogales
by Mr.. w. r. Bassett, business
manager of the Goriux Consolidated
/ Mines company.
Many conflicting stories of the
affair having been circulated, some
of the reports being to the effect
that there were a number of
Americans killed in the fight
Samuel Williams, killed; Bert Cum
ningham, wounded; one Yaqui killed,
ard several wounded, was the result
of the encounter between three
Americans and dozen Yaqui In
dians on the road between the
Sultana mine and Royon.
Mr.. and Mrs Bert Cunningham
with their little child and nurse
accompanied by Samuel Williams,
Luis Giroux, a Mexican teamster and
two mounted Mexicans as escorts
were travelling from the mine to
Rayon. When about half way to
the town they were fired upon from
ambush by the Indians and Williams
fell from his horse, wounded.
Giroux's horse was also killed.
Instantly the Mexican teamster
sprang from his seat on the wagon
to the saddle of Williams horse,
and with the Mounted Mexican
escort fed, leaving the Americans
to battle with the Indians alone.
Cunningham quickly dismouted
and hurried to the assistance of his
friends returning the fire OF the In
dians at the same time. The first
Yaqui to show himself was instantly
killed, a bullet from Cunningham's
rife plowing through his head.
The three Americans continued
the fight until Williams, fairly rid
died with bullets, was dead, and
Cunningham was disabled, with a
bullet wound in his head. But the
execution had not been all on one
side. The Americans defending the
wagon in which crouched the women
with the little babe, had not been
wasting their lead, and besides the
Yaqui killed, several were wounded.
The firing had become less regular
and from more distant points.
During the shooting, also, the two
leaders of the four mule team in
which were the women and child
had been killed.
With Williams dead and Cunning
ham disabled, young Giroux was left
alone in the defense of the wagon
with its precious load. And nobly |
he fulfilled the task that fell upon
him.
Despite the scattering shots of
the Yaquis and the terrible execu-
tion they had already wrought, he |
assisted the wounded Cunningham
into the wagon, cut loose from the
dead mules and with the other two
drove to Rayon. The Yaquis already
having deadly proof of the fighting
ability of the Americans did not
again come within shooting distance
of the wagon.
The three Mexicans who had so
precipitately deserted the party at
the first fire, returned to the Sultana
mines and reported the attack. A
party from the mine hurried to the
scene of the battle, but found only
the body of Williams and that of
the Indian killed by Cunningham's
first shot. But all around the place
were trails of blood, left by the
Indians carrying away their wounded.
Samuel Williams, who was killed,
was % years old. He was foreman
of the surface work at the Sultana
mine and his parents reside in Ell
Paso Texas.
Louis Giroux, who so bravely stood
by his friends when they most needed |
him, and who finally saved the
women and child from certain mas /
sacre, is a son of Superintendent |
Gideon Giroux of the Sultana mines,
and is only Is years old.