The Detroit times., 1908-05-07
A NO MA n WIT \
GUNS FOUGHT
INDIANS
DEFENDED HER HOME UNTIL
OVERWHELMED BY SAVAGE
YAoUlS-HER HUSBAND SHOT
DEAD BEFORE HER EYES.

COMSTOCK, Tex. May suffer
tx from wounds inflicted by band OF
Yaqui Indians, and after having pass
ed through one OF the most trying or
deals that ever fell TO the lot OF a
woman, Mrs. w. X. Baker has arrived
here to make her home with her broth
er-in-law, ID. s. Baker. and family. The
husband of Mrs. Baker was murdered
in her sight. her beautiful nine-year-
old daughter, Frances, was lifted from
a sick bed by the Indians and carried
into the forest with the announced
purpose of killing her. and IT was only
by rare strategem and the kind aid OF
Providence that the distracted woman
was able to make her escape with
four small children, who were with her
In the house, by fleeing through the
mountains.
The husband OF Mrs. Baker was SUI
perintendent OF the Nina mine, which
is owned by the Yaqui Copper com
pany, OF New York. This mine was
shut down some time ago, but Mr..
Baker remained In charge of II pend
ing a resumption of operations. The
mining camp was deserted with the
exception of the Baker family. II Is
100 miles from the mine TO Minas
Prietas, the nearest railroad point, and
l5 miles TO the nearest neighbor. II
is one OF the most lonesome spots in
the state OF Sonora. and that Is say
ing a good deal.
Mr.. Baker and his wife and seven
children lived a quiet life there. They
were happy family, despite their re-
moteness from civilization. They felt
they were secure from attack by the
Yaqui Indians, as these murderous red
skins had heretofore confined
their operations to the coun-
try much to the north and
east Of them. Even now
II is a question whether 1t was va
quis or Mexican outlaws who made
the bloody onslaught upon the little
home OF the Americans. Mrs. Baker
is outspoken In her assertion that
some OF the 80 men who composed the
band were Mexicans. The Mexican
authorities, however, say that the va.
quis did the work. and II Is known
officially as an Indian raid.
II had no warning that the attack
upon my home was going to be made.
Mrs. Baker said In relating her terri.
BILE experience to friends upon arrival
here. Along In the afternoon two
Mexican ranchmen whom we knew
and who were our friends, arrived al
the house and requested my two older
boys. Marion and Alva, both of whom
are In their teens, to accompany them
TO high elevation upon a neighbour
ing mountain, from which they could
obtain view OF the Yaqui river and
OF the country for many miles around
The boys took the field glasses oil
their father and went with the ranch
men.
After the departure OF my two old
er boys | busted myself with the
household duties My two little boys
Grin and owen, who are twins. were
playing in the yard in front of the oper
door, when the band OF Indians OF
Mexicans dashed out OF the forest and
began firing on them. The boys rush
ed into the house. surmised In
stantly that We were being attacked
by robbers. barricaded the door and
huddled the children around me.
grabbed my husbands rifle and pisto
and began firing at the robber:
through the window. | am unable tC
say whether hit any OF them or not