El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-26
TIE YAQU| INDIANS
H By Robert H. Murray
By Robert II. Murray
Correspondent Denies Stories Of Cruelty But Admits
That Many Executions Have Taken Place and That
Hardships Accompanied the Deportation Of
the Indians History of the Wars

! miners, travellers, women and chill
| dren.
Sonora would have Jared much further
along lines of commercial agricultural
and mining development, too, had it not
/ been for the retarding influence of the
| faqui troubles. But the fact is that
/ II Is only within recent years that the
federal government has been in posi-
] ton to carry out a definite, energetic and
persistent policy toward the Yaquis.
Money was lacking and there were other
tasks that took precedence.
The BIoodiest Epoch.
Ii is Interesting to nooe, in examining
the history of the Yaqui wars, that the
bloodiest epoch of the conflict was pre-
probably would have continued indefi-
that grew out of the tribal dissonances
OF the Yaquis, and quite apart from any
exciting cause furnished by the Mexican
government The final period of the
aqul war lasted from 1885 until 1908.
During three years hostilities were in
terrupted only by occasional brief inter
walls of peace
Cajeme was the shrewdest and most
capable war chief that the Yequis ever
had Under him they attained most
nearly to their ideal, which was that of
absolute independence and submission
only to their own leaders. Cajeme or
ganized the Yaquis and the Mayos on
a war footing. His warriors were suf-
ficiently numerous and well drilled TO
defy the best forces that the Mexican
government was able to send against
them prior to 1885 So she indians were
left pretty much to themselves Cajeme
would brook no divided authority. Oppo-
sition to his rule arose among a faction i
of the indians. headed by d chief from
the Loreto Molina tribe. Cajeme Danish |
ed the rebels from the Yaqui territory !
cOnfiSo9tpd hni
Chiefs Family Murdered.
The Molinas refuged in this city An |
armed neutrality then existed between /
the Yaquis and the government. which /
probably would have contained indefi- |
nftely had the MoiinaS not set them |
selves to punish Cajeme for their ban
ish1nent and the confiscation of their |
lands On a night in January, 1885, 80 |
Molinas attacked Cajeme's home. Ca |
jeme was away. but his wife and chill
dren were murdered by the Molinas, and
his house was burned.
Cajeme demanded of the Mexican Of
fetal in command of the troops In Quay
mas. whittier the AIolinas retreated that
he surrender the latter By way of en-
forcing his demands the Yaqui chief
seized a number of small steam and sail
ing. craft belonging to Mexican residents
of GuayInas, and threatened TO destroy
them unless the Molinas were surren-
dered within three days. + will also de-
clare war against the Mexicans-" was
the way Cajeme's ultimatuen ran.
The Mexican commander refused to
accede to the demands of Cajeme, who
inlmed iately destroyed the boats and
took the field at the head of 1900 war
riors.
Government Accepts Defiance. q
There was nothing for the govern
ment to do save to accept the defiarce
thus forced upon it by the Yaquis. The
most lamentable feature of the disturb
ances which followed was furnished by
the outrages committed by the indians
in their forways upon settlements and
haciendas Neither women nor children
we're spared. When it took the warpath
the Yaqui did not invest himself with
the barbaric panoply of feathers and
breach clout. like the Apache. for the
Yaquis is not a blanket indian" He
forebore TO smear his face and body with
paint Habit had wonted him to the
garments of civilization,
he trousers, shirt and hat, but this did
lot mitigate his ferOcity. He fought ac-
cording TO his lights and on the princi-
Die common to all savage warfare. that
he important thing was to win at all
hazards. striking and sparing none
Travellers were constantly massacred. {
rhe highways were so unsafe that only |
he most wreckless would venture far !
rom a town without an escort of troops.
Places which had been industrial, min
ng or agricultural centers were de-
populated Mining enterprises, especial
y those in which Americans were in
crested were abandoned because of the
mpossibility of preserving commune
cation with the cities and towns from q
which the miners drew their supplies. I $
rave had mentioned to me the names 1
If scores of families in Sonora who
suffered the loss CT members at the I
hands of the Yaquis- IT is undeniable
hat the indians put prisoners TO torture. I
5calping was practiced
Did Not Respect Americans.
No foundation exists for the assertion 4
offered by champions OF the Yaquis e
hat invariably they respected the lives T
IND property of Americans Many S
americans were killed by them. The v
money loss resulting from the Yaqui up n
Using fell as heavily upon Americans
Is upon Mexicans. Sonora's proximity I
o the American frontier had led Amer I
cans to invest millions IN mining VEN
ures and in agricultural enterprises I
Americans who had suffered at the ]
lands of the YaGuis repeatedly called | q
lpon the United States government to S
4 Skin Of Beauty Is a Joy Forever. a