Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-06-24
HOW WETHER|LL
MET DEATH
Dispatch From Pennington
Tells of Trouble With
the Indians
TRADER WAS WELL KNOWN
Norman L. King Describes Visit
to WetherilPs Home
in 1906.

Details of the shooting of Richard
Wetherill received yesterday in a
special dispatch to the New Mexican
from Pennington state that Wetheril
was shot and killed near Blake's Trad
ing Post, so miles south of Farming
ton The dispatch says: "Wetherlll
and Finn, another trader of Pueblo Bo-
nito, went to the Indian camp and there
got into an alteration with the NaVa-
Jos regarding stock. The Indians al
legged that the traders had stolen some
of their stock and branded it. Finn
is alleged to have drawn his revolver
and to have hit one of the Iulians over
the head with the weapon, nearly kill
ing him. The men then started back
toward Pueblo Bonito.
The dispatch says:
THE injured Indians squaw noti-
fed other Indians and jumping on
their ponies they followed Wetherill
and Finn, soon overtaking them. An
other argument ensued and during
the heat of the dispute WetheriI took
a rifle from a Navajo ad broke it over
a stone. The Indians declared that
the traders then opened fire on other
Indians and one Navajo, the only one
still armed, returning the fire, killing
Wetherill. Finn and the Navajo rode
70 miles TO the agency at Shoprock
and surrendered to Superintendent
Shelton in whose custody they now
are.
"Two Indians, several traders and
others, are alleged to have made the
statement that Wetherill and Finn
have been taking and branding Nava-
10 horses and cattle and sheep during
the past five years. It is alleged that
in some cases they have bought part
Of a Navajo herd and when ready to
ship have rounded up and driven away
the rest"
Sympathy at Pennington is said to
be entirely with the Navajos.
Was Known Here.
A number of well known Santa
Feans were grieved yesterday to hear
of Richard Wetherill's death, for to
them Wetherill was known as 'the
prince of entertainers" -.
Four years ago some one Informed
the authorities in Washington, it was
said, that Wetherill had been getting
some valuable curios and stones from
the Pueblo Bonito ruins and the gov
ernment ordered the surveyor general
to have a survey made and practically
"separate' Wetherill from the Pueblo
Bonito ruins.
Captain Grygla went to Pueblo Bo-
nito but did not have satisfactory
interview with Wetherill over the mat
ter. 1t was said tnat the captain had
anticipated meeting a very disagree
able and rough man, living 60 miles
from civilization and perhaps the
most cordial greetings were not ex-
changed from the start. At all events
the surveyor generals Office force got
busy and a party of surveyors and
others started for Pueblo Bonito going
by rail as close as they could and
then taking six horse team and a
barrel of drinking water, tents and
provisions for the long march across
the desert. In the party were Nor
man L. King the we'll Known Wash
ington surveyor and draughtsman
William Strover who now is in Arl
zona, Charles Haspelmath, curio col
lector who now is in Germany, and
Frank Delgado and Edward Andrews
both of whom are living here.
Took Fire Arms.
Mr.. King and his party were arm
ed to the teeth when they arrived al
Pueblo Bonito for they did not know
just how Wetherill would receive then
on their mission of separation"
Seated in his home here last night
and glancing occasionally at some
priceless souvenirs of the old cliff
dwellers given him by Mr.. Wetheril
Mr. King told of his meeting with the
trader who was recently killed.
1--WE arrived at the postoffice called
Putnam, in the village which consist
e.: of Wetherilps domicile, his store
and his poStoftice. Instead of meet
ing an armed force to send us back
Wetherill, man of over so years
with a long patriarchal beard and ;
kindly, intelligent eye, came out ant
warmly greeted us. He said that i
was a good sight to his eyes to Sc,
white man as he lived 60 miles from
ary, and asked us to get out of ou
wagon and make his home ours. Hi
house was an adobe that covered
lot of ground, all frontage and late
when we accepted his invitation afte
telling of our mission we were great
ly surprised to see the wealth and re
finement of that home.
"T haven't the slightest objection
to your making a survey as the gov