The San Francisco call., 1910-05-14
PUEBLO INDIANS
ON THE WARPATH
Assault Woman and Babes, Fire
Buildings and Drive Off
Horses and Cattle

EAST LAS VEGAS, N. NJ. May 10
An uprising of serious proportions has
broken out among the Taos Pueblo In
dians at their village 20 miles north
west of here, and tonight troops are
being hurried by special train from
Santa Fe to check a possible massacre
of white ranchers.
The Indians have cut all telephone
and telegraph wires from Taos, but re-
ports received here indicate that the
depredations so far have been confined
of l. S. Meyers. a homesteader and the
cutting of fences and looting of horses
and cattle.
FIFTY MEN SENT
Further attacks are expected. and
Judge John r. McFie, conducting court
at Taos, telegraphed an urgent demand
for troops to Governor Mills before
the lines were cut. The governor i'm
mediately ordered so men of companies
and f, New Mexico national guard.
to Taos. The militiamen will arrive at
Taos tomorrow forenoon. General
Brooke, in command of the national
guard. has also ordered Company of
Santa Fe to be in readiness to march at
a moments notice. Company II is the
crack organization of the New Mexico
national guard.
The telegram received by Governor
Mills this afternoon said that so picked
Taos braves, under the leadership of
young chief, had raided the valley.
driving off horses and cattle and set
ting fire to many buildings. Mrs. l.. B.
Myers, wife of settler, and her
babies, were assaulted and left for
dead. Settlers who attempted to re-
sist the Indians were driven away.
MUST MARCH so MILES
The troops must march 80 miles
from Serviletta. the nearest station of
the Denver and Rio GraRde, to reach
the village. The settlers are arming
and only the prompt arrival of the
troops can avert bloodshed.
1t is feared by the settlers the San
Juan and other Indians of that section
will join the Taos braves and that a
general warfare may result.
1t is said the older men of the VIII
lage are opposed to the uprising, but
the young braves took matters into
their own hands and went on the war
path.
The uprising OF the Pueblos, who for
years have been a peaceful and law
abiding people, is believed to have been
caused by the punishment Of Pueblos
years the Pueblos have governed them
selves, electing their own chiefs and
village councillors. who tried and pun
ished malefactors of the tribe without
recourse or appeal to the territorial
authorities Some months ago an In
dian of the Isleta Pueblo who had been
imprisoned by the village authorities
appealed to the territorial courts and
the chief councillors of the villagers
were put in Jail. Since that time the
Indians have been unruly, and it is
believed the present outbreak is the
result of fear by the Pueblos they
would lose their much priced independ-
ence and the inability of the elders to
control the young bucks who believed
the authority of the village councillors
was on the wane.
For several weeks ranchers near Taos
have found their fences cut and their
stock missing, but the discomfort of the
Indians eliminated yesterday in the at
tack on the Meyers household.
The taking of the census is also be-
lieved to have caused much unrest
among the Indians When the enum-
orators reached Santo Domingo and San
Dia pueblos. they were refused all in
formation concerning members of the
tribe and were threatened with vio-
lence. 1t was only after they had
threatened to call troops and former
Governor Curry had gone personally to
the chiefs and reassured them about
the purpose of the census that the In
dians were persuaded to answer the
questions. Several eastern artists are
believed to be in the Taos country
making sketches of Indian life. Taos
is the oldest and most picturesque of
the Pueblos.
Two Companies Sent
ALBUQUERQUE, May 1S.-Governor
Mills dispatched two companies of state
troops, with field equipment, and MEM
bers of the territorial mounted police
for the scene of the Indian uprising at
Taos, n. NJ, on a special train over
the Denver and Rio Grande at midnight
The troops have orders from the ad
jutant general to protect settlers and
bring in warning Indians. The Indians
gave settlers notice that unless they
left the valley by daylight they would
be killed. The troops expect to be in
the field before daylight.