Mohave County miner., 1912-03-16
A Sketch of the Savince
 Indians.
A Lost Renegade Tribe,
By John L. Riggs.


 EROM the earliest settlement of Mohave county, Arizona. a small tribe of Indians were known to inhabit section of the lower part of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado river, from the Wallapai Wash to Lees Ferry, and they called themselves ''Savinces" Sometimes spelled and, perhaps, properly, Civince). and so spoken of by the older Wallapais. They were really Flutes (Pah-Ute) that originally inhabited the Virgin river country around St. George, Utah, but became renegade band and adopted the name Savince. When an Indian of any of the adjoining tribes became outlawed at home he fled to and joined the Savinces. Thus they became largely band of outlaws, feared alike by whites and other h. dans. They were not strong numeri- cally, perhaps fifty or such matter all told.
 In 1873, when the Wallapais got their last final walloping by Uncle Sam, they were rounded up and re- moved to reservation on the Colo rado river, near old La Paz, in Yuma county. There was seven Wallapais that did not surrender, making their escape to the Muttawittica mountains, where the present Wallapai reserva- tion is situated. The Savinces, realiz- ing their helplessness, fell upon these seven aborigines, killing six of their number. A girl about thirteen years of age alone escaped from them, and finally reached Fort Mohave. Even among Indian tradition the horrors of the tourney of this little girl is con- sidered marvel of hardship and en- durance. 150 miles across the most fleeing ahead of her relentless pur- suers without drop of water and only subsisting on the grass seed that she was able to gather on the way, and finally reaching the friendly shelter of the old post at Fort Mohave, in a pitiable condition, having been many - days and nights. on the way, playing hide and seek with the wiley foe. She was finally sent to La Paz, where she fully recovered from the effects of her te rible journey.
 Up to that time the Savinces appear to have inhibited the south side of the river. Uncle Billy Ridenour, of Hack berry, in company of Johnny Kite and John Paddle, in 1874, made social call upon the Savinces, up in Prospect Valley, the result of which was Mr. Indian got away with all their horses and mules, provisions and camp equip page, they only escaping with their rifles and canteens. After severe hardship they finally reached Truxton Spring, making the journey in five days on foot, suffering greatly from lack of water. All they are reported to have had to eat on the journey was two uOVeS anu u CulChenDdWk. l VIII leave the writing of the details to Uncle Billy.
 The extent of depridations by these Indians owing to the remCteness of their hibitations will never be known, but at least one murder was committed by them at Burro Springs, the victim being an unknown white man. This was traced by gold nugget sold by a Savince Indian to Ben Maynard, at Mineral Park. The story is too long to be told in this article. At the time of the first Temple Bar excitement in 1872, there is story of some Pioche men that went up the river above that point ant neven returned.
 The first hard work the Walapais did upon their return from La Paz was, to send punitive expedition against the Savinces, to repay them for the murder of their tribesmen They put Mr. Savince across the Colo rado river so good and hard he never came back, and Mr. Wallapai stil makes point of it to see that he stay. there.