Imperial Valley press., 1913-05-23

An old diary, recountinS troubles
with Indians in this section, has de-
veloped an interesting story.
After lying in manuscript for a cen
tury and third, this diary Of Lieu
tenant Colonel FACES has now been
translated and edited by Herbert In
gram Priestly. assistant curator of the
Academy Of Pacific Coast History. and
published by the university.
It was written with his own hand
by famous early governor Of Cali
fOrnia, Don Pedro FACES. Here FACES
recorded. day by day, the stirring tale
Of how a few hardy soldiers on an
expedition to rescue captive Christian
women and children, and to punish
the Yuma Indians, 5000 strong. for
having butchered priests. garrison and
settlers of two missions planted among
them in the fertile bottom lands near
the confluence Of the Gila and the
Colorado rivers. Until now this diary
has been unknown to historians, save
by its name.
The expeditions first engagement
with hostile savages was one night
within a week after setting out from
the preside of Pictic. in the Mexican
state Of Sonora. Next day the soldiers
followed blood stained trails and res
cued a woman captive. They seized
also Is other women and infants.
with them" says Eages. were
three vagabonds. who fled; and another
who remained was killed by Sergeant
Tower for resisting. His ears and scalp
have been brought to me by two CUR
assiers. The soldiers brought the ma
tive women with them on their horses. :
A week later the captives and pris
oners were delivered to the royal pre-
sidio Of Altar.
Wandering natives presented them
selves. Offering to go TO war with the
Spanards against the IumaS. Colonel
FACES accepted 76 Pimas and Papagos,
and friendship was sealed by gifts Of
watermelons. squasheS and muSkmel-
ons. which the Spanards reciprocated
with a few boxes of cigarettes.
TWO hostile Indians, on horseback.
appeared the day after they reached the
Colorado river, after months journey
through Sonora and Southern Arizona.
4 captive soldier. released by the Iu-
mas, brought a message from their
leader, Captain Palma, that if the Span
iards came in peace, he was also thus
inclined.
Across the Colorado the answer was
awaited hy 500 Indians, armed with
bows. arrows, spears. and some guns.
Forty-cight captiveS We're ransomed ny
the white men that day, in exchange
for haiZe. blankets. beads and cigar
cites. Captain Palma himself received
shirt and one of Colonel FACES
peaked hats. gallooned with silver ANA
adorned with a Cockade.
That night runner came from
three allied "nations" announcing that
next day they would attack the iumas.
and asking the Spaniards to prevent
the Yumas from crossing the river.
The request, though distastefnl to
FACES, was fulfilled next day, the allied
tribes shedding much blood and lootinG
and burning the Yuma huts.
Since five Christian women and seT-
eral children still remained in the hands
of the Iumas, FACES dared not under
take punitive measures for the MISSION
massacres Of July II, 1854.
He retreated 80 miles to the Papago
village Of Sonitac. sent the rescued
Christian captiyes Oh to Altar, and a
month later. November 90, 1891, start
ed back to face the Iumas. Arrange
ments We're now soon made for the
exchange Of all the remaining caphres.
But the vengeful Spaniards hid
troops in the hills and by the river
bank, hoping to capture alive some Of
the head men Of the Yumas, as soon
as the last captives were returned. The
wary Indians escaped the trap by re-
naming on their own side Of the Colo
RADIO and by retaining one white woman
They said they felt resentment,
saws FACES, Ion account of the Indians
whom we had killed on the preceding
davs; to which we replied that they
had first raised arms against us. They
declared that they realized the mistake
they had made, and that they We're
mortal and not wood or stone, but that
If we desired peace. they wanted the
same thing" Exchange Of the last cap
tives was agreed on for the next day.
These circumstances" says FACES,
were the cause Of our not effectin9
their punishment, that being deferred
to a better occasion for fear that they
would kill our Christian women.
To-day. December g." says FACES of
the morrow, 1--WE killed one man and
two women Of the Yuma nation, which
numbers about 5000. After midday
we retired to camp without event. nor
had anything happened TO those we
had left in it, nor to those who guarded
the horses. The troop was placed IN
oroer. and we passed the night in
peace. Today one COW was BUTCH
cred"
There was desultOry lighting during
the days that followed, but little result
ed save the recapture of Captain
palnna's silyar Gallnoned bat and the