El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-19
INDIANS STILL
DEFYOFFICERS
1T SHIPR0CK
Gen. Scott Asked to See if
He Can Quiet Them; Two
Troops From Nebraska.
FORT BLISS ORDER
FOR TROOPS ANNULED

~ ASHNGTON, D. c.. Nov. 10
NJ Secretary of the interior Lane
issued the following statement
today concerning the Is Navajo indian
outlaws encamped on Beautiful noun
tain, New Mexico who are defying
arrest;
The sending of troops to capture the
indians was done on advice of Maj.
Mclaughlin, who for 80 years has been
known as the indians friend. Saturday
he sent me the following telegram;
The United States marshal left for
Santa Fe with three Of the indicted
NavaJOS who surrendered, leaving
eight Of the indicted still in camp.
There are seven other indians with
them. returned here from conference
with the indians at NOePs store, six
miles from their mountain camp This
IS a natural stronghold They absO-
lutely refuse to surrender. 1 recon-
mend that a sufficient force be sent
to overawe the recalcitrart band"
4 held a conference" said secretary
Lane. with commissioner Sells, of the
indian office, and replied as follows:
I've would greatly regret to use
force, and this must be the last resort
/ am not favorable to the use Of troops
If this can be avoided
Fears Serious Trouble.
%This morning L received Maj. Nc
Laughlin's answer, as follows;
This recalcitrant band has been de-
Tying the authorities since Sept. II and
have been appealed to by Chez Dodge
Peshlald and Charley Mitchell, the
most influential men Of the tribe, also
by a majority of other Navajo head
men. to deliver themselves up, but to no
avail 1t would require 500 men to sur
round their camp and in my judgment
they cannot be starved into submission.
They have threatened the lives of
friendly indians and of trader Walker.
They have also threatened to burn the
agency and saw mill, six miles south Of
their camp. and kill the white peODle
Tafrr
ing the law for the last two months
To defer their arrest much longer is
liable to bring them supporters from
among those who are now friendly
The offenders believe that the govern
ment is either afraid of them or don't
want them arrested and punished by
the courts"
As a result Mr.. Lane asked the war
department to send troops
Troops Ordered Sent.
The war department at once acted on
the request Of secretary Lane and or
dered troops
In the hope however that the excited
indians may be induced to yield peace
ably and surrender, the war department
ordered Gen Hugh l. Scott, command
ing the Second cavalry brigade at Fort
Bliss. to proceed in haste to the Navajo
agency to confer with the indian chiefs.
Gen. Scott May Settle It.
Gen Scott is singularly influential
with the NavajOs, whose language he
speaks He has always been regarded
by them as their best friend and 1t is
believed that he will be able to placate
them.
The generals Instructions are to con
fer with Mai. Mclaughlin, the indian
agent, before beginning his conference.
To back his mission with a show OF
force, orders were also sent to Fort
Robinson. Neb., to entrain and dispatch
to the Navajo agency a full squadron
Of the Twelfth cavalry to serve as Gen
SCOTS escort.
No Troops From Bliss
Gen. Tasker H Bliss. commanding
the southern military department, was
first ordered to dispatch troops from
Fort Bliss, but q s none could be spared
from the border patrol and as the
Fifteenth cavalry. Just arrived at Fort
Bliss, has not had sufficient experience
with the new horses, just turned over
70 that regiment by the Second cavalry,
it was not deemed expedient to send
the troops from Bliss
Indians Burn Signal Fires.
Pennington. \. NJ, Nov 1s--Wlth
signal fires blazing at many points on
Beautiful Mountain where 10 Navajo
indians have fortified themselves in
open defiance OF the Washington gov
eminent. and with the indians holding
war dances and singing their ancient
war songs, the situation on the Navajo
reservation, where an 1nclptent uprising
exists, is ne tended to give agent W. 7.
Shelton. at the ShiprOck agency, grave
Agent Shelton has force OF 80
deputies. all heavily armed. on guard
at the agency. while indian police,
working in regular shifts throughout
each q hours doing scout duty, mini
mize the possibility OF a surprise attack
by the renegade indians, should they
attempt an offensive movement.
In the meantime, agent Shelton and
Mai Mclaughlin are awaiting the
arrival at ShiprOck Of Gen. Scott. from
Fl PasO. Texas. and the squadron Of