The sun., 1919-09-14

ship at Washington IL they hoped to
escape spoliation of their lands.
Col Hunter became convinced that
these peaceful pueblo people, race
more nearly resembling the Aztec of
Old Mexico than the American tribal
Indian-were in imminent danger of
being made victims of a sinister polit-
ical plot then at work to subjugate
them, reduce them to the unwelcome
status of reservation Indians" and
thus deprive them of the title to vastly
rich lands which had been recognized
as theirs beyond shadow of doubt
as far back as when king of Spain
held dominion over the Western world.
Devoted Life to Their Cause.
1t was then that Col Hunter de-
cided to devote his life to their cause.
He lived among them. searched into
their past-found that a civilization
founded on customs, law. religious
worship and a code of honor and
morals had existed there from time
which perhaps long antedated the de-
scent of the Hun ON ancient Rome
and soon thereafter he became not
only their ardent defender, counsellor
and friend, but was chosen by them
their legal spokesman and white
chief" This romantic attachment, one
as strange as ever has existed be-
tween a white man and a primitive
people, lasted until his death. 1t
terminated after thirty years of in
innate association. s.
In 1881 he made a pact, in writing
and drawn up in accordance with GER
tain solemn rites Of the Papagos,
whereby he was to take up their night
with the idea of eventually clearing
their title to their princeiy tracts Of
Arizona lands. His compensation, in
the event of a successful issue, was
to be one-half Of the undivided in
terest of the Papagos in a territory
which, by official surveys. extends
southwest from a point about twenty
miles from Tucson. Ariz.. almost to
the Mexican border and contains
2,565,75O acres.
Besides his contract, which was sup
ported by deeds to the land signed
by Jose Maria Ochoa, styled head
chief of the Papagos. with Santiago
Ainsa and Andrew Coonly Of Tucson
as witnesses, he was given an I'M
limited power of attorney to act as
| he saw fit. Thus was the extent OF
the confidence reposed in him by the
Papagos. There are sixteen Pueblo
tracts, including the famous Santa
Rosa Valley, a region tinctured with
| the romance of the early days OF
Arizona. furnishing the gauge OF lega
battle now being fought out, the
Hunter heirs combining their fortunes
with the Papagos on one side, and
the Interior Department, represented
by Secretary Franklin X. Lane, or
the other.
These heirs are Miss Virgins
Hunter executrix OF her fathers es
tate; Mrs. Maud C. Guittard and Mrs
Blanche d. Mangum. also daughters
and Robert Hunter, Philip S. Hunter
Rosebud c. Harris, Rose Alice Miller
Mrs. Francis F. Cuppy and Robert NJ
Martin. Mr.. Martin. widely known
mining man, entered the fight activel!
in 1919. just prior to Col. Hunter
death, by virtue of q contract whereof.
he not only agreed to finance the liti
cation but to carry out all the cove
nants made by Col. Hunter with tn
Papago chiefs. These covenants re
Quire in effect that none of the heir
H. to receive his or her share until tn
4 Papago claim is satisfied. This agree
I ment, mar. Mariin says, Col. Hunts
wrote into his will. and as a deathbe
! Injunction made Il q sacred obligation
y upon his children II they expected :
J share In his estate.
Aired I'm Several Courts.
, Three times the case has gone I
trial on the l,gal issues In the FEEDERS
. courts. besides having had an airing d
} the Los Angeles county Probate CouI
> when two Of the hs..s sought te de
J pose Miss Virginia fromilegal contrS
t OF the fortune At stake. lfThs origins
suit nlsd "A 1914 m the suprsp