The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-27
500, TRAPPED
BY BLIZZARD,
FACING DEATH
Cold and Starvation May
Wipe Out TribeSmen on
Barren MeSaS.
800 STRAGGLE BACK
Rescue Groups Dig Through
Mountainous Drifts to
Carry Aid.
BV United Press

By United Press
GALLUP, N. NJ, Nov. 27.-The
worst blizzard tragedy in the history
of the nation threatened today, as
500 Navajo and Zuni Indians faced
almost certain death from cold and
starvation on the desolate, wind
swept mesaS of western New Mexico.
Nine Indians are known to be dead
already.
Trapped on the mesas when a
blizzard suddenly swept the region,
the plight of the tribeSmen was
described as horrible. But with the
queer psychology of the red man.
they braved death rather than
abandon the pinon nuts they had
gone to gather.
Their situation became increas-
ingly serious today, as the United
States weather bureau predicted
more snow and lower temperatures
for the region tonight.
Many May Die
Officials of the Indian service de-
clared that unless the Indians were
rescued before the new cold blast,
the death toll of nine probably
would be increased considerably.
Desperate attempts were being
made to reach the snowbound Zunis
and Navajoes.
The most promising rescue at
temp was that of approximately
fifty white men, who left the Crown
Point reservation on horseback, led
by S. F. Stacher, veteran superin-
tendent of the reservation.
Besides that party, more than
two hundred relatives of the ma
rooned nut hunters were trying to
batter their way through the drifts
to effect rescue.
Bitter cold prevailed. Tempera-
lures ranged downward from zero.
In places ten feet of snow choked
the trails. Even the rugged mus
tangs OF the range dropped in their
tracks.
Food Is Scarce
A4lC OAAly 4OOQ bIl6 uldIOOtleQ IN
dams had was the harvest of pinon
nuts. 1t diminished steadily under
the demands of women, children
and ponies.
The only fuel was the tough.
green pinon wood. It provided little
warmth, when it burned at all.
Their only clothing was the usual
garb of blankets and moccasins.
In the stranded party were many
children. The Zunis and Navajoes
always take them along when they
migrate to the pinon country.
Possibility of using airplanes for
relief of the trapped Indians was
remote. Flying conditions were for
hidden. There are few landing
places in the rugged country, which
lies just east of the grand CO non.
800 Straggle Back
Couriers who struggled into the
isolated agencies brought piecemeal
accounts, many of which were con-
ficting.
Three hundred Indians, in small
groups, struggled into civilization
Thursday. The rest, they said, re-
NAMED to guard the nuts. The tiny
Indian ponies we're so weakened by
hunger and exposure they were I'M
able to haul the harvest.
The 300 set about Immediately to
fatten their ponies, to strengthen
them sufficiently to return and
gather the nuts.
The tribesmen were on two great
mesas, Cerro Alto and Santa Rita,
ten miles west of the little Indian
trading post of Atarque. The braves
who returned said their fellow
tribesmen had piled bits Of brush
into crude wind-blocks for shelter.
There was little fuel, they said. The
snow was from three to ten feet
deep. There was no forage for the
ponies.
Epic of Race
The short, disconnected sentences
of the Indians told what may be-
come an epic of their race. The
weather was warm when the har-
vest started. 1t was the first har-
vest of any amount in three years.
The tribes, in anticipation, had done
little basket making or rug weav-
ing.
Can make more money selling
nuts" one brave declared, explain
ing that, as the rugs and blankets
had not been produced, the nuts
we're absolutely necessary.
The pioion nut resembles a navy
bean, save that it is gray. The
nuts are sold to the Indian traders,
who, in turn, sell them to eastern
dealers. In the east, the nuts are
considered delicacies, commanding
high prices.
Entire familie. went to the har-
vest, small boys and girls, squaws,
braves and elders. The nuts were
hacked and piled at a central spot.
The families moving on from one
clump Of the gnarled and stunted
trees to another.
Temperature Near Zero
Suddenly the blizzard came.
Whipped by high wind, the snow
piled into drifts The temperature
was below zero. At first the Indians
huddled about fires. Then the fuel
was covered by snow. Scattered
families gathered at community
fires to preserve fuel. Then bush
shelters we're butt. The Indians sat
down to Wit.
AS the storm grew worse, the
tribes called a council. 1t was de-
cided 800 would return, feed their
ponies, and then come back for the
nuts.