Year: 1874

settle the matter, Agent Wilbur, James Lee, Ramon Romano and three Papagos lone of whom was present at the fght) decided to go and investigate the affair, and started about noon of Tuesday for the place where the Apaches were attack ed, the one killed and stock captured. They took with them the Mexican who said he saw the Papagos steal the stock, and also two or three of the Texans. They made a very rapid ride and were led directly to the place, from twenty-five to thirty miles from Tucson, where the dead Apache and everything was found precise ly as reported by the Papagos. The Texans at once and for the first time ac- knowledged themselves wrong. The Pa pagos then scalped the Apache and brought the scalp to Tucson and dragged the body near to the Yuma road about three miles beyond the Point of Noun tain. The party got back to town about nine p. m. Tuesday.

 On the same day, a hunting party of fourteen Papagos returned to Tucson from hunt about Canada del Gro, and brought with them six head of cattle three of which belonged to the Texans, This again led suspicious people to make another charge of theft on the Papagos, but the return of the party before men, toned, removed all unbeliet.

 The question of remunerating the Papa gos then came up. Feeling that they had been unjustly treated, the Papagos thought they ought to have reward of S20 per head for the horses, and Samuel Hughes says it was formerly the custom of the settlers to give them one-half the stock they captured Dr. Wilbur, who by the way acted promptly, efficiently and very creditably throughout, explained to the Papagos that the Texans were poor and it would be great hardship for them to pay so much; also that the abuse was largely due to their (TexansJ ignorance of the true character of the Papagos, and finally succeeded, on Wednesday, in mak- ing a satisfactory settlement on the basis of a cash reward of S7 per head for eleven horses and one mule, and S5 per head for three cattle.

 Other particulars of interest might be related although we have already occupied much more space than we usually do in reciting Indian difficulties, for the very reason that there are circumstances at- tending this case of more than ordinary importance to this community. Foryears the Papagos have been the main protec- tion to the country southwest of Tucson, and, by their raids on the Apaches, have exercised a larger influence for safety on the country all about here. than most men realize. They are an industrious, well-behavcd people-far superior in these respects to any other Arizona Indians, and as honest as the average of civilized whites. They receive comparatively but little government aid. In the hard and valuable service they had just performed, they lost mare and colt and returned stock for those who multreated them and wanted to do them further violence, without taking the trouble to investigate the facts. How disgraceful ill-treatment of them was, under the circumstances, we need not describe; and had much more violence been done them by the Texans or other hasty people, none can tell what damage might have ensued. This whole case should be valuable lesson to all concerned in respect to treatment of the Papago Indians.