USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. VIII > Part 13
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His wife still lives in Phoenix.
"Altogether we killed fifty-six Indians, and got all of the stock back but fourteen head-and Mrs. Genung got her indigo."
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
CHAPTER X. INDIAN TROUBLES, THE MILITARY, MURDERS AND LYNCHINGS.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PASSES RESOLUTION RELATING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS IN ARIZONA- GENERAL STONEMAN SUPERSEDED BY GENERAL CROOK-NEWSPAPER CRITICISM OF GENERAL STONEMAN-MURDERS BY MEXICAN OUTLAWS -REPRISALS - MURDERERS LYNCHED - SET- TLEMENT OF VALLEY OF SAN PEDRO BY MARK ALDRICH-MORE INDIAN OUTRAGES-ROADS BUILT BY STONEMAN-FIGHTS OF CAPTAIN MOORE AND CAPTAIN RUSSELL WITH INDIANS -GENERAL CROOK TAKES COMMAND.
Arizona and the West were anxious that the Apaches should be conquered at once, because about this time it began to dawn upon the West that Arizona was a great mineral country. The California Legislature in 1871 passed the follow- ing resolution :
"Joint Resolutions of the Legislature of Cali- fornia relating to Indian Affairs in the Terri- tory of Arizona :
"WHEREAS, we are fully assured that the following statements are true :
"That the inhabitants of the Territory of Ari- zona are now, and for years past have been, the victims of the most cruel outrages at the hands of the Apache Indians ;
"That hundreds of them, including women and children, have been murdered by these sav- ages within the last few years ;
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"That neither homes nor property in that Ter- ritory, outside its principal towns, are safe from savage incursions ;
"That in but exceptional places can any high- road be traveled without great danger;
"That many of the citizens of our own State, while there on business, have fallen victims to these Indians ;
"That at no time in the history of that Terri- tory have the Indians been more hostile, or the lives and property of the people less safe, than within the past two months;
"That the nation is rich enough to afford, and strong enough to enforce, protection to its peo- ple living in its own Territory and under its own flag, as well as those abroad in other lands ;
"That for the murder of the fewest number of its citizens who have been slain by these sav- ages in Arizona in any two months in the last two years, the United States Government would have declared war against every Power in Europe had its citizens been so murdered there for want of proper protection from European Powers;
"That the feeling and belief are universal on the part of the people of this State, and we be- lieve of the Pacific Slope, that when General Crook was sent to Arizona, he was the right man in the right place ;
"That he is as humane as energetic, and if al- lowed sufficient means and given the discretion to which his experience in the management of Indian Affairs entitles him, and not interfered with in his operations, he will, in a brief period, arrest this reign of terror and blood, and give
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security to the long-suffering people of this Ter- ritory ; and
"WHEREAS, we do most seriously believe that in all the land no such prompt and efficient measures are required for the protection of our people as in the Territory of Arizona, THERE- FORE:
"1. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE (the Assembly concurring), that it is the duty of the Government of the United States to give the most prompt and efficient protection to the people of Arizona against the Apache Indians; that all attempts to treat with or otherwise ap- pease them until they are made to feel the power of the Government, will prove futile in the future as they have in the past, and must result only in encouraging these savages to continue deeds of carnage.
"2. That in no other way can this protection be so promptly and efficiently extended to our suffering brethren in Arizona as by furnishing General Crook with ample means and by giving him the largest discretion on the course to be pursued toward the savages.
"3. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, urged and implored to pre- vent further interference with the military oper- ations of General Crook, otherwise than by aid- ing his designs, until these savages are subdued and the people of Arizona are made secure in their lives, homes and property.
"4. That his Excellency, the Governor of this State, be requested to telegraph these resolutions and the preamble to the same to the President of the United States; that he cause to be sent copies
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of the same to each of the Senators and Repre- sentatives in Congress of the Pacific States and Territories, and to each of the Governors of the same; and that our Senators in Congress be in- structed and our Representatives be requested to urge upon the Government at Washington such action in the premises as is indicated by these resolutions."
The resolutions reflected the will of the citizens of Arizona, and showed the temper of the people of the Golden State and the West generally.
General Stoneman was superseded by General Crook through the influence of Governor Saf- ford, and, as far as I can see, he was much mis- judged. The following, from the Los Angeles "Daily Star" of May 6th, 1871, is one of the many harsh criticisms which were indulged in against him at that time:
"REMOVAL OF GENERAL STONEMAN.
"There must be something very peculiar in the atmosphere of Arizona, as it certainly is very unhealthy down that way for military command- ers. Scarcely does one get installed in office, and certainly before he has become acquainted with the peculiarities of the country and the in- terests of its inhabitants, than he is removed, and another takes his place-to be, in his turn, summarily sent to the right about. The Terri- tory was organized in 1863, but it was well on in 1864 before the 'outfit' reached the country, and the formal declaration of the organization of the country made, which took place at old Fort Whipple, on what was known as Postle's ranch. During these seven years we think we are safe
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
in saying that there were more commanders in Arizona than one could count on his fingers with- out repeating. We know of three changes hav- ing been made in less than one year-how many since we can scarcely count. The result of these changes has always been unfortunate for the country as the plans of the predecessor were gen- erally upset by the successor, and there was a change all around, during which the war against the enemy was relaxed.
"Well, we have now another change, and that, as usual, before the incumbent has become prop- erly acquainted with his charge. We see by the papers from Arizona that General Stoneman is on a tour of inspection of the Territory, the sec- ond since his appointment. His fault seems to have been that he was too ready to give expres- sion to a hastily formed opinion, and to act on what he thus believed to be for the economical administration of the affairs of his command, rather than as it turned out, for its efficiency. He went there with the very best intentions, as was testified to by the 'Miner,' and as, indeed, it was to be expected. But on making his first tour of inspection or investigation, he came rather suddenly to the conclusion that because, travel- ing with a numerous escort, he was not attacked by the Apaches, the country was perfectly peace- able, the alleged outrages by the Apaches were magnified, if not manufactured for sensational purposes as well as interested motives, and, act- ing on this conviction, he so reported to the Gov- ernment and began dismantling camps and send- ing the soldiers out of the country. A greater mistake was never made. It was worse than the
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imbecility of poor Mason. Had he made himself acquainted with the habits and practices of the Indians, consulted the wants of the people who, for years had been struggling to maintain the country, almost unaided, for the United States, and benefited by the experience of the many good and true men in the Territory, he never would have made that indiscreet report, much less would he have attempted to carry his recom- mendations into effect. But he turned a deaf ear to all remonstrances, ignored the opinions of the people, acted on his hastily formed conclu- sions, and permitted the Indians almost to gain the ascendancy in the country. For the past few months the Indian depredations have been more extensive and fatal than at any other period since the American occupation. The result is, he is now deprived of his command by order of the President, leaving behind him in the Terri- tory a reputation as the most unpopular com- mander Arizona has ever had."
It was not only the Apaches the early settlers had to contend with, but the Mexican outlaws as well, who, escaping to Sonora, were protected by Governor Pesquiera. The following are well authenticated incidents of Mexican outlawry, some of which met well merited punishment :
On December 24th, 1870, three men, Reid, Lytle, and Oliver, were murdered at Mission Camp by three Mexicans, who escaped to Sonora. On the 2nd of January, following, Governor Saf- ford sent an agent for them. They were found without difficulty, but the Governor of Sonora, Pesquiera, declined to give them up, and re- ferred the matter to the Secretary of State.
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
In December, 1871, a man named Baker who lived at Blue Water station, and drove stage be- tween that place and Tucson, was killed, together with his family. A reward of a thousand dol- lars was offered for the murderers, but the case was abandoned when it was learned that the Mex- icans had reached Sonora and were under the protection of the Mexican Government.
Governor McCormick, in speaking of the bor- der troubles, remarked that when the Blue Water and Mission Camp murders were committed, he reported the same to the authorities in Washing- ton, saying that should such things continue, it was probable that a strong force would invade Mexico and retaliate. The matter was brought to the attention of the Mexican Government, whose reply was that they were unable to guard their frontier, and could not be responsible for acts of their people across the border.
On January 14th, 1871, the Arizona "Miner" said : "The alarming frequency of deeds of vio- lence in our community, and the tardiness with which justice is meted out, will, we fear, judging from the ominous mutterings of the people, cul- minate in a vigilance committee, a self-consti- tuted arbiter of justice so common to the frontier wherever laws are not promptly and strictly en- forced." The futile appeals to both the Mexican and American Governments for protection, and the prolonged delay in the adjustment of difficul- ties, compelled the citizens to avenge their own grievances, or to submit unprotected to contin- ued wrongs and outrages.
The Cienega, or as it is now known, Pantano, was a noted station in those days, and it is
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claimed that murders were committed by the stage employees, who posed as honest hosts. At one time they murdered the United States paymaster and his guard, securing seventy-five thousand dollars. The Apaches, in turn, mur- dered all the bloodthirsty crowd at the Cienega. These atrocities were committed in the early sev- enties. The place, in later years, was destroyed. In 1897, four men, who posed as prospectors when they passed through Tucson, came from San Francisco, and honeycombed the whole place. It is supposed that they had some knowl- edge of the treasures hidden there, and that they took away a large amount with them.
In March, 1872, a stationkeeper, William Mc- Farland, at Sacaton, on the Tucson road, myste- riously disappeared after leaving Gandara's ranch. A large party of Americans went to Gandara's to make investigations. One of the party, Bedel, attempted to go into the house when Gandara shot him, and then tried to escape, but was riddled with bullets. On the following day a party went in pursuit of Manuel Reyes, who had threatened to kill four Americans in re- venge for the death of a comrade. Reyes took refuge in a house where there were several women and children. All the inmates were or- dered to leave the house ; as soon as they were out, an onslaught was made, and amid the general shooting Reyes was killed. An hour or two be- fore Aguilar, another Mexican, was shot from his horse. Fears were entertained of a general uprising of the Mexicans, and places of business in Sanford and Florence were closed, the citi- zens holding themselves in readiness to act, if
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necessary. Governor Safford, however, soon afterwards made his appearance, a body of troops was stationed in the vicinity, and peace was finally restored.
King S. Woolsey, who had a ranch at Stanwix station, (Agua Caliente), had a Mexican boy whom he had brought up with the kindness of a father. A Mexican desperado, formerly in his employ, met the boy one day and, after some words about his going to kill Woolsey, he shot the boy. The Mexican was captured. On the following day, August 8th, 1872, the boy was bur- ied, and the man was led out and shot beside the boy's grave. At Kenyon Station, on the Yuma road, Edward Lumley was killed on the 18th of August, 1873, by Lucas Lugas and Manuel Sub- iate. He was beaten, stabbed and shot. On the 31st of the month Lugas was found in a thicket of underbrush, where he was shot after a vain attempt to kill his pursuers. Subiate was also captured the same day and placed in the Yuma county jail. He denied having any connection with the affair but this statement was rebutted by strong circumstantial evidence. On the 8th of August, four men were hanged for murders committed the previous day.
This prompt and determined action of the peo- ple was deemed necessary to save the lives and property of the scattered population. A Mexi- can named Mariano Tisnado was arrested for cattle stealing in Phoenix, and strong suspicions were entertained that he was accessory to the murder of Mr. Griffin a short time before. It was announced that his trial would take place on the 3rd of July, 1873. Early that morning
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a number of farmers came in from every di- rection and assembled at the courthouse square. A little after six they took Mariano Tisnado out and hung him on the gate of Monihon & Starr's corral, where now stands the Mon- ihon Building on the northeast corner of First Avenue and Washington Street. They feared that he would be acquitted if he was brought to trial.
At midnight of August 3rd, 1873, a Mexican couple, Vicente Hernandes and his wife, were murdered in their home at Tucson with knives and clubs, by Leonardo Cordoba, Clemente Lo- pez, and Jesus Saguaripa. The murderers were arrested on the following day, and a confession obtained from Cordoba acknowledging their par- ticipation in the deed. He also disclosed the place where the plunder was buried. After the funeral the following day, a meeting was held. The unanimous demand was that the murderers should be executed at once. At the March ses- sion of the court, two noted criminals had been given their freedom, although it was well known that they had taken the lives of innocent men. At the time of the Hernandes murder there was in the jail another murderer, John Willis by name, who, it was determined, should be hanged with the three Mexicans. Accordingly the meet- ing adjourned until the following morning, Au- gust 8th, when, at an early hour, the jail was sur- rounded, and the prisoners demanded. Two forked posts were planted in front of the jail door, and a pole placed on them. Four ropes with nooses were then suspended from the pole. A Catholic priest was summoned and allowed
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sufficient time for his ministrations. The pris- oners were then led forth and hanged. The hanging was done calmly and deliberately, the feeling being that it was for the best interests of the community at large. The following is the report of the inquest, which shows the feeling of the citizens at that time:
"We, the undersigned, the jurors summoned to appear before Solomon Warner, the coroner of the county of Pima, at Tucson, on the 8th day of August, 1873, to inquire into the cause of the death of John Willis, Leonardo Cordoba, Cle- mente Lopez, and Jesus Saguaripa, find that they came to their death on the 8th day of August, 1873, about eleven thirty o'clock in the morning, in the courthouse plaza, in the town of Tucson, by hanging; and we further find that said hang- ing was committed by the people of Tucson en masse ; and we do further say that in view of the terrible and bloody murders which were com- mitted by the three Mexicans above named, and the tardiness with which justice was meted out to John Willis, a murderer, the extreme measures taken by our fellow citizens this morning, in vin- dication of their lives, their property, and the peace and good order of society, while it is to be regretted and deplored that such extreme meas- ures were necessary, seem to have been the inevitable results of allowing criminals to escape the penalties of their crimes."
G. R. Whisler, keeper of Burk's station on the lower Gila was murdered at noon on July 7th, 1874, by a Mexican named Ventura Nunez. Threats had been made by the border bandits to murder all the station keepers from Gila Bend
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to Yuma, and the discovery of Whisler's violent death caused widespread fear of criminals. Gov- ernor Safford inaugurated a plan which ap- peared to have worked very well; authorizing re- sponsible parties to offer suitable rewards for the apprehension of criminals. Accordingly, Woolsey, of Stanwix Station, nine miles below Burk's, immediately offered five hundred dol- lars for Ventura Nunez, dead or alive. Three Mexicans soon captured the murderer, who was brought back on the 11th of December. There was quite a large assembly of men present who took the man from the authorities and hanged him.
The valley of the San Pedro was first settled by Mark Aldrich and others in 1865. In 1868 they took out a ditch. Apache depredations commenced in 1867 and continued during 1868. In 1869 a number of new settlers came in, but up to February 7th, 1871, only one death came from natural causes. The Indians committed their usual atrocities. During the time of which we write, 1868 to 1871, Cochise's band was busy in the southern part of the territory. Settlers on the Sonoita and the Santa Cruz, and as far south as Nogales, were murdered and their stock driven off. The only one who stood the test was Pete Kitchen, whose adopted son was killed on his home place, and whose laborers plowed his fields with rifles at hand ready for use. Upon his buildings he had lookouts to warn him of the ap- proach of Apaches. At no time, probably, in the history of Arizona, was there a darker outlook than in 1871. Stoneman had done but very lit- tle, except in the way of building roads. Two
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which he built in the northern part of the Terri- tory, one from Horsehead Crossing on the Little Colorado to Camp Apache, and the other from Camp McDowell, via Burro Head to Sunset Crossing, were of great assistance to General Crook in his subsequent military operations.
1 The most important fights during Stoneman's command of this department were those of Cap- tain Moore and of Captain Russell. Captain Moore left Tucson on the 12th of March, 1871, and reached McDowell about the first of April. Continuing his expedition, a few days later he attacked a rancheria, which is said to have contained more than a hundred warriors, of whom twenty-nine were killed during the engage- ment, besides many wounded, who, according to the custom of the Indians, were removed from the battlefield. Returning to Tucson Captain Moore went to the relief of Captain Russell who, with a small force, had engaged Cochise with about a hundred and fifty well armed, well drilled warriors, about twelve miles from the crossing of the San Pedro, near what was after- wards known as Benson. Captain Russell had about eighteen men in the engagement, one of whom was killed and one wounded. While the fight was confined to the plain, Cochise rapidly fell back for a distance of five miles, with a loss of fifteen warriors killed, and it was not until after the Indians had reached the mountains and entrenched themselves among the rocks that Cap- tain Russell was compelled to retire and send for re-enforcements. Among those killed was Azul, the chief who planned the expedition which re-
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sulted in the killing of two white men the year previous.
The whole Apache country at this time had been mapped ; many of the Indians were gathered on the reservation on the Colorado river, and some were employed around the different forts and camps.
General Crook took command in June, 1871, but almost immediately was halted in his mili- tary operations by instructions from Washing- ton to await the result of the labors of the Peace Commission, which was then on its way to New Mexico and Arizona.
VIII-14
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CHAPTER XI. THE PEACE COMMISSION.
GOVERNOR SAFFORD'S PROCLAMATION IN REGARD TO-ARRIVAL OF COMMISSIONER VINCENT COLYER-MAKES EX PARTE REPORT-RE- CEIVED WITH CORDIALITY BY MILITARY BUT NOT BY CITIZENS TO WHOM HE REFUSED HEARINGS - COLYER'S LETTERS REPORTING HIS ACTIONS-CAMP APACHE-INDUSTRY OF APACHES-CONDITION OF APACHE INDIANS- REFERENCE TO CAMP GRANT MASSACRE -- TALKS WITH COYOTERO APACHE CHIEFS.
Upon being notified that the Peace Commis- sion was on its way to the Territory, Governor Safford, on the 15th day of August, A. D. 1871, issued the following proclamation :
"WHEREAS, I am informed, as I am depart- ing for the Pinal Mountains with a large force for the purpose of exploring the agricultural and mineral resources of that region, that a commis- sion has been ordered by the President of the United States, to examine into the Indian affairs of the Territory, with the view, if possible, of securing a peaceful solution of the question, and my absence may continue until after the arrival of said commission, and
"WHEREAS, the object most desired by the people of this Territory is the cessation of Indian hostilities, and the means which will most speed- ily accomplish this result will be hailed with joy by every inhabitant.
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THE PEACE COMMISSION.
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, A. P. K. Safford, Governor of Arizona, call upon the officers and citizens of the Territory to receive said commis- sioners with kindness and hospitality; to give them all the aid and information upon such sub- ject before referred to within your power and knowledge. They have been selected with a view to their integrity and humanity of purpose, and sent here in the legal performance of duty. If they come among you entertaining erroneous opinions upon the Indian question and the condi- tion of affairs in the Territory, then, by kindly treatment, and fair, truthful representation, you will be enabled to convince them of their errors.
"Given under my hand and the great seal of the Territory, this 15th day of August, A. D. 1871.
"A. P. K. SAFFORD.
"By the Governor :
"THEO. F. WHITE,
"Acting Secretary of the Territory."
Having spent some time in New Mexico inves- tigating the Apaches in that Territory, Vincent Colyer, who was the Commissioner, reached Ari- zona, having been given ample powers to locate reservations, make treaties with the Indians, sub- ply them with all things necessary for their actual wants, and gather them upon the reserva- tions so established. Colyer did not take the set- tlers into his confidence, nor did he, at any time, try to get their side of the story. As he declared himself, his business was entirely with the In- dians and with the military in the different de- partments; naturally, as a consequence, his re- port can only be considered as ex parte, and
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while, in every instance, he excuses the crimes of the Indians, citing outrages on the part of the whites which provoked them to reprisals, at this late day it must be conceded that lawless officials and private citizens robbed, killed and plundered the Indians, who regarded all whites as enemies and waged a war to avenge cruel and unnecessary wrongs perpetrated upon them, and that in many instances the Indians were not altogether to blame.
The report of Colyer, which is contained in his letters printed in the following pages, recites the beginnings of the wars between the Apaches and the whites, and shows that, according to the re- cords of the Indian Department, the Apache In- dians were the friends of the Americans when they first knew them, and asserts, with how much truth no one can say, that they always desired peace with them, and that when they were placed on reservations in 1858 and 1859, they were in- dustrious, intelligent, and made rapid progress in the arts of civilization.
The only Indians placed on reservations at the times mentioned, were the Maricopas and Pimas, which were, at that time, and always had been, friendly to the whites, and, as before stated, were the hereditary foes of the Apaches.
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