History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 58

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890

USA > Arizona > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 58
USA > New Mexico > History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII > Part 58

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8th session, 1875. Acts, creating county of Pinal, with county seat at Florence, from Pima, Maricopa, and Yavapai (boundaries complicated but about the same as on map, except in the N. E. corner, including Globe); tax- ing net product of mines; on fences and trespassing animals; on compulsory education; abolishing office of attorney-gen .; transferring Mojave to 31 judicial district; providing for a census; and to locate the capital permanently at Tucson. (Approved Feb. 12th, acc. to Acts, p. 121, but vetoed acc. to Jour.,

541

ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

301-2. The gov. says he has received three acts, one fixing the capital at Prescott, and another at Phoenix. It is not clear why an act was needed in favor of Tucson.) Resolution, thanking Gen. Crook. Memorial, on Pima and Maricopa Ind., and on mail service. An appendix to the Acts contains U. S. and Ariz. mining laws, treaties, and rules of the supreme court.

9th session, 1877. Acts, to permanently locate the capital at Prescott; to transfer Maricopa to 2d jud. district; to make Mineral Park the county seat of Mojave; to define the boundaries of Maricopa (extending it on the east from the S. Carlos to long. 110°; and slightly changing the central parts of the N. line, as still existing; see map); to incorporate the city of Tucson; to authorize a comp. of volunteer Ind. fighters; to extend the w. boundary of Pinal co. (so as to include a small isolated tract in the N. w. which had appar- ently been left in Pima by the act creating Pinal); to provide for the revision and publication of the laws; and to divorce many couples. Memorials, for an increase of the council to 13 and the house to 27 members; for the annexation of Grant co., N. Mex.

10th session, 1879. Acts, creating Apache co. (all of Yavapai east of long. 119° 45', as it still exists, except that the portion south of Black River has been added to Graham co.), county seat at Snowflake (moved to Spring- erville the next year); authorizing lotteries to raise funds for various public purposes; and 64 other acts, none of which can be singled out as of especial importance. Memorials, asking for a mint at Florence, an assay-office at the capital, and a special mail agent.

11th session, 1881. Acts, to fix county seat of Apache at St Johns; to create the county of Cochise from eastern Pima (boundaries as still existing; see map), county seat at Tombstone; to create the county of Graham from Pima and Apache (boundaries as in map), county seat at Safford; to create the county of Gila from Maricopa and Pinal (boundaries as in map, except that the south-eastern line was a northern continuation of the Pinal line instead of the S. Carlos), county seat at Globe; to incorporate the cities of Tombstone, Phænix, and Prescott; to restrict gambling; to provide for a census; to redistrict the territory (Ist district, Pima, Pinal, and Cochise (and Graham ?); 2d dist, Yuma, Maricopa, and Gila; 3d dist, Yavapai, Mojave, and Apache; to create the office of geologist. Memorials, against extension of the Navajo reservation; for privilege of mining on Mex. border; for open- ing parts of the S. Carlos reservation to settlers. At this and later sessions the council had 12 members and the house 24.

12th session, 1883. Acts, to locate county seat of Graham at Solomon- ville; to transfer Cochise from Ist to 2d district; to change boundary of Mojave co. (so as to include that part of Yavapai north of the Colorado and west of Kanab Wash, as per map); to provide for funding debt and issuing bonds; to aid construction of several railroads; to create the office of attor- ney-general; to thank the president of the U. S. for suppressing lawlessness; to prevent export of timber. Memorials, for an investigation of matters at the Papago reservation; aid for the public schools; improvement of the Colo- rado; and removal of the Apaches. From this sess. the title of the Acts, etc., is changed to Laws of the Territory of Arizona. Twelfth (etc.) Legislative Assemby; with Memorials and Resolutions. Prescott, 1883 et seq.

13th session, 1885. Acts, creating county courts for the different coun- ties; for an election to permanently locate the county seat of Mojave; authorizing a railroad and telegraph from Fairbanks to Tombstone, from Phoenix to the S. P. R. R., from Prescott to the A. & P. R. R., from Globe to the A. & P. R. R. at or near Flagstaff, and from Phoenix of Wicken- burg; creating the office of commissioner of immigration; to promote breed- ing of live-stock; to build a levee on the Gila at Yuma; to establish a public school system; to change the eastern boundary of Gila co. (to the S. Carlos on the east, as per map); to transfer Cochise co. to Ist judicial district, and Pinal to 2d district; to organize the university of Arizona; and to incor- porate the Ariz. Industrial Exposition Assoc. Resolutions, inquiring into imprisonment of Americans at Magdalena, Sonora; and thanking Gen. Crook

542

POLITICAL ANNALS OF ARIZONA.

for Apache operations. Memorials, to change the southern boundary of the White Mt Ind. reservation so as to open the coal mines; to urge the payment of old claims for Ind. depredations; against interference with the silver coin- age; for the restoration to settlement of S. P. R. R. land claims; for a fourth judge and increase of salary from $3,000 to $5,000; for improvement of Colorado navigation; for the purchase from Mexico of that part of Sonora west of long. 111° and north of lat. 30°, so as to give Ariz. a post; for the appointment of residents as territorial officials; against the projected leasing of U. S. grazing lands; for authority to control and dispose of school lands; for the removal of the Apaches and throwing open the reservation to settle- ment; and for an appropriation of $160,000 to dig artesian wells.

CHAPTER XXII. INDIAN AFFAIRS OF ARIZONA. 1864-1886.

THE FRIENDLY TRIBES - SUPERINTENDENTS AND AGENTS-THE YUMAS- MOJAVES - HUALAPAIS - YAVAPAIS - SUPPAI - MOQUIS - PIMAS AND MARICOPAS-PÁPAGOS-THE APACHES-EARLY HOSTILITIES-ERRORS OF THE GOVERNMENT -- FORTS AND CAMPS-A THOUSAND VICTIMS-CARLE- TON'S CAMPAIGN-GENERAL MASON -WALLEN, LOVELL, GREGO, AND CRITTENDEN-DEVIN AND WHEATON-POPULAR INDIGNATION-A MILI- TARY DEPARTMENT UNDER STONEMAN-CAMP GRANT MASSACRE-CROOK IN COMMAND-PEACE POLICY-COLYER AND HOWARD-MORE WAR- PEACE IN 1873-4-THE APACHES ON RESERVATIONS-CONCENTRATION --- KAUTZ, WILLCOX, AND CROOK AGAIN-RAIDS OF RENEGADE CHIRICA- HUAS-EXPLOITS OF GERÓNIMO-GENERAL MILES-SUCCESS AT LAST- PROSPECTS-CRIME AND LAWLESSNESS.

THE aborigines of Arizona in 1863-4 numbered about 25,000, slightly less than two thirds belonging to the friendly tribes as distinguished from the Apaches. In 1886 there are left about 18,000, not including in either estimate the Navajos, treated in this volume as a New Mexican tribe, though their home has always been partly in Arizona.1 I may state at the outset that it is not my purpose to at- tempt any index or classification of the sources for Indian affairs. The principal of these are named in the appended note; and only for special purposes shall I make more minute references or cite additional authorities.2 In considering modern annals of the

1 The primitive condition of all the tribes has been treated in another work of this series. For manners and customs, geog. distrib., etc., see Native Races, i. 471-555, 591-603, on Apache and Pueblo families; for myths, etc., iii., first half, passim; languages, iii. 680-705; material relics, iv. 680-805. 2 The chief sources are the annual Ind. Aff. Repts, 1863 et seq .; U. S. Govt Doc. of the different classes by congress and session, especially military re- ( 543 )

544

INDIAN AFFAIRS OF ARIZONA.

Arizona Indians, let us first glance at the friendly tribes.

When the territory was created, Charles D. Poston came as superintendent of Indian affairs in 1864, mak- ing a tour with Ross Browne, but supplementing his report with his resignation in September. George W. Leihy then held the office until November 1866, when he was killed by Indians. G. W. Dent served in 1867-9; George L. Andrews in 1869-70; and H. Bendell in 1871-2. After 1872 the office was abol- ished, agents reporting directly to the commissioner at Washington. Special inspectors were, however, sent by the government from time to time to visit the agencies.3

The Yumas were formerly a numerous and power- ful tribe, of fine physique and war-like nature. My readers will remember their old-time thirst for Chris- tianity, and their massacre of the padres and settlers in 1781. Their home was about the Gila junction on both sides of the Colorado. In Spanish and Mexican times they were alternately hostile and friendly, but suffered much in wars with other tribes. Later the tribe was kept in order by the American garrison at Fort Yuma, but its strength was broken in 1857, when its grand 'army' was almost annihilated in a war with the Pimas. Since that time the Yumas have been worthless but harmless vagabonds, though cultivating small patches of ground in the Colorado bottoms, catching fish, and doing odd jobs for the whites. Pascual has been their most famous chief; and their number is now about 1,000. They have never been

ports in those of the sec. of war for each year; the governor's annual mes- sages and other legislative matter in Ariz., Jour., 1864 et seq .; files of Cal. newspapers, notably the S. F. Bulletin, Alta, Chronicle, and Sac. Union; and especially Hayes' Scrap-books, Ariz., i .- vi., containing classified clippings from the journals of southern Cal. and Arizona. The leading modern works, Hin- ton's Hand-book, Ariz. Hist. (E. & Co.), and Hamilton's Resources, like most other works on Ariz. named in these chapters, contain much on Ind. affairs. It will be understood that all have been utilized, hut space does not permit repeated citation or a pointing-out of discrepancies.

$ Before 1864 an agent at Mesilla had merely nominal control of the Ari- zona Ind.

545

THE YUMAS AND MOJAVES.

willing to settle at the up-river agency, but in late years a reservation has been set apart for them on the California side at Fort Yuma.4 The Mojaves-Yama- jabs or Amajabas of early times-living originally on both sides of the Colorado above Williams fork, a people whose intercourse with Padre Garcés in 1774- 6 will be recalled, and who sometimes appear in the Spanish annals of California, were also a brave tribe, whose good qualities have for the most part disap- peared. Their hostility to Americans ended with their defeat and the founding of Fort Mojave in 1858 -9. In 1864 Poston selected a reservation on the river bottom at Half Way Bend, in latitude 34°, and the land was set apart by act of 1865. It was in- tended for all the river tribes, and for the Hualapais and Yavapais; but only the Chemehuevis and half of the Mojaves could ever be induced to occupy it per- manently. Agriculture depended on the annual over- flow of the river, and crops often failed. A canal was dug in 1867-74 for nine miles at a cost of $28,000, but was not a success; and a system of water-wheels proved likewise a failure. The Indians took much interest in these experiments, and even did a large amount of hard work; but the outside tribes, grad- ually losing their confidence in the white man's ability to control the elements, declined to come in; and the Mojaves-about 800, under Iriteba down to his death in 1874-learned to depend chiefly on government aid.

+ Hamilton's Resources, 299. I have seen no original record of this reserva- tion. A school at the old fort in 1884 is mentioned in Ariz., Hist. (E. & Co.), 244. In 1864 Francis Hinton was employed by Supt Poston as agent for the Yumas, but later they were nominally in charge of the Mojave, or Colorado, agency. Forty years of intercourse with white men has had a most perni- cious effect on this people, especially through the prostitution of the women and indulgence in strong drink. Except some slight and irregular gifts, they have received no aid from the government. The Cocopas are a tribe living on the Colorado below the Yumas, whom they resemble somewhat in character and modern history. They live mainly in Mexican territory, though coming in contact more with Americans. The Chemehuevis and Pah-Utes are Sho- shone tribes, both frequenting north-western Arizona to some extent in early times. The former in later years live, about 300 in number, on the Cal. side of the Colorado; while the latter belong mainly to Nevada and Utah, though still found to some extent in Ariz. north of the Colorado. These tribes require no further notice here.

HIST. ARIZ. AND N. MEX. 35

546

INDIAN AFFAIRS OF ARIZONA.

The rest lived near Fort Mojave and fared somewhat better, a crowd of them being still seen at the Atlantic and Pacific railroad stations in this region. In all they number from 1,000 to 1,200, addicted to gam- bling and intoxication, nearly all tainted with syphilitic diseases, a hopelessly wretched and depraded race, or at least past regeneration by any methods yet applied ; yet they are peaceful, and in a sense honest and indus- trious. A school was in operation at times from 1873, and a native police from 1881. No real progress has ever been made, though the agents have occasionally reported encouraging features, generally not visible to their successors.5

The Hualapais, or Apache-Yumas, and Yavapais, or Apache-Mojaves, were, before 1864, tribes of 1,500 and 2,000 souls, allied in race and character to the river tribes on the west and the Apaches on the east. For some years, during the flush times of the Colo- rado placers, they were friendly, living at times on the reservation; but in 1866-8, being suspected of certain depredations, they were the victims of several dis- graceful outrages, and went on the war-path until 1871-2. The Yavapais became identified with the Apaches, and with them were transferred to the San Carlos reservation in 1874. The Hualapais, after submission, did good service against the Apaches, were gathered at Beale Spring, and were moved against their will to the Colorado agency in 1874. Running away

" The Colorado agency was in charge of Herman Ehrenberg and John C. Dunn in 1864-6, John Feudge in 1866-9, Helenas Dodt in 1870, J. A. Tonner in 1871-5, W. E. Morford in 1876-7, John C. Mallory in 1877-8, Henry R. Mallory in 1878-80, Jonathan Biggs in 1880-2. Ehrenberg, an engineer, re- ported against the selected reservation at the first, and his objections proved well founded. For executive orders of Nov. 22, 1873, Nov. 16, 1874, and May 15, 1876, extending and defining the boundaries, see report sec. int. in U. S. Govt Doc., 47th cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc. 1, pt 5, p. 304. Its area in 1874 is given as 200 sq. miles; in 1884 by Hamilton and others as 600 sq. m. It extends from a point four miles above Ehrenberg some 45 miles up the river, including a tract occupied by 200 Chemihuevis on the Cal. side. Com- fortable adobe buildings were constructed from 1867. In 1882 the Ind. were reported as living on govt rations, on agric. labor, and on natural pro- ducts of the soil in about equal proportions. They owned a few horses, used only for racing, and of no advantage. At Camp Colorado, near the agency, was posted a small garrison at times.

547

SUPPAI AND MOQUIS.

the next year, but professing friendship, they were permitted to live in their old haunts, living on the country's natural products, and more than once saved from starvation by the charity of settlers. A tract of 2,000 square miles on the Grand Cañon bend of the Colorado was set apart for them in 1881-3, and there they now live, 600 to 800 in number, mustering in force at Peach Spring at the passage of each railroad train. Though superior to the reservation Mojaves, they are a destitute and vicious lot of beggars, wholly non-progressive.

The Suppai, or Ava-Supies, 200 or 300 in number, of whom little is known, but probably renegades origi- nally from other tribes, have, since 1880, a reserva- tion of 60 square miles on Cataract Creek, just above latitude 36°, a fertile tract on the creek bottom be- tween precipitous cliffs, accessible only at two points by a narrow trail. Here they raise fruits, grain, and vegetables, trading with the Moquis and Hualapais, prosperous and contented, but rarely visited by white men. 6

Of the Moquis much has been recorded in this vol- ume. The Mexicans had little if any intercourse with them; but several American explorers visited their towns, beginning with Ives in 1858. An agency was maintained from 1869, the agent living at Fort Defiance down to 1875, but later at buildings erected fifteen miles east of the first town. These peculiar, super- stitious, and childishly variable Indians were always friendly, except that the Oraibe chief was sometimes, as of old, reserved and sulky. There was a school in several years, and in 1882 a missionary was preparing to get ready to begin his teachings. The Moquis were always temperate, chaste, and industrious, tilling their barren lands, where crops often failed for want of water, keeping a few sheep and cattle, gladly ac- cepting the meagre government pittance, and some-

6 Orders of 1880-2 on the reserv., in rept sec. interior, 1883, p. 306-7. In Arizona Scraps, 133, is an account of a visit in 1880 by Beckman and Young.

548

INDIAN AFFAIRS OF ARIZONA.

times disposed to the theory that the 'great father' at Washington should and perhaps would support his Mo- qui children in idleness. They would never listen to proposals of removal from their cliff homes of so many centuries, but they were sometimes induced to culti- vate fields at some distance; they farmed on shares with the Colorado Chiquito Mormons; and it is even said that the saints have made some Moqui converts. Their reservation of 4,000 miles was set apart in 1882, adjoining that of the Navajos; and their numbers since 1869 have perhaps increased from 1,500 to 2,000. There is no more interesting aboriginal people in United States territory.7

Turning again to the south, we find the Pimas living on the Gila, where their home has been for centuries, and on a reservation set apart for them and the Mari- copas in 1859. They have always been foes of the Apache and friends of the American, it having been their boast for years that they had never killed a white man. They are an industrious agricultural people, producing a large surplus of grain for sale. Living in a dozen villages of conical willow huts, they have never changed materially their manner of life, but there is no improvement, except that some children have learned to read; and in many respects there has been a sad deterioration during forty years of contact with civilization, notably by acquiring habits of intem- perance, prostitution, and pilfering; yet they are still vastly superior to most other tribes. For several

" Agents were A. D. Palmer in 1869-70, W. D. Crothers in 1871-2, W. S. Defrees in 1873-4, W. B. Truax in 1875-6 (agency abandoned in Oct. '76 to Feb. '78), Wm R. Mateer in 1878-9, John H. Sullivan in 1880-1, J. D. Flem- ming in 1882. In 1864 the Moquis are said to have sent to Salt Lake City for aid against the Navajos. Poston named John Moss as agent. Kit Carson made a visit in 1864, and Vincent Colyer in 1869, both overestimating the pop. as 4,000. In 1866, the gov. says, the Moquis had sent delegates to Pres- cott, and were willing to be removed to the Tonto Basin. It was understood that in 1855-6 and in 1866-7, the towns were temporarily abandoned on ac- count of small-pox and drought; but there is no foundation for the oft-repeated statement that the name moqui means death, and was of modern application. Among the recent descriptions of Moqui manners and customs may be men- tioned Capt. John G. Bourke's The Snake-dance of the Moquis of Arizona, Being a narrative of a journey from Santa Fé, etc. N. Y., 1884, 8vo, xvii., 371 p., plates.

549

THE PIMAS.

years, from 1868, serious troubles with them seemed imminent. Presuming on their military services and past immunity from all restraint, they became insolent 'and aggressive, straying from the reservation, robbing travellers, refusing all satisfaction for inroads of their horses on the settlers' fields, the young men being beyond the chiefs' control. Swindling traders had established themselves near the villages to buy the Indians' grain at their own prices, and even manipulate government goods, the illegal traffic receiving no check, but rather apparently protection from the territorial authorities. Whiskey was bought at Adamsville or from itinerant Mexicans; the agents were incompe- tent, or at least had no influence, the military refused support or became involved in profitless controversies. Worst of all, white settlers on the Gila used so much of the water that the Pimas in dry years had to leave the reservation or starve. General Howard deemed the difficulties insurmountable, and urged removal. Had it not been for dread of the Pima numbers and valor, the Apaches still being hostile, very likely there might have been a disastrous outbreak. But from 1874, for reasons only partially apparent, there was a marked improvement. Copious rains for several years prevented clashing with the settlers; several chiefs visited the Indian territory and talked favor- ably of removal; there was less friction between authorities. In 1876-82 the Pima reservation was considerably extended, and a new tract on Salt River below Fort McDowell was finally set apart, making the whole extent about 275 square miles. A school has been kept up with some success, a little mission- ary work was done, and a native police, until disorgan- ized by whiskey, did something to prevent disorder. Yet the old troubles are sleeping rather than dead. There is still much popular dissatisfaction on various phases of the matter; and in view of the non-progress- ive nature of the Indians, the large extent of their lands, the growing white population, and the agricul-

550

INDIAN AFFAIRS IN ARIZONA.

tural prospects of the Gila and Salt valleys under an extensive system of irrigation, there can be little doubt that difficulties will increase, and the Pimas sooner or later will have to quit their old home.8

The Pápagos have been regarded as the best Indians of Arizona. They were of the same race and language as the Pimas; but there is no foundation for the the- ory that they were simply Pima converts to Chris- tianity, pápago meaning 'baptized.' They were, how- ever, converts, retaining a smattering of foreign faith, with much pride in their old church at Bac. They differ but little from Arizona Mexicans, if of the latter we except a few educated families and a good many vicious vagabonds. More readily than other Indians they adapt themselves to circumstances, tilling the soil, raising live-stock, working in the mines, or doing anything that offers. As the reader knows, they some- times had trouble with the Spaniards and Mexicans, but they have always been friends of Americans and deadly foes to Apaches. Without having escaped the taint of vice, they are not as a rule addicted to drink, gambling, or licentiousness. They have received very little aid from the government. In 1874 a reservation was set off for them at San Javier, and in 1882 another at the Gila bend, 200 square miles in all. From 1876 their agency was consolidated with that of the Pimas. Their number has remained at about 5,000, some 2,000

6 Pima agents: A. M. White to 1865, Levi Ruggles in 1866-9 (C. H. Lord deputy in 1867), F. E. Grossman in 1869-70, J. H. Stout in 1871-5, 1877-8, Charles Hudson in 1876, A. B. Ludlam in 1879-80, E. B. Townsend in 1881, R. G. Wheeler in 1881-2, A. H. Jackson in 1882. In number the Pimas have increased slightly, between 4,500 and 5,000. The Maricopas are a small frag- ment from farther down the river, allied in race to the Yumas, but for many years living with the Pimas, whom they resemble in habits. The Pimas make some rude pottery. They have received comparatively little aid from the govt, and often complain that the Apaches are treated much better. Mor- mons have favored the Ind. more than other settlers. Rusling, Across Amer- ica, 369-72, describes the villages in 1867. In 1870 the agent surveyed an extension, which, through the legislature's influence, was not approved. By order of Aug. 31, 1876, additions were made on the s. E. In 1877 the legisla- ture tried to have the Ind. removed from Salt River, but Inspector Watkins in 1878 reported against this as inhuman. An order of Jan. 10, 1879, extended the reserve E. to that of White Mt, but this was cancelled by the order of July 14th, setting apart the Salt River tract and making other additions, still further increased by order of May 5, 1882.

551

THE PÁPAGOS.

living on the reservations or near Tucson, while the rest are scattered through Papaguería or live across the Mexican line.9

~114

,113

112

110

Kunab Wash

River

Virgin R.

Colorado

Navajos

Noquis

E & v

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History of Arizona and New Mexico, 1530-1888, Volume XVII, Part 58

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905 Publication date: 1889 Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company Number of Pages: 890

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Oak, Henry Lebbeus, 1844-1905
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: San Francisco : The History Company
Number of Pages: 890