Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1879 — Frightful Indian Depredations in New Mexico. [ARTICLE]

Frightful Indian Depredations in New Mexico.

A Denver (CoL) dispatch of Oct. 16 says: “Nothing was heard of tho Apache Indians under Victoria after the sth ult., until last Tuesday, when news came of the massacre of citizens near Hillsboro, the scene of former difficulties. The dispatch states that the Indians made their appearance in Messila valley last Saturday, and continued murdering and fighting on Saturday, and on Sunday a party of thirty men were attacked by about 100 Indians, and so fat but one escaped. It is reported that nine men and two families, with the exception of two persons, were killed at McEver’s ranch, fifteen miles from Hillsboro, the women being outraged previous to the killing, and the bodies of tbe men burned. Loyd’s ranch near by was burned, and several Mexicans killed. It is believed the Indians scattered before the advance of the soldiers and consolidated in the rear, committing the depredations reported. There arc some 350 soldiers in the field, and authority has been granted to enlist twenty-four Navajo scouts. Companies are forming at Las Couces and at Mexilla. On Tuesday there was a meeting held in the office of Gov. Wallace, at Banta Fe, and a committee of safety appointed. The Territorial officers joined with the Governor, and telegraphed to the Secretary of War and Gen. Pope for rations for 500 men for sixty days." A dispatch from Tusoon, Arizona, says: A special to the Daily Star from Silver City, N. M., says: “The Indians have been committing terrible depredations in the Rio Grande vall< y and southwest of Fort Cummings. For several days past the people of Colorada have beep besieged, and have been fighting since Saturday. They appeal loudly for aid. On Sunday a volunteer compau / of thirty men, under Capt. John C. Crouch, went rrom Messila and Couces to their aid. They met 100 Indians near Colorado, eighteen miles from Slocum’s ranch, on the side of the road. After a severe fight the volunteers were compelled to fall back. They had a running fight into Slocum’s ranch. The killed in this fight were W. T. Jones, County Clerk of Donohue county, and four Mexicans. On receipt of the news at Messila two companies of eighty men were raised by Col., Rynerson, composed of the best men in Messila valley. Two trains were captured yesterday on the west side of Slocum’s. In one of them eleven men, one woman and one child -were killed. In the other all hands escaped. Both trains were scattered and some ot the oxen were killed and others left standing in their yokes. The corpses lie all along the road. The 'stage from the east arrived this morning two hours late, and reports that a number of people are known to have been killed within the past four or five days. ”